Crispy air fryer pickles are a delicious and healthier way to enjoy this popular fried dill pickle appetizer! The whole family will love the crunchy Panko bread crumb coating on this tangy pickle snack! Serve it up with your favorite dipping sauce for a 'better than' deep-fried dill pickle treat!
Air Fryer Fried Pickles Recipe
These easy air fryer fried pickles are gone so fast, I'm convinced that I need an industrial-sized air fryer for at home! You know, so I don't have to do that mom thing where everyone else eats first?!
Having made the usual deep-fried pickles at home for my family many times, I can honestly say that I am a convert to air-fried dill pickles. I prefer these air fryer pickles, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Jump to:
- Air Fryer Fried Pickles Recipe
- 🥘 Air Fryer Pickles Ingredients, Notes, & Substitutes
- 🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Pickles
- 🍽️ What To Serve With Fried Pickles
- 💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- 🥄 Make Ahead Options
- 🥡 Storing & Reheating
- ❓ Recipe FAQs
- 😋 🍟 More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
Believe it or not, fried dill pickles were not something I grew up with. It's hard to believe because I absolutely LOVE dill pickles!
It wasn't until my family and I moved to Minnesota that I first noticed deep-fried dill pickles on any menus. Maybe I missed it before, but I think it would have been hard for an avid dill pickle fan to miss!
Try some of my other fantastic appetizers! The whole family will love my crispy air fryer potato skins, delicious air fryer coconut shrimp, or my amazing Chinese beef meatballs!
🥘 Air Fryer Pickles Ingredients, Notes, & Substitutes
These are all super easy ingredients with easy swaps for keto or gluten-free.
- Dill Pickle Chips or Slices - 36 pickle chips or slices. Homemade pickles work as well.
- All-Purpose Flour - ½ cup of all-purpose flour or a flour substitute. Go gluten-free or keto by using coconut flour.
- Eggs - 3 large beaten eggs.
- Panko Bread Crumbs - 2 cups of Panko breadcrumbs. Go gluten-free or keto by switching to ground-up pork rinds. You can also use my homemade Panko breadcrumbs here!
- Seasoning - ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of paprika or a paprika substitute.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Pickles
The air fryer makes just about any recipe ten times easier, and these fried pickles are no exception! You're going to need an air fryer, of course, and a few small mixing bowls, your measuring utensils, and some tongs.
I made 36 fried pickle chips here, which is about 4-6 servings when offered as an appetizer.
Prep
Step 1: Dry. Start out by placing 36 dill pickle slices onto a paper towel-lined plate. You want to absorb as much moisture as possible before moving on to breading the dill slices.
Step 2: Preheat. Lightly coat the air fryer basket with a thin layer of cooking oil and preheat your air fryer to 400ºF (204ºC). *For an Instant Pot Vortex Plus or similar countertop model, set the cooking option to 'air fry.'
Bread The Pickles
Step 3: Dredging station. Set up your dredging station with a small bowl each for the ½ cup (62.5 grams) of all-purpose flour, 3 large beaten eggs (150 grams), and seasoned Panko breading mixture.
Step 4: Make breading. Mix 2 cups (118 grams) of Panko bread crumbs with ½ teaspoon (0.8 grams) of garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon (1.42 grams) of salt, and ¼ teaspoon (0.5 grams) of paprika.
Step 5: Dredge. To bread the dill pickle slices, start by placing the pickles into the first bowl with the all-purpose flour and coating all sides. Then, transfer the flour-coated pickle slices to the second bowl with the beaten eggs, and coat thoroughly with the wet egg mixture.
Step 6: Coat. Once your dill pickle chips are well coated with egg, move them into the final bowl with the seasoned Panko bread crumb. Coat all sides of the air fryer fried pickles before placing them onto your greased trays.
Air Fry The Pickles
Step 7: Add to air fryer. Space the breaded pickles on the air fryer trays or air fryer basket so that they are not crowded and air can circulate easily around them.
Step 8: Air fry. Cook at 400ºF (204ºC) for 15 minutes, turning at the halfway point in a basket-style air fryer. *If you are using an Instant Pot Vortex Plus, as I am here, the indicator will tell you to 'add food' once the air fryer is preheated. Insert the racks with your breaded dill pickles and close the door.
Step 9: Enjoy. The fried dill pickle chips are done when they are nicely golden and crispy on all sides. Cook in batches, as needed.
🍽️ What To Serve With Fried Pickles
Serve immediately when done; no one here in my home waits for these to cool any longer than what it takes to put them on a plate! My family enjoys the standard side of ranch dressing with our air fryer pickles, though blue cheese dressing is tasty, too!
They're a classic game-day appetizer, and I serve them for the Superbowl every year! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Get as much liquid off the pickles as possible before breading them. Let them sit on the paper towels then use a dry paper towel to pat them dry.
- Bread the dill pickle slices as you go. That way they are not sitting too long before going directly into your air fryer.
- Ranch lovers can swap the seasonings for a packet of dry ranch seasoning mix for tasty ranch-flavored fried pickles! Cajun seasoning would also be tasty! Cayenne pepper is a nice addition for a bit of heat, if you like some spicy flavoring.
- For an IP Vortex Plus oven-style air fryer, the indicator to 'turn food' will show at the halfway point. Move the top rack to the bottom, and the bottom rack to the top position. Then close the air fryer door and allow your air fryer dill pickles to finish cooking.
