Crispy Pickle Cheese Bites (Printable)
Golden fried dill pickle and cheddar bites with a crispy panko crust, perfect for parties.
# What You'll Need:
→ Main
01 - 18 dill pickle slices, about 1/4-inch thick
02 - 3.5 oz cheddar cheese, cut into 18 small cubes
→ Breading
03 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
04 - 2 large eggs
05 - 2 tbsp milk
06 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
07 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
08 - 1/2 tsp paprika
09 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ For Frying
10 - Vegetable oil, for deep or shallow frying
# How to Make It:
01 - Pat the pickle slices dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
02 - Place a cheese cube on each pickle slice and top with another pickle slice, securing with a toothpick if needed.
03 - Set up three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs and milk, and one with panko mixed with garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.
04 - Dredge each assembled bite in flour, dip into the egg mixture, then coat thoroughly with the seasoned panko.
05 - Pour about 2 inches of vegetable oil into a heavy-bottomed pan and heat to 350°F.
06 - Fry the bites in batches for 1 to 2 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
07 - Serve warm with ranch dressing or your preferred dipping sauce.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The crunch of the panko against the squeak of a good dill pickle is the kind of contrast people do not expect from something so simple to make
- Melted cheese oozing out of a fried pickle sandwich is one of those things you did not know you needed until you tried it
02 -
- Crowding the pan drops the oil temperature and you end up with greasy soft bites instead of crispy ones so fry no more than six at a time
- Pressing the panko onto each bite with your fingers rather than just rolling it makes a huge difference in how thick and crunchy the crust turns out
03 -
- Freeze the assembled pickle cheese sandwiches for ten minutes before breading and the cheese will not leak out nearly as much during frying
- Double breading means dipping back in egg and panko a second time for an armor like crust that holds up even if the bites sit for a few minutes