Easy Homemade Fried Pickles

​​These Easy Homemade Fried Pickles are a deliciously crunchy and salty snack or appetizer! This is the best recipe for deep fried pickles that are perfectly crispy on the outside and zesty and juicy on the inside. Whip up a quick batch for your next game day party or family get-together.

One of our favorite foods to get at the local fair is deep fried pickles. It seems like a few years ago that was a rare, unusual treat but these days they’re a popular menu item. They’re also super easy to make at home, which we frequently do! These make the perfect appetizer or side dish.

Fellow pickle fanatics, be sure to try my Dill Pickle Pasta Salad, Dill Pickle Potato Salad with Bacon and Air Fryer Pickles!

Why This Is The Best Fried Pickles Recipe Ever

A favorite deep fried restaurant appetizer, made at home!

• Quick & easy. This easy recipe for homemade fried pickles is truly the best. I make the homemade batter with common pantry ingredients and seasonings, and just add pickles! Plus a bit of deep frying action.
• Perfect texture & flavor. These deep fried dill pickles are perfectly crispy on the outside and zesty and juicy on the inside. They really pack a flavor punch!
• Great party appetizer. Homemade fried pickles make a delicious snack or appetizer to serve with dips and sauces for just about any occasion. Whip up a quick batch of these for your next movie night, game day party, or family get-together. You’ll thank me later!

Prefer the air fryer to deep frying? Check out my air fryer pickles recipe instead!

What You’ll Need

This fried pickles recipe doesn’t call for fancy ingredients but doesn’t miss out on flavor. Here’s what you’ll need. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

• Dill Pickles – Pickle slices or pickle spears, depending on what’s available to you. 
• Vegetable Oil – Or a similar oil, like peanut oil, that’s suitable for deep frying.
• All-Purpose Flour – The base for the batter coating.
• Hot Sauce – Mixed in with the batter for a bit of kick.
• Italian Seasoning – A super versatile seasoning blend that you can find in most spice aisles. 
• Garlic Powder – Gives a nice boost of flavor in the spicy batter.
• Salt & Pepper

What Kind of Pickles are Best for Frying?

You can really use any type of pickle for this recipe, from sweet to sour, but my preference will always be fried dill pickles! It’s totally up to you.

When it comes to pickle shape, you can use round slices, spears, or halves. If you’re cutting the pickles yourself, aim for slices that are about a quarter inch in thickness.

Variation Ideas

My fried pickle recipe already includes a little bit of heat in the form of hot sauce in the batter. However, you can change up the flavors to your liking, by adjusting the seasoning and spices. Some possible flavor variations include:

• Ranch seasoning
• Smoked paprika or chili powder
• Cajun spice
• Taco seasoning
• Old Bay seasoning
• Omitting the hot sauce

How to Make Fried Pickles at Home

Making deep fried pickles is quick and easy! You can find the printable version of the instructions in the recipe card below.

• Prep the pickles. Make sure your dill pickle chips are completely dry. Pat them off and leave them out on paper towels to absorb any excess pickle juice while you prep the batter.
• Make the batter. Mix up your batter by combining the hot sauce and water with the flour and seasoning.
• Coat the pickles. Working in batches, dip the pickles in the batter, making sure all sides are covered.
• Fry. Still working in batches, deep fry the pickles in heated oil. Use a large pot and fry the pickles for about a minute or two per side until they’re crispy and golden.
• Cool and serve. Allow the fried pickles to cool a bit and then serve the pickles warm with your favorite dipping sauces! See my suggestions below for ideas.

Tips for Success

Here are a few important things to keep in mind when making fried pickles.

• Stick to batches. Fry a few pickles at a time for the crispiest results and also to keep them from sticking.
• Make sure the oil is hot enough. For best results, your frying oil should reach 375 degrees before you place your pickles in.
• Drain any extra oil. Paper towels are handy to have throughout this recipe. Put some paper towels down where you’re working so you can leave the freshly fried pickles to cool down and drain excess oil before serving.
• For the best results when battering and frying pickles, pat the raw pickles dry with a paper towel and leave them to dry completely beforehand.

Serving Suggestions

Dipping sauces really make these fried pickles extra delicious. And the best part is, they’re easy to come by! You can even mix up your own dips and sauces for serving. Here are some ideas:

• Ranch Dressing (Try this easy homemade version!)
• Fry Sauce
• BBQ Sauce or Alabama White Sauce
• Blue Cheese Dressing
• Cheese Sauce or Queso Dip
• Homemade Aioli – Using mayonnaise and garlic as a base, you can also add other seasonings such as dried basil and herbs, Worcestershire sauce, chili flakes, or granulated sugar.

For an authentic pub-style meal at home, serve these deep fried pickles along with a side of chips, home fries, or sweet potato fries. You can also try these homemade baked Zucchini Fries!

These pickles make a great football party appetizer. Serve them next to other easy game day snacks like BBQ Chicken Quesadillas, Bacon Wrapped Smokies and Pizza Sliders.

How to Store and Reheat Extras

• Fridge. Store leftover fried pickles in an airtight container in the fridge.
• Reheat. Reheat in the oven on a cookie sheet in a single layer at 400ºF until heated through, or flash fry them for a minute to reheat and crisp them up again.
• Freezer. To freeze fried pickles, pre-freeze them in a single layer on a lined baking sheet, then transfer the frozen pickles to a resealable bag. Frozen fried pickles can be cooked in oil directly from the freezer.

More Easy Appetizer Ideas

• Homemade Salsa
• Philly Cheesesteak Dip
• Cheesy Bacon Bombs
• Slow Cooker BBQ Pineapple Meatballs
• Easy Pepperoni Pizza Wontons