"Whether you’re preparing for an outdoor—or indoor—get-together, surprise your friends and family with an underrated food item that is actually a “big dill” (I had to). Believe it or not, pickles can be the extra oomph or burst of flavor you need to complete or make a dish unique. While it’s commonly used as a topping or as a garnish for dishes, like a cheeseburger, this ingredient is quite versatile. You can fry them, you can use the juice as a marinade, and you can even top them on a pizza. Yes, a pizza. Don’t “be in a pickle” if you’re trying to figure out how to transform pickles into a dish. Curious or wanting to add to your list of favorite pickle dishes? Below, I’ve curated 35 pickle recipes to satisfy any pickle craving, including one original recipe from yours truly!
Sides & Appetizers
1. Easy Refrigerator Pickles
We can’t start off a list of pickle recipes without the classic DIY refrigerator pickles. Make your very own jar to use for every pickle recipe you can think of.
2. Dill Pickle Potato Salad
A fun twist on a potato salad. It’s the perfect pair to a picnic sandwich or a backyard barbecue.
3. Dill Pickle Dip
Get that extra pop of flavor you need with a dill pickle dip. This recipe includes cream cheese, sour cream, dill pickles, garlic salt, and pickle juice.
4. Small Charcuterie Board
Fit a cute date night in after the kids go to bed by whipping up this charcuterie board for two. A pickle is the perfect complement to something savory on your board, like prosciutto or salami.
5. Dill Tartar Sauce with Pickles
I had never thought of pairing pickles with seafood, but this duo is genius. This version of tartar sauce is something I know I’ve been missing in my life. When choosing which type of pickle goes best with this recipe, kosher dill pickles are recommended because “they provide a great briny flavor that you won’t find with sweeter pickle varieties.”
6. Air Fryer Pickles
Fried pickles are my all-time favorite appetizer. I’m never one to turn it down if it’s on the menu, and when I’m at home craving this yummy app, what better way to get it in front of you ASAP with this air fryer recipe?
7. Pickle de Gallo
This is a creative take on pico de gallo that sounds great with a bowl of chips or a hot dog. Trade out the tomatoes that pico de gallo usually calls for and add in the pickles.
8. Dill Pickle Slaw
Looking for the perfect crunch to add to your sandwich? Look no further because this is the crunch that every slaw needs.
9. Nashville Hot Chicken Dip
If you’re a lover of all-things spicy, don’t skip out on this version of Nashville Hot Chicken. This creamy and spicy Buffalo dip is topped with pickles—a hit for any party.
10. Bacon Cheeseburger Dip
The author of this recipe says, “It isn’t a cheeseburger without pickles,” and I’m totally backing this statement up. I even recommend using pickle spears as your dipping vessel. I’m adding this to my list of potluck must-haves!
11. Ham and Pickle Roll-Ups
Ham and pickle roll-ups are so easy to make and get out on the table for an after-school snack. Make plenty, though, because I don’t see these lasting long at all.
12. Bread and Butter Pickles
There’s no canning involved with these bread and butter pickles. These pickles are sweet, and my favorite way to eat them is with crackers, cheese, and sliced summer sausage.
Salads
13. Creamy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Who knew a pickled pasta salad could be so pretty? It’s noted that this recipe is a gluten-free, oil-free, and soy-free option.
14. Pickle Lovers’ Egg Salad
If you can’t get enough of the pickle flavor, this egg salad for pickle lovers does just that with its sweet relish, pickle juice, and chopped pickles.
15. Easy Dill Pickle Chicken Salad
Whether you’re making this into a lettuce wrap, a sandwich, or serving it on crackers, chicken salad is an easy go-to lunch option for you and your family.
16. Tuna Salad
Add a little extra crunch to your tuna salad with diced dill pickles.
17. Deviled Ham Salad
From the spiral ham to the crunchy celery and pickle relish, there are so many flavorful and beautiful textures with this recipe.
Main Dishes
18. The Best Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe
The marinade for this grilled chicken recipe calls for pickle juice—yum!
19. Pickle Lovers’ Puff Pastry Pizza with Hot Honey
Make this as an appetizer or as a main dish. I love that the sauce for this pizza is a ranch sauce. It’s mixed with sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt) and some Trader Joe’s ranch seasoning. You have the perfect combo to go with your favorite type of pickles.
20. Spicy Peanut Tofu Bowls with Quick Pickled Veggies
Make this fresh meal with pickled cucumbers and red onions as an easy (and delicious) at-home weeknight dinner.
