This post may contain affiliate links.
Bacon Wrapped Pickles are the salty, smoky, crunchy appetizer that vanishes the second I set the platter down, tangy dill spears hugged in crispy bacon and glazed with BBQ sauce. I made a batch for a game day spread and my husband declared them the best thing on the table. If you love our air fryer buffalo chicken tenders, these belong right next to them.
The air fryer crisps the bacon and caramelizes the BBQ glaze without a drop of frying oil.
Bacon Wrapped Pickles Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 15 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 25 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 12 pieces
- ⚡ Calories: 122kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Smoky, salty bacon and sweet BBQ glaze over a tangy, crunchy dill pickle
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, as simple as our air fryer frozen corn dogs
Quick Answer
Pat dill pickle spears dry and sprinkle them with a blend of smoked paprika, cayenne, and white pepper. Wrap each spear in a strip of bacon, baste with BBQ sauce, and air fry at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes until the bacon is crispy. Serve warm with ranch or extra BBQ sauce for dipping.
Jump to:
- Bacon Wrapped Pickles Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Bacon Wrapped Pickles
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Bacon Wrapped Pickles FAQs
- Other Recommended Easy Appetizer Recipes
- Bacon Wrapped Pickles
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Salty, smoky, tangy, and crisp. Every bite hits salty bacon, sweet BBQ, and a tangy crunchy pickle all at once, the ultimate flavor combo.
- The air fryer does the work. Circulating hot air crisps the bacon and caramelizes the BBQ glaze without deep frying or a greasy mess.
- Just six ingredients. Pickles, bacon, BBQ sauce, and three pantry spices are all you need for a snack everyone fights over.
- Perfect for a crowd. They come together fast and cook in batches, so they are ideal for game day, parties, and tailgates.
- Naturally low carb. With no breading, these are a lighter, keto-friendly way to enjoy a crispy, craveable appetizer.
- Make them your own. Dial the cayenne up or down and swap the BBQ for buffalo or honey mustard to match your crowd.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- They combine salty bacon, sweet BBQ, and tangy pickle into one addictive bite.
- The air fryer crisps the bacon and caramelizes the glaze with no frying oil.
- They are the perfect party snack, right alongside our copycat Longhorn hot spinach dip.
Key Ingredients
Just six simple ingredients make these Bacon Wrapped Pickles.
- Dill pickle spears: The tangy, crunchy star. Pat them very dry so the seasoning sticks and the bacon crisps.
- Bacon: Thin-sliced bacon wraps and crisps best in the air fryer. One strip per spear is all you need.
- BBQ sauce: Basted on before cooking, it caramelizes into a sweet, sticky glaze. Use your favorite brand.
- Smoked paprika: Adds a deep, smoky warmth that plays off the bacon and BBQ.
- Cayenne and white pepper: A little heat and a peppery bite balance the sweet glaze, the same way we season our air fryer buffalo chicken tenders.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
These bacon wrapped pickles are easy to customize.
- Swap the BBQ sauce for buffalo sauce, honey mustard, or a sweet chili glaze.
- Sprinkle a little brown sugar over the bacon for candied, sweet-and-salty pieces.
- Use pickle chips wrapped in a half strip of bacon for bite-sized poppers.
- Add a schmear of cream cheese to the pickle before wrapping for a richer, jalapeno-popper style bite, like the filling in our hot spinach dip.
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Pickles
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees. Pat the dill pickle spears very dry with paper towels, then mix the smoked paprika, cayenne, and white pepper in a small bowl and sprinkle it over the pickles.
- Wrap one strip of bacon snugly around each seasoned pickle spear, tucking the ends so they stay put during cooking.
- Baste each bacon wrapped pickle all over with BBQ sauce so it can caramelize as it cooks.
- Arrange the pickles in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the bacon, until crispy. Work in batches as needed and serve warm.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Pat the pickles very dry so the seasoning sticks and the bacon crisps instead of steaming.
- Use thin-sliced bacon, which wraps easily and gets crispy in the air fryer without overcooking the pickle.
- Do not crowd the basket, arranging the pickles in a single layer so the hot air circulates and crisps every side.
- Cook in batches if needed, keeping finished ones warm in a low oven while the rest cook.
- Baste before and after for an extra sticky, caramelized BBQ glaze.
- Serve them hot, since the bacon is at its crispiest straight out of the air fryer.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
These Bacon Wrapped Pickles are best served hot and crispy right out of the air fryer with a side of ranch, blue cheese, or extra BBQ sauce for dipping.
Set them out as part of a game-day spread with our loaded BBQ beef nachos and a big bowl of our hot spinach dip.
For a full party menu, add our baked ham and cheese sliders or Reuben sliders so there is something for everyone.
These are truly best fresh, but leftovers keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat them in the air fryer at 350 degrees for a few minutes to bring back the crispy bacon, since the microwave will make them soft.
Bacon Wrapped Pickles FAQs
No, the bacon cooks fully in the air fryer along with the pickles. Just use thin-sliced bacon so it crisps in the same time it takes to heat the pickles through. If you prefer very crispy bacon, you can add a couple extra minutes.
Wrap the bacon snugly and tuck the ends underneath, or secure them with a toothpick. Placing the pickles seam-side down in the basket also helps the bacon stay put until it crisps and holds its shape.
Excess moisture is the enemy. Pat the pickle spears very dry before seasoning and wrapping, and do not crowd the air fryer basket. A single layer with space between each one lets the hot air crisp the bacon instead of steaming it.
Yes. Bake them on a wire rack set over a foil-lined sheet pan at 400 degrees for about 20 to 25 minutes, until the bacon is crispy. The rack lets the fat drip away so the bottoms crisp up instead of sitting in grease.
Ranch and blue cheese are classic, and extra BBQ sauce is always a hit. Buffalo sauce, honey mustard, or a spicy comeback sauce also pair well with the smoky bacon and tangy pickle.
You can wrap and season the pickles a few hours ahead and keep them covered in the fridge, then baste and air fry right before serving. They are best cooked fresh so the bacon stays crispy, so hold the cooking until party time.
Made these Bacon Wrapped Pickles? I would love to hear how they turned out, leave a comment and a star rating below!
Bacon Wrapped Pickles
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 dill pickle spears
- 1 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper or black pepper
- 12 slices thin sliced bacon
- ½ cup barbeque sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
- Pat the pickles dry with paper towels and set aside.12 dill pickle spears
- Mix smoked paprika, cayenne, and white pepper in a small bowl.1 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- Sprinkle seasoning mix over the pickles.
- Wrap one piece of bacon around one pickle spear.12 slices thin sliced bacon
- Baste each pickle with barbeque sauce.½ cup barbeque sauce
- Place in the air fryer basket and air fry for 12 – 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the bacon. Cook in 2 or more batches depending on the size of the air fryer.
Notes
- Pat Dry Pickles: Use a paper towel to pat the pickles dry before wrapping them in bacon to help the bacon stick better.
- Use Thin Bacon: Thin sliced bacon crisps up faster and more evenly.
- Adjust Seasoning: Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to your preferred spice level.
- Line Your Basket: Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper for easier cleanup.
- Cook in Batches: Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary.
- Serve Immediately: These are best served right away while the bacon is still crispy.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
Follow @ThisSillyGirlsKitchen on Instagram and @danadevolk on Pinterest for more!
