Air Fryer Keto Fried Pickles Recipe (4 Net Carbs!) (2024)

Last Updated on September 15, 2023 by Jean Choi 39 Comments

These air fryer keto fried pickles are breaded with crushed pork rinds and coconut flour and are so crunchy and addicting! Plus, they are way easier to make than deep-fried pickles and have only 4 net carbs per serving.

What Makes This Recipe Great

The first time I tried fried pickles was about 3 years ago. It was such a new concept to me that even though I was gluten-free, I tried several of them at a bar and couldn’t believe how delicious they were. I definitely didn’t feel well afterward being gluten intolerant, but I remember thinking that it was totally worth it. They were that good!

Because it was love at first bite, I definitely had gluten-free, keto fried pickles on my list to make when I bought myself an air fryer. After making these air fryer pickles a few times, I’m honestly so stoked at how delicious and crispy they are!

Making fried pickles in the air fryer is so much easier than the traditional deep-fried pickles, and the cleanup is a breeze as well. These air-fried pickles are made low-carb by using crushed up pork rinds rather than breadcrumbs, but the texture is still so crunchy and crispy. I love that they are way healthier than the original version, and I honestly couldn’t stop eating them!

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How to Make Air Fryer Keto Fried Pickles

To make low-carb, keto fried pickles, you need super simple ingredients for the breading. Some recipes call for an almond flour mixture, but I have had the most success with coconut flour! The process is similar to regular fried pickles, however, there’s no mess since they’re made in the air fryer and not deep fried in oil!

Ingredient Notes

• dill pickle slices (or “dill pickle chips”): Check the jar to make sure there’s no added sugar in your keto pickle chips. Otherwise, they will not be low carb. “Bread and butter pickles” often contain added sugar, so stay away from those.
• coconut flour
• egg
• pork panko: These are ground-up pork rinds. You can purchase this or make your own pretty easily.
• garlic powder
• paprika
• salt & pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
2. Remove any excess pickle juice/moisture from the pickle chips with paper towels and place in a bowl.
3. In a second bowl, add the flour and the pickles and toss to coat.
4. Crack and whisk the egg in a shallow bowl.
5. In another bowl, stir together pork panko, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
6. Working in batches, dredge the pickle slices in the egg wash, then shake off the excess.
7. Press into the pork panko mixture to coat on all sides, then transfer to a plate. Repeat with the rest of the pickle slices.
8. Arrange the prepared pickle slices in a single layer in the air fryer. You may need to work in a few batches if you have a smaller air fryer basket.
9. For an extra crispy texture, spray pickles with avocado oil cooking spray or any other oil you choose.
10. Air fry for 10 minutes, flip, then spray with avocado oil again halfway through. The air fried pickles should be golden brown.
11. Serve immediately with ranch or your favorite dip!

Expert Tips

• Dill pickles are traditionally used to make fried pickles, but you can use any kind of pickles you like. I also find that the slices crisp up better than pickle spears. I think this is because the thin slices cook faster, and has more surface area to crisp up than pickle spears.
• Pork panko just means ground up pork rinds. You can crush them yourself in a food processor, but I love buying these ground up ones to save time.
• I highly recommend you taste the pickles before breading them to decide if you want to add salt to the pork panko mixture. Mine was plenty salty enough so I didn’t need to add any.
• You may need to work in batches to cook these air fried pickles. They taste best if they are cooked in a single layer, and depending on your air fryer, the surface area may not be big enough to fit all the pickles.
• You can get these air fryer pickles extra crispy if you use cooking spray or brush them with cooking oil before you cook each side. I use this avocado oil spray, and it works really well for this.
• The coconut flour mixture and the egg mixture help the pork panko stick, so you have deliciously crispy fried pickles in the air fryer, and you won’t be able to stop eating! It only takes 10 minutes of cook time, and you don’t have to worry about oil splattering on your skin or clothes.
• To spice up these pickles, feel free to add a little cayenne pepper or cajun seasoning to the pork panko mixture!

Serving Tips

• Serve immediatelyI love these fried pickles with ranch dressing, but you can enjoy them with any other dipping sauce you prefer! Chipotle mayo, roasted garlic aioli, sour cream, or even ketchup are all great choices.

Storage Tips

• Fried pickles will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator and stored in an airtight container.

Recipe FAQs

More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes

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Extra Crispy Air Fryer Drumsticks (Paleo, Whole30, Keto) – Oven Method Included

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