You’ll find my Southern Fried Dill Pickles are made from delightfully crunchy, tiny baby dill pickles, that are gloriously soaked in a garlic and dill brine until perfectly seasoned, then placed in seasoned buttermilk and hot sauce brine before fried to perfection and served with homemade Ranch dressing.
It’s been said by folks, that Fried dill pickles were made famous by a Mr. Austin, aka Fatman, in the year of 1963, at the local Atkins, Arkansas, Duchess Drive-In. The recipe for his Fried Dill Pickles is so top-secret that only his immediate family members have it.
They used his secret recipe for Fried Dill Pickles only once each year at the annual Atkins, Arkansas, Picklefest, held each May. Two restaurant owners have laid claims to being the-the originators of the oddly delicious fried pickle recipe. According to the owners of the Hollywood Café in Robinsonville, Mississippi, fried dill pickles made their first appearance in 1969 when one of the restaurant’s cooks, rolled the dill pickles them in the batter for catfish, served them to the restaurant’s guests.
It has also been claimed that the Cock of the Walk restaurant first created this dish, but that restaurant opened in April 1977, which makes it a bit late to the show by any standards. Like any recipe, we will never honestly know who first came rolling in with the first version of the method, so I say let’s enjoy the benefits of eating these delicious creations!
All I can tell all of you is if you love Southern cooking, fried foods, and dill pickles, you are in for a beautiful treat. The taste is just so darn good you might wish you made a larger batch to enjoy more of those Southern Fried Dill Pickles.
Southern Fried Dill Pickles
- Baby dill pickles
- Hot sauce
- Whole buttermilk
- Cajun seasoning
- Garlic powder
- 2 packages Louisiana Crispy Chicken Fry Seasoned
- Peanut oil
- 1 Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing recipe
- 32 ounces Baby dill pickles drained
- 1 cup whole buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon Hot sauce or to own taste
- 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 2 packages Louisiana Crispy Chicken Fry Seasoned
- Peanut oil to fry
- 1 recipe 1 Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing recipe see blog for link
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Drain the juice from the baby dill pickle jar and refill the jar with the hot sauce, buttermilk, Cajun seasoning, and garlic powder. Soak the baby dill pickles in the buttermilk brine for at least 2-3 hours.
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Heat the peanut oil in a cast iron kettle over medium-high heat, till the peanut oil becomes 350 degrees F.
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Drain the pickles in the seasoned buttermilk brine they have soaked in.
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Put the 18-ounces of Louisiana Fish Fry Seasoned Chicken Fry in a large mixing bowl, and toss the baby dill pickles to coat them evenly. Shake off the excess batter from the baby dill pickles by tossing lightly in a colander.
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Deep fry the pickles in batches for about 3 minutes or until golden brown.
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When the baby dill pickles are golden brown, remove the pickles from the oil with a clean dry slotted metal spoon and place on a wire rack that you have placed over a baking sheet, let rest for a few moments.
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Serve with Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing recipe
Don’t forget to Pin for later!
I do like fried dill pickles… and these seem like a great treat to make!
Thank you, Gari, let me know if you make them I would love to hear from you.
OMG, you fried the whole pickle! I’m so excited about this recipe. Yay!
Ha Ha, Yes I sure did Andrea, they are the tiny baby dills. Let me know how you like the recipe after you make them.
I’ve been wanting to try fried pickles for ages, can’t wait to give this recipe a try!
Kate, you seriously have to try this! So good and crunchy.
This is surely unique and flavorful…..A must try recipe.
Thank you, Veena! I appreciate you stopping by the blog.
I haven’t ever made my own yet, but they are one of my favorite appetizers! I am definitely going to try this recipe!
They are so darn Jennie if you like frid pickles you’ll love this recipe.
Fried pickles are one of my favorite appetizers! I can’t wait to try this version, they look so good!
Thank you, Tisha, so thrilled to hear you’ll be trying this recipe for Fried Pickles.
I literally almost got fried pickles last night! I love the saltiness and then dipping them in ranch, nom nom. Scared to try these at home but seems so simple.
Hey there, Carmella, Fried pickles are delish for sure! I actually ordered them at Chili’s the other day and they were really good but not as good as these ones. I love them!
I have a party coming up..will save this recipe for that!
Hi, Priya, glad to hear that! I hope you enjoy your party and the recipe!
I never tried fried pickles before but now I just MUST. These beauties look amazing. And I absolutely love the seasoning. This recipe is going on my list to try.
I love fried pickles, Natalie! If you love dill pickles and fried food this might be a fit for you.
Thanks for dropping by.
Oh my goodness! I love love them but never found a good rexipe.. I am so trying this on Sunday.. adding all the ingredients to my grocery shopping list!
Good morning, Sonia, thanks for stopping by. These are really crunchy and so good.
Ohhhh …my god these were straight up yummy! What a huge difference those baby dills make in this recipe. I had to look for the Louisiana Chicken fry a bit but found it in Public and Walmart. We also used to make some chicken that night. Best product a blogger has recommended in a long time. The recipe turned out perfect.
Thank you, Olga! I am glad you found the product. I love it too—makes the best friend pickles and chicken. You should try their fish fry—-amazing!!
I made these yesterday and they were gone in the blink of an eye! Thanks so much for sharing!
Hey there, Taylor, so happy you liked the recipe. Makes my day!
This looks so delicious! I love fried pickles, but have never made them at home. I can’t wait to try this! My family is going to love it! Thanks so much for sharing.
Hi, Billy, thanks for dropping by! I hope you enjoy them!
Dang! That sounds even better than the last batch I made! Thanks so much! Your a doll!!
Thanks, Pete, our family enjoys them let me know how you like them.
When I go to visit my mom in S. Ga., that’s one of the first things I want!
I know that feeling Island lady lol!!!! Thanks for dropping by!
Heck yes! I have been obsessed with Fried Pickles since my first bit 20 years ago…took over 10 years to get a second bite! I’m going to try these out, TY!
I love them Colleen, they are sooo darn good!