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Crispy Southern Fried Pickles Recipe (Restaurant-Style & Air Fryer)

A tempting pile of super crispy fried pickles, golden brown and seasoned, stacked high on a white plate.
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Make perfectly crispy, golden fried pickles at home. This recipe gives you the classic deep-fried version and a lighter air fryer option for a tangy, addictive snack perfect for game day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 jar (16 ounces) dill pickle chips or slices, drained well
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (for extra crunch)
  • Vegetable oil, for frying (or cooking spray for air fryer)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the pickles: Place the drained pickle slices between several layers of paper towels. Press down firmly to remove as much moisture as possible. This step is key for crispy fried pickles.
  2. Set up the dredging station: In one shallow dish, whisk together the flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. In a second dish, whisk the eggs and milk together. In a third dish, place the panko breadcrumbs.
  3. Coat the pickles: Take a batch of dried pickle slices and dredge them first in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Dip them into the egg mixture, letting any extra drip off. Finally, press them firmly into the panko breadcrumbs until fully coated. Place the coated pickles on a clean, dry plate. Repeat with all pickles.
  4. For Deep Frying: Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or deep fryer to 375°F (190°C). Carefully drop the breaded pickles into the hot oil in small batches, ensuring you do not overcrowd the pot. Fry for 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
  5. For Air Frying (Healthy Fried Pickles): Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (195°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Arrange the breaded pickles in a single layer in the basket (work in batches). Lightly spray the tops of the pickles with cooking spray. Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crunchy.
  6. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

  • For a Texas Roadhouse Copycat flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano and 1/4 teaspoon onion powder to the flour mixture.
  • The best dipping sauce is a simple spiced ranch made by mixing 1/2 cup ranch dressing with 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce and a pinch of black pepper.
  • If you skip the panko and use only regular breadcrumbs, you will get a slightly less crunchy but still good result.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingbycarla.com/fried-pickles-recipe-crispy-easy-snack/