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Air Fryer Pickles are an at-home version of one of the yummiest, if unexpected, appetizers or snacks at a neighborhood bar: deep fried pickles.

A bowl of the best air fryer pickles with dip

If you’ve never tried a fried pickle, please grab yourself an air fryer (this is mine) and GET AFTER IT.

They’re the perfect storm of crunchy, briny, sweet, and salty, meaning it’s basically impossible to stop eating them. The flavor is incredible!

Foods that are traditionally deep fried are some of the most satisfying to make in the air fryer.

From Air Fryer French Fries to Air Fryer Chicken Wings to Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks, with the air fryer you can achieve a similar, satisfying crunch in a more healthy way.

The night I made this air fryer pickle recipe, I intended for us to sit down and enjoy them as an appetizer but….

Like Air Fryer Potato Chips, they were so tasty that Ben and I inhaled the batches as soon as they came out of the air fryer basket. (Careful! They are hot.)

Crispy air fryer pickles with salt

How to Air Fry Pickles

Like Air Fryer Onion Rings, these easy air fryer pickles use basic pantry ingredients to create a seriously crispy texture on the outside, tender inside pickle experience.

As written, these air fryer fried pickles are not spicy, so if you prefer a spicy version, use your favorite variety of spicy pickles to make them, or up the amount of cayenne in the breading.


The Ingredients

  • Pickle Chips. Personally, I like to make air fryer pickles with pickle chips, because they crisp so nicely and remind me the most of the fried pickles I’ve enjoyed at many a brewery. Be sure to pat them VERY dry, or your pickles won’t be as crispy. Make your own pickles with my Refrigerator Pickles recipe!

Substitution Tip

If you prefer, you can also use this recipe to make air fried pickle spears. You will need to cook them for longer—14 to 16 minutes total, flipping once halfway through.

  • White Whole Wheat Flour. A nutritious swap for all-purpose flour.
  • Egg. Helps the breadcrumbs stick to the pickles to create the crispy exterior.
  • Breadcrumbs. I used a blend of panko bread crumbs and whole wheat breadcrumbs. The panko adds crunch and the breadcrumbs help the coating to adhere.

SUBSTITUTION TIP

While I haven’t tried it, you can use almond flour or even pork rinds (pork panko) for your breading.

  • Spices. Paprika, Italian seasoning, cayenne, and salt are all these pickles need to taste their best. The combination is a little smoky, a little herby, and the perfect amount of salty.
  • Ranch Dip. Our favorite way to serve these air fried pickles is with a side of Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip. It’s cool, creamy, and tastes fabulous with the pickles!

Dietary Note

If you need to make vegan air fryer pickles, you can try to prepare air fryer pickles no egg. While I haven’t tried it myself, I think you could swap the egg for 1/4 cup dairy-free milk.

The Directions

Pickles being blotted dry with a paper towel
  1. Pat the pickles dry. Prepare bowls of flour, egg, and breadcrumbs and seasonings.
Pickles being dipped into eggs, flour, and breadcrumbs
  1. Dredge the pickle slices in the flour, egg, and breadcrumb mixtures.
Breaded ingredients on a foil-lined baking sheet
  1. Lay the pickles on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Breaded ingredients in an appliance basket
  1. Arrange a single layer of pickles in the basket of an air fryer, coating the tops with nonstick cooking spray.
Crispy air fryer pickles in an air fryer
  1. Air fry pickles at 400 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining pickles. Top the finished pickles with salt (or even parmesan cheese) and ENJOY!
The best air fryer pickles in a bowl with dip

Storage Tips

  • To Store. Refrigerate pickles in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
  • To Reheat. Recrisp leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F.
  • To Freeze. Spread leftover pickles onto a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer the frozen pickles to an airtight, freezer-safe storage container or ziptop bag for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen.

Leftover Ideas

Add a few leftover air fryer pickles to an Air Fryer Grilled Cheese for a next-level grilled cheese. They’d also be tasty on Salmon Burgers.

