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Yes, you can make low carb gluten-free pickles without flour! These keto fried pickles are fried to perfection with a crispy coating, and use just 5 simple ingredients that you may already have on hand. Don’t forget to serve these low carb fried pickles with my spicy appetizer dipping sauce.
I’m all about big spreads of appetizers for parties, gatherings, and sporting events… aren’t we all really there for the food anyway?! Appetizers are not known as the healthiest foods, but that’s exactly why I’ve made keto versions of your favorites!
And if not everyone your hosting is keto? Don’t worry, everyone loves zucchini fries, bacon wrapped brussels sprouts, and this bacon cheese ball. No need to make separate items!
This post for easy fried pickles without flour was originally published on July 5, 2017, and the post was republished in January 2021 to add updated pictures and useful tips.
The keto fried pickles recipe is by my friend, Kim from Low Carb Maven. The photo at the top of the post is Kim’s, while the others I added later to show the process. Mine browned a bit darker than hers, but were still delicious!
How To Make Keto Fried Pickles
Let me show you how to make fried pickles without flour! We’re using a low carb breading of protein powder and grated cheese, which results in very crispy fried pickles with just a hint of crystalline texture from the protein powder. The coating browns nicely and the pickles stay crispy for a long time.
- Prep. Drain pickles and dry on paper towels. Mix eggs in a small bowl. Whisk together protein powder and cheese in another bowl.
TIP: You can buy the actual pickles, or make keto pickles yourself at home.
- Assemble. Dip pickles in egg wash, shaking off any excess before placing into coating mixture.
TIP: Use separate hands to handle the wet and dry bowls. Don’t let a wet hand go back and forth between the wet and dry bowls too much, to avoid clumping the breading.
- Fry. Carefully place pickles into hot oil and fry until golden brown on both sides in a nonstick skillet. Place cooked pickles on a paper towel.
- Serve. Serve low carb fried pickles with spicy dipping sauce.
Gluten-Free Fried Pickles FAQs
Are fried pickles gluten-free?
Traditional fried pickles are not gluten-free, as they are breaded in a flour-based breading.
In this recipe, we’re making the fried pickle batter without flour, so it’s a great gluten-free alternative.
Are fried pickles keto?
Most fried pickles are not keto, as they have a flour-based breading.
In this version, we’re making the fried pickles with protein isolate powder and grated cheese… it’s the perfect keto alternative so that you can enjoy crispy keto fried pickles!
Can you use a different breading?
Yes. This keto fried pickle recipe uses whey protein powder for the breading, but you could also use:
- A combination of pork rinds and parmesan, like Kim does for her crispy eggplant
- A combination of pork rinds and whey protein powder, like I did for keto chicken tenders
- Just plain pork rinds, like I do for keto fried chicken
- Super fine almond flour, like I do for low carb chicken nuggets or fried squash
Low Carb Fried Pickles Storage Instructions
Can you make them ahead?
Like any fried food, these pickles are best made fresh and eaten immediately.
If you have leftovers, store them in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Can you freeze them?
Yes, you can freeze the pickles in a single layer and then transfer to a freezer bag for 2-3 months.
To freeze, apply the breading but do not fry. Freeze in a single layer on a sheet of parchment paper. Once solid, transfer to a freezer bag.
To fry frozen breaded pickles, do not thaw. Fry in oil right from frozen over medium-low heat, to allow them to heat through without burning.
How to reheat gluten-free fried pickles:
For already fried low carb pickles, bake them in the oven on a oven-safe rack or reheat quickly in a skillet over medium-low to low heat. Do not microwave them, or they’ll be soggy.
More Keto Appetizer Recipes
If you like this gluten-free fried pickles recipe, you might also like some of these other keto appetizer recipes:
- Mini Keto Corn Dogs – These adorable corn dogs taste just like the real thing…but have just 1.1 grams net carbs each!
- Keto Mozzarella Sticks – Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside. Super easy and just 6 ingredients.
- Lemon Pepper Wings – Just 5 minutes to prep these wings. They come out perfect every time!
- 7-Layer Taco Dip – This is the perfect make-ahead dip. Serve with bell peppers, zucchini chips, or low carb chips.
- Keto Meatballs – No one will even know these are keto-friendly. They literally taste just like regular Italian meatballs.
Tools To Make Fried Pickles Without Flour
Tap the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.
- Whey Protein Isolate – This is the brand I recommend because it has 0 net carbs and works well for this recipe. Results may vary if you use a different one.
- Nonstick Skillet – Use a nonstick skillet to ensure your fried pickles don’t stick to the pan.
