Air Fryer Fried Pickles

Love fried pickles? Try making this air fryer version at home! Crispy, crunchy, and full of pickle flavor, they're a delicious appetizer or snack.

Air fryer fried pickles

By popular request: air fryer fried pickles! Recently, a few of you have asked me if I’ve made fried pickles in the air fryer. After getting the question a couple of times, I knew I had to try it. I have to say, I’m so glad I did! These air fryer fried pickles are crispy on the outside, juicy in the middle, salty, tangy, and completely addictive. They’re a great fun, easy appetizer for a summer happy hour, though honestly, we like these air fryer pickles so much that I plan to make them at all times of year. I hope you love them too!

Air fryer fried pickles recipe ingredients

Air Fryer Fried Pickles Recipe Ingredients

When I first tried making fried pickles in the air fryer, I put all sorts of seasonings in the breading – garlic powder, cayenne, the works. What I found, though, was that the spices got in the way of the punchy pickle flavor. I ended up paring back the recipe to call for these simple ingredients:

  • Pickles, of course! Use a jar of pickle chips, or slice pickle spears into coins yourself. I tend to use dill pickles in this recipe, though I’m sure bread and butter pickles would be tasty here too!
  • Panko breadcrumbs – They create the crispy coating on the outside of the pickles.
  • An egg – It binds the panko to the pickles.
  • And extra-virgin olive oil – To help the breading become crisp and golden as it cooks. You’ll use wayyy less than you would if you were deep frying the pickles!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Hand dipping pickles into panko breading

To make these air fryer pickles, you’ll start by draining the pickles and patting them dry. Removing the excess brine will help the breading stick to the pickles in the next step.

Once you dry the pickles, dip them in the egg, followed by the panko. As you work, place the breaded pickles on a plate or parchment paper.

Breaded pickles in air fryer basket

Drizzle the pickles with olive oil and arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Careful not to overcrowd them – if you do, the pickles won’t get crispy! Work in batches if necessary.

Finally, air fry until the pickles are golden brown and crisp. That’s it!

Platter of Air fryer fried pickles with remoulade sauce

Air Fryer Fried Pickles Serving Suggestions

These air fried pickles are best served right away, when they’re still hot and crispy. They’re yummy on their own, but they’re even more delicious with a dipping sauce on the side. We love them with this remoulade sauce, and they’d also be great with creamy chipotle sauce, vegan ranch, or chipotle ranch dressing.

Air fryer fried pickles recipe

More Favorite Air Fryer Snacks

If you love this air fryer fried pickle recipe, try one of these fun air fryer snacks next:

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Air Fryer Fried Pickles

rate this recipe:
4.75 from 12 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Serves 6
Crispy, crunchy, and completely addictive, these air fryer fried pickles are such a fun, easy appetizer! We love them with remoulade sauce, but they'd also be great with my chipotle sauce or chipotle ranch dressing.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 370°F.
  • Use a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to pat the pickles dry. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, whisk the egg. In a medium bowl, place the panko.
  • Dip the pickles into the egg and then into the panko. Place on a plate as you work and then drizzle the pickles with olive oil. Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket with a little space around each pickle. Don’t overcrowd the basket. Work in batches if necessary. Air fry for 11 to 14 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown. The exact cooking time will depend on your air fryer.
  • Serve immediately with remoulade for dipping.

10 comments

4.75 from 12 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Mom
    12.30.2023

    5 stars
    These were easy and great. We just did the pickles for my diabetic son. Such an easy different treat that isn’t super high carb.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.01.2024

      I’m glad you loved them!

  2. Tracy
    01.14.2023

    2 stars
    I so badly wanted to love this but it was an epic fail.

    First, You can pat the pickle dry all day and they are still soggy. This step takes way longer than the instructions indicate.

    Missed the part about keeping egg and panko separate. Mixed them and the bread absorbed too much and and ended up thick and wouldn’t stick to pickles.

    In short, the fried pickles turned out with a dense almost cornbread coating which ruined the experience. Not at all what I wanted or expected

    The remoulade was delicious though.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.16.2023

      Hi Tracy, I’m sorry these didn’t work for you. The egg and panko definitely have to be kept separate for the breading to work.

  3. Mary E
    08.28.2022

    I used JustEgg to make them vegan, and vegan ranch for dipping.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      08.29.2022

      I’m so glad to hear they worked with JustEgg!

      • Mary E
        08.29.2022

        5 stars
        They were delicious! Crunchy and so much less oily…a keeper for sure!

        • Mary E
          03.11.2023

          I also added Tabasco to the Just Egg for some spice. ?

          • Jeanine Donofrio
            03.12.2023

            yum!

  4. Kristin Bergholtz
    07.20.2022

    Can you use GF panko breadcrumbs?

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.