This Fried Pickle Dip is the perfect blend of tangy, salty, creamy and crunchy! It's perfect for tailgating, parties and potlucks and could not be easier to throw together. A viral recipe that really does live up to its reputation!
I first came across fried pickle dip when we were on vacation in Florida last fall. My husband picked up some Taste the South Fried Pickle and Ranch Dip from the local grocery store and I was instantly obsessed. I absolutely love pickles of all kinds and combining them into a creamy, crunchy, dip-able spread is a dream. When we got home and I couldn't find the dip anywhere I knew I would have to create my own version. And, not to toot my own horn, but I think this one is actually better than the original.
This dip is super simple to make. The only "cooking" element is toasting the Panko breadcrumbs in butter. Other than than your just chopping some pickles and herbs and whipping them up with the other ingredients. So easy and your guests are definitely going to be asking for the recipe!
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Equipment
For this recipe you will need some kitchen basics such as:
- Chopping board and knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowl
- Frying pan: I love my All-Clad stainless steel frying pan.
I also recommend using a hand mixer but you could also use a strong arm and a whisk if your prefer.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Panko bread crumbs: I do recommend sticking with the classic panko style of breadcrumbs rather than traditional bread crumbs. This results in a much crispier, crunchier topping.
- Butter: I like using salted butter for extra flavor. Kerrygold salted butter is my favorite.
- Pickles: Here's where it comes down to quality and personal preference. You want to use a pickle that you enjoy eating on its own, preferably dill or garlic style. I personally love using Grillo's Pickles, but I've also made it with the Oh Snap brand and Cleveland Kitchen pickles and it's turned out great. You'll also need some pickle juice for this recipe.
- Lemon juice: You can use fresh or bottled. About 1 tablespoon works great.
- Sour cream: For the ultimate flavor and texture I highly recommend using a good quality, full fat sour cream. However, it's still tasty if you use the low fat variety. You can also substitute with a dairy free sour cream if you want to make this recipe vegan.
- Cream cheese: Again, I recommend full fat for the best outcome. But feel free to use a low fat or vegan version if preferred.
- Ranch seasoning: I used the classic Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning for this recipe but use your brand of choice.
- Garlic: I highly recommend using freshly crushed garlic, rather than the pre-minced and jarred version.
- Fresh dill & fresh chives: These are optional but they really elevate this dish and add fabulous herby freshness.
- Salt & pepper
- Hot sauce (optional): This is completely optional but I love add a little Franks Hot Sauce for an extra kick.
Step by Step Photos
Time needed: 15 minutes.
How to make Fried Pickle and Ranch Dip
- Toast the Panko breadcrumbs.
Toast breadcrumbs in butter in a frying pan until golden brown. Then set aside to cool.
- Blend together sour cream, cream cheese, pickle juice, lemon juice, ranch seasoning and hot sauce.
- Mix in diced pickles, garlic and fresh herbs.
- Layer dip with panko breadcrumbs and serve!
Serving Suggestions
I love serving this with classic ruffled potato chips. It's also great on cucumber slices and with carrots and bell pepper or with pita chips or pretzels. It's also an especially tasty sandwich spread!
Variations
- Add in some cooked, diced bacon for a Fried Pickle and Bacon dip.
- Take the heat up a notch by adding more hot sauce, spicy dill pickles and some diced jalapenos.
- Add in some sliced green onions and more herbs for a sour cream and onion take.
- Make this a Cajun pickle dip by adding a few teaspoons of cajun seasoning and some spicy pickles.
Recipe FAQs
This dish stays good for about 4 days in the fridge.
In its current iteration is it not, but it can easily be adjusted to be vegan friendly. Simply replace the butter, sour cream and cream cheese with vegan alternatives and it will still be delicious!
Absolutely. Add chopped pickled jalapeños, a pinch of cayenne, or a drizzle of hot sauce to give it a spicy kick.
Made this homemade Fried Pickle Dip recipe? Let me know what you think in the comments!
Recipe
Fried Pickle Dip
Equipment
- Frying pan
- Measuring cups and spoon
- mixing bowl
- Electric hand mixer optional
Ingredients
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 cups sour cream
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 packet of ranch seasoning about 1 oz, or 2 tbsp
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoon dill pickle juice
- 1.5 cups dill pickled, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, minced
- salt and pepper to taste
- hot sauce optional, to taste
Instructions
- Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a frying pan over medium high heat. Add Panko bread crumbs and toast, stirring frequently, for a couple of minutes until crisp and golden brown. Remove from heat and pour into a small bowl to cool. Set aside.
- Into a mixing bowl add sour cream, softened cream cheese, ranch seasoning, pickle juice and lemon juice with a few drop of hot sauce (optional). Use an electric hand mixture to blend until well combined. Add in chopped pickles, garlic, dill and chives and stir to combine. Taste and add additional salt, pepper or hot sauce according to your preference.
- Spoon about half of the sour cream and pickle mixture into a serving dish. Then sprinkle about half of the toasted breaded crumbs on top. Spoon in the remaining sour cream mixture and top with the remaining breadcrumbs. Serve with potato chips, pita chips or fresh veggies and enjoy!
Gus
I tried your fried pickle dip, and it was a total hit at our weekend gathering. The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the crunch was just right. Loved how easy it was to whip up, making it my new go-to appetizer. Thanks for sharing such a delightful recipe!
Shelby
This fried pickle dip has such a great mix of flavors! It's perfect for parties when I want to serve something different, but delicious!
Liz
I'm obsessed with fried pickles so I HAD to make this dip. So good and our friends loved it too!
Vicky
This fried pickle dip is a total game-changer! The combination of creamy, tangy, and crunchy is just perfection! My guests finished the whole thing!
Paul B
Way too liquidy. Tastes like cut up dill pickle and ranch dressing. I wanted dip for chips that doesn't taste like ranch dressing. Not good at all in my opinion. Hopefully I can find an actual recipe that doesn't call for ranch seasoning. And that isn't as thin as ranch dressing. Never make it again.
jamjarkitchen
Hi Paul, I’m sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy the recipe. I’m not sure why yours turned out so liquidy. Did you happen to use the cream cheese? As you can see from the photos, the version I make is usually quite thick and creamy. If you’re not a fan of ranch flavor, I’d definitely recommend trying a different style of dip without ranch seasoning. Sounds like this one just wasn’t a good fit for your taste.
Josh
Mine also came out very runny. I used Daisy sour cream and Philadelphia cream cheese. I added full 8oz block of cream cheese to try and thicken it up. But was still quite runny. Flavors were delicious but the texture was off. Next time I make it I will start with the cream cheese and add sour cream until I get the desired consistency. Still a good tasting dip though.
jamjarkitchen
Thanks so much for making it! It shouldn’t be runny, but it is meant to be a little loose so you can easily scoop it with chips or veggies. I typically use Good Culture full-fat sour cream, which is a bit thicker than some other brands.
Starting with the cream cheese and adding the sour cream until you get the consistency you like is a great approach. You can also let the dip chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour; it naturally thickens as it sits. I appreciate the feedback! Let me know how it turns out next time.
Micki
I made this for a Super Bowl party, it is awesome! I added a bunch of fresh dill, chives and scallions. I will definitely make this again!
jamjarkitchen
Hi Micki - So glad you liked it!
Peyton
It was delicious and I would definitely make it again
jamjarkitchen
So glad you liked it!