Are you in love Texas Roadhouse's famous fried pickles? Well you're in luck! It's easy to make these crave-worthy Copycat Fried Pickles at home!

Easy Deep Fried Pickles Recipe just like Texas Roadhouse Fried Pickles

Gotta love fried pickles. I mean, these are seriously good! They are one of those appetizers that I can fall for again and again.

And this fried pickles recipe is so good!

I'm not usually a huge fried food lover, just because I try to eat healthier foods when I have the choice. But, sometimes I'll give into the whole flavor aspect that is fried food and indulge.

I figure I'm not doing anything gluttonous if I only partake now and again. And let me tell you, these Copycat Texas Roadhouse Fried Pickles are totally worth the indulgence.

Key Ingredients & Substitutions

Dill pickles. Sliced and drained well so the breading sticks and the oil doesn't spatter. Hamburger dill chips work great too if you want smaller, extra-crunchy bites.
All-purpose flour. The base of the seasoned coating. A gluten-free 1:1 flour blend swaps in easily if needed.
Cajun seasoning. Brings the signature kick to both the coating and the dip. No Cajun seasoning on hand? A mix of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of cayenne makes a solid stand-in.
Dried oregano & basil. Round out the breading's flavor with a savory, herby background note.
Cayenne pepper. Adds heat to the coating - scale up for extra spicy pickles, or leave it out entirely for a milder version.
Kosher salt. Seasons the coating. If you only have table salt, use about half as much since it's more concentrated.
Vegetable oil. For frying. Canola or peanut oil both work as substitutes thanks to their similarly high smoke points.
Mayonnaise, horseradish & ketchup. The base of the classic dipping sauce - see the Fried Pickle Sauce & Dip section below for more on this and easy swaps.

Try These Other Fried Appetizer Recipes Too

Simple food recipes like this are what life is all about. As in--there are some simple pleasures in life that need to be indulged in.

Easy appetizers like these Deep Fried Pickles, Copycat Bubba Gump Popcorn Shrimp, and Easy Fried Mozzarella Sticks.

crispy fried pickles served with dipping sauce on a white plate

Just check out our copycat Bubba Gump Popcorn Shrimp below. If you like fried food, and you LOVE shrimp, you'll want to try this recipe for sure.

As long as you have your fryer out, you might as well make a smorgasbord of fried food appetizer-type foods!

Helpful Tips

Use a thermometer to hold the oil at 375°F. Fried pickles cook fast - just 2-3 minutes - so oil that's too cool leaves them greasy and soggy, while oil that's too hot browns the coating before the inside heats through. A clip-on candy or fry thermometer takes the guesswork out of it.

Drain the pickles well before breading. Excess pickle juice thins out the flour coating and causes it to slide off in the oil. Pat the pickle slices dry with paper towels first so the coating actually sticks.

Fry in small batches. Crowding the pot drops the oil temperature fast, and the pickles end up steaming instead of crisping. Give each piece room to float freely, and plan on 2 batches if your pot is on the smaller side.

A dishwasher-safe electric fryer makes cleanup painless. If you fry often, an at-home fryer that uses low oil and is dishwasher safe is worth the investment - it's part of why this recipe comes together so easily on a weeknight.

Serve them immediately. Fried pickles are at their crispiest straight out of the oil and will soften the longer they sit, so time them to come out right before you're ready to eat.

Best Easy Deep Fried Pickles Recipe

There are some things in life that are simply too good for words. These fried pickles are a divine example of just that.

The salty tang of the pickles is balanced perfectly with a delectable dipping sauce that has just the right amount of kick.

Believe it or not, you can make these easily at home in your deep fryer to surprise your guests, or your family.

We highly recommend using a deep fryer instead of frying food on the stove top if you can.

That's just our preference! However, if you're an old pro...fry that food up however you've been doing it for all these years!

If it works...it works!

Variations

Buttermilk-battered pickles. Dunk the pickle slices in buttermilk before coating in the seasoned flour for an extra-crispy, slightly tangy crust.
Spicy fried pickles. Double the cayenne pepper in the coating, or add a few dashes of hot sauce to the dip for more heat.
Ranch-style dip. Swap the mayo-horseradish dip for classic ranch dressing if you want something milder and more kid-friendly.
Air fryer fried pickles. Spray breaded pickle slices with oil and air fry at 400°F for about 8 minutes, flipping halfway, for a lighter version.
Pickle chips instead of spears. Use hamburger dill chips instead of sliced whole pickles for smaller, extra-crunchy bites - great for a party platter.
Panko coating. Swap in panko breadcrumbs for the flour mixture for an even crunchier, restaurant-style texture.

