Easy Air Fryer Fried Pickles

Easy Air Fryer Pickles are a healthier version of fried pickles without all the grease and still crispy and satisfying!! Made in the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer.

Not sure you’re aware that I have stomach issues. Can’t eat spicy foods, any citrus, garlic or very little fried foods. This is a perfect option for tummies like mine. Not to mention, it’s actually healthier. Not that I eat all healthy and stuff. But everything done in moderation is better. So, throwing those healthy foods in with the not-so-healthy foods help. Right?

I made these in my Ninja Foodi Air Fryer. So, you may have to adjust some of the instructions for your air fryer.

Can you use batter in an air fryer?

We’ll just get this out of the way. NO! Do not use batter with an air fryer. Most are not made to use “wet” batter in. The drippage (if that’s a word) from the batter could ruin the heating elements in the unit.

How do you make fried pickles from scratch in an air fryer?

To make fried pickles in an air fryer will be very similar to making them in hot oil/deep frying. You would create the “coating” and the air fry it. To make the coating, I used the following ingredients…

• Egg
• Heavy Cream
• Panko
• Bread Crumbs
• Flour
• Paprika
• Onion Powder
• Black Pepper
• Salt

You can always add or take away the spices as you desire. For example, use some garlic powder in lieu of or with the onion powder.

Just dip the pickle in the flour mixture, then the egg wash, and finally in the panko/bread crumb mixture. Pop it in the air fryer. That easy.

The big time consumer here is you should do this pickle for pickle. At 120 pickles, that takes a little bit of time. Not to mention, you have to count those suckers. I wish they would tell you how many pickles slices are in a jar. That would have cut some time.

Fun facts about fried pickles

Fried pickles are one of those snacks that feel like they were made for sharing. They are crunchy, salty, tangy, and just a little bit addictive. They are often linked to Southern-style restaurants and fair food, but the idea is pretty simple: take a pickle slice, coat it, crisp it up, and serve it with something cool and creamy for dipping. The air fryer version gives you that same snacky goodness without having to heat up a big pot of oil or deal with splatters all over the stove.

Pickles also bring their own built-in flavor. Since they have already been sitting in brine, you get that vinegary bite before you add a single seasoning. That is why the coating can stay simple. Panko gives the crunch, flour helps everything stick, and a few pantry spices round it out. No need to make things complicated unless you just want to play around with flavors.

Tips and tricks for crispy air fryer pickles

The biggest trick is drying the pickles. Pickle slices hold a lot of moisture, and moisture is the enemy of crispy breading. Drain the jar well, then lay the slices on paper towels and pat them dry before coating. If you have a few extra minutes, let them sit on the towels while you set up the breading bowls. It really does help the coating stay put instead of sliding off.

Another tip is to keep one hand for the wet ingredients and one hand for the dry ingredients. It sounds silly until your fingers turn into breaded pickle clubs. Dip the pickle in the flour mixture first, then the egg wash, then the panko/bread crumb mixture. Press the crumbs gently onto both sides so the coating has a better chance of sticking.

Don’t crowd the air fryer basket. The pickles need room for the hot air to move around them. If they are stacked or touching too much, they will steam instead of crisp. Work in batches if you need to. A light spritz of cooking spray on the breaded pickles can also help them turn golden and crunchy in the air fryer.

Serving suggestions

These are best served hot and fresh, right out of the air fryer. I like them with ranch, but you can use whatever dipping sauce makes you happy. Try them with honey mustard, burger sauce, comeback sauce, or a creamy dill dip. If you like a little kick and your tummy allows it, add a tiny bit of hot sauce to ranch for a quick spicy dip.

Air fryer pickles are great for game day, movie night, burger night, or as a fun side with sandwiches. They are also a good little appetizer when you want something crunchy on the table but do not want to deep fry. Put them on a platter with a few dipping sauces and watch them disappear. If you are serving a crowd, make more than you think you need. These little guys go fast.

Storage and reheating tips

Like most crispy foods, these are at their very best the day you make them. If you have leftovers, let them cool completely, then place them in an airtight container and refrigerate. I would not stack too many layers together because the coating can soften. If you need to layer them, place a paper towel between layers to help absorb extra moisture.

To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer for a few minutes until they warm through and crisp back up. I do not recommend microwaving them unless you are okay with a softer coating. The microwave will heat them, but it will not bring back that crispy fried-pickle texture.

Here are some more appetizer options.

• Bacon Cheeseburger Toast
• Bacon Wrapped Tortilla
• Easy Deviled Eggs

ITEMS/INGREDIENTS USED IN RECIPE – If you are interested in any of the items I may have used (or are similar to the items I used) in making this recipe, I have listed some of them below.  NOTE:  These links are affiliate links of which I receive a small commission from the sale of certain item. This does not affect your price, it remains the same.

• Air Fryer
• Glass Mixing Bowls

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Rock on!

~Bobbi

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3 from 2 votes

Easy Air Fryer Fried Pickles

Easy Air Fryer Pickles are a healthier version of fried pickles without all the grease and still crispy and satisfying!! Made in the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer.

Course Appetizer, Appetizers

Cuisine American

Keyword air fryer pickles panko, easy air fryer fried pickles, easy air fryer pickles, ninja foodit fried pickles recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

0 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 12 Servings (10 pickles each)

Calories 197kcal

Equipment

• Ninja Foodi Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 120 Dill Pickle Slices
• 1 Egg
• 3/4 Cup Heavy Cream
• 2 Cups Panko
• 2 Cups Bread Crumbs
• 1/2 Cup Flour
• 2 Tsp Paprika
• 2 Tsp Onion Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Black Pepper
• 1/2 Tsp Salt

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

• Pat dry your pickles.
  
• In a small bowl beat together egg, heavy cream and black pepper.
  
• Mix the panko and bread crumbs in a bowl. You will be dividing these up.
  
• Place 1/2 cup of the panko/bread crumb mix in a shallow bowl. In another bowl, mix the rest of the panko/bread crumbs with the flour, paprika, onion powder and salt.
  
• Dip each pickle slice in the flour mixture, then the egg wash, then the panko/bread crumb mix until all are coated. **If you run out of egg wash, make another bowl.
  
• Working in batches, air fry pickle slices in a single layer at 390° (on the air fry setting) for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. (I got 40 pickles in one batch. Should take you 3 batches)
  
• Serve with ranch or your choice of dip.
  

Notes

**Remember you can adjust the servings to the recipe for a small batch. Happy Air Frying!!

ITEMS/INGREDIENTS USED IN RECIPE – If you are interested in any of the items I may have used (or are similar to the items I used) in making this recipe, I have listed all or some of them above within the post.  NOTE:  These links are affiliate links of which I receive a small commission from the sale of certain item. This does not affect your price, it remains the same.

Nutrition

Calories: 197kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 926mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 531IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 2mg