Crispy air-fried pickles with bacon and ranch seasoning have my grandkids obsessed. I knew Papa and I could not eat a whole batch, so I invited as many grandkids as possible to show up and help me when I made them! We had a lot of fun discussing how we could make them into smaller appetizers, but we decided they were delicious just the way they are.
Dill pickle spears seasoned with dry ranch dressing mix, wrapped in bacon, and air-fried to a crispy brown! We didn’t even let them cool before we dived in to try them! I sent a few of them home with our daughter, and she reported that her husband LOVED these air-fried pickles! How can you go wrong with a triple crown treat like this one?
Air-fried pickles will be a big hit at a tailgate where the whole day is devoted to snacking!
The great thing about this snack is you really don’t need a recipe. You just open a jar of dill pickle spears, a packet of ranch dressing mix, and a package of bacon. The magic is in what each of those three simple ingredients brings to the party.
Dill Pickles: We used dill pickle spears. What’s in a pickle? Dill pickles are made from cucumbers soaked in a simple brine made of equal parts of vinegar, salt, dill, and sometimes garlic. This process makes pickles stay fresh and crisp in a jar and taste so darn good!
Ranch Dressing: Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing. This is by far the most popular salad dressing in America, with a nearly cult-like following. What’s in it? Buttermilk, dill, salt, pepper, garlic, onion, chives, and parsley.
Nebraska native Steve Henson, a plumber by trade, was from the tiny village of Thayer, Nebraska. In about 1950, he was working construction in Anchorage, Alaska. He was a part-time cook for the crew and created the recipe for them while working there. The dressing recipe became a huge success, and the Hensons named their home in California Hidden Valley Ranch.
Bacon: It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t love bacon, and for many of us, it’s a favorite food, but why? There is a lot of science as to why bacon tastes so good. The fat-to-meat ratio, the brine to cure it, and the smoking process all contribute to great-tasting bacon. For me? There is no other bacon than Hormel Black Label bacon.
When bacon is fried, the Maillard Reaction occurs. It happens when the sugars and amino acids combine under high heat. It produces an explosion of flavor.
Pat the pickles dry with paper towels and remove most of the moisture.
Sprinkle each pickle spear with a generous amount of dry ranch dressing mix.
Wrap each pickle in a whole strip of bacon. It takes the length of an entire strip of bacon to wrap the pickle up like a mummy. It cooks much better that way. The bacon stays in place much better, plus you’ll have MORE BACON! It's the perfect bacon-to-pickle ratio on your air-fried pickles!! 😉
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Lay the pickles in the air fryer, but do not crowd them. Allow room for them to turn if needed to achieve evenly crisp bacon. I found I did not need to turn them if they were not crowded. Watch closely toward the end of the time so you don't burn the bacon!
Crunchy dill pickles seasoned with dry ranch dressing, wrapped in bacon, and air-fried to crispy deliciousness.
I recommend a good bacon like Hormel Black label
These air-fried pickles are a fun treat, and if you like dill pickles, you'll love my Dill Pickle Pizza, too! Looking for other tailgate recipes? I have a bunch! Try Three-Ingredient Bean Dip, Cranberry Meatballs, or Chocolate Chex Mix!
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Love, GB (Betty Streff)
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Is there a way to make these without an air fryer? They sound so good and my granddaughter LOVES pickles so I'd definitely make them for her.
I haven't tried it but I think a 400 degree oven would work but because there's no air movment like in an air fryer, it might take longer. If you can put them on a rack so the fat drips off them it would be best! I'd love to hear how it works for you! - I lalways do bacon in the oven. My son-in-law and grandson are crazy about them!