🥄 Make Ahead Options
If you want to cook your fried pickles in advance and save them for later, freezing them is your best bet!
Prepare the air fryer pickles as instructed and let them cool fully. Then, lay them out on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and flash-freeze them for an hour (so they don't stick together).
Then, they can be transferred to a heavy-duty freezer bag for convenient storage! Freeze for up to 3 months, no need to thaw before reheating.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Put your leftover pickles in a paper towel-lined Tupperware container with a lid. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating Fried Pickles
Fried pickles are best hot and fresh - but, you can get good results reheating your pickles in the air fryer!
For the crispiest pickles, preheat your air fryer to 375°F (175°C) first. Then, add the pickles in a single layer and cook for 3-5 minutes (a minute or 2 longer if frozen) until hot and crispy!
>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<
❓ Recipe FAQs
You can use any type of pickle you prefer, but dill pickles are the most common choice. You can also use pickle spears or pickle chips, just don't overcrowd the basket!
Nope! If you freeze these fried pickles, you can put them directly into the air fryer to reheat them.
I very light coating of cooking oil does the trick. I use a basting brush for easy and even coverage. If your air fryer has a good non-stick coating, you may not even need the oil at all!
😋 🍟 More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Frozen Popcorn Chicken - Frozen popcorn chicken has never tasted better thanks to your air fryer!
- Air Fryer Quesadillas - Melted cheese, taco meat, and your favorite veggies between two golden and crispy tortillas!
- Air Fryer Popcorn - Not only can you make perfect popcorn in the air fryer, but you can totally customize it with your favorite seasonings!
- Air Fryer Shrimp - Shrimp cooks up quickly in the air fryer and turns out juicy and tender every time!
- Air Fryer Zucchini - Whip up some tasty zucchini in minutes that will pair well with any meal!
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes - Fluffy baked potatoes in half the time it takes in the oven!
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📖 Recipe Card
Air Fryer Pickles
Ingredients
- 36 dill pickle chips or slices (thick cut)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs (beaten)
- 2 cups Panko bread crumbs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Set your dill pickle chips on a paper towel lined plate and preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) and set the cook time for 15 minutes. Coat your air fryer basket or trays with non-stick cooking spray.
- Set up the dredging station: one small bowl of flour, one small bowl of beaten eggs, and the third small bowl with the combined Panko bread crumbs with seasoning (garlic powder, salt, and paprika).
- Allow the pickle chips to drain moisture off onto the paper towels until as much of the liquid is absorbed as possible. Coat the pickle chips with flour first.
- Transfer the flour coated pickle chips to the second bowl and dip in the beaten egg to coat.
- Once the pickle chip(s) are well coated with egg, move to the last bowl and coat with the seasoned breading.
- Place breaded dill pickle slices in the basket of your air fryer, or on the frying racks of an oven style air fryer. Leave some spacing in between so that the air can circulate and the pill chips can fry evenly. Cook at 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) when your Instant Pot Vortex Plus is preheated and indicates to 'add food'.
- Rotate your trays from top to bottom position when the IP Vortex Plus indicates to 'turn food' and continue until the cooking cycle is complete, or your dill pickle chips are nicely golden and crispy. If using a basket air fryer, be sure to also turn your air fryer pickles at the half way point between 7-8 minutes.
- Cook in batches, as needed. Serve immediately, with your favorite dipping sauce.
Claudine says
Bonjour, Est-ce que je peux les préparer d’avance sans les faire cuire. Les mettre au frigo et au moment venu j’aurai qu’à les mettre dans la friteuse à air. Votre recette semble excellente. Merci
"Hello, can I prepare them in advance without cooking them. Put them in the fridge and when the time comes I will just have to put them in the air fryer. Your recipe looks excellent. THANKS"
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Bonjour Claudine, Je vous déconseille de les préparer à l'avance à moins de les paner puis de les déposer sur une plaque à pâtisserie plate. Congelez les cornichons préparés puis faites-les frire lorsque vous êtes prêt à les servir. Merci d'avoir posé la question!
"Hello Claudine, I wouldn't recommend preparing these in advance unless you breaded them and then set them on a flat baking sheet. Freeze the prepared pickles then fry them when you're ready to serve them. Thanks for asking!"
Christine Bolduc says
Est-ce que je peux les préparer d'avances
"Can I prepare them in advance?"
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Ceux-ci ne seront pas aussi croustillants s'ils sont préparés à l'avance. Vous pouvez les préparer, puis les réchauffer dans la friteuse à air pour de meilleurs résultats à 350F/175C pendant environ 5 minutes avant de servir.
"These will not be as crunchy if prepared in advance. You can make them, then reheat them in the air fryer for best results at 350F/175C for about 5 minutes before serving."
Sam says
I made these in my instapot vortex and they turned out very dry. I only cooked 18 pickles. Is it possible I dried out the pickles too much or cooked them for too long?
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
I was using my instant pot vortex too, and as you can see I had only 12-14 slices on each tray. If anything, just adjust the cooking time down and start checking the pickles a bit earlier. Everything we use has minor variations due to existing heat, humidity, and other specifics to where you are. Hope that helps! Thanks for asking 🙂
Brittany says
Fried pickles are my guilty pleasure! I am excited to try this recipe. I especially love how you added garlic powder to the recipe, that is such a brilliant idea! Thank you for sharing!
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
I am a relative newbie to fried pickles, but absolutely love them! Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!