• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Champagne Tastes®
  • About
  • Travel
    • Food Travel
    • Outdoor Adventure
  • Recipes
    • Garden To Table
    • Seafood
    • Camping Recipes
    • Ferment
    • Backyard Foraging + Wild Game
    • Cooking Basics
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Garden To Table
  • Seafood
  • Ferment
  • Foraging + Wild Game
  • Cooking Basics
  • Camping Recipes
  • Outdoor Adventure
  • Food Travel
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Air Fryer

    Air Fried Pickles

    Published: May 1, 2020 · Modified: Jan 30, 2021 · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Love fried pickles? These healthier air fried pickles are coated with seasoned breadcrumbs, and are easy to make at home in your Instant Pot Air Fryer.
    Love fried pickles? These healthier air fried pickles are coated with seasoned breadcrumbs, and are easy to make at home in your Instant Pot Air Fryer.
    Love fried pickles? These healthier air fried pickles are coated with seasoned breadcrumbs, and are easy to make at home in your Instant Pot Air Fryer.
    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Love fried pickles? These healthier air fried pickles are coated with seasoned breadcrumbs, and are easy to make at home in your Instant Pot Air Fryer.

    Air fried pickles in a serving dish

    Last winter, my friend Jessica got me hooked on fried pickles.

    I’d never tasted them before, and oh my word.

    Guys, fried pickles are insanely delicious.

    More recently, when I bought an Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid, I knew exactly what I wanted to try “frying.”

    Pickles, of course.

    These crispy air fried pickles are made with an egg and seasoned breadcrumb batter, and air fried to crispy perfection.

    They’re perfect for late night snacking, and pair perfectly with your favorite cocktail. I vote for air fried pickles and a mint julep.

    Looking for more air fryer recipe ideas? Try my air fried salmon and air fryer kale chips!

    What Kind of Pickles Should I Use?

    I recommend using dill pickle chips.

    Yes, I’m a little biased because I don’t care for bread and butter or sweet pickles. That said, fried pickles are normally made with dill pickles.

    There’s something delicious about the tangy dill with the rich breading.

    Use store-bought or homemade dill pickles: either will work perfectly.

    And make sure to go with the pickle chips (instead of spears or sandwich slices), because it’ll give you that classic fried pickle experience.

    What’s the Best Breading for Air Fried Pickles?

    Most fried pickle recipes use a flour batter, but for the air fryer I prefer a breadcrumb coating.

    This recipe uses unseasoned breadcrumbs and mixes in some spices. If you’ve got seasoned breadcrumbs on hand, you can use those instead.

    How to Make Air Fried Pickles

    Start by patting the pickles dry.

    I want to tell you to use a reusable towel here (for the environment), but I also realize that whatever towel you use might smell like pickles for all eternity. A paper towel might make more sense.

    Use your best judgment.

    Pat Pickle Chips Dry
    Pat Pickle Chips Dry

    To coat the pickles, simply dip the (dried off) pickles in egg and then in the breadcrumb mixture.

    Set them inside the air fryer basket in a single layer.

    Coat Pickles in Egg + Breadcrumb Mixture
    Coat Pickles in Egg + Breadcrumb Mixture

    Make sure to avoid squishing the pickles up against each other, and don’t layer them on top of one another. For the air fryer to “fry,” the air has to go around each pickle.

    When you run out of room, add the Instant Pot air fryer shelf for a second layer of breaded pickles.

    Set the air fryer for 11 minutes, and walk away.

    While they cook, make the spicy yogurt sauce.

    Don’t feel like making your own sauce? You can also serve these air fried pickles with your favorite store-bought dipping sauce or dressing.

    When the air fryer cook cycle ends, remove the lid to check out your tasty, crispy pickles.

    Pickles After Air Frying
    Pickles After Air Frying

    Scoop out the top layer of pickles, and then remove the shelf.

    I use my Lodge lid lifter (originally purchased to use with a cast iron dutch oven) to remove the hot metal shelf, but you could also use a fork, metal hook, or even your fingers (if they’re not sensitive).

    Scoop out the remaining pickles.

    Just like regular fried pickles, these air fried pickles are the very best when they’re hot and fresh.

    When the pickles are done air frying, eat them right away!

