Air fryer pickles are a crisp tangy and salty treat. They are perfect as a snack or as a great starter when you have people over. If you love the taste of fried food, but don’t like how unhealthy it is, then these pickles are going to be a tasty treat you have to try!
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What are Air Fryer Fried Pickles?
Fried pickles are a staple treat from the southern United States. Generally, this deep fried food can be found at fairs and on restaurant appetizer menus. People love their salty, tangy crispiness.
Our air fryer version is a lightened up take on this southern classic. They are a healthier option than potato chips or deep fried pickles.
Why you will love these Air Fryer Fried Pickles
These vegan air fryer fried pickles are a perfect treat for the whole family. They are tangy, spicy, and salty, all things that make a perfect snack for even the harshest critics.
These pickles are crispy, but overall a much healthier snack option than potato chips or fries. So you can feel good about serving these to your kids.
Air Fried Pickles Ingredients and Substitutions
Air fryer pickles only need a few ingredients, and you probably have most of them at home now. For dippin’, we highly recommend trying our Copycat ChicFilA sauce recipe.
- Pickles - We use dill pickles, but you could try them with bread and butter pickles or other savory or sweet pickles instead.
- All purpose flour - For a lower carb version, you could use almond or coconut flour.
- Cajun spice mix - If you want to vary the recipe, you use a different spice blend or just a little salt and pepper.
- Panko bread crumbs - We find panko gets crispier than standard breadcrumbs, but you could use ordinary bread crumbs if you have them or you can even use the gluten-free panko mix.
- Olive oil - For even a lighter cooking, you can use a non-stick cooking spray instead.
- Dipping sauce – We use our Chick Fil A Copycat sauce, but you could use your favorite dipping sauces like BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, or just about anything you like!
How to Make Fried Pickle Spears
To start, pat the pickle spears dry using a paper towel.
Next, add the all purpose flour, Cajun mix, panko bread crumbs, and olive oil to a large bowl. Give them a quick mix and then dredge the pickle spears into the flour mixture to coat evenly.
When the pickles are ready, preheat the air fryer to 400F (200C).
Carefully transfer the coated pickles into the air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry for a total of 10 to 15 minutes.
Then repeat the process for the remaining spears.
Serve hot and fresh and then store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Fried Pickles Air Fryer Pro Tips
When you want to elevate your pickle making skills, check out these tips and tricks:
- Use dill pickles to get the best tangy pickles from the air fryer.
- Don’t skip adding some oil to the outside and space the pickles out so the pickles get crispy.
- For different flavors, try different spices or dipping sauces.
How to Make Air Fried Pickles Crispy
There are a few steps you can take to make the pickles extra crispy.
First, make sure they are as dry as possible before dredging them in the flour mix.
Also, don’t skip spraying them with oil or cooking spray. The small amount of oil helps the outside crisp nicely.
When you place the pickles in the basket, make sure to leave space between them. And halfway through cooking, make sure to flip them so they cook and fry evenly.
Finally, you can try leaving them in the air fryer for an extra minute or two to help get them even crispier - just watch them carefully to make sure they don’t burn.
What are the best pickles for air fried pickles?
The best pickles for frying depends on the flavor you are going for.
For example, in our recipe, we use dill pickles. The natural tanginess pairs well with Panko breadcrumbs and Cajun seasoning.
If you want to try a sweeter treat, you could use sweet pickles. If you use them in this recipe, they will make the taste a bit sweeter and less tangy. Some people have used sweet pickles with pancake mix to really enhance the flavor of the pickles.
What sauce goes well with crispy fried pickles
We love using our Copycat ChicFilA recipe for dipping these pickles. The tasty sauce compliments the spicy tang of the fried pickles nicely.
Of course, if you have a favorite sauce, you could use that instead. Some potential dips that work well include:
- ketchup
- mustard
- BBQ sauce
- Ranch dressing
- blue cheese dressing
Recipe Variations for Air Fried Pickles
If you want to change up the flavor a bit, you definitely and easily can! Some potential variations include:
- Use sweeter pickles and pancake mix in place of flour and panko breadcrumbs.
- Only season with salt and pepper for more of a pickle flavor.
- Try a different, savory pickle variety. A lot of brands offer more options than just dill or bread and butter.
- Use different spice blends to vary the flavor some.
What to Serve with Fried Pickles
You can serve the pickles with your favorite dipping sauce.
If you are serving a crowd, you can serve them with these other great tasting and healthy dippable treats:
How to Store and Reheat Air Fryer Pickles
If you make a big batch or just have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for about 5 days. To store them, place the pickles in an airtight container or bag after they cool.
If you want to reheat them, you can place them back in the air fryer preheated to 400 degrees until heated through. The air fryer will help crisp them up again.
Let us know what you think
If you make this delicious recipe, let us know how it went! When you make this, be sure to take a pic and tag us on Instagram @dbellyrulesdmind or Facebook @thebellyrulesthemind!
Here are some more of our favorite Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Pickles
Air fryer pickles are a crisp tangy and salty treat. They are perfect as a snack or as a great starter when you have people over. If you love the taste of fried food, but don’t like how unhealthy it is, then these pickles are going to be a tasty treat you have to try!
Ingredients
- Pickles 16 spears
- All purpose flour ½ cup
- 1 tablespoon Cajun spice mix
- 1 cup gluten-free panko bread crumbs
- Olive oil 2 tablespoon or cooking spray
- Chick Fil A Dipping sauce
Instructions
How to fry pickles in air fryer
To start, pat the pickle spears dry using a paper towel.
Next, add the all purpose flour, Cajun mix, panko bread crumbs(gluten-free), and olive oil to a large bowl. Give them a quick mix and then dredge the pickle spears into the flour mixture to coat evenly.
When the pickles are ready, preheat the air fryer to 400F (200C).
Carefully transfer the coated pickles into the air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry for a total of 10 to 15 minutes.
Then repeat the process for the remaining spears.
Serve hot and fresh and then store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Recommended Products
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Slap Ya Mama All Natural Cajun Seasoning from Louisiana, Original Blend, MSG-Free and Kosher -
Arrowhead Mills Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
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Panko Gluten Free
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Instant Pot Vortex 6-Quart 4-in-1 Air Fryer
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Gourmia GAF400 Electric Multipurpose Classic Rapid Air Fryer with Dual Dial Timer & Temperature Controls, 10 Cup/4.5 Qt. Capacity, 1230W, Black
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GoWISE USA 1700-Watt 5.8-QT 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer and 50 Recipes for your Air Fryer Book (Black)
Jan says
I come across your recipes on Facebook that sound really good and would love to try (like these pickles). I do not have a printer and copy all recipes into a program, crediting the Source, where I can add my own Notes etc. Unfortunately, I cannot get your recipes to Copy. Is there a reason/solution for this?
Debbie says
All purpose flour and GF panko? Hmm. Methinks there is an error somewhere. Perhaps GF flour?
Abby Levine Levine says
Hi, we can’t wait to try this but one question… seasoned or plain panko? Ty
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Abby. You can use plain or seasoned :)
Margaret says
Do you mix the oil with the flour mixture ?
The mixture isn’t sticking to the Gherkins ?
Cheryl Humphreys says
@Margaret, I had the same issue, coating would not stick no matter what I did
Barbara Jones says
The link for the air fryer egg rolls shown above doesn't work. I goes to the air fryer pizza rolls.
Mary Workman says
Do you spray the pickles with Pam right before putting in the air fryer?