A delicious southern classic appetizer gets a Keto makeover. Crispy Fried Dill Pickles are perfect served with ranch or with your favorite dipping sauce.
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If you’re from the south, fried dill pickles have been a staple at most all your fish fries and back yard BBQs. But, if you’ve never heard of them, boy are you in for a treat!
I tried them for the first time a few years back and after that first taste, I fell in love with these little tangy, crunchy bites. After switching my way of eating to Keto, I set out to make a gluten free, Keto friendly version.
Keto Fried Dill Pickles are lightly coated in a gluten free mixture, fried to a crispy golden brown, and served with creamy Homemade Ranch or this Homemade Sugar Free Zesty Dipping Sauce!
What’s in Keto Fried Pickles
- Dill pickle chips
- Almond flour
- Pork rinds
- Parmesan cheese
- Oat fiber
- Whole eggs
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic salt
- Keto friendly oil
- Optional: Zesty Dipping Sauce or Ranch Dressing
*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
How to Make Keto Fried Pickles
To make the breading, mix the pork rinds, parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, salt and the almond flour together in a food processor and grind it to a fine powder. Set up a breading station with the oat fiber in one bowl, the beaten eggs in another and the breading mixture in the third bowl.
Take the pickle slices and dry them well on paper towels.
Dip each one into the oat fiber first, then shake off any excess. You really want a very thin coating, just enough for the egg to adhere to.
Then dip into the egg, also shaking off any excess.
Then lastly, dip into the breading mixture.
Heat a large nonstick skillet to medium heat and fry the pickles in small batches, just a couple of minutes on each side, or until they are golden.
Allow them to drain on paper towels before serving with my zesty dipping sauce or homemade ranch dressing.
Can I Make Keto Fried Pickles in Advance?
While they’re definitely best served freshly cooked because the moisture from the pickles will begin to make the coating soggy after they sit a while, you can crisp them up in an air fryer.
What are the Carbs in Dill Pickles?
There’re less than 4 grams of net carbs in a dill pickle. And that’s for an entire large dill. That makes them a great low carb snack!
Are Pickles on Keto Okay?
Dill pickles are made from brining cucumbers. So, in general, dill pickles are great for Keto because the brine contains a good bit of sodium, which is a needed nutrient for those on Keto.
But be sure to read to label. Some brands include sugar or other non-Keto friendly ingredients for brining.
Tips for the Best Keto Fried Pickles
How to Get the “Breading” to Stick to the Fried Pickles
Any type of water when mixed with oil will bubble up. When that happens it will push off anything that’s on the exterior of the pickles. Take the extra time and make sure the pickles are as dry and you can possibly get them before proceeding with the egg wash.
You can use pork panko instead of crushing your own pork rinds. This is a short time saver and since they have a long shelf life you can keep some in your pantry for a quick breading ingredient.
What Oil is Best for Keto Fried Pickles?
Because these are not deep fried any type of high smoke point oil that is Keto friendly will work. You want a high smoke point oil to keep the coating on the pickles from taking on a burned flavor.
Are There Other Methods to Cook Gluten Free Fried Dill Pickles?
Absolutely! Though, I will be honest, to get the closest version to the original fried dill pickles, frying is them is the best.
If you prefer, you can air fry them. Set the air fryer temp to 400F and cook for 10 minutes, flipping half way through, or until golden brown on both side.
You can also bake these in the oven. Preheat your oven to 400F. Place the dredged pickle slices on a wire baking rack on a sheet pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.
What are Some Variations for the Best Keto Fried Dill Pickles?
- Dill pickle spears are a very popular alternative to dill chips. If you want to try them, follow the same method as the chips, but you’ll need to increase the cooking time until they are cooked through.
- Top your Keto fried pickles with additional grated parmesan! It adds a really tasty garnish!
- Want a spicy little kick? Add just a dash of cayenne pepper to the oat fiber. It’ll give them a little heat without being too spicy.
- Speaking of spice, some people enjoy adding a dash or two of hot sauce in their dipping sauce. If you like a little extra heat, give it a try.
- Not a fan of spicy foods but would like a little added zesty flavor? Squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the tops of the pickles right when you remove them from the oil.
- For the kids, they may prefer them served with a sugar free ketchup.
What Is Oat Fiber? Is Oat Fiber Keto?
The Oat Fiber is really important in this recipe! I use it in so many recipes, because of the amazing texture it gives whatever I’m baking! It is hands down, the best ingredient I’ve baked with! The Oat Fiber that I use is made by Lifesource Foods, because they grind it to a very fine powder and has a mild flavor. I buy it in the 16 ounce bag, which lasts a while, because you don’t need to use much in your recipes.
Oat Fiber is not the same as Oat Flour, which is made from grinding oats. Oat Fiber is made from grinding the outer husks of oats and is pure insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber doesn’t dissolve in water and is not broken down in the digestive tract, so it has zero net carbs and is Keto friendly.
More Low Carb and Keto Appetizers
- Marinated Mushrooms
- Roasted Red Pepper Cauliflower Hummus
- Keto Seasoned Tortilla Chips
- Keto Fried Green Tomatoes
- Italian Antipasti Skewers
- Smoked Salmon Cucumbers
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
- Buffalo Deviled Eggs
- Parmesan Baked Artichoke Hearts
- Bang Bang Salmon Cakes
- Bacon Cheeseburger Bites
Shop my favorite products on Amazon and check out my Keto Pantry List!
Keto Fried Pickles (Gluten Free)
INGREDIENTS
- 16 ounce jar dill pickle chips
- ½ cup almond flour
- ½ cup pork rinds crushed
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
- ¼ cup oat fiber
- 2 whole eggs beaten
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- Keto friendly oil of your choice for frying
- Optional Zesty Dipping Sauce (or Ranch Dressing)
PREPARATION
- To make the breading, mix the pork rinds, parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, salt and the almond flour together in a food processor and grind it to a fine powder. Set up a breading station with the oat fiber in one bowl, the beaten eggs in another and the breading mixture in the third bowl.
- Take the pickle slices and dry them well on paper towels. Dip each one into the oat fiber first, then shake off any excess. You really want a very thin coating, just enough for the egg to adhere to. Then dip into the egg, also shaking off any excess. Then lastly, dip into the breading mixture.
- Heat a large nonstick skillet to medium heat and fry the pickles in small batches, just a couple of minutes on each side, or until they are golden.
- Allow them to drain on paper towels before serving with my zesty dipping sauce or homemade ranch dressing.
