Making Fried Pickles in the Air fryer takes hardly any time and uses no oil like deep frying! Feel good about eating these healthier 'fried pickles'!
I love the Air Fryer! It's an appliance than can pretty much do it all. I've shared with y'all Asparagus Fries, Avocado Fries, and so many other air fryer recipes with success! These Air Fryer Fried Pickles aren't actually fried, but you'd never know the difference! They are super crispy, juicy, and delicious! Fried pickles are an easy snack, delicious appetizer, or perfect game-day food!
Dip them in delicious Creamy Jalapeno Ranch Dressing or Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce and you will be all set! No matter what the occasion, you're going to be obsessed with making these Air Fryer Fried Pickles!
Making these fried pickles is easy, but it does take a few steps! I debated using a beer batter vs a regular breading, and I decided I liked a regular breading on fried pickles better than a beer batter.
The regular breading makes them very crispy and doesn't give them the chance to be soggy, so I like that option better.
How to make Fried Pickles in the Air Fryer:
**scroll down for step by step printable directions and full ingredient list**
- Place the dill pickles out on a paper towel in a single layer and then place a paper towel firmly on top of the pickles.
- This will absorb the moisture from the pickles so that the breading will be able to stick to the pickles.
- Get all the ingredients together and make an assembly line:
- In one medium bowl add flour, salt, and cajun seasoning; mix it together.
- In another bowl add panko breadcrumbs, regular breadcrumbs and garlic powder; mix it together.
- In another bowl add 2 eggs and pickle juice; whisk it together.
- Now to coat the pickles:
- Taking a few pickles at a time, add them to the bowl with the flour mixture and cover completely.
- Then add the pickles to the egg mixture, coating completely.
- Drip off any extra egg coating and then place in the bread crumb mixture.
- Press the pickles firmly into the bread crumb mixture to make sure the coating sticks well.
- Place the coated pickles in the Air Fryer in a single layer and make sure they don't touch each other. Lightly spray the tops of the pickles with oil spray ( I like using a Misto sprayer like this). Set the air fryer to 400 degrees and cook for 5 minutes. Open the air fryer after 5 mins and then flip the pickles over carefully, spray the tops with oil spray and then cook 5 more minutes.
- Remove and serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce!
What type of Air Fryer should I use for this recipe?
There are many Air Fryers to choose from, but I love my PowerXL Vortex Air fryer! Here are some other great options:
- Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven, 6 Quart: 6-in-1, Broil, Roast, Dehydrate, Bake, Non-stick and Dishwasher-Safe Basket, Stainless Steel
- COSORI Air Fryer 5.8QT - Large Hot Electric Oven Oilless Cooker with 8 Quick Setting Recommendation
What dipping sauces go with fried pickles?
- Big Mac Sauce (copycat recipe)
- Copycat Chick-fil-A sauce
- Chipotle Ranch Dip
- COPYCAT Zax Sauce
- Creamy Jalapeno Ranch Dressing
- Copycat Outback Bloomin’ Onion Sauce
If you like nutritious side dishes, you have to see these other recipes from Domestic Superhero:
- Air Fryer Crispy Parmesan Brussels Sprouts are going to be your new go-to side dish. Only a handful of ingredients and only 132 calories per serving!
- Air Fryer Asparagus Fries have less than 5 ingredients, NO oil, and done in less than 10 minutes! These will become a favorite side dish or snack!
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes are so easy - crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside!
- Air Fryer Zucchini Fries are the perfect snack! With no oil and only a handful of ingredients, they're easy and guilt-free with only 121 calories per serving!
- Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli is an incredibly easy, quick, and delicious side dish. This lower calorie air fryer option will become a staple side dish!
- Instant Pot Garlic Hummus Recipe only has a handful of ingredients; Save money and know exactly what’s in your food with this recipe !
- Garlic Ginger Spinach is the perfect blend of Garlic and Ginger, sautéed with delicious healthy fresh spinach.
Making Fried Pickles in the Air fryer takes hardly any time and uses no oil like deep frying! Feel good about eating these healthier 'fried pickles'!
- 30 dill pickles (I like the chip style)
- ½ cup flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tsp cajun seasoning
- 2 medium eggs
- 2 TBS pickle juice
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅓ cup bread crumbs
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- oil spray
-
Place the dill pickles out on a paper towel in a single layer and then place a paper towel firmly on top of the pickles.This will absorb the moisture from the pickles so that the breading will be able to stick to the pickles.
