Fried Pickles

One appetizer that I almost always order (when I can find it) is fried pickles. A good fried pickle is juicy on the inside, briny, and has a crackling, crispy breading. With a few drinks on the side, they are one of my favorite snacks. 

As with many delicious things, making fried pickles at home is fairly straightforward and will save you some serious money. You can make a huge batch for a few bucks while sports bars will charge $10+ for a plate. 

How to Make Fried Pickles

Once you have dried off your pickles, the process is pretty straightforward. Add the pickles to the seasoned flour mixture, then dust them off and add them to the buttermilk mixture. Finally, coat them in breadcrumbs. 

Once they are breaded, fry in small batches until they are golden brown. I usually shoot for about 1/2 cup of pickle slices per batch (you could do more depending on the size of your pot, just don’t overcrowd the pan). 

The Best Pickles for Frying

There’s no brand loyalty when it comes to fried pickles, but definitely go for sliced pickles and not spears. I’ve tried spears for fried pickles and find them lacking. They don’t capture enough breading, making them underwhelming once fried. 

While you can buy whole pickles and slice them yourself, I would recommend saving some time by just buying the pre-sliced jarred pickles. Use crinkle-cut pickles for a thicker, more pickle-y version or use thinly sliced pickles for extra crunch. 

If it’s your first time frying pickles, start with dill pickle slices. If you are feeling adventurous, try substituting bread and butter pickles for an interesting sweet fried pickle. 

Tips for Crispy Fried Pickles

Here are my tips for really delicious, crispy fried pickles 

• Dry the pickles well. This is probably the most important step. Pickles live in liquid and they need to be very dry before frying if you want the breading to stick well. 
• Keep the oil hot. These fry very fast and if you don’t have your oil hot enough, they will soak up some oil and won’t get nice and crispy. Give your oil time to reheat between fry batches.
• Use a breading station over a batter. A batter seems easier since it’s one dunk and you’re done, but it doesn’t result in the same crispy exterior as a breaded pickle.  

How to Serve Fried Pickles

I wouldn’t overthink the serving options for these pickles. Serve them piled high, sprinkled with a little salt, with some ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing on the side. 

Since you’ll have buttermilk on hand for the breading station, mix up some homemade ranch dressing—the perfect dipper!

Simple Recipe Variations

If you want to play around with these fried pickles, they are pretty flexible once you get the hang of it. Here are a few ideas:

• Change up the flavor of pickle. Try a spicy pickle or a bread and butter pickle. 
• Instead of breadcrumbs, try panko for a lighter breading option.
• Air fry the pickles if you don’t want to set up a full fry station. You can air fry in batches for 5 to 6 minutes. They won’t be as crispy as traditional frying, but still good. 

Serve Them Fresh

I’m not one to lie—fried pickles are best within 20 or 30 minutes of frying them. They start to get pretty soggy after that. Personally, I would only fry enough to eat and wouldn’t worry about saving them.

If you somehow had a huge amount of leftover fried pickles, you could save them. However, you will probably want to fry them again to re-crisp the breading or they will be soggy coming out of the fridge.

Make It a Pickle Party

• How to Make Quick Pickles
• Chicago Hot Dogs
• Pickle Slaw
• Cuban Sandwich (Cubano)
• Classic Potato Salad