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Crispy Air Fryer Pickle Chips
Recipe Snapshot
PREP + COOK TIME: 15 minutes
METHOD: Air fryer
OTHER TOOLS: paper towels, shallow bowls
TOTAL INGREDIENTS: 11
Crispy Air Fryer Pickle Chips are a fun and tangy appetizer, snack, or side! They’re quick and easy to make, and the light and crispy coating offers a healthy alternative to traditional fried versions. Enjoy them served hot with your favorite dipping sauce!
What’s To Love About This Recipe
- If you’ve ever ordered a basket of pub-style fried pickles at a restaurant, you know how irresistible – and greasy! – they are! This recipe turns a crowd-pleaser into the most golden, crispy bites without deep-frying them in lots of oil.
- Pickle chips make a crunchy, tangy snack or appetizer that’s perfect for game day or pairing with burgers and fries.
- For those who love the crunch of fried appetizers and snacks, you’ll appreciate this healthier fried pickle version made in the air fryer, with minimal mess involved, too!
- The flour-and-panko breadcrumb coating is light and crispy, with a bold seasoning that delivers plenty of flavor! It’s easy to whip these up with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
- Take your homemade pickle chips to the next level by serving them with your favorite dipping sauce! These make the perfect little bites for snacking and enjoying with an appetizer spread.
Ingredients Needed
- Dill pickle chips – Drain the pickles well and pat them very dry with paper towels before breading. You will want to remove as much excess moisture as possible to achieve crispy air fryer bites. Dill pickles are the best option for this recipe’s seasoning blend.
- All-purpose flour – This is the first layer of dredging that helps the egg wash adhere and creates structure in the coating. You can also swap for a gluten-free flour blend if needed.
- Eggs and water – Whisk egg and water together to create a light wash that forms the middle layer that will bind the breadcrumbs to the pickle chips.
- Panko breadcrumbs – These create a light, crispy coating that is much easier for air frying than a thick batter. Press the breadcrumbs onto the pickles so the crumbs stick well and don’t fall off in the air fryer basket. Gluten-free panko is also an option if needed!
- Garlic powder and paprika – Together, garlic powder and paprika add a savory depth to the coating.
- Cayenne pepper – This is optional, but it adds a mild kick of heat. Adjust the amount based on your spice preference.
- Kosher salt and black pepper – Kosher salt adds texture, and with pepper, adds balance to the tanginess of the pickles.
- Olive oil spray or avocado oil spray – Lightly spray the pickles before cooking and again after flipping for the best browning. Avocado oil is my preferred option due to flavor and browning ability.
How To Make Air Fryer Pickle Chips
- Preheat the air fryer to 400℉ for 3-5 minutes.
- Remove the pickle chips from the jar, drain, and place them between layers of paper towels. Pat very dry, pressing to remove as much moisture as possible (the drier they are, the better).
- Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls.
- Place the flour in the first bowl.
- In the second bowl, whisk together the eggs and water.
- In the third bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. (Optional: set aside half of the panko mix to add back to the bowl later if the first one gets too soggy.)
- Using only a few pickle chips at a time, dredge them lightly in flour, shaking off the excess.
- Next, dip the coated pickles into the egg mixture, then coat evenly in the seasoned panko, pressing gently so the breading sticks.
- Arrange the breaded pickle chips in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overlapping. Spray the chips lightly with oil spray.
- Air fry at 400℉ for 4-5 minutes. Flip the pickle chips, spray lightly again, and cook for another 2-3 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Remove chips from the air fryer, sprinkle lightly with fine salt if needed, and serve immediately with homemade ranch dressing.
Pro Tips
- To get the crispiest pickle chips, drain all liquid first and pat the pickles as dry as you can. Excess moisture will prevent crisping.
- Keep the flour coating minimal and shake off excess before dipping in the egg coating. This will keep the breading light and enable it to crisp up.
- Be sure to firmly press the panko onto each pickle chip so it adheres.
- Overlapping in the air fryer basket will produce soggy pickle chips. Leave space in between each piece for proper airflow and crisping.
