Costco’s fried pickles are a beloved snack for many, with their crispy breaded exterior and tangy, salty pickle insides. But what should you eat with these tasty morsels to take your snack to the next level? The classic dipping sauce for fried pickles is ranch dressing, and Costco’s pre-made ranch is the perfect complement. But if you’re looking to expand your horizons, there are plenty of other delicious options that pair wonderfully with Costco’s fried pickles.
More Dipping Sauces
While ranch is the go-to, there are lots of other creamy, tangy sauces that work well for dipping fried pickles. Some great options include:
- Spicy ranch – Add a kick of heat and zing to your fried pickles.
- Blue cheese dressing – The bold flavor stands up to the pickles.
- Chipotle or sriracha mayo – Smoky and spicy condiments for a southwestern twist.
- Honey mustard – The sweet honey balances the brininess of the pickles.
- Specialty aioli – Flavored mayos like garlic aioli, harissa aioli or romesco aioli add tons of flavor.
- Tzatziki – Cool and creamy cucumber yogurt dip. A Mediterranean take on fried pickles.
Experiment with different store-bought salad dressings and flavored mayonnaises to find new dipping combinations you love. Spicy, herby and horseradish-infused dips are especially good with fried pickles.
Sandwiches
For a more substantial snack or light meal, turn your fried pickles into a sandwich. Some tasty options:
- Fried pickle po’boy – Load up fried pickles, ranch and shredded lettuce on a soft hoagie roll.
- Fried pickle cheesesteak – Use provolone, fried pickles and grilled onions as toppings on a Philly cheesesteak.
- Fried pickle burger – Top your favorite burger with crispy fried pickles for added crunch.
- Fried pickle hot chicken – Put fried pickles on a Nashville hot chicken sandwich for extra tang.
Burgers, sandwiches and po’boys are all natural homes for fried pickles. Cool, crisp lettuce balances the hot fried coating. And a spread of mayo or ranch ties it all together.
Loaded Snacks
For an over-the-top snack, load up your fried pickles with any of these fun toppings:
- Pulled pork or brisket – BBQ meat takes fried pickles to new heights.
- Nacho toppings – Melted cheese, chili, guacamole, salsa and sour cream.
- Chili – Turn your fried pickles into mini corn dogs for dunking.
- Pickle dip – A blend of mayo, sour cream, dill and garlic.
- Pico de gallo – Fresh tomatoes, onion, cilantro and lime juice.
The salty, crispy exterior of the fried pickles provides the perfect contrast to rich, creamy and flavorful toppings. From Tex-Mex flavors to barbecue to loaded nachos, the possibilities are endless.
On Salads
Salads are an unexpected but delicious way to use up any extra fried pickles. Crunch up some fried pickles and scatter them over these fresh salads:
- Cobb salad – With chicken, bacon, eggs and blue cheese.
- Wedge salad – Top a wedge of iceberg lettuce with chunky blue cheese dressing and fried pickles.
- Taco salad – Load up your taco salad with all the fixings plus fried pickles for a fun topping.
- Greek salad – Feta, tomatoes, cucumber, onion and fried pickles for a tangy twist.
The crispy texture of the fried pickles adds so much to the varied flavors and textures in composed salads. Enjoy the interplay of cool, creamy and fresh ingredients with the salty crunch of fried pickles.
As Appetizers
Fried pickles make awesome appetizers for gatherings and parties. Some fun ways to serve them:
- Fried pickle bites – Slice pickles into coins or spears for easy finger food.
- Pickle chips and dip – A bowl of fried pickle chips with ranch or other dipping sauces.
- Pickle rolls – Wrap pickle spears in bacon or mini corndogs to create pickle egg rolls.
- Pickle skewers – Alternate fried pickles, cheese cubes and grapes on a skewer.
With their salty, tangy flavor and crispy coating, fried pickles make the perfect starter to whet guests’ appetites. Get creative with shapes, skewers and dipping options.
On Pizzas and Flatbreads
Crisp pickles add great texture and flavor atop these fun pizza-style creations:
- BBQ chicken pizza – Top with fried pickles, red onion and cilantro.
- Greek pizza – Feta, tomato, Kalamata olives and fried pickle rounds.
- Mac and cheese pizza – Load up with fried pickles and bacon bits.
- Thai chicken flatbread – Peanut sauce, pickled carrot and fried pickle chips.
The next time you make homemade or store-bought pizza dough, get creative with your toppings! Fried pickles add the perfect salty crunch and acidity to balance rich ingredients like cheese and barbecue sauce.
On Nachos
Already discussed loaded nachos, but no list would be complete without a closer look at nacho recipes perfect for piling with fried pickles:
- BBQ pork nachos – Pulled pork, fried pickles, cheddar and BBQ sauce.
- Steakhouse nachos – Steak strips, fried pickles, A1 sauce and blue cheese crumbles..
- Supreme nachos – Ground beef, beans, salsa, cheese, lettuce, tomato and fried pickle rounds.
- Breakfast nachos – Hash browns, scrambled eggs, fried pickles, cheddar and sausage.
Nachos are the perfect canvas for fried pickles. The crunchy chips support all kinds of fun flavors and ingredients. Make your nachos stand out from the crowd by topping generously with crispy, tangy fried pickles.
On Hot Dogs
Hot dogs go hand-in-hand with pickles, so a fried pickle version is a natural pairing. Top your hot dog with fried pickles for extra crunch and tang.
- New York dog – Sauerkraut, onion sauce and fried pickles.