-
In one medium bowl add flour, salt, and cajun seasoning; mix it together. In another bowl add panko breadcrumbs, regular breadcrumbs and garlic powder; mix it together. In another bowl add 2 eggs and pickle juice; whisk it together.
-
Now coat the pickles: Taking a few pickles at a time, add them to the bowl with the flour mixture and cover completely. Then add the pickles to the egg mixture, coating completely. Drip off any extra egg coating and then place in the bread crumb mixture. Press the pickles firmly into the bread crumb mixture to make sure the coating sticks well.
-
Place the coated pickles in the Air Fryer in a single layer and make sure they don't touch each other (you will likely have to do in batches unless your air fryer is giant sized). Lightly spray the tops of the pickles with oil spray.
-
Set the air fryer to 400 degrees and cook for 5 minutes. Open the air fryer after 5 mins and then flip the pickles over carefully, spray the tops with oil spray and then cook 5 more minutes. Remove and serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce!
Recipe Video
*feel free to use one type of breadcrumbs if you don's have both regular and panko. I like combining them for the best texture, but you can use one type as well.
Published in May 2020, updated March 2023.
Kristyn
We seriously love these!! I am not even the hugest pickle fan, but when they are battered & air-fried..oh, man..they are addicting!
Katie
Oh my goodness, I need to try this recipe! Looks delicious!
Erin
I love that i can make these at home and they are healthy! Yum
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
This Fried Pickles looks incredibly delicious!
Dorothy Reinhold
I am excited to try this batter. I love that you used the Cajun seasonings and two kinds of breadcrumbs.
Cathy
I love that you don't even need oil for these!
Catalina
Oh my goodness! This is a must try recipe!
Catalina
I've made them for our game night and everyone loved them! These fried pickles are so crispy!
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes
I love that you can make these in the air fryer!!
Sandra
My husband loves pickles! I am sure he'll love this!
Rosa Guerette
This is the best air fried pickles recipe I have tried. Really like this recipe.
Jon Deuro
Made these last night ! OMG they are fantastic ! Great recipe !
Allyson
So glad you liked them!!
Sarah
Tried these today and they definitely met my urge for “fried” pickles. I think next time I won’t use both types of breadcrumbs and reduce the amount of flour - I had a lot left over! Overall a good recipe that needs a couple
of minor tweaks for personal taste!
Molly Byrd
THESE ARE SO GOOD!!
Allyson
Yay! I am so happy you like them as much as we do!
Olivia Miller
this was a very good recipe!! i loved them!! sooo goooddd:)
Allyson
I am so happy you loved it as much as we do!
Stacia
My sister and I made this for the CFP championship game and the crowd loved it!! Fyi the air fryer got pretty hot by the 3rd batch so cut the cook time to 4min each side.
Allyson
Stacia- So happy to hear that! Yes, it definitely gets hot and you were right to reduce the time a bit!
Ashley H
We saw this recipe and it was the FIRST recipe we tried with our new air fryer! Simple and delicious! We had a little extra batter and decided to make a few more after we finished off the first batch! Enjoyed with ranch. In the second batch we added some “slap yo mama” spice (yes, that’s really what it’s called hah) to make a spicy version!
Allyson
So good! Love that cajun seasoning too!
Matthew
Turned out awesome i did change a few things though i left out the garlic powder because i use a garlic dill pickle was the best i ever had WILL BE MAKING THEM AGAIN
Allyson
YUMMM!!!!!
Stephani
Been craving fried pickles for weeks so I decided to try this as my first air fryer recipe. Didn't have cajun seasoning so I subbed 1/2 tsp cayenne (also because I'm not good with spicy food), didn't have bread crumbs so I subbed crushed Ritz crackers, the pickles came out really good! I ran out of bread crumb mixture with a few pickles left, next time I'll just use heaping measurements for that bit.
Allyson
Sounds like you improvised well!
Jennie
Phenomenal! I got my fryer for Christmas and have really just started exploring recipes. This one is a keeper!
Allyson
Thank you so much for your 5 star review! Happy new year!
Val
Such a delicious recipe yet so easy to make! Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe!
Olivia
Loved these so much!! They were a huge hit with my family, thank you!
Paula K
So delicious! My only issue is that with 3 teenage boys, i should have doubled the recipe!
Erin | Dinners, Dishes and Dessert
Looks so good! Everyone would definitely love this!
Sandra
This is such a great idea!! I love how quick and easy it is to make!!
Tisha
Fried pickles are one of my favorites! Love that these are made in the airfryer