- Serving Platter With Dip Section – Serve up these low carb fried pickles in this serving platter that has a spot for the appetizer dipping sauce.
Keto Fried Pickles Recipe
Keto Fried Pickles Recipe
Low carb keto fried pickles without flour are CRISPY and easy! Plus, this gluten-free fried pickles recipe needs just 5 simple ingredients.
Recipe Video
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Drain the pickles and dry on paper towels. (Save the pickle juice to pickle zucchini or to brine chicken.)
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Beat the egg in a small bowl large enough to accommodate 5 pickles.
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Mix the protein powder and cheese together in a medium bowl with a small whisk until blended.
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Heat a medium to large skillet over medium heat. When hot, add enough oil to generously cover the bottom of the pan. The oil is ready when a wooden spoon placed in the oil starts to bubble.
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Procedure: Dip 5-6 pickles in the egg wash, coating completely. Shake off any excess egg and place into the coating mixture to coat. Using a fork to help flip the pickles is helpful. Carefully place the pickles into the hot oil and fry 1 minute or until golden brown, flip.
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Meanwhile, coat the next five pickles and place in the pan to cook. Continue until all of the pickles have been coated and cooked. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve at room temperature with spicy dipping sauce.
Last Step: Leave A Rating!
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 8 pickle rounds
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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31 Comments
Larry
0Sounds like a quick prep and cook procedure..like the cheese ingredient..nice variety..thanks..
Carol Logan
0Hi Maya, Just this week, when I tap on a recipe your site takes me to PUBLC. What am I doing wrong here? I am signed up for your weekly emails. However I dont know what this new thing is! Please advise! Many thanks. And lastly … LOVE your recipes. I won’t rate anything, this is in the issues category.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Carol, I’m so glad you like my recipes! PUBLC is a new visual search engine, similar to Pinterest. Sometimes I link to my posts there in my emails – you’re not doing anything wrong. You can tap right through to the blog post from there. It does help support my recipes at no cost to you if you create a free account – and would love for you to follow me on PUBLC here.
Jill Rubin de Cedres Dinardi
0Would these work in the air fryer with a spritz of olive oil?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Jill, I have not personally tried this, but it may work. Please let us know how it turns out if you decide to experiment.
Susan B
0Can collagen peptide be used in place of whey protein?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Susan, Unfortunately not, the collagen peptides would simply dissolve on the pickles.
wilhelmina
0Fried pickles are my favorite appetizer! I have made these a couple of times now and I just can’t get enough!!
Cindy
0Love these low-carb pickles! They are so delicious that even my little picky-eater loves them!
Elena
0Love this recipe!
Ashley
0I wanted so badly to love these but I couldn’t even eat them. The breading was very crumbly and gritty. It was crispy on the outside but tasted raw when you bit into them.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Ashley, Sorry to hear you had issues with them. It sounds like the heat was up too high if the breading didn’t cook through by the time the outside was golden. Try lower heat next time. Otherwise, you might like my other breading suggestions in the post above.
Jules Shepard
0OMG! I can not wait to have some easy fried pickles…seriously – my stomach is growling!
Rhonda Gales
0My daughter introduced me to fried pickles, and I’m so glad she did. I’m in love. I’ll be sharing your recipe on my Game Day Roundup. Thanks for sharing.
Raven Higgins
0Could you substitute almond and or coconut flour for the whey protein powder? Just wondering because I only have vanilla and cookies and cream flavored whey protein and would rather not go out and buy some just to make pickles, lol.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Raven, Possibly, but I haven’t tried it. I think it would be a different texture. Let me know if it works for you!
Sam
0YUM YUM YUM! I love pickles, but this was quite the treat! Thanks so much for sharing!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy you liked them, Sam! Please come back again soon!
Chris
0These came better than I expected! My pickles were on the smaller side, so I got 2 paper plates full! Added garlic and herb spice mix to the breading. 5 stars!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Chris!
Lindsay
0I skimmed the article but maybe I missed it. What type of protein isolate was used for this recipe?
Thanks.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Lindsay, any kind of whey protein isolate will work.
Jamie
0These were pretty good! I used my deep fryer and they cooked like a dream.
I would suggest adding salt and garlic powder in with the dry ingredients.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Jamie!
Tina
0Is the whey protein flavored?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Tina, No. This recipe uses unflavored whey protein powder.
Carol
0So easy and so good! Best low carb bread I’ve found 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Carol!
Kimberlee Luna
0Can you leave the whey out or is there a sub for it?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Kimberlee, This recipe from Kim uses whey protein powder. You could try it with a Parmesan-only coating like my zucchini fries. Let me know how it goes!
Emily Forbes
0Maybe try almond flour as a substitute