13 Unexpected Pickle Trends You Need To Try At Least Once
Pickle connoisseurs, this one's for you. While most of the world may enjoy the occasional pickle — with a sandwich, perhaps — a true love for pickles knows no bounds. There's nothing a snappy pickle can't improve. Sweet, savory, or sour, it doesn't matter to you. Pickles and candy? Delicious. Pickles infused with soda? Why not? You may even plunk a pickle in your booze when the mood strikes.
You dare to dream, and that creativity, combined with a craving for that salty pickle goodness, has led to some of the weirdest and tastiest pickle trends we've seen. From desserts to drinks, and everything in between, pickles bring a load of flavor to the table. Dill pickles are the preferred pickle of choice, but don't be afraid to experiment with spicy pickles, bread and butter pickles, or your grandma's recipe for homemade pickles. Dive in to see some of the wild and wonderful culinary creations we've found featuring those sensational spears.
Let us know which pickled cucumber craze you plan to try.
1. Pickles with gushers, Fruit Roll-Ups, Tajin, and chamoy
Where do you start with this chamoy pickle trend? There's a lot to unpack here. As you'll see further along the list, it's not uncommon to pair pickles with something sweet or spicy, but this idea combines both. We found the recipe from TikTok user @skylarr_marie who took a screenshot of the idea from a now defunct Instagram account. In short, we're not sure where it originated, but we're here for it.
If you want to try it for yourself, the first step is scooping out the insides of a pickle. Stuff the pickle hull with Gushers candy, and then wrap it in Fruit Roll-Ups. Next, top the wrapped pickle with Chamoy sauce, sprinkling a little Tajín to finish it off.
Chamoy, for those unfamiliar with it, is made from pickled fruits combined with chiles, sugar, and lime juice. It captures the sweet, salty, spicy, and sour flavors all in one product. Tajín is a seasoning blend that combines granulated chiles with dehydrated lime and salt. It's described as tangy, smoky, and salty and pairs well with both sweet and savory foods.
Ultimately, this pickle trend is an explosion of all flavors: sweet, salty, sour, spicy, and umami. It also packs a lot of calories into a pickle, so if you're looking for a lighter version, try this version from @auntieamandalee. The Gushers and Fruit Roll-Ups are replaced with organic fruit bars, which are paired with homemade Chamoy pickles.
2. Pickle popsicles
Nothing will cool you off on a hot summer's day quite like a pickle popsicle. It's not for everyone, but if you like the taste of pickle juice, the pickle pop will be even more refreshing. began trending and hitting supermarket shelves and freezers in 2017, according to Insider. However, the trend keeps going thanks to TikTok.
In its simplest form, the pickle popsicle is made with pure pickle juice frozen in a popsicle mold. That's it, and that's how Dairyland in Thermopolis, Wyoming does it, according to the tutorial given to Coyote Peterson from Brave Wilderness. He managed to eat 10 pickle pops in one sitting. It takes a real pickle fanatic to do that! Side note: he didn't keep all those pickle pops down for long.
Another version has gone around TikTok that you may enjoy more if you're into that sweet and sour combo, though. User @crafty.diply shows how to core the pickles, fill them with popsicle liquid, and freeze them. The flavor will vary a bit based on the freeze pop flavor you choose. Cherry, blue raspberry, lime — which flavor will pair best with a pickle? Try it and find out! Up the flavor ante with a drizzle of Sriracha right before serving.
3. Ranch pickles
Want to get in on a pickle trend? This one is low-key with minimal effort and uses an ingredient that's beloved by the people: ranch seasoning. All you need is a jar of pickle spears, a packet of ranch seasoning, and 24 hours for the pickles to marinate. Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it?
TikTok user @snackqween is one of the creators who kicked off this ranch pickle trend in 2021. Begin by pouring an entire packet of ranch seasoning into a jar of pickle spears. You may need to remove a few spears to get all the powder inside. Replace the lid, shake well, and place the jar of extra-seasoned pickles in the refrigerator overnight. They're ready for eating the next day, around 24 hours later (if you're patient enough). Are you a fan of heat? Rather than plain ranch, try spicy ranch, like @mr_mrs_wash does. The regular ranch seasoning can also be added to a jar of spicy pickles.
There is a range of reactions and comments, from describing ranch and dill pickles as tasty, magical, or bussin' to saying there is no difference between ranch and regular pickles. You can try it out for yourself. The pickle trend is among the cheapest on the list, so it's well worth a try.
4. Taco pickles
Another super simple pickle hack, these taco pickles are made the exact same way as the ranch pickles. Select your heat level — mild or spicy — and pour the seasoning packet into a jar of pickles. Shake, shake, shake, and then let them hang out in the fridge for 24 hours.
We first heard about this idea from @cookiterica, who suggested using it for brining chicken. Totally agree. Using pickle juice as a meat brine tenderizes the meat while adding tons of flavor, according to The Guardian. Because both ranch and taco pickles have been getting a lot of buzz, @hisdaughter_002 decided to combine both. That's right — one packet of ranch seasoning and one packet of taco seasoning added to a jar of pickles. These were marinated for a week instead of overnight.
