Fried Pickle Spears
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Fried pickle spears are crispy, tangy, and served with a homemade dipping sauce. Make this recipe for a delicious appetizer or party snack!
Deep fried pickles are a delicious treat for game day parties and any other place you want a crispy appetizer. No matter what the occasion, this popular Southern snack is sure to hit the spot.
You can make this recipe in just a few simple steps. Even better, fried pickle spears are ready to eat in just 20 minutes!
Table of Contents
(Be sure to check the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and quantities)
- Dill pickle spears – I like to use Vlasic brand dill pickle spears. They are firmer, so they hold up better under frying.
- Vegetable oil
- Breading
- Flour – regular all-purpose flour
- Dry ranch dressing mix
- Cayenne powder – leave out if you are sensitive to spicy foods
- Eggs, beaten
- Panko bread crumbs – you can also use an even mix of Panko and sourdough bread crumbs
- Dipping sauce
- Ranch dressing – use my recipe or your favorite bottled variety
- Ketchup
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning – I like to make my own but store-bought works too
Treating Hot Oil Burns/Splatter
If hot oil does happen to splatter onto your skin, immediately run under cool (not cold) water for 15-20 minutes. Then apply fresh aloe vera, burn ointment and or seek medical professional treatment.
- Prep the ingredients
- First, heat the oil and drain the pickle spears.
- Make three separate dipping bowls – one with the flour and seasonings, one with the eggs, and one with the bread crumbs.
- Coat for frying
- Next, use one hand to roll and dip the pickle spears through the bowls of ingredients, in the order shown below.
- Shake off any excess after each egg step, and use your other hand to press the bread crumbs so they stick to the surface.
- Repeat this process until all of the spears are battered and breaded.
- Flour mixture
- Eggs
- Flour mixture
- Eggs
- Bread crumbs
- Cook and serve
- To avoid oil from splattering, gently slide each pickle spear into the hot oil. Use tongs to protect your hands and fingers.
- Cook until golden brown on each side, flipping halfway through. Then, transfer to a wire rack or paper towels to drain.
- Make the dipping sauce and serve the deep fried pickles while they’re hot.
Panko crumbs are made from crustless white bread. The bread is ground into airy flakes, making it the perfect coating for deep-fried foods. The texture of the food stays crispy because these flakes don’t absorb as much grease as standard breadcrumbs. Unfortunately, there aren’t any perfect substitutes, but there are a few alternatives you can try.
Crush any of the following items to use as a coating for your pickles:
• Saltine crackers
• Potato chips
• Corn flakes cereal
• Rice Chex cereal
It can help to lightly pat the pickle spears with a paper towel before coating them in the batter.
While they are best right after being cooked, fried pickle spears can be kept in the refrigerator for a few days.
Do not microwave! Instead, bake for 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees F or heat in a pan until warmed through.
Share this recipe on Pinterest!
Love this recipe? Share it with the world on Pinterest.
Subscribe to my Newsletter, follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube for all my latest recipes and videos.
Fried Pickle Spears
Ingredients
- 4 cups vegetable oil
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 2 tsp dry ranch dressing mix
- 1/2 tsp cayenne powder
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups Panko bread crumbs (See Note 1)
- 12 dill pickle spears (See Note 2)
Dipping Sauce
- 1/2 cup Ranch Dressing (See Note 3)
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp Lemon Pepper Seasoning (See Note 4)
Instructions
- Heat oil to 375°F in deep fryer or deep sided cast iron skillet.
- In a shallow bowl, stir together flour, Ranch dressing mix and cayenne powder.
- In another shallow bowl, beat eggs.
- In third shallow bowl, place Panko bread crumbs.
- Roll each pickle spear in flour mixture, then into egg using one hand, shaking off excess. Dip back into flour mixture for a second time, then into egg a second time. Coat pickle spear with bread crumbs, pressing with other hand to adhere. Set aside on plate and repeat with remaining pickle spears.
- Fry in hot oil 2 to 3 minutes, turning once, or until golden brown. Drain fried pickles on cooling rack or paper towels.
- Combine dipping sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
- Serve fried pickles with dipping sauce.
Video
Notes
- I used 1 cup Panko and 1 cup Sourdough breadcrumbs in the video due to #StayAtHome Corona Virus lockdown, but feel free to use 2 cups of Panko if you prefer. 🙂
- I typically find Vlasic Dill Pickle Spears to hold up well and stay crisp and firm.
- I make my own Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.
- I make my own Lemon Pepper Seasoning.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
its so good like omg i was drooling
They ARE that good! 🙂
They were perfect! Making them again today, as an appetizer for Father’s Day meal:) Note: didn’t have enough pickle spears first try, so I sliced zucchini and used same recipe. They came out good too:)
I am so glad they came out Connie and great idea using the batter for zucchini! Going to have to try that!
Yum Yum is all I can say lol Been looking for an easy but delicious fried pickle recipe, can’t wait to fry these babies up! Thank you!
I hope you like them as much as we do!
The perfect appetizer! Love the panko breadcrumbs, helps them come out nice and crispy!
Indeed! On their own or dipped, I just love these!
This looks like a total showstopper right here, WOW! Seriously cannot wait to try these!!
You will love them! They are a hit at my house!
My husband really loved it! Such a delicious snack!
Thank you Toni! Great snack for sure!
I crave these daily. So dang good!
I love them! I cannot wait to make them again!
These Fried pickle spears sound delicious! Dangerously good…
Dangerously good is right!
This looks so delicious! I can’t wait to give this a try!
You have to make them!
Seriously Kevin!!!! These were so darn good!! I had to be careful because I almost bit my finger while eating them. Very easy to make too! Thanks again for making simple things interesting.
Thank you for sharing that! They are a hit at my house too! I am so glad you enjoyed them Les!