5 Healthy, Creative Recipes Perfect for Pickle Lovers
Air-Fryer Pickle Chips
Deep-fried pickles make for a crunchy snack or appetizer. Unfortunately, like most fried foods, they’re also high in unhealthy saturated fats, which are bad for your heart, as noted by the American Heart Association. Cooking your pickles in the air-fryer will save you a lot of calories, fat, and saturated fat while still fulfilling your pickle craving!
PREP TIME
10 minCOOK TIME
5 minTOTAL TIME
15 minIngredients
Directions
Place pickle slices in a single layer on a paper towel and blot to remove as much excess liquid as possible.
In a shallow bowl, whisk eggs. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees F. Dredge pickle slices in flour mixture, then egg, then back into flour mixture, shaking off any excess flour. Place pickle slices in a single layer, evenly spaced, on the air-fryer baking sheet and spray generously with cooking spray. Cook until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes, then flip, spray with cooking spray, and cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Serving size⅓ cup, about 8 slices
calories
67total fat
2gsaturated fat
0.5gprotein
3gcarbohydrates
10gfiber
0.9gsugar
0.6gadded sugar
0gsodium
376mg
Dill Pickle Popcorn
One serving of popcorn provides about a third of the whole grains adults need in a day, according to the USDA. And diets rich in whole grains have been linked to a lower risk of obesity and death from cardiovascular disease. To keep this snack light and healthy, this recipe relies on herbs for flavor instead of saturated fat-filled butter or cheese.
PREP TIME
2 minCOOK TIME
5 minTOTAL TIME
7 minIngredients
Directions
Place a 3-quart stockpot over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil and 3 popcorn kernels and cover the pot. Listen carefully and when the kernels pop, add the remaining kernels to the hot pot and cover again. Allow the kernels to pop, shaking the pot occasionally, until the popping slows, about 2 to 4 minutes, and then remove from the heat. Be careful not to overcook, as the kernels on the bottom will burn.
Transfer popcorn to a large mixing bowl and, working quickly, drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and pickle brine while gently stirring the popcorn to evenly distribute the liquids.
In a separate small bowl, stir together dill, garlic powder, and salt. Pour the spice mixture over the popcorn and gently stir to evenly coat.
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Serving size3 cups
calories
233total fat
15gsaturated fat
1.9gprotein
4gcarbohydrates
27gfiber
5.5gsugar
0gadded sugar
0gsodium
367mg
Dill Pickle Dip
Pickles and fresh dill combine to create this delicious dip that takes just a few minutes to put together. Some past research has found that dill helps regulate blood sugar and aids cardiovascular health. This dip uses nonfat Greek yogurt, which adds calcium and gut-friendly probiotic bacteria but also keeps calories low.
PREP TIME
5 minTOTAL TIME
5 minIngredients
Directions
In a mixing bowl, whisk together cream cheese, yogurt, and pickle brine until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Serve with whole-grain pretzels or your favorite veggie sticks.
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Serving size¼ cup
calories
31total fat
2gsaturated fat
1gprotein
2gcarbohydrates
2gfiber
0.2gsugar
0.9gadded sugar
0gsodium
172mg
Pickle Brine Air-Fryer Chicken
Don’t just toss that leftover brine when you polish off a jar of pickles — use it to make this simple but mouthwateringly juicy chicken. The salt in pickle brine helps keep the meat moist and adds loads of flavor, too. Air-frying crisps the skin lightly without any added fat.
PREP TIME
5 minCOOK TIME
20 minTOTAL TIME
4 hr 25 minIngredients
Directions
Place chicken in a large zip top bag and add pickle brine, making sure chicken is submerged. Allow the chicken to brine in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, stir together the garlic powder, paprika, and pepper.
Allow any excess brine to drip off, then place chicken on the air fryer baking sheet and rub all over with spice mixture. Bake until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Serving size2 pieces
calories
421total fat
14gsaturated fat
3.8gprotein
67gcarbohydrates
2gfiber
0.7gsugar
0.2gadded sugar
0gsodium
618mg
Pickle Pasta Salad
Pasta salad takes on a new twist with a pickle juice vinaigrette. It’s a great way to use up pickle juice that would otherwise be tossed. Bell peppers add a crunch, color, and lots of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
PREP TIME
15 minTOTAL TIME
15 minIngredients
Directions
Place pasta and bell peppers in a large serving bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together pickle brine, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Pour the dressing over the pasta and toss to coat. Top with chives and bacon, if using.
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Serving size1 cup
calories
256total fat
7gsaturated fat
1gprotein
8gcarbohydrates
44gfiber
6gsugar
2.8gadded sugar
0gsodium
258mg
Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES
Medical Reviewer
Lynn Grieger is a registered dietitian-nutritionist, certified diabetes care and education specialist, certified personal trainer, and certified health and wellness coach. She completed requirements to become a registered dietitian at Valparaiso University in 1987 and completed a dietetic internship at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Illinois, in 1988.
Lynn brings her expertise in nutrition, exercise, and behavior change to her work in helping people reach their individual health and fitness goals. In addition to writing for Everyday Health, she has also written for websites and publications like Food and Health Communications, Today's Dietitian, iVillage.com, and Rodale Press. She has a passion for healthy, nutrient-dense, great-tasting food and for being outdoors as much as possible — she can often be found running or hiking, and has completed a marathon in every state.
Kelly Kennedy, RDN, LDN
Author
Kelly Kennedy is a licensed dietitian-nutritionist with over 14 years of experience in digital media. She previously managed and oversaw nutrition content, recipe development, meal planning, and diet and nutrition coaching at Everyday Health. She developed and reviewed various meal plans, books, slideshows, and online tools, and oversaw the creation of more than 500 unique recipes. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a master's degree from the State University of New York College at Oneonta.
Kennedy enjoys anything that takes her outside, from gardening and playing in the yard with her kids to hiking and even feeding her pet chickens.