Crispy Fried Pickles (Printable)

Tangy dill pickles coated in seasoned breading, air-fried until golden and crisp. Perfect for a light appetizer or snack.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pickles

01 - 16 dill pickle chips or slices, patted dry

→ Breading

02 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 1 tablespoon milk
05 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
06 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
09 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ For Serving

11 - Ranch or preferred dipping sauce

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
02 - Arrange three shallow bowls: flour in the first, whisk eggs and milk in the second, and combine panko, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne (if using), salt, and black pepper in the third.
03 - Thoroughly pat pickle slices dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
04 - Dredge each pickle slice in flour, shaking off any excess.
05 - Immerse floured pickles in the egg and milk mixture, ensuring both sides are coated evenly.
06 - Press pickles into the seasoned breadcrumb mixture, coating thoroughly on all sides.
07 - Place breaded pickles in a single layer within the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil.
08 - Air-fry for 6 minutes, flip pickles, spray again, and continue air-frying for an additional 4 to 6 minutes until golden and crisp.
09 - Serve immediately alongside ranch or your preferred dipping sauce.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They taste fried but cook in an air fryer, so your kitchen stays cool and your conscience stays lighter.
  • Ten minutes of prep means you can have a crowd-pleasing appetizer ready before anyone even asks what's for dinner.
  • The crispy-tangy combination is dangerously addictive and somehow turns into everyone's favorite at the table.
02 -
  • Moisture is your enemy—I learned this the hard way by skipping the pickle-drying step and watching my batch turn soggy instead of crispy.
  • Don't skip the oil spray between the two cooking phases; it's the difference between a nicely browned exterior and a disappointing pale coating.
  • These truly are best fresh from the air fryer, though leftovers can be revived in the air fryer for two to three minutes.
03 -
  • Pat your pickles dry between each step if they release moisture—this tiny detail separates crispy from soggy every single time.
  • Let your air fryer fully preheat and don't crowd the basket; these need circulating air to reach their full crispy potential.
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