Today we’re making homemade fried pickles! These are crisp breaded dill pickle slices made with no deep fryer required. I’ve also included a simple zesty dipping sauce in the recipe!
Today’s recipe is made with simple ingredients and includes a how-to video at the bottom of the post!
Fried Pickles are our first savory recipe of 2019! And our first fried recipe, at that.
I’ve started to get a bit more comfortable frying things. First I shared my fried donut holes, and last year we did apple fritters and sour cream donuts. These fried pickles are done much the same way with no deep fryer required. All you need is a heavy-bottomed pot (I like using my medium-sized cast iron saucepan), some vegetable oil, and a thermometer.
I started out this recipe trying to mimic fried pickles from one of my favorite restaurants. They have thinly sliced pickles with a very light and thin coating. I tried a few variations and was moving along happily towards thin, barely breaded, fried pickles, when disaster struck.
I found a variation I liked even better. Zach and I both agreed that this thicker, crispier, more prominent batter (paired with a more thickly sliced dill pickle, so as not to overwhelm the taste) was actually even better and more addictive than the fried pickles I’d set out to copy. Here’s hoping you enjoy them just as much!
How to Make Fried Pickles
- Slice your dill pickles. You can start with pre-sliced pickle chips, but I prefer to cut my own from whole kosher dill pickles.
- Heat your oil to 375F (this can take 10 minutes or longer) and make your breading (a simple mix of flour, salt and pepper, garlic powder, and other spices) and dipping mixture
- Toss 3-4 pickle slices in your flour-based breading mixture, shake off the excess, dip in a buttermilk/egg mixture, dip in flour mixture again.
- (Carefully!) transfer to oil and fry until golden brown. Remove from oil using a strainer or slotted spoon.
- Enjoy warm!
Tips for Making Fried Pickles
The thickness of your pickle slices matters!
I found that the thin pickle slices I originally was going for became overwhelmed by this batter. When I tried them this way, it was kind of just like eating deep fried batter (tasty, but not what we want here!). Slices that were just shy of ¼″ thick provided the perfect amount of pickle. This way you can actually taste the pickle and experience that satisfying pickle crunch in every bite. Any thicker and they became awkward, two-bite snacks.
Use Buttermilk (or my substitute!)
The tangy flavor of the buttermilk is the perfect complement to dill pickles, and I don’t recommend using regular milk if you can avoid it. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can use my easy buttermilk substitute, which just requires milk and either a splash of lemon juice or vinegar.
Enjoy!
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Fried Pickles
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 1 cup all purpose flour (125g)
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 3 kosher dill pickles cut into slices just shy of ¼” thick and lightly patted dry*
Dipping Sauce (optional, plain old Ranch dressing also works great for dipping!)
- 2 Tablespoons Ranch dressing
- 1 Tablespoon BBQ sauce
- 1 teaspoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon mayonnaise
- Dash tabasco sauce
- Dash of ground black pepper
Instructions
- Fill a Dutch oven or large saucepan 2-3" deep with oil for frying. Fix a candy thermometer to the edge (make sure it is in the oil but not touching the bottom of the pan) and set your heat to medium. Oil will need to reach 375F (190C) before you can begin frying, but this will take 10 minutes or so.
- Meanwhile, prepare your breading mixture by whisking together flour, salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk and egg.
- Once oil has reached 375F (190C), prepare pickles for frying in batches of 3-4 slices
- Coat slices in flour mixture, gengly shake off excess, dredge in buttermilk/egg mixture, then coat with flour mixture again.
- Transfer (carefully!) to oil and fry 3-4 pickle slices at a time for 90 seconds on each side or until golden brown.
- Use a slotted spoon or strainer to remove from oil and transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Make sure oil returns to 375F (190C) before frying your next batch of pickles.
- Fried pickles are best enjoyed warm. If desired, serve with dipping sauce, which can be made by stirring together dipping sauce ingredients until combined.
