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The Ultimate Crispy Fried Pickles Recipe (Restaurant-Style & Air Fryer Options)

A tall stack of golden brown, breaded Fried Pickles piled high on a white plate.
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You can make incredibly crispy, restaurant-style fried pickles at home. This recipe shows you how to achieve that perfect golden crunch, whether you deep fry or use your air fryer for a lighter snack.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 jar (16 ounces) dill pickle chips or spears, drained well
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (for extra crispiness)
  • Vegetable oil, for deep frying (or cooking spray for air fryer)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the pickles: Lay the drained pickle chips or spears on several layers of paper towels. Place more paper towels on top and press firmly to remove as much moisture as possible. Excess moisture prevents crispiness.
  2. Set up the dredging stations: In one shallow dish, combine the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Mix well. In a second shallow dish, whisk together the eggs and milk. In a third shallow dish, place the panko breadcrumbs.
  3. Dredge the pickles: Working in small batches, coat the pickles thoroughly in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Dip the floured pickles into the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off. Finally, press the pickles firmly into the panko breadcrumbs until fully coated. Place the coated pickles on a clean, dry baking sheet.
  4. For Deep Frying (Restaurant Style): Pour 2 inches of vegetable oil into a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven. Heat the oil to 375°F (190°C). Carefully drop the breaded pickles into the hot oil in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the pot. Fry for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
  5. For Air Frying (Healthy Fried Pickles): Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Arrange the breaded pickles in a single layer in the basket (work in batches). Lightly spray the tops of the pickles with cooking spray. Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crunchy.
  6. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce, such as a spiced ranch or zesty aioli.

Notes

  • Drying the pickles completely is the secret to achieving that restaurant-style crunch. Do not skip this step.
  • If you want a Texas Roadhouse Copycat flavor, add a pinch of onion powder to the flour mixture.
  • For the best results in the air fryer, do not overlap the pickles in the basket.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenican.com/fried-pickles-recipe-crispy-air-fryer-options/