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Crispy Fried Pickle Spears with Ranch

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These crispy fried pickle spears are the ultimate game day snack, featuring tangy pickles wrapped in a crunchy golden crust and served with homemade ranch dipping sauce. Quick, easy, and crowd-pleasing, they’re perfect for parties, movie nights, or anytime you crave a salty, crunchy treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb dill pickle spears (about 12–16 spears)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup milk (whole or 2%)
  • 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Vegetable oil (peanut or canola), for frying (enough for 2 inches deep in skillet)
  • For the ranch dipping sauce:
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
  • 1 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp fresh chives, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Drain pickle spears thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels. Let air-dry on a rack for 10 minutes if extra juicy.
  2. Set up three shallow bowls: Bowl 1 with flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper (mix well); Bowl 2 with eggs and milk (whisk until smooth); Bowl 3 with panko and seasoned breadcrumbs (combine).
  3. Pour vegetable oil into a large skillet or Dutch oven to about 2 inches deep. Heat to 350°F (175°C).
  4. Working one spear at a time, coat in flour mixture, shake off excess, dip in egg/milk mixture, then roll in breadcrumb mixture, pressing lightly to adhere. Repeat for all spears.
  5. Fry pickles in batches, 2–3 minutes per side, until golden brown and crisp. Flip gently with tongs or slotted spoon.
  6. Transfer fried spears to a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Let cool for 1–2 minutes. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt while hot, if desired.
  7. For ranch sauce: In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, dill, chives, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth. Chill until serving.
  8. Serve fried pickle spears hot with ranch dipping sauce. Garnish with extra herbs if desired.

Notes

For gluten-free, use GF flour and breadcrumbs. For vegan, use plant-based milk, egg replacer, and vegan mayo/yogurt. Let breaded spears rest 10 minutes before frying for extra crunch. Fry in small batches to maintain oil temperature. Ranch sauce can be made ahead and stored up to 2 days. Reheat leftovers in oven or air fryer for best crunch.

Nutrition

Keywords: fried pickles, pickle spears, game day snack, ranch dipping sauce, crispy appetizer, party food, comfort food, easy snack, vegetarian option

Find it online: https://bitematrix.com/crispy-fried-pickle-spears-recipe-easy-game-day-snack-with-ranch/