- Chicago dog – Tomato slices, peppers, onions, relish, mustard and fried pickles.
- Texas dog – BBQ sauce, bacon, cheddar and fried pickle coins.
- Sonoran dog – Bacon, pinto beans, mayo, mustard, onions, tomatoes and fried pickles.
From Chicago-style dogs to bacon-wrapped Sonoran dogs, the crisp coating and briny flavor of fried pickles make a perfect topping for tubular meat on a bun.
On Tacos
Tacos are a prime place to add some fried pickle crunch. Try these taco ideas:
- Fish tacos – Top with fried pickle rounds, cabbage and chipotle mayo.
- Steak tacos – Skirt steak, pico de gallo, queso fresco and fried pickle strips.
- Chicken tacos – Shredded chicken, lettuce, tomato and fried pickle slices.
- Breakfast tacos – Bacon, egg, cheese and fried pickle coins for crunch.
Tacos are highly customizable, so get creative with your favorite meat or veggie fillings. Scattered fried pickle chips add fresh texture and tang.
On Bloody Marys
For a boozy brunch snack, skewer fried pickles and add them to Bloody Mary cocktails. Some fun skewers to try:
- Pickle and olive skewer.
- Pickle, cheese and salami skewer.
- Pickle and shrimp skewer.
- Pickle, bacon and grape tomato skewer.
The flavors of a great Bloody Mary cocktail – tomato juice, horseradish, Worcestershire, hot sauce – are perfectly balanced by the addition of crispy, briny fried pickles. Use pickle skewers to make your drink an appetizer!
On Potato Skins
For the ultimate bar food appetizer, load up your potato skins with these delicious fried pickle toppings:
- Pickle, bacon and ranch.
- Pickle, cheddar and scallions.
- Pickle, chili and cheese.
- Pickle, pulled pork and BBQ sauce.
Crispy fried pickles make a fantastic replacement for fresh pickle slices atop classic loaded potato skins. The crunch stands up to heartier ingredients like cheese, bacon and barbecue.
On Burgers
Already mentioned fried pickle burgers, but let’s dive deeper into the best burger recipes to top with crunchy fried pickles:
- Bacon cheeseburger – The classic! Fried pickles add salt.
- Patty melt – Fried pickles, grilled onions and Swiss on rye bread.
- Jalapeno popper burger – Cream cheese, fried pickles and jalapenos.
- Donut burger – Top a burger served between donuts with pickles and bacon.
Burgers demand crunchy, salty, tangy toppings to cut through the richness. Fried pickles check all those boxes, pairing perfectly with beefy patties and gooey cheese.
Dip in Batter
For a fun twist, try dipping other items in the pickle juice batter before frying. Some foods that pair well:
- Pickle juice fried chicken
- Pickle juice fried shrimp
- Pickle juice fried mushrooms
- Pickle juice fried zucchini
- Pickle juice fried mac and cheese bites
Letting proteins and veggies soak in the briny pickle juice batter before frying infuses tons of tangy flavor. Expand your fried pickle horizons with pickle juice as a marinade and coating.
On Hot Sandwiches
Fried pickles also pair wonderfully with hot sandwiches. Try them on:
- Patty melts
- Sloppy joes
- Meatball subs
- Philly cheesesteaks
- Reubens
- French dips
- Grilled cheeses
Their inherent crunch stands up well to melty cheese and heartier sandwich fillings. And the briny flavor cuts through rich sauces and condiments.
On Top of Salads
In addition to composing them into salads, crumbled fried pickles make amazing toppings for green and grain bowls:
- Kale Caesar salad
- Wedge salad
- Cobb salad
- Chopped chef’s salad
- Quinoa tabbouleh salad
- Wheat berry salad
Sprinkle crispy fried pickles over any salad for a pop of salty flavor and fun crunch in each bite. They work with all types of greens and grains.
Cooking and Serving Tips
To get the most out of your fried pickle experience, keep these tips in mind:
- Use pickle slices or spears, not chips. The larger pieces hold up better when fried.
- Pat pickles very dry before dredging and frying for a crisper crust.
- Use high heat oil like canola or peanut oil for frying.
- Fry in batches to maintain oil temperature and prevent sticking.
- Season fried pickles immediately with salt, pepper, ranch powder or other spices.
- Serve fried pickles right away. The coating gets soggy if they sit.
- Pair fried pickles with ranch, blue cheese or spicy dipping sauces.
Proper frying technique is key to achieving the crunchiest, most flavorful fried pickles. Adjust spice blends and dipping sauces to customize to your tastes.
Popular Pairing Combinations
Some of the most popular flavor combinations with fried pickles include:
- Fried pickles and ranch
- Fried pickles and blue cheese dressing
- Fried pickles and pulled pork
- Fried pickles and bacon
- Fried pickles and cheese
- Fried pickles and BBQ sauce
When in doubt, crispy fried pickles pair best with cool, creamy dips and sauces and rich, meaty ingredients. Use these combos as inspiration when serving or snacking on fried pickles.
Conclusion
There are endless delicious ways to eat and enjoy Costco’s fried pickles. Dip them in creamy ranch or spicy buffalo sauce, pile them on burgers and nachos, or skewered in Bloody Mary’s. Crisp-fried, tangy pickles add texture and brightness to just about any dish. With the right sauces and seasonings, you can customize them to match any cuisine. So next time you grab a tub of fried pickles from Costco, get creative with these pairing ideas for an elevated snack or meal add-on.