Since everything on TikTok has to be extra, they later air fried the taco ranch pickles after coating the spears in a mixture of cornmeal, flour, creole seasoning, ranch powder, garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder. Next, they cooked the coated pickles at 400°F for 15 minutes in the air fryer. The consensus was that they were delicious, so it's worth trying if you're going to make the taco ranch pickles, anyway.
5. Pickles with cream cheese and pepperoni
Looking for a low carb snack? Try this tasty combo of pickles, cream cheese, and pepperoni. TikTok creator @thecaseyferguson tried it at the suggestion of the audience and said that it was "amazing" and "really good" but also noted that it's missing the crunchy element one would expect. That can be easily fixed by using small, halved pickles spread with cream cheese and wrapped with large pepperoni slices. Small pickles are crunchier whereas large pickles are softer and juicier.
A couple of commenters on this video suggested salami instead of pepperoni. That's a fair suggestion since, according to Foods Guy, pepperoni is spicier and more peppery than salami. That combination may not be as tasty with pickles as the milder, richer salami.
A few other variations of this trend that you may want to try include using spicy pickles, adding Everything But the Bagel Seasoning, and swapping out for whipped cream cheese to make assembling these snack-worthy pickles.
6. Kool-Aid Pickles
If you're a Southerner, you've at least heard of Kool-Aid Pickles if you haven't indulged in one yourself. For the rest of America — and the world — they're a relatively new phenomenon that's only become even more popular thanks to YouTube and TikTok. According to the New York Times, the snack got its start in the Mississippi Delta region where it's immensely popular. Koolickles, as they're also called, are sold in convenience stores, for school fundraisers, and out of people's houses.
These days, you can even buy Walmart's version called Tropickles, which are fruit punch-flavored pickles. They can't hold a candle to the homemade versions, though, and they're not available at all stores. The chain sells them mostly in locations throughout the South, reports PopSugar.
To make Kool-Aid pickles at home, grab an envelope of your favorite flavor of Kool-Aid and at least half a cup of sugar. Pour the Kool-Aid powder into the jar of pickles, followed by the sugar. Close it up tight, give it a good shake, and let it sit for one to two weeks. It takes a while for the color and the sugar to permeate the entire pickle spear, so the longer you wait, the better.
7. Mountain Dew infused pickles
Mountain Dew has a lot of fans, so it's not surprising that someone paired the soda with pickles. It comes in many fruity variations, so if you like this mashup, you'll have plenty of options.
YouTube creator FunFoods tested three flavors of Mountain Dew with pickles: Code Red, Voltage, and regular Mountain Dew. He began by dumping the pickle juice off the pickles. He then combined 2 cups of soda, 1 cup of pickle juice, and 1/2 cup of sugar. Although optional, he added food coloring to brighten up the colors. The pickle jars were then filled to the top with the soda, sugar, and pickle juice mixture. The YouTuber recommends leaving the pickles in the fridge for a week, flipping the jar over once a day to make sure both the tops and the bottoms become infused with the Mountain Dew.
In the end, his results were a little disappointing. Both the regular soda and the Code Red just tasted syrupy, with very little of the soda's flavor shining through. He reported that the Voltage, however, tasted closer to soda than the other two flavors.
If you decide to make Mountain Dew-infused pickles, consider leaving out the pickle juice entirely, and soaking the pickles only in Mountain Dew (and perhaps some sugar). It makes sense that the soda flavor cannot overpower the pickle brine flavor, so in this case, leaving it out may work better.
8. Pickle beer
They call it "pickle beer" or a "beer and a spear." TikTok users and Esquire say it's a Midwestern thing, but many Midwesterners in the comments of the viral videos say they've never heard of it. Claim it or not, this "Midwestern martini" is said to be a total upgrade for light beers. PBR, Bud Light, Busch Light — grab your favorite cheap brew, a pickle, and a tall glass, and pour yourself a frothy, pickle-y drink.
Keep in mind that you should only try this trick with cheap, light beer. Craft beer, for example, has all the exciting notes and depth of flavor it needs. But cheap beer? It could definitely use a pick-me-up. And that's exactly what a crunchy little pickle provides. TikTok creator @lutinii reports that, "from now on, [she's] only having beers with pickles in them." Some creators, like @boycrow96, add a splash of pickle juice along with the pickle for even more salty, vinegary flavor.
The best part about this trend is that not only do you get a boost for your beer, but you get to enjoy a tasty snack at the end. Cheers to that!
9. Peanut butter and pickle sandwich
You're into the PB&J, but have you given the PB&P a chance yet? Peanut butter and pickles, that is. While that combination may seem like a shocker and one of the weird trends that emerged on social media, it's been around quite a while. According to the New York Times, the sandwich has been around since at least the Great Depression. However, instead of pickle slices, people paired pickle relish with peanut butter.
It remains a budget-friendly lunch option even