Crispy Air Fryer Fried Pickles Recipe + Video

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Air Fryer Fried Pickles have zesty flavor and crispy, crunchy breading. Use this recipe to make a healthier version of the famous Texas Roadhouse fried pickles! Breaded pickles have minimal cook time, and are made using simple ingredients! 

dipping deep fried pickles in ranch dip


 

This is a copycat recipe for my favorite Texas Roadhouse fried pickles, and they are simply irresistible. You’ll want to keep the whole batch to yourself!

Some people like to add a little bit of hot sauce to these crispy fried pickles, but the first time I made them, I just enjoyed the flavor of this great recipe without adding anything extra. 

I think that these would be a great option with any kind of pickles, although dill pickles are my favorite. 

overhead: bowls of ingredients for fried pickles recipe

Air Fryer Fried Pickles

Since air fried pickles are lightly breaded and use a fraction of the oil as deep-fried versions, you can enjoy them guilt-free as well.

Looking for more air fried appetizers? Try your hand at homemade pizza rolls or chicken wings.

I especially love tossing in my favorite frozen fries or onion rings. They come out even crispier than with the oven, and in half the time!

coating pickle chips in flour for air frying

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • Dill pickle chips – For a sweeter flavor, you could use bread and butter pickles.
  • All-purpose flour – To cut the carbs in this recipe, you could use coconut flour or almond flour instead. For extra crunch, try mixing in some Panko breadcrumbs!
  • Spices – I like zesty and spicy flavors, so I use cayenne powder and Cajun seasoning. 

    The flavor of the air fried pickles isn’t terribly spicy, but you’re welcome to cut back on the amounts or omit the spices completely.
air frying pickle chips

Tips for the Best Tasting Air Fried Pickles

  • Dry them first. Drain the jar and lay out the slices on a paper towel to absorb the excess juice. 

    You’ll want them to be nice and dry so the flour mixture sticks to the surface.
  • Adjust the seasonings. The Cajun seasoning adds both salt and heat to these fried dill pickles, so leave it out if you’re sensitive to either. 
  • Don’t forget the oil! Avoid flour spots on your fried dill pickles by spraying both sides well with oil. This gets them nice and crispy too.
  • Leave space for circulation. When food is crowded or stacked in the air fryer, it can become soggy wherever it overlaps. 

    Keep everything in a single layer with space in between individual slices.
  • Want them extra crispy? Simply increase the cooking time, checking every minute to two to ensure your air fryer pickles don’t burn.
breaded pickles in air fryer basket

Storage and Reheating

While best served fresh, air fryer fried pickles can be kept for 1 to 2 days in an airtight container. 

Warm them back up at 325°F for a few minutes and don’t forget to spray the basket first!

Air Fryer Pickles FAQ

Which brand of pickles is best for frying? 

Because brands vary in flavor and thickness, it’s important to try a test batch first. See how they turn out, then adjust the seasoning mixtures and cooking time as needed.

I got the best results with Vlasic Ovals and Great Value (Walmart) hamburger dill chips, though the Walmart brand ones seem to have a better overall flavor.

Can I use pickle spears instead? 

Sure, fried pickle spears are delicious too! Depending on how many you are making, you may need to double the amount of flour and seasoning used.

Also, plan on increasing the cooking time since spears are larger and denser.

What should I dip these coated pickles into once they’re done cooking? 

One of my favorite things to place pickles into before eating them is homemade ranch dressing. This works well for pickle chips or dill pickle spears, and it’s just easy and delicious to dip pickles right into. 

The dip is just one of the ways that this will become one of your favorite appetizers – the first thing that you have to do is cook them! 

Air frying proves to be the best way to get this fried pickles recipe nice and crispy without the need for deep frying. 

Have fun with the dip choices for this pickle recipe – there are so many that you can choose from! Choose your favorite dipping sauce the next time that you cook these in your air-fryer basket. And if you want to add a little bit of heat, cayenne pepper on top is a great way to do so! 

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy a plate of air fryer pickles as a game day snack, or serve them alongside your favorite sandwich or gourmet hamburger.

Since these have a little bit of spice to them, they pair really well with any of these creamy sauces:

basket of air fryer pickles

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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closeup: dipping deep fried pickles in ranch dressing

Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes

dipping fried pickle into white sauce

Crispy Air Fryer Fried Pickles Recipe + Video

Donna Elick
Air fryer fried pickles are coated in flour and spices to make them extra crunchy and delicious! Make this recipe for an easy appetizer or snack.
5 stars from 3 reviews
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Method Air Fryer
Servings 1

Ingredients
 

  • 2 cups hamburger dill chips, drained
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Olive oil cooking spray, without propellant
  • dipping sauce of your choice

Instructions
 

  • Place a paper towel on a plate and line with pickle chips. Place another paper towel on top to absorb the pickle juice. Allow to sit for 15-20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile in a small bowl, mix flour with cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, dried basil, paprika, and garlic powder. Set aside.
  • Preheat the air fryer at 360°F for 4 minutes.
  • Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket generously with the olive oil cooking spray.
  • Place the pickles in the flour mixture until thoroughly coated on both sides. Next, place pickles in the sprayed basket in a single layer(try to keep them from touching each other, and cook in batches). Spray olive oil all over the coated pickles.
  • Set the air fryer 360°F for 12 minutes, stopping at 6 minutes to pull the basket out and carefully flip the pickles over with a fork or tongues. (Spray the pickles on the opposite side if there are any parts with flour) Continue to cook for the remaining time or until golden brown and desired crispness. Add additional time if desired. Work in batches until all pickles are air fried.
  • Remove from the air fryer and serve with dipping sauce.

Video

Donna’s Notes

When pickles are touching each other or stacked, they can become soggy in those areas. To avoid soggy pickles, just space them out in a single layer.
This recipe was made in the Cosori air fryer, 5.8 quart. If you have a smaller or larger air fryer, you may need to adjust cooking times. Also, if you use more or less pickles than recommended in the recipe, you will need to adjust cook times. Start with lower times and check often until they are cooked as desired.
If you like your pickles only lightly crisped, once you flip them over and start cooking again, just check on them about every 2 minutes to desired crispness.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 281cal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2316mg | Sugar: 4g | Fiber: 6g | Calcium: 180mg | Iron: 4mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled pinterest collage of deep fried pickles

Originally published March 2021, updated and republished February 2024

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6 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    My family loves fried pickles, and I wanted to find and easy way to make them. You can’t get any easier than an air fryer! These were amazing and I’ll definitely be making these again.

  2. 5 stars
    Made these as a side with some bbq pork sandwhiches and they turned out soooo good! I didn’t have olive oil spray so I just rubbed a decent amount of olive oil on pickles before dipping them in flour mix and then put them in air fryer and they turnt out just as good. Thank you for the delicious recipe. 🥰

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