For a party food that’s sure to please, add some of these pickles as a crispy topping for Chicken Bacon Ranch Fries.

Healthy air fryer pickles in a bowl with dip

What to Serve with Air Fryer Pickles

Have fun, entertain your friends, and bring some fried feel-good food to your kitchen with these healthy air fryer pickles!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Add Seasonings to the Batter?

If you want to shake things up, you can experiment with different spices in the pickle batter. I think garlic powder, dill, or Cajun seasoning would be scrumptious.

What Other Dipping Sauces Pair Well with Fried Pickles?

When it comes to a fried pickle dipping sauce, almost anything goes! Enjoy your fried dill pickle slices with ranch dressing, marinara, Vegan Queso, Buffalo sauce, blue cheese dip (try the one from my Cauliflower Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Avocado Dip), or Barbecue Sauce.

Can I Omit the Cayenne?

If you’re making these air fryer dill pickles for kids or someone who’s super sensitive to spice, you can certainly omit the cayenne pepper.

Air Fryer Pickles

4.50 From 4 reviews . Help us out! Review HERE.Help out & review HERE

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Total: 18 minutes

Servings: 4 servings
Crispy air fryer pickles are crunchy, sweet, salty, and yummy! These easy, healthy air fried pickles are perfect for snacking and appetizers.

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups dill pickle chips
  • ¼ cup white whole wheat flour
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • â…“ cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
  • â…“ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 ½ teaspoons paprika
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt plus additional for serving
  • â…› teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip optional for serving

Instructions
 

  • Spread the pickles out onto a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Pat as dry as possible.
  • Set up your workstation: place the flour in a shallow bowl (a pie dish works well). In a separate shallow bowl, whisk the egg and water until well combined. In a third shallow bowl, combine the whole wheat breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs, paprika, Italian seasoning, cayenne, and salt. Arrange the plates in a line (flour, eggs, breadcrumbs). Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Working a few pickles at a time, dredge the pickles in the flour, then the egg, then the breadcrumbs, shaking off excess as needed.
  • Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pickles.
  • Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F. Generously coat the basket with nonstick spray. Arrange a single layer of pickles in the basket so that they do not overlap. Coat the top of the pickles with nonstick spray.
  • Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, until dark golden and crisp (these cook fairly evenly so no need to flip halfway through unless you are a stickler). Remove the air fried pickles to a serving plate and sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt. Enjoy hot.

Video

Notes

  • TO STORE: Refrigerate pickles in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
  • TO REHEAT: Recrisp leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F.
  • TO FREEZE: Spread leftover pickles onto a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer the frozen pickles to an airtight, freezer-safe storage container or ziptop bag for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 4), without dipping sauceCalories: 99kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 4gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.5gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 41mgPotassium: 135mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 590IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 2mg

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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  1. These pickles were SO GOOD! We are fans of fried pickles and felt way better about eating this at-home version! Will definitely make them again.5 stars

  2. I realized last night after making these pickles that I just love all things Wellplated. They are my “go to” recipes and if I’m trying something new for guests, I just know I can rely on Erin’s recipes! I don’t have an air fryer so I baked them on 400 on parchment. They were fantastic! And my guests were so excited to have something fun and different as a little app! My only added note is that I doubled the ingredients for the batter and used all of it. It has never occurred to me to make these at home, so when I was searching appetizers, BINGO! Fun, easy, delicious. I have to go now so I can search the website for soups to make a freeze tomorrow! :)5 stars

  3. Erin, do you have any problems with the pickles flying around inside the air fryer? I have learned that some things do unless they are weighted down somehow. Thank you!

  4. In your recipe you mention dill pickle chips as the first ingredient. You meant dill pickles right? How thick do you cut them?

    1. Hi Sarah, I would substitute it for all-purpose flour. I haven’t tried it with whole wheat, so if you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes.

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