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Tart and crunchy, Air Fryer Fried Pickles are a great appetizer or game-day snack. These potato chip-coated, savory little bites are perfect when dipped in ranch or just nibbled on their own. Easily made gluten-free!
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Fried Pickles
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Air fryer
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free option, Dairy-free option
- Skill Level: Easy
I’m always open to trying something new. But being gluten free, when I see something interesting on a restaurant menu, I can’t necessarily just order it. I have to go home and recreate it myself. Since I have a little pickle lover in my house, I knew I had to make this trendy appetizer for him and me to snack on. But I added a secret ingredient to seriously up the crunchy factor – an ingredient that’s naturally gluten free!
These amazingly crispy air fryer fried pickles are coated in potato chips for the ultimate crunch that’s balanced by the perfect amount of spice. Want to really up the ante? Use BBQ chips! Here’s why you’ll love this recipe:
- Versatile. Serve these crispy snacks with homemade dip or slices of cheese, tuck them into sandwiches, and more!
- Gluten-Free. It’s so easy to make these pickles gluten-free. Simply use gluten-free all-purpose flour and cornstarch to make these into gluten-free snacks.
- Light. Unlike a traditional fried pickle recipe that fries the pickles in oil, you’ll lighten things up and use the air fryer to create crispy bites without extra oil.
What You’ll Need
Simple ingredients come together in this fried pickles in air fryer recipe. I’ve listed them for you below. Don’t forget to check the recipe card for the full ingredient amounts.
- Milk: You can use whole or low-fat milk, or plain almond milk for a dairy-free version.
- Gluten-Free Flour: Use regular flour if you wish.
- Smoked Paprika: For a hint of smoky spice.
- Cornstarch: This will help the coating stay on the pickles.
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Pickle Chips: Choose thick-sliced pickles.
- Potato Chips: You can use your favorite brand of potato chips, just be sure they are gluten free. Many are, but it’s always safest to verify this.
What Pickles Are Best For Deep Fried Pickles?
You can use any type of pickle shape to make these fried pickles in air fryer, but my preference is for thick-cut, sliced pickle chips. Some brands that sell this shape include Heinz Kosher dill pickle slices, Nathan’s Famous Kosher dill chips, and many store brands. If you need to keep gluten-free, make sure to check the ingredient label to see if the product is certified gluten-free.
How to Make Air Fryer Fried Pickles
I’ve shown my method for making these pickles below. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Preheat. Turn the air fryer to 380°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper, and line or spray the air fryer basket.
- Combine. Whisk together the milk, flour, smoked paprika, cornstarch, and pepper.
- Crush the chips. Process the potato chips in a food processor until semi-fine crumbs form.
- Dip. Dip each pickle slice into the wet mixture.
- Coat. Now dip the pickles into the crushed chips.
- Cook. Spread the pickles in a single layer. Air fry the pickles for 10 minutes, repeat with remaining batches, and serve.
Tips & Variations
If you want to riff off of this recipe a bit, I’ve got you covered!
- Dry the pickles. To help the coating stick to the pickles, make sure to thoroughly dry the pickles. Place them on paper towels, pat them dry, then proceed with the recipe.
- Other chips. As mentioned BBQ potato chips are wonderful to add a little more flavor and spice to these pickles. But, you could use any flavor of potato chips you prefer: ranch, sour cream, cheddar, etc.
- Swap the cornstarch. If you’re out of cornstarch, you can use another gluten-free starchy flour such as arrowroot in its place.
- Different pickle shapes. Slices make the best “chips”, but you can use dill pickle spears or another pickle shape in this recipe if you want to try something different.
- Other vegetables. Use this method to fry other pickled vegetables! Pickled carrots and asparagus are some of my favorite vegetables to try in this recipe.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
These delightfully crispy fried pickles in air fryer are best served piping hot and fresh, but if you have leftovers you can keep them for a few days. Here’s how to store them:
- Fridge – Place the pickles in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- To Reheat – Spray the air basket, then warm the pickles at 325°F for a few minutes.
Make It A Meal
Air fryer fried pickles are so good dipped in all sorts of homemade dips, or even a little bowl of mayonnaise. Or, add them to an appetizer spread. Here are a few serving suggestions:
- Homemade dip. Go ahead and dip away! Some of my favorite homemade dip recipes for air fryer fried pickles include my Buffalo Ranch, Bang Bang Sauce, and Homemade Ketchup.
- Make an air fryer appetizer plate. I love using my air fryer to make lighter versions of traditional side dishes. You can serve these pickles with my Air Fryer French Fries, Air Fryer Onion Rings, or Air Fryer Tater Tots.
- Add to a burger. Make a meal of Air Fryer Hamburgers and pile them high with freshly air-fried pickles.
- With hot dogs or nuggets. Add a side of air fryer fried pickles to a meal of juicy Air Fryer Hot Dogs. Or place a bowl on the table alongside Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets.
- In a sandwich. Add these air fryer fried pickles to a Buffalo Chicken Sandwich or a Kentucky Hot Brown Grilled Cheese for a bit of crunch.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Fried Pickles
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup milk of choice (plain almond milk works great for dairy-free)
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose gluten free flour (can be made with regular all-purpose flour)
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 18 thick-sliced pickle chips
- 5.5 ounces plain potato chips (ensure they are gluten free, if needed)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Line a sheet pa with parchment paper and line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or spray with oil.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, flour, smoked paprika, cornstarch, and pepper.
- Place the potato chips in a food processor and pulse in 3-second increments until a semi-fine crumb forms. Transfer to a shallow bowl or plate.
- Dip each pickle slice into the wet mixture then into the chips. Press the chips into the pickle to make sure the coating sticks and gently place in a single layer on the prepared tray.
- Transfer the coated pickles to the prepared air fryer basket, arranging them in a single layer. You may have to work in batches. Air fry at 380°F for 10 minutes until golden and crispy. No need to flip. Serve immediately. Repeat with the remaining pickles.
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