Air Fryer Pickle Spears

These Air Fryer Pickle Spears are a way to enjoy a dill-icious snack without the fat and guilt of deep-fried versions.

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Want fried pickle spears without a heaping side of guilt? Deep fried pickles are no doubt an amazing snack, but if you’d like to indulge in a lower fat alternative, these Air Fryer Pickle Spears are the golden ticket. You can subtract the greasiness and the guilt without sacrificing that crisp exterior. 

Granted this next suggestion adds calories, but I highly recommend pairing these air fried pickle spears with a Chipotle Ranch sauce. Just two ingredients – whatever Ranch you have on hand and chipotle en adobo peppers + sauce – makes one smoky, slightly fiery condiment.

How do you make Air Fried Pickle Spears?

To make Air Fryer Pickle Spears you will need the following ingredients:

INGREDIENTS  

• 1 sleeve Ritz crackers
• 1/2 tbsp dill weed
• 5-6 dashes cayenne pepper
• 1 cup flour
• 1 large egg
• 9-10 pickle spears (I used spicy Claussen pickle spears)
• Cooking spray

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Crack a large egg into a bowl and whisk.
2. Add roughly 1 cup of flour to a plate.
3. Add Riz crackers, dill weed, and cayenne pepper to a food processor and pulse until you achieve fine crumbs. 
4. Lay the pickle spears out on paper towels to remove excess moisture. 
5. Coat a pickle spear in flour, making sure to cover the entire surface. 
6. Then dip the flour-coated pickle spear in egg wash, making sure to cover all of the flour.
7. Roll the egg-washed pickle spear in the seasoned Ritz cracker crumbs.
8. Add the pickle spear to the air fryer. Repeat these steps with the remaining pickle spears. You will have enough ingredients to make 9-10. 
9. Once all of the pickle spears have been coated, spray them all with a light coat of cooking spray.
10. Air fry the pickle spears at 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 13-15minutes, until nice and crisp. No need to flip halfway through.
11. Serve with Chipotle Ranch sauce.

How do you make Chipotle Ranch sauce?

If you have these two ingredients you can easily whip up some Chipotle Ranch sauce:

• 1/2 cup ranch dressing (I used Hidden Valley Ranch)
• 1 chipotle en adobo pepper plus 1 tablespoon chipotle en adobo sauce

Add both ingredients to a food processor and process for 20-30 seconds, until well combined. It’s okay if there are a few smaller chunks. 

Note: If you’d like a completely smooth sauce, just add 2 tablespoons of chipotle en adobo sauce instead, leaving the pepper out. 

A Note on Air Frying

Get the full lowdown on my Air Fryer Setup. I use an Air Fryer Lid that is compatible with my Instant Pot. It does not require preheating.

Not wanting to purchase another Instant Pot, I went on the hunt for a compatible lid for my 8-quart Instant Pot. After reading rave reviews, I purchased this Air Fryer Lid. I highly recommend it (AND there’s a $25 off coupon available!). This lid fits both 6- and 8-quart Instant Pots. It also comes with a deep basket, steam rack, tongs, and silicone pad (aka countertop saver). 

What else can I make in my air fryer?

Try these other tasty air fried recipes:

• Air Fryer Adobo Chicken
• Air Fryer Walleye
• Smoky Air Fryer Chickpeas

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