Air Fryer Pickles are crispy, easy, and the perfect recipe for a quick weeknight or party appetizer. Coat pickle chips in seasoned breadcrumbs and pop them in the air fryer, no oil needed! This family-friendly dish pairs deliciously with homemade ranch and is sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
We both reached into the basket to grab the last one. This time I let him have it, knowing good and well that I would figure out how to make those crispy fried pickles at home.
But not the way this San Marcos riverside bar had – coated in a thick flour batter and then deep-fried in unhealthy oil.
Oh no. It was going to be a job for my handy, dandy Air Fryer with a healthier, and gluten-free, coating.
Spoiler alert – they did not disappoint!
Following a very similar process to when I created these Air Fryer Onion Rings, with a flour, egg wash, and breadcrumb coating, the recipe you’ll find below was born.
But it doesn’t stop there.
In order to recreate that pub food magic they needed to be served with a Homemade Ranch Dressing. Trust me, it’s an absolute must-make!!
Ingredients
The simple ingredients needed to make air fryer pickles include:
- Pickles. Whole dill pickles are preferred so you can slice them yourself. A 24-oz jar should be enough. You can also use pickle spears or pre-cut pickle chips, but you might end up with extra coating. Or, make your own Refrigerator Dill Pickles ahead of time
- Flour. Use regular all-purpose flour or a gluten-free 1-to-1 blend.
- Egg. This acts as the binder. Subbing with an egg substitute is not recommended.
- Breadcrumbs. Regular breadcrumbs are preferred over a Panko-style. They’re smaller and stick to the pickles better. Aleia’s has a great gluten-free brand that works extremely well.
- Seasonings. Keep it simple with paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Feel free to get creative and use whatever other seasonings you have available.
How to Make Air Fryer Pickles
The basic steps for making this air fryer recipe are simple to follow:
Slice into Chips
Use a paper towel to dry off pickles before slicing.
With a sharp knife, cut them no more than ¼-inch thick. This is just the right thickness to get the perfect coating to pickle ratio.
Coat in Crumbs
You will need three small bowls for this process.
In the first, add flour. The second will have whisked egg and milk. And finally, mix breadcrumbs, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper in the third and stir.
Dip one pickle slice at a time in the flour mixture and shake off any excess flour. Then dredge in the egg mixture, and finally cover with the breadcrumbs.
Repeat this process with the remaining dill pickle slices.
Cook in Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Ensuring it is hot guarantees a crispy texture.
Arrange the coated pickles in a single layer in a 6-quart Air Fryer basket. Any area where the pickles are touching will not crisp up fully.
If you don’t have enough space, you will have to fry these in multiple batches.
Spritz the slices with a bit of non-stick cooking spray if you want a little extra crunch and then cook for 10 minutes.
Flip the pickles halfway through. Start keeping an eye on them after about 8 minutes as you don’t want to let them burn!
Sauces to Serve with Fried Pickles
These Air Fryer fried pickles are amazing all on their own. However, pairing with dipping sauces is a great way to elevate the flavor!
Classic homemade ranch dressing is the best dip. The creamy and cool flavor is the perfect balance for the pickles. Ketchup is another favorite.
You can get creative and serve them with any of these other tasty sauces:
Dietary Modifications
The recipe you’ll find below is already dairy-free and vegetarian as written. Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:
- Gluten-Free – Use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs.
- Low-Carb – Substitute with low-carb breadcrumbs.
Meal Prep and Storage
- To Prep-Ahead: Slice the pickles in advance to save time. You can also completely make them and save for later.
- To Store: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To Freeze: This is not recommended as the coating will get soggy.
- To Reheat: Pop them back in the Air Fryer at 350° for 2-3 minutes.
FAQs
Classic fried pickles are not very healthy since they are deep fried in a lot of oil. However, making them in the Air Fryer without oil is a much healthier alternative!
Whole dill pickles sliced into ¼-inch thick slices are ideal for air fried pickles. But you can choose any kind, bread and butter and sweet pickles are great alternatives.
Using an air fryer is the best and healthiest way to get crispy fried pickles. A spritz of non-stick cooking spray just before cooking helps them to crisp up even more.
You can, but they won’t have nearly as much flavor as fresh. If you do, make sure to thoroughly defrost the pickles before cooking.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Slice ’em right. Get as close to ¼-inch as possible for the best crumb to pickle ratio.
- Spritz it good. Don’t forget the non-stick cooking spray. It gives the crust a beautiful golden color and prevents them from drying out.
- Use separate forks. Designate a different fork for each bowl so they don’t get dirty.
- 3 bowls is best. The flour, egg wash, and breadcrumb method ensures the coating actually sticks to the pickles.
- Serve it with sauce. These taste great on their own, but even better when paired with a homemade sauce!
More Air Fryer Snack Recipes
If you can’t get enough of your Air Fryer, try out these other tasty recipes:
- Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
- Air Fryer Onion Rings
- Air Fryer Kale
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer French Fries
Air Fryer Pickles Recipe
Air Fryer Pickles are crispy, easy, and the perfect recipe for a quick weeknight or party appetizer. Coat pickle chips in seasoned breadcrumbs and pop them in the air fryer, no oil needed!
Ingredients
- 24 oz. jar dill pickles about 5-6
- ¼ cup flour gluten-free 1-to-1
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbsp. milk oat, cashew, or soy
- 1 cup breadcrumbs plain*
- ½ tsp. paprika
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- ¾ – 1 tsp. salt to taste
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- Non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
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Cut pickles into ¼-inch slices, discarding the ends.
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In three separate shallow bowls, prepare the following:
Bowl 1: Add flour.
Bowl 2: Add egg and milk. Whisk until well combined.
Bowl 3: Add breadcrumbs, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss until combined.
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Dip one pickle slice in the flour mixture and shake off any excess flour, dredge in the egg wash, and then coat with the breadcrumbs. Repeat this process with the remaining pickle slices.
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Place half of the coated pickle slices in a single layer in a 6-quart Air Fryer basket. Spray with non-stick cooking spray.
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Air Fry at 400 degrees for 9-11 minutes. Flip the pickles halfway through cooking. Repeat with the remaining pickles slices.
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Serve air fried pickles with Ranch Dressing, Special Sauce, or Sriracha Mayo.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Meal Prep and Storage
- To Prep-Ahead: Slice the pickles in advance to save time. You can also completely make them and save for later.
- To Store: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To Freeze: This is not recommended.
- To Reheat: Pop them back in the Air Fryer at 350° for 2-3 minutes.
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Reichel Wellswim says
They were yummy and easy! I like that you dip the pickles 3 times. It makes a nice crunchy exterior and you don’t lose a lot to the fryer.
London Brazil says
Yay! So happy you enjoyed them, Reichel! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment 🙂