    Air fried pickles in a serving dish
    Air fried pickles in a serving dish
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    5 from 1 vote

    Air Fried Pickles

    Love fried pickles? These healthier air fried pickles are coated with seasoned breadcrumbs, and are easy to make at home in your Instant Pot Air Fryer.
    Author: Sarah Trenalone
    Prep Time9 mins
    Cook Time11 mins
    Total Time20 mins
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Servings: 2 people
    Calories: 208kcal
    Freezer Friendly?
    No
    Will It Keep?
    No
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot (I use this one)
    • Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid

    Ingredients

    Air Fried Pickles

    • 12 ounces dill pickle chips (~half a 24oz jar)
    • ¾ cup unseasoned breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs
    • 1 teaspoon ground cayenne
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 egg, beaten
    • spray oil (or olive oil)

    Spicy Yogurt Sauce (Optional)

    • ½ cup plain yogurt (whole milk)
    • 1 tablespoon pickle juice
    • 2 tablespoon ketchup
    • dash hot sauce

    Instructions

    • If using panko breadcrumbs, blitz breadcrumbs in a blender or food processor. Set aside the breadcrumbs.
      If using regular (finer) breadcrumbs, skip this step.
    • Lay pickles on a paper towel and pat dry.
      Don't skip this step. If the pickles are wet, the breading won't stick as well.
      Spray the air fryer basket with oil, or brush with olive oil.
      Pat Pickle Chips Dry
    • Mix together the breadcrumbs, cayenne, garlic, paprika, and salt.
      One by one, dip the pickle slices in the beaten egg and then in the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure to coat each pickle slice completely with breadcrumbs.
      Set the coated pickles in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid squishing the pickles together, and do not layer them on top of one another.
      When the basket has one layer of pickles, add the metal shelf for a second layer, and continue adding coated pickles until the shelf is full.
      Note: The amount of breadcrumb and pickles are approximate. You may have leftover breadcrumbs, and you may not use exactly 12 oz of pickles (depending on the size of the pickle chips).
      Coat Pickles in Egg + Breadcrumb Mixture
    • Preheat the air fryer lid to 400°F. Set the timer for 11 minutes and press start.
      The display will read "on" while the lid heats up. When it beeps and reads "11 minutes / 400°F," open the lid and add the air fryer basket.
      About halfway through the cook cycle, the air fryer lid will beep and indicate that you should flip the food. You do not need to flip these pickles, and can ignore the "Turn Food" indicator.
      Pickles After Air Frying
    • While the pickles cook, mix together all the ingredients for the sauce (if using).
      Taste the sauce. If it's too thick, add more pickle juice. Too thin, add more yogurt. For a spicier sauce, add extra hot sauce.
    • The pickles are done frying when they're golden and crispy.
      Note that not all air fryers alike, so the exact cook time for your air fryer model may vary.
      Serve the pickles hot along with the yogurt sauce.

    Notes

    This recipe was written specifically for the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid.  If you’re using a different air fryer, the temperature and time should work, but you may need to adjust the recipe cook time for your specific machine.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 208kcal (10%) | Carbohydrates: 30g (10%) | Protein: 10g (20%) | Fat: 6g (9%) | Saturated Fat: 2g (13%) | Cholesterol: 90mg (30%) | Sodium: 2543mg (111%) | Potassium: 433mg (12%) | Fiber: 4g (17%) | Sugar: 10g (11%) | Vitamin A: 1435IU (29%) | Vitamin C: 3mg (4%) | Calcium: 199mg (20%) | Iron: 2mg (11%)
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
    « Lavender Simple Syrup
    Air Fryer Kale Chips »

    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    bio

    Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a traveler who loves to eat.   Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road.

    Learn More →

    Currently Trending

    • Sardine Fish Cakes in a stack with sauce on the serving tray
      A Canned Sardine Recipe: Mini Fish Cakes
    • pan-seared rockfish on a plate
      Pan-Seared Rockfish
    • pan-seared red snapper on plates
      Pan-Seared Red Snapper
    • crab butter sauce on a platter with crab legs
      Crab Butter Sauce

    Footer

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Supplemental Privacy Notice For California Residents
    • Supplemental Privacy Notice For Nevada Residents

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Recipe and Photo Reuse Terms + FAQ

    Copyright ©2015-2023 Champagne Tastes
    All Rights Reserved.