Blufeather
Would this work in an air fryer?
Sam
I honestly have never tried in an air fryer, I’m sorry! If you do try it, would you let me know how it turns out for you?
AMJ
This is my new favorite fried pickle recipe! I looked this one up because I was feeling too lazy to find the one I usually use, and I’m so glad I did! The sauce recipe is amazing too.
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoy them so much! 🙂
Jessie Torrence
I made this rn it’s soooo goood!!! 😋
I didn’t have buttermilk so I did a substitute of milk yogurt and water came out great it called for plain yogurt but I used vanilla 🤷🏻♀️ It’s still came out great 👍🏼
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Jessie! 🙂
Wayne
Dang it Sam!!!
You’re going to make me fat(ter)
Sam
🤣 I’m sorry! 🙂
Richard Myers
Impressive flavor, just wonderful, used my favorite pickles too.
And the lady with the funnel cake idea with the rest of the batter was genius, just sugar or power sugar,very nice.
Awesome recipe my best ones I ever made at home & it was tonight. Thank you
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed them so much, Richard! 🙂
dawn s cherne
I wonder if they can be made ahead and frozen? I know when I do it with some things (like zucchini) it never comes out as good. Wondering if you have tried.
Sam
Hi Dawn! I am not sure how it would work. Typically with a fried food they are best when served fresh. 🙂
Jennifer Castellani
DELICIOUS! Best fried pickle recipe I have found so far. Wish I could post a pic..
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Jennifer! Unfortunately there isn’t a way to post a picture here but you can tag me on Instagram @Sugarspun_Sam or join my Facebook Group. I’d love to see it! 🙂
sebastian
this was one of the best fried pickles ever. I am so happy I found this recipe. It was great the whole family loved i’m making it again today!!!
Sam
Yay! I’m so happy you enjoyed, Sebastian! Thank you for trying my recipe 🙂
sebastian
ya np
Teri Cristobal
Our first time making this. Your recipe was unique with ingredients I already had and the dry-wet-dry coating technique. This was easy to make and your instructions were great. We were able to fry up 7pcs at a time and fried up more than 3 pickles with all the batter. They came out delicious (perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of batter to pickle ratio)… and the perfect dipping sauce, too. Will definitely make this again! Thank you for filling our cravings.
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Teri! Now you can satisfy that craving at any time. 🙂
Katherine
So, yesterday, I got an odd, really intense craving for fried pickles, but most of the restaurants around me are closed. I started browsing reciped and found this one. Let me just say: This was SO GOOD! It was salty, crunchy, and didn’t take too much time. They were everything I had hoped and more, and were absolutely drool-worthy. One tip: if you have some flour and some egg mixture left, stir them together and fry it. It tastes just like a savory funnel cake, and was super tasty!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed them so much, Katherine! I know how it feels to absolutely crave these. 🙂
Jessica
Excellent!! I LOVE FRIED PICKLES!!! I have an addiction to pickles in every form anyway so it is long past time to step up to the fried pickle plate! This was my first time making them in general. This recipe is awesome!!! The seasoning is perfectly blended. Thank you for sharing this!!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed them, Jessica! Thank you for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
nandy
this was so addicting and great, definitely making this again 100% recommenced, the sauce doesn’t taste like the original however i loved it with ranch
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed them so much! 🙂
Nancy Cammack
Delish! The sauce was addictive-soo good. I doubled the spices and the light batter on “Wickle’s dirty dill pickles brand” was to die for. Couldn’t make them fast enough for the family.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that they were such a hit, Nancy! Thank you for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Hannah
I used this recipe and it was amazing except the spices were not strong enough! I would say half the flour or quadruple all of the spices. Then you can really taste them once they are fried 👌
Sugar Spun Run
Thanks for trying my recipe, Hannah! I am glad that you enjoyed them and adjusted the spice levels to your liking. Thanks for commenting. 🙂