Air Fryer Fried Pickles

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Air Fryer Fried Pickles, also called Frickles, are a satisfyingly crunchy snack with an amazing pickle flavor and crispy breading on the outside.

fried pickles with dipping sauce

Air fryer fried pickles are easy to make, it takes little time, and most importantly, the ingredients are often available in your pantry. There’s no need to wait until you’re out at a restaurant to order them. It’s just like onion rings for me. I never used to make them at home before I got an air fryer.

I always thought they’d be hard to make at home, and if you were to deep fry them they’d definitely be more so, but they are actually really easy to make in the air fryer. Serve them as an appetizer or snack at parties or make a basket of them for your game day spread.

Ingredients You Need

Ingredients for air fryer fried pickles
  • Sliced dill pickles – Use a thick, ridged pickle slice, if possible.
  • Flour – This helps to create a nice breading on the pickles.
  • Fine breadcrumbs – You can use plain breadcrumbs or seasoned (adjust other seasonings accordingly). I don’t prefer to use panko because it doesn’t adhere to the pickles as well.
  • Eggs – Serves as a binder for the flour and the seasonings.
  • Seasonings – Garlic powder, Cajun spice, chili powder, salt and pepper
  • Olive oil cooking spray – Spray is important for helping the pickles get crispy and golden.

What Oil & Oil Sprayer is Best for the Air Fryer?

The biggest issue most air fryer lovers face is finding the right oil and oil sprayer to use on food cooked in the air fryer. A fine mist of oil will help the entire piece of food crisp evenly, so it’s very important.

My personal preference is to use canola oil, extra virgin olive oil, or avocado oil. I use both a refillable spray bottle like the Evo one pictured below and non-propellant extra virgin olive oil, which has no harmful aerosols or chemicals.

Evo Oil Sprayer Evo Glass Trigger Sprayer Bottle, Non-Aerosol for Olive Cooking Oils, 6-Ounce Capacity, 6 oz, Yellow/Black/Red
Pompeian USDA Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Non-Stick Cooking Spray, Full-Bodied Flavor, Perfect for Salads and Pasta Drizzling, Naturally Gluten Free, Non-Allergenic, Non-GMO, No Propellants, 5 FL. OZ., Single Bottle
Tenlary Oil Sprayer for Cooking - 210ml Glass Olive Oil Dispenser Bottle Spray Mister-Reusable Food Grade Oil Vinegar Spritzer Sprayer Bottles,kitchen Gadgets Accessories for Air Fryer,BBQ (Orange)

How to Make Air Fried Pickles

Thoroughly dry the pickle slices on a paper towel to remove any excess juice. Leave them on the paper towels for at least 15 minutes. You can also press gently on them to release a bit more juice. The dryer the pickles, the better.

pickles

To set up your dredging station, mix together the flour, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and salt in a bowl. Beat the egg in another bowl. Add the breadcrumbs to a 3rd bowl.

dredging station

Coat each pickle slice in the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, then the breadcrumbs and place it into the air fryer basket. Be sure to space the pickles apart so they aren’t touching in the basket. They need space to get crispy. If you have too many pickles to fit in the basket with space, do them in two batches.

Dredging station with pickles

Spray the tops of the pickles with the cooking oil. This is what will make them crispy, so don’t skip this step. If you don’t have oil spray, it will be a bit more difficult to get them crispy. You’ll need to brush on the oil as evenly as possible.

raw pickles in the air fryer basket

Cook at 375° F for 5 minutes. Turn them over and spray the tops again. Continue cooking for another 4-6 minutes, until crispy and golden.

cooked pickles in the air fryer basket

Helpful Tips

  • Be sure to dry the pickles before breading to ensure the breading stays on. If the pickles are too wet, it will make the breading soggy.
  • Use high-quality, thicker-cut pickles. Pickles with ridges will hold the breading better. I used these Pacific Pickle Works Under the Gin Fluence pickles. Other brands to look for are Dietz & Watson Pickle Chips, Mr. Olive Munchies, or Doux South pickle chips.
  • If the pickles aren’t browning, give them another spray of oil. Usually, they don’t brown because of a lack of oil or too thick of batter.
  • If you don’t want the pickles to be salty, give them a rinse before drying. Give them a sprinkle of salt if they aren’t salty enough or lack flavor.

Substitutions to Try

  • Try Cajun spice or cayenne pepper in the flour mixture for a bit of heat.
  • You could also use buttermilk as a binder in place of eggs.
fried pickles with dipping sauce

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I store air fryer fried pickles?

Air fryer fried pickles are most delicious when served immediately after frying. However, if you want to preserve them, you can store them in an airtight container and leave them in the refrigerator for a maximum of three days.

You can reheat them at 375° F for two to three minutes; you can also add a little oil to make them crispier if necessary.

Why are my fried pickles soggy?

Several things can cause your fried pickles to become soggy, but most of the time, it is because you didn’t let the pickles dry long enough first. If that’s not the issue, you may have placed the pickles too close together in the air fryer. They need room to crisp up.

What kind of pickles should I use?

There are no rules concerning pickles choice except for the thickness. If you can’t find appropriately thick pickles, you can buy whole pickles and slice them yourself. I think it’s fun to try different flavors of pickles. I use Under the Ginfluence pickles or super spicy pickles. Anything goes.

Other Air Fryer Snacks To Try

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fried pickles with dipping sauce

Air Fryer Fried Pickles

Air Fryer Fried Pickles, also called Frickles, are a satisfyingly crunchy snack with an amazing pickle flavor and crispy breading on the outside.
5 from 33 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 104 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup (143 g) sliced dill pickles
  • 1/4 cup (31.25 g) flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon (1.5 g) garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 g) salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup (54 g) fine breadcrumbs
  • Olive oil cooking spray

Instructions
 

  • Thoroughly dry the pickle slices on a paper towel to remove any excess juice. Leave them on the paper towels for at least 15 minutes. Press gently to release a bit more juice.
  • To set up your dredging station, mix together the flour, garlic powder, seasoned salt, and chili powder in a bowl. Beat the egg in another bowl. Add the breadcrumbs to a 3rd bowl.
  • Coat each pickle slice in the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, then the breadcrumbs and place it into the air fryer basket. Be sure to space the pickles apart so they aren’t touching in the basket.
  • Spray the tops of the pickles with the cooking oil. This is what will make them crispy, so don’t skip this step.
  • Cook at 375° F for 5 minutes. Turn them over and spray the tops again. Continue cooking for another 4-6 minutes, until crispy.

Notes

  • Be sure to dry the pickles before breading to make sure the breading stays on.
  • Use high-quality, thicker-cut pickles.
  • Pickles with ridges will hold the breading better.
  • If the pickles aren’t browning, give them another spray of oil. Usually they don’t brown because of lack of oil or too thick of batter.
  • If you don’t want the pickles to be salty, give them a rinse before drying. If they aren’t salty enough or lack flavor, give them a sprinkle of salt.

All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 4gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 553mgPotassium: 101mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 218IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 1mg
Keyword pickles
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5 from 33 votes (33 ratings without comment)

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