Fried Pickles

Name: Fried Pickles
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: About 1 quart of vegetable oil for frying; 16 ounces dill pickle slices (drained); ½ cup flour; ½ teaspoon dried basil; ½ teaspoon dried parsley; 2 tsp garlic powder; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper; ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper; ½ cup milk

Fried pickles are perfect for snacks, topping a burger, or serving as a crowd-pleasing appetizer! Delicious dill pickle slices are dipped in a seasoned batter and then deep-fried until crispy, golden brown, and irresistible.

round plate of fried pickles with a ceramic side dish of ranch dressing for dipping.

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If you have ever had fried dill pickles at a country fair, you already know how delicious this little snack can be. The fried pickle slices are the perfect size to pop right into your mouth!

I know that deep-fried food isn’t always considered the healthiest option, but just like Fried Green Tomatoes and Fried Chicken, there are certain recipes where it’s totally worth going all in and deep frying. This is one of them. Frying pickles in oil is the best way to get crispy, absolutely irresistible fried pickles. You can’t do that in the oven!

close up image of a plate of fried pickles.

Crispy Fried Pickles Recipe

Fried pickles (frickles?) are a super fun, crave-worthy appetizer that you are going to go crazy for. This recipe is really easy, too, and uses simple ingredients to create a fried pickle that every pickle lover will adore. I love the ease of dipping the pickles in perfectly seasoned batter rather than using breadcrumbs, which can be messy and time-consuming. The batter also fries beautifully, giving each pickle a beautiful golden brown crust with a soft pickle center.

Serve these fried pickles with homemade Ranch dressing, a spicy aioli sauce, or blue cheese dressing. Your favorite dipping sauce will be the perfect addition! They are also delicious on their own warm out of the fryer. I have even been known to put deep-fried pickles on top of my burger. It’s an irresistible combination!

Give this fun little pickle snack a try, and you will be hooked. The only thing more addictive than a dill pickle is a deep-fried dill pickle!

Ingredients for Homemade Fried Pickles

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

Vegetable oil – Canola oil also works well for frying. You want a neutral-tasting oil with a high smoke point.
Flour – All-purpose flour is best.
Dried basil
Dried parsley
Garlic powder
Salt
Black pepper
Cayenne pepper – Cayenne pepper is optional, but it does add a nice kick to the fried pickles. Chili powder will also work to make spicy fried pickles.
Milk – Whole milk is best, but skim or 2% milk will work too.
Dill pickle slices – Any brand of dill pickles works. Look for pickle slices that are cut on a diagonal, making the slices larger but still nice and thin.

Variations

Here are a few ingredient substitutes and variations that will work well.

Any type of pickle slices will work well. Bread and butter sweet pickles are nice and sweet and make amazing fried pickles, too!
Use pickle spears instead of slices to make deep-fried pickle spears. You will need to increase the cooking time by about a minute since the spears are thicker than the slices. Whole pickles will not work as they are too large to fry well.
Replace the basil, parsley, and garlic powder with 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning.
Add a teaspoon of hot sauce to the batter to make it extra spicy. A teaspoon of Cajun seasoning added to the batter also makes for a great recipe twist.

bread and butter pickles laying on a paper towl.

dredge mixture for fried pickles sitting in a large white bowl.

How to Make Fried Pickles

Heat the oil: Add the vegetable oil to a large, heavy-bottomed pot or skillet and heat over medium heat. The oil needs to be about 375º F to fry the pickles. Use a digital thermometer to get an accurate temperature reading.
Dry the pickles: Strain the pickles and pat them dry. The slices need to be dry for the batter to stick. This may be the most important thing to remember in this recipe! The drier the slices, the more batter you will get on each pickle, making them extra crunchy.
Make the batter: Whisk the flour, basil, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper together in a shallow bowl. Whisk the milk into the flour mixture until smooth.
Dip and fry: Dip the dried pickle slices in the batter and place them directly into the hot oil. Fry the pickles for 1 ½ minutes, flipping halfway through. They should be golden brown on each side. Fry the battered pickles in small batches so they are not overcrowded in the pan. Fried food needs space in the pan to cook evenly! A big batch in the pan may result in the pickles cooking unevenly and turning soggy.
Drain: Remove the deep-fried pickles from the oil using tongs or a slotted spoon. Place them in a single layer on a paper towel-lined plate or baking sheet to cool slightly. Enjoy while hot with your favorite dips!

hand taking a fried pickle and dipping it into a ceramic bowl with ranch dressing.

Quick Tip

Let the batter sit for about 10 minutes to thicken. When the pickle batter sits, the flour in the batter will absorb some of the milk; this will help coat the pickle slices better and prevent the batter from dripping off the pickles.

How to Store Fried Pickles

If you happen to have any leftover fried pickles, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat the fried pickles in an air fryer for about 5 minutes. This will make them crispy without needing any more oil. You can also reheat fried pickles in a skillet with a little oil. Heat them in the pan for a minute or two, then enjoy!

FAQs

How do you keep breading from falling off fried pickles?

Make sure the pickle slices are dry before dipping them in the batter. The batter will slide off the wet pickles. Patting each side of the pickles with paper towels before dipping them in the batter will really help the coating stick.

How to make soggy fried pickles crispy?

Reheat fried pickles in an air fryer to make them crispy once again. You can also reheat them in a large skillet with a tiny bit of oil. Crisp them on both sides in the pan and you will no longer have a soggy pickle problem!

Why are my fried pickles soggy?

If your fried pickles are soggy straight out of the frying oil, the oil may have been too cold when you started frying. I recommend using a thermometer to test the temperature of the oil before you begin frying. This will ensure the oil is super hot and won’t absorb into the batter.