Air Fryer Fried Pickle Spears Recipe

These fried pickle spears are the perfect blend of crispy and crunchy and are the perfect appetizer for any occasion! If you make them for your next get together, make sure you make enough… because they will fly off the table.

Total Servings: 6

Total Cost: $21.05

Cost Per Serving: $3.51

Ingredients & Costs*

24 oz jar of dill pickle spears ($2.96)
½ cup all-purpose flour ($1.32)
2 eggs ($3.77)
1 tablespoon water
¼ teaspoon hot sauce ($1.90)
1 ½ cups Panko bread crumbs ($2.22)
½ teaspoon garlic powder ($1.12)
½ teaspoon dried dill ($5.24)
cooking spray ($2.52)

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*Food costs may vary and can change over time. The prices listed were the current prices of these ingredients when this recipe was made for this post. Almost all our ingredients are purchased from Walmart as we live in a small town without any other options. If you notice a significant price difference, please let us know at hello@freshgains.com we can update this post.

FAQs About Fried Pickle Spears

Will this recipe work with hamburger pickles instead of spears?

Yes, you can use the same cooking method and seasoning on hamburger pickles that you would on spears. However, you would have to adjust the cook time in the air fryer and possibly the amount of ingredients used, depending on how many pickles you want to make. Unfortunately, I can’t give any recommendations for cook time or ingredient amounts since I haven’t made fried pickle chips yet (although, it is on the list!).

What’s the best dipping sauce for these fried pickles?

The best dipping sauce depends on your personal preference, but a few of my favorite sauces are: sriracha ranch, sriracha mayo and ranch dressing.

How should I store these fried pickles?

You can store these fried pickles in the refrigerator for up to three days. Just make sure they are stored in an airtight container. When you go to reheat the pickles, use an air fryer and cook for them for 2 to 4 minutes at 375°F. You can also store these fried pickles in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Tips to Make the Best Fried Pickles

Switch up the spice: When it comes to fried pickle spears, there are a lot of options for seasoning. And they are all AMAZING. In this recipe, I went with the classic combination of garlic powder and dill. But cajun seasoning, creole seasoning and cayenne pepper are a few of my favorite spices to add some more spiciness to these fried pickles.

Don’t let the bread crumbs get damp: As you dip the pickles in the bread crumbs, you may notice the bread crumbs becoming damp. If this happens, toss out the wet bread crumbs and use new, dry bread crumbs. Dry bread crumbs will adhere to the pickles much, much better and stay on through the cooking process.

Make sure to use cooking spray: If you want to make perfectly golden and crispy fried pickle spears, make sure you spray them with a cooking spray or oil spray before air frying. It may seem like this step can be skipped, but this is what gives the fried pickles the perfect texture.

Don’t overcrowd the air fryer: As always, make sure there is ample space between the fried pickles for air to flow. I know it can be tempting to fill up the air fryer and get everything cooked all at once but avoid the temptation! If the fried pickles are touching and/or overlapping, you will want to cook them in multiple batches.

Allow time for the pickles to dry: The dryness of the pickles is a big factor in how well they turn out. Take the time to pat them dry as much as possible and avoid soaking the pickles in liquids (just coat the outsides, but don’t allow them to soak). If the pickles absorb moisture, it will be nearly impossible to coat them with flour and bread crumbs.