21. The Best Beach Sandwich
This sandwich is the perfect excuse to pack up the family for a beach vacay. It’s made with sun-dried tomato butter (delicious!), avocado, ciabatta bread, turkey, basil leaves, arugula, extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of salt, and, of course, pickles.
22. Vegan Chicken Big Mac
This McDonald’s copycat recipe is a twist on the classic Big Mac burger but this recipe instead turns it into a vegan chicken sandwich. Top it with a DIY vegan Big Mac sauce and lots of pickles and you’ve got an oh-so-yummy meal for any time.
23. Chicago-Style Hot Dog
Hands down, pickles are my favorite topping to go on a hot dog, and it’s not a Chicago dog without a few pickle spears. I just love the crunch in every bite.
24. Ham and Pickle Roll Ups
Need something quick to whip up for a snack, lunch, or dinner? Put together ham and pickle roll-ups. They’ll be gone as fast as you made them.
25. Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza
If pizza nights are a weekly occurrence in your household, surprise your family with this fun and delicious twist on pizza pie. Bacon and pickles as toppings? Count me in.
26. Slower Cooker Cheeseburger Soup
Just because it’s cold and rainy outside doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the backyard barbecue vibes. Take it indoors and make this easy slow cooker cheeseburger soup.
27. Dill Pickle Chicken Wings
Don’t let pickle juice in your empty pickle jar go to waste. Make it into a tangy marinade for chicken wings!
28. Loaded Cheeseburger Muffins
Yes, cheeseburgers for breakfast. Make it possible with these on-the-go breakfast muffins.
29. Bacon Cheeseburger Keto Breakfast Quiche
This is a great breakfast or brunch idea, especially if you’re starting the day with a tailgate or need something for your game day snacks.
30. Green Goddess Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Any variation of grilled cheese is worth trying, and this recipe has a green goddess mix made with avocado, green tomato, spinach, and alfalfa sprouts.
31. Asian Lettuce Wraps
The spicy mayo with the pickled cucumbers is a chef’s kiss, giving you the combination of sweet, sour, and spicy all in one dish.
32. Smash Burger Tacos
If you love smash burgers, it’s time to try them in the form of tacos.
33. The Best Pickle Juice Martini
When two worlds collide between a pickle lover and a martini lover, we call this the “pickletini.”
34. Pickleback Shot
This adult shot is so simple that it’s made with only two ingredients: pickle brine and whiskey.
Bonus Recipe
35. Patty’s Pancake-Batter Fried Pickles with Homemade Garlic Dill Ranch
I love fried pickles so much that I had to come up with my own recipe. In the process, I realized that I was missing regular flour for the batter, so I improvised and substituted it with pancake mix that I had in my pantry. It was the best unintentional ingredient swap because the coating is a little sweet and extra fluffy. This recipe paired with garlic dill ranch definitely satisfies my fried pickle cravings. Scroll down for the full recipe!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
Pancake-Batter Fried Pickles
- vegetable oil for frying
- 1 egg
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups pancake or waffle batter
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 32 oz jar of dill pickle chips, drained
- For thick cut pickles, I recommend the Vlasic brand ovals, hamburger dill chips. For thin cut pickles, I recommend the Boar’s Head brand kosher dill pickle chips. You can also cut whole pickles into your desired thickness.
Homemade Garlic Dill Ranch
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1½ tbsp minced garlic
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ¾ cup mayonnaise (I use Hellmann’s brand)
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tbsp chives, minced
- 1 tbsp dried dill
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- lemon juice from half a lemon
Instructions:
- Mix all the ingredients for the homemade garlic dill ranch in a bowl and set aside or refrigerate until the fried pickles are ready.
- Next, fill a deep frying pan, cast iron skillet, or a Dutch oven with one to two inches of vegetable oil. Set over medium-high heat until your oil is consistently at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a deep fry thermometer, dip the tip of a wooden spoon in the oil. If the oil starts to bubble around the spoon, then you know it’s ready to start frying.
- Whisk the egg and buttermilk in a large bowl. In a separate shallow plate, mix together the pancake or waffle batter, cornstarch, garlic powder, dried parsley, onion powder, and black pepper.
- Toss one cup of the pickles in the egg and buttermilk mix. Gently shake off any excess of the egg and buttermilk from the pickle and transfer the pickles to the flour mixture. Using a fork, toss each pickle until evenly coated, and gently shake off any excess. Place the coated pickles into the oil. If needed, flip each pickle once and remove it when the batter is crispy and golden brown on both sides. Remove the pickles with a slotted spoon or ladle strainer and transfer them to a lined cooling rack. Repeat step three until all the pickles are cooked.
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathons—she ran one 16 weeks pregnant—traveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.