Who Invented Fried Pickles?

Fried pickles came into popularity in the Southern U.S. during the early 1960s. Bernell "Fatman" Austin is often cited as the inventor, having added them to the menu t the Duchess Drive In located in Atkins, Arkansas in 1963.

Legend has it that The Fatman's now infamous recipe is closely guarded by his family and only used once a year for the annual Atkins Picklefest.

Interestingly, the first known printed fried pickle recipe was not published in the South. The Oakland Tribune featured a recipe for "French Fried Pickles" in their November 19, 1962 edition. That recipe called for using sweet pickle slices and pancake mix (which sounds amazing!).

How to Make Fried Pickles Recipe - Deep Fry Them!

The best deep fryer for home use in my opinion is an electric fryer that uses low oil and is dishwasher safe.

Friends, if I had found this fryer years ago, I probably would have fried more food on more occasions. I'm not huge on fried food, but it sure does taste good and my family LOVES it.

Between fried pickles and Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, you better believe we get our money's worth out of our fryer.

See how tasty these look:

fried mozzarella sticks with marinara dipping sauce in a cast iron pan

If you're a fried food lover, you will really enjoy biting into one of our deep fried pickles. They are really a treat.

Seriously...the next time we make these, we're going to make Bubba Gump's Popcorn Shrimp, Mozzarella Sticks and Fried Pickles.

All kinds of yummy happening with that idea!

How to Serve Fried Pickles

You'll want to eat your fair share of this delicious appetizer recipe, so make sure you save enough room!

And speaking of fairs, fried pickles are definitely one of the star attractions at state fairs and food festivals. Whether eaten as an appetizer or as an accompaniment to other dishes, the delicious combination of tart dill pickles and crunchy crispy coating is always a crowd favorite.

And fried pickles chips are a perfect bite-sized snack for eating on the go - no fork required.

Fried pickles are commonly served with ranch dressing or another creamy sauce for dipping. The zesty seasoning in the dip featured in this recipe deliciously complements the tangy pickles. You'll want to make this recipe again just to get another taste of the dip. Yum!

Fried Pickle Sauce & Dip

Half the reason people crave Texas Roadhouse's fried pickles is the dip that comes with them - a creamy, tangy, slightly spicy sauce that's every bit as good as the pickles themselves. This copycat version nails that same flavor, and it takes about two minutes to stir together while the oil heats up.

The dip built into this recipe card is a simple blend of:

Mayonnaise - the creamy base.
Horseradish - for sharp, sinus-tingling kick.
Ketchup - a touch of sweetness and color.
Cajun seasoning - the same zesty blend used in the pickle coating, for a dip that tastes like it belongs with these pickles.

Just whisk everything together in a small bowl and refrigerate it while you bread and fry the pickles - a few minutes of chilling lets the flavors meld. If you'd rather keep things simple, ranch dressing or a squeeze of hot sauce stirred into ranch both make easy stand-ins for the classic Texas Roadhouse-style sauce.

Storing & Reheating

Leftover fried pickles will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, though they'll soften as they sit since fried food never stays crispy for long once chilled. Store the dipping sauce separately in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week.

To reheat, skip the microwave - it turns the coating soggy. Instead, warm leftovers in a 375°F oven or air fryer for 4-5 minutes to re-crisp the outside. Fried pickles don't freeze particularly well once cooked, since the coating loses its crunch when thawed; if you want to prep ahead, freeze the breaded, uncooked pickle slices in a single layer on a tray, then transfer to a freezer bag and fry straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the fry time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Texas Roadhouse have fried pickles?

Yes - fried pickles are a popular starter on the Texas Roadhouse appetizer menu, served with a creamy, slightly spicy dipping sauce. This copycat recipe recreates that same crispy coating and tangy dip so you can make them at home anytime.

What is Texas Roadhouse fried pickle dip made of?

The dip is a simple no-cook blend of mayonnaise, horseradish, ketchup, and Cajun seasoning - just whisk and chill. It's the same combination used in the sauce recipe included on this page's recipe card.

Can I make fried pickles ahead of time?

Fried pickles are best served fresh, since they lose their crunch the longer they sit. You can prep the dip and slice and drain the pickles a day ahead, then bread and fry everything just before serving.

Can I bake fried pickles instead of deep frying them?

For a lighter version, bake breaded pickles on a wire rack at 425°F for about 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway, or try the air fryer variation above. They won't be quite as crispy as deep-fried, but they're still delicious.

More Copycat Recipes You'll Love

And if you love this copycat fried pickles recipe, be sure to check out these other tasty ideas:

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