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Deep Fried Pickles

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My deep fried pickles are ultra crispy on the outside with that tangy taste you love on the inside. This easy appetizer recipe tastes better than what you get at the restaurant and is one of my all-time favorites.

deep fried pickle chips on a white plate with spicy ranch dressing in the background.

We love deep-fried appetizers around here, like mac and cheese balls, lasagna fritta, and hushpuppies. Another family favorite is these deep-fried pickles. Every game day I make these and little smokies for meat man! They cook up so crispy with that savory dill flavor we all know and love. I order them everytime I see them on a menu at a restaurant or bar! You will be surprised at how easy it is to make them at home. Follow my tips to ensure they turn out super crunchy every single time.

Don't forget a dipping sauce too! I like spicy ranch which is rich and creamy with a spicy kick. Other yummy options to consider for dipping are blue cheese, honey mustard, or even fry sauce.

These Deep-Fried Pickles Are Dill-Licious

  1. Super Crispy: The beer batter always cooks up super airy and crispy without ever feeling heavy or soggy.
  2. Well Seasoned: We season each layer, so these are anything but bland.
  3. Addicting Dip: Plunge into spicy ranch for the perfect finish.

They're a wonderful side to burgers, and perfect for enjoying while watching sports.

Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips

a collage of ingredients like pickle chips, eggs, beer, flour,, and seasoning.
  • Pickles: I like using dill pickle chips. If you'd prefer a thicker pickle, you can also cut up whole kosher dills.
  • Beer: Beer makes the deep-fried pickle batter super light and airy. It also adds great flavor like in my beer battered cod.
  • Seasoned Salt: Always season your batter. I like Lawry's seasoning salt, but cajun season or even dill would be yummy too.
  • Oil: I used vegetable oil for frying. Any neutral oil with a high smoke point, like canola or peanut oil, will work fine.

Beer Alternative

If you don't like beer or want to avoid alcohol, use club soda instead. Its bubbles will help provide the same light and crispy texture.

a plate of beer battered pickle chips with a bite taken out of the top one.

️Krystle's Tips️

  1. Dry Pickles: Make sure the pickles are as dry as possible. This will help the batter stick.
  2. Wet/Dry Hand Method: Use one hand to dip the pickles into the egg/beer mixture, and your other hand to dip them into the flour. This will prevent you from battering your hands and making a mess.
  3. Use a Deep Fry Thermometer: If the oil is not hot enough, they'll absorb too much oil and you'll end up with soggy pickles. Use a thermometer to make sure the oil stays around 350-375 degrees. (It is normal for it to drop a few degrees after adding your pickles).
  4. Don't Add Too Many At Once: Don't overcrowd the pot, or the oil temperature may drop. Bring up to temp in between bathes too.
  5. Keep Warm: Keep your first batch warm on a baking sheet in a 250-degree oven while you fry the rest.

Get All the Moisture Out Of your PIckles

I like to pat them dry with paper towels and then spin them in my salad spinner!

a breaded pickle being dipped into spicy ranch dressing.
Can You Bake Them Instead?

You can bake them instead; however, just keep in mind they will not be quite as crispy. Bake at 450 degrees F for 10-15 minutes.

Can I Air Fry Them?

No, this batter is too wet to hold up on the air fryer.

More Game Day Grub

📖 Recipe

deep fried pickles

Crispy Deep Fried Pickles

Ultra crispy on the outside, yet tangy on the inside. These deep fried pickles are sure to become your new favorite appetizer!
4.97 from 29 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American, Southern
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 13 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 279kcal

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Ingredients

For the Fried Pickles

  • 1 Jar Dill Pickles Drained
  • 1 Egg
  • 12 Ounces Beer
  • 1 tablespoon Baking Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Seasoning Salt
  • 1 ½ Cups All Purpose Flour
  • Vegetable Oil For Frying

For the Spicy Ranch

  • ½ Cup Mayonnaise
  • ½ Cup Buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon Dry Ranch Seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
  • 1 Dash Hot Sauce
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Instructions

For the Fried Pickles

  • Pat pickles dry with paper towels. 
  • In a large bowl, combine egg, beer, baking powder,  and seasoning salt. Add in flour. 
  • Heat ~ 1 ½ inches of oil in a large dutch oven until it reaches 375 degrees.
  • Fry in batches for about 3-4 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Drain on paper towels.

For the Spicy Ranch

  • In a small bowl, combine all ingredients.

Notes

Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips
  • Pickles:If you don't like beer or want to avoid alcohol, use club soda instead. Its bubbles will help provide the same light and crispy texture.
    • Seasoned Salt: Always season your batter. I like Lawry's 
    • Oil: I used vegetable oil for frying. Any neutral oil with a high smoke point, like canola or peanut oil, will work fine.
    Tips
    1. Dry Pickles: Make sure the pickles are as dry as possible. I like to pat them dry with paper towels and then spin them in my salad spinner! 
    2. Wet/Dry Hand Method: Use one hand to dip the pickles into the egg/beer mixture, and your other hand to dip them into the flour. This will prevent you from battering your hands and making a mess.
    3. Use a Deep Fry Thermometer: If the oil is not hot enough, they'll absorb too much oil and you'll end up with soggy pickles. Use a thermometer to make sure the oil stays around 350-375 degrees. 
    4. Don't Add Too Many At Once: Don't overcrowd the pot, or the oil temperature may drop.
    5. Keep Warm: Keep your first batch warm on a baking sheet in a 250-degree oven while you fry the rest.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 279kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 1043mg | Potassium: 267mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 195IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 1.5mg
    Tried this recipe? I want to see!Mention @BakingBeautyBlog or tag #BakingBeauty!
    a closeup of deep fried pickles.
    4.97 from 29 votes (12 ratings without comment)

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    20 Comments

    1. 5 stars
      hese deep-fried pickles were such a hit at our last gathering! The crispiness of the batter paired perfectly with the tangy pickles. Will definitely be making these again!

    2. 5 stars
      These were so crispy! I loved the beer batter, yum.

    3. 5 stars
      I was craving fried pickles the other day and came across this recipe and I'm so glad I did!

    4. 5 stars
      This was sooooo darn tasty. Really easy to make and the kids loved it. Thanks!