Fantastically crispy Air Fryer Pickles are a delicious and healthier way to enjoy this popular fried dill pickle appetizer! The whole family loves the crunchy Panko bread crumb coating on this tangy dill pickle snack! Serve it up with your favorite dipping sauce for a 'better than' deep fried dill pickles 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 the deep fried version at home for my family now many times, I can honestly say that I am a convert to the air fried dill pickles. I prefer these breaded air fryer pickles, hands down, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
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!
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Believe it or not, fried dill pickles was 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!
🥘 Ingredients
Super easy ingredients with easy swaps for Keto or Gluten-Free.
- Dill Pickle Chips or Slices - Homemade pickles work as well.
- All-Purpose Flour - Go gluten free or keto by using coconut flour.
- Eggs
- Panko Bread Crumbs - Go gluten free or keto by switching to ground up pork rinds.
- Seasoning - Garlic powder, salt, and paprika.
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*
🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions
Prep
- Start out with placing your 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.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF (204ºC) and set the timer to 15 minutes, then spray your basket or air fryer trays with non-stick cooking spray. *For an Instant Pot Vortex Plus, or similar counter top model, set the cooking option to 'air fry'.
Coating
- Set up your dredging station with a small bowl each for the flour, beaten eggs, and seasoned Panko breading mixture.
- Mix the Panko bread crumbs with garlic powder, salt, and paprika. *Cayenne pepper is a nice addition for a bit of heat, if you like some spicy flavoring.
- To bread the dill pickle slices, start by placing the pickles into the first bowl with the all-purpose flour and coating all sides.
- Transfer the flour coated pickle slices to the second bowl with the beaten eggs, and coat thoroughly with the wet egg mixture.
- 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
- 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. This will help to make sure that they turn out beautifully crispy on all sides!
- 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.
- For an IP Vortex Plus oven style air fryer, the indicator to 'turn food' will show at the half way 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.
- The fried dill pickle chips are done when they are nicely golden and crispy on all sides. Cook in batches, as needed.
- 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. What do you enjoy for dipping??
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
Here are a few of my special tips for extra-crispy fried pickles!
- Get as much liquid off the pickles as possible. Let them set 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 model.
😋 More Air Fryer Recipes
- Try this Rotisserie Chicken for dinner!
- Chicken Legs
- Need a snack? French Fries Or From Frozen.
- The best way to use up leftover baked potatoes try my Potato Skins.
- Coconut Shrimp
📋 Recipe
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
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.
Equipment You May Need
Notes
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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!