- For the best browning, be sure to flip the chips during cooking and lightly spray with oil before and after flipping for golden results.
- Serve immediately for the crispiest texture.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Substitute a gluten-free flour blend and gluten-free panko breadcrumbs for an equally crisp, gluten-free version.
- For an egg-free version, use buttermilk or just milk instead of egg wash. The texture will be slightly different, but it will still help the panko to adhere.
- Love a spicier snack? Add extra cayenne or a dash of hot sauce to the egg wash mixture.
- For ranch-flavored pickle chips, mix dry ranch seasoning into the panko breadcrumb coating. (So tasty!)
- Adding Parmesan cheese is another way to get extra-crispy results! Add 2-3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan to the breadcrumb mixture.
- Need a low-carb version that still has all the tanginess of a pickle? Toss dried pickle chips lightly in oil, then air-fry them for a low-carb, crispy option. The texture will differ, but it will still produce a tasty bite!
How To Serve Pickle Chips
Crispy air fryer pickle chips will be a hit, no matter how or when you serve them!
Start your meal with a basket of pickle chips as an appetizer or snack with a bowl of your favorite dipping sauce. Creamy, tangy dips make the best addition! Here are some favorites:
- Homemade Easy Dairy-Free Ranch Recipe
- Cajun Dipping Sauce
- Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce
- Chipotle Lime Mayo
- Sriracha Mayo
- Spicy sriracha ranch
- Honey mustard
- Garlic aioli
For parties or game day, pickle chips are a tasty choice to include in a larger snacking spread! The tangy bites pair well with other snacks, such as:
- Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp
- Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
- Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
Pickle chips also make a fun side to serve alongside burgers and fries, or anything you’re grilling for weekend fun! They’re an easy, unique dish that doesn’t require much time or effort, and they’re sure to disappear as fast as you make them!
Storing and Reheating
How To Best Store Leftovers
Fridge
Store leftover pickle chips in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Keep in mind that the texture will soften. (Freezing is not recommended since the breaded coating will lose crispness.)
How To Best Reheat Leftovers
Reheat leftovers in the air fryer at 375℉ for 3-4 minutes until hot and crisp again. Avoid the microwave, which will make the coating soggy.
Crispy Air Fryer Pickle Chips
Crispy Air Fryer Pickle Chips are a fun and tangy appetizer, snack, or side! They’re quick and easy to make, and the light and crispy coating offers a healthy alternative to traditional fried versions. Enjoy them served hot with your favorite dipping sauce!
Equipment
- Shallow bowls
- Paper towels
Ingredients
- 16 ounces dill pickle chips
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Olive oil spray or avocado oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400℉ for 3-5 minutes.
- Remove pickle chips from jar, drain, and place between layers of paper towels. Pat very dry, pressing to remove as much moisture as possible.
- Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls:
- Place flour in first bowl.
- In second bowl, whisk together eggs and water.
- In third bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. (Optional: set aside half of the panko mix to add back to the bowl later if the first one gets too soggy.)
- Using only a few pickle chips at a time, dredge lightly in flour, shaking off excess.
- Next, dip coated pickles into egg mixture, then coat evenly in seasoned panko, pressing gently so breading sticks.
- Arrange breaded pickle chips in a single layer in air fryer basket without overlapping. Spray chips lightly with oil spray.
- Air fry at 400℉ for 4-5 minutes. Flip pickle chips, spray lightly again, and cook for another 2-3 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Remove chips from air fryer, sprinkle lightly with fine salt if needed, and serve immediately with homemade ranch dressing.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days (the coating will soften after storing).
- Reheat in the air fryer at 375℉ for 3-4 minutes until hot and crispy again.
- Pat the pickle chips very dry before breading.
- Shake off excess flour to keep the breading light and crisp.
- Arrange the pickle chips in a single layer in the air fryer basket with space between each piece.
- Flip halfway through cooking and lightly spray with oil before and after flipping for even browning.
- Serve immediately for the crispiest texture.
