Lightened Up "Fried" Pickles

Let it be known - if fried pickles are on a restaurant menu, there is a 99% chance that I will be ordering them. There is something so satisfying about crunchy pickles in an even crunchier coating. These lightened up "fried" pickles are the perfect homemade substitute for your restaurant fave, and the best part? No oil required!

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love These Air Fried Pickles
• Tell Me About These Air Fryer Goodies
• Ingredients for Fried Pickles
• Overview: How to Make Deep Fried Pickles (In the Air Fryer)
• Tips and Tricks for These Lightened Up Fried Pickles
• Try These With ...
• Lightened Up "Fried" Pickles
• 💬 Comments

Why You'll Love These Air Fried Pickles

• They are not deep fried! They are a great, healthy twist on your favourite, greasy appetizer.
• They are perfectly crunchy! Your air fryer can do wonders - I promise that you will not miss regular fried pickles.
• No batter required! Most fried pickles use a thin batter and are deep fried. These use a simple breading, which I find is less messy and easier to do.

Tell Me About These Air Fryer Goodies

• Flavour: These are tangy, as a good pickle should be - including homemade pickles too! You get great flavour from the extra dried dill in the breading. The brine-y flavour, with the smokey dipping sauce, is the perfect appetizer or starter.
• Ease: These air fryer pickles are EASY! Since thickly sliced pickles are easy to find in your grocery store, there is little prep required. Set up a breading station, toss in the air fryer, and you're set!
• Time: These babies take approximately 15 minutes to get perfectly crispy. There isn't a ton of prep time involved, so these can be made weeknights or weekdays - BONUS!

Ingredients for Fried Pickles

• Bread and Butter Pickles: I strongly recommend using a pickle that you really love! I know this sounds crazy, but I personally now there are certain pickles I prefer over others. I do not like to use the sweeter pickles for these, just because the sweetness can be a little overpowering for me. That being said, I like to go for a thick pickle slice.
• Seasoned Breadcrumbs: Seasoned breadcrumbs are your standard Italian breadcrumbs. If you do not have these, you can use regular breadcrumbs as well. For extra crunch, you can also substitute half the breadcrumbs for panko breadcrumbs.
• Garlic, Onion Powder, Paprika, Cayenne, Dried Dill: These are your breading staples. Although breadcrumbs come seasoned, no one wants a bland breading! These are my personal favourite spices to add to most breadings. The dill is perfect, because well, dill pickles - duh!
• Chipotles in Adobo: These peppers come in a can, usually found in the Mexican food aisle of the grocery store. They are not too spicy, rather, they have more of a smokey flavour. If you want less spice, use less chipotle pepper, but be sure to add the adobo sauce for flavour.

Overview: How to Make Deep Fried Pickles (In the Air Fryer)

1. Prep the Breading Station: Preparation is the key to success. In three breading dishes, place the all purpose flour in one, whisked eggs in the second, and breadcrumbs with seasonings in the third.
2. Coat the Pickles: Dry off your most of the pickle brine from the pickles. Dip the pickles in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs. Make sure the breadcrumbs are liberally packed onto the pickles - you may want to toss them around a few times.
3. Air Fry: Arrange your pickles in the air fryer basket, and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Air fry at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your pickle chips. I love a good crunch!
4. Make the Sauce: Mix together the dipping sauce, while the pickles are air frying.

Tips and Tricks for These Lightened Up Fried Pickles

• Dry the pickles as much as you can! You do not want them to be super full of brine, as this will result in a soggy mess.
• Do not overcrowd the air fryer! Try not to overcrowd the air fryer, so that all your pickles get evenly crispy.
• Reserve one hand for wet breading, and one hand for dry! Have you ever tried to make a breaded dish, and your fingers become breaded fingers? Same. The solution is to reserve one hand for handling the dry breading, and the other for the wet.

Try These With ...

• Five Minute Homemade Ranch
• Buffalo Chicken Bites
• Keg Copycat Garlic Cheese Toast

LIKE THIS RECIPE? DON'T FORGET TO PIN FOR LATER, RATE, COMMENT AND HIT THOSE SHARE BUTTONS!