Air Fryer Fried Pickles
Originally published by The Pioneer Woman on July 26, 2023
Written by Ree Drummond
Photo by Caitlin Bensel
I was a little late to the air fryer party, but now I’m obsessed! I want to try all of the best air fryer recipes: grilled cheeses, chicken parm, fried okra… everything! This magnificent little countertop contraption surprises me every time in just how well it crisps and browns different foods, like these air fryer fried pickles. Seriously, one bite and you won’t believe they weren’t deep fried. They’re so quick and easy to make for an after-school snack, appetizer, or at-home tailgate munchie. Eat ’em hot and fresh with homemade ranch!
Are pickles good in the air fryer?
They’re better than good! Sometimes I don’t feel like dealing with a cast-iron skillet full of hot oil, but an air fryer is the next best thing. These pickles “fry” up so nice and crispy, and they’re a little on the healthier side, too.
How do you get the breading to stick to the pickles?
Make sure the pickles are very dry before you bread them. The best way to do that is to put the pickles on a layer of paper towels and pat ’em dry with more paper towels. Remove as much moisture as possible.
What is the trick to crispy fried pickles?
Trick #1: Dry your pickles. Trick #2: Spritz them with cooking spray just before you “fry” them. This helps them crisp up and get golden brown! An olive oil cooking spray will taste best.
Ingredients
- 116-oz. jar dill pickle chips, drained
- 1/2 c.all-purpose flour
- 3large egg whites
- 2/3 c.breadcrumbs
- 1/3 c.yellow cornmeal
- 1/4 tsp.kosher salt, plus more to taste
- Cooking spray (use olive oil spray for the best flavor)
- Ranch dressing, for serve
Directions
- For the pickles: Preheat a 3 1/2-quart air fryer to 390ºF. Set a wire rack on a baking sheet. Line a second baking sheet with paper towels and spread out the pickles on the towels; pat dry with more paper towels, pressing gently to remove as much moisture as possible.
- Put the flour in a medium bowl. In another bowl, beat the egg whites with 1/4 cup of water until frothy. In a third bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, cornmeal, and salt.
- Bread the pickles, 4 to 6 at a time. First, toss the pickles in the flour and shake off any excess. Then, dunk them in the egg mixture to completely coat and shake to remove any excess. Finally, toss them in the cornmeal mixture, pressing gently to adhere. Arrange the breaded pickles on the rack on the baking sheet.
- Spray half of the breaded pickles with cooking spray, then arrange sprayed-side down in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray the pickles again. Cook until very crunchy and browned on both sides, about 8 minutes. Lightly sprinkle the pickles with salt, remove to a serving plate, and repeat with the remaining pickles. Serve with ranch dressing for dipping.
Tip: Look for thick dill pickle slices! They’ll hold up well to the breading.
