Crispy Tangy Dill Pickles (Printer-friendly)

Golden fried dill pickle spears with seasoned crunchy coating, perfect for dipping in cool ranch dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pickles

01 - 8 large dill pickle spears, drained and patted dry

→ Breading

02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 2 tablespoons milk
05 - 1 cup breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
06 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1 teaspoon paprika
08 - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
09 - ½ teaspoon salt
10 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ For Frying

11 - Vegetable oil, for deep frying

→ To Serve

12 - ½ cup ranch dressing, for dipping

# Directions:

01 - Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or large heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F. Ensure there is about 2 inches of oil to fully submerge the pickles.
02 - Place flour in a shallow bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. In a third bowl, combine breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper if using, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Dredge each pickle spear in flour, shaking off the excess. Dip into the egg mixture, then coat thoroughly with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
04 - Carefully lower the breaded pickle spears into the hot oil in batches. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crisp.
05 - Remove the fried pickles with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
06 - Serve immediately with ranch dressing on the side for dipping.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • They're ready in under 30 minutes and require just basic kitchen equipment.
  • The contrast of crispy coating and cool pickle interior never gets old, and ranch dressing makes them dangerously addictive.
  • They freeze beautifully after breading, so you can fry them straight from the freezer whenever friends drop by.
02 -
  • Wet pickles will steam instead of crisp, so that initial patting-dry step is non-negotiable—seriously, spend an extra minute on this.
  • If your oil isn't hot enough, you'll end up with a greasy, soggy pickle; if it's too hot, the outside burns before the breading cooks through.
03 -
  • Use a candy or deep-fry thermometer religiously—it's the single biggest factor in consistent, delicious results.
  • Panko breadcrumbs are worth the upgrade; they stay crunchier and give you a noticeably better texture than regular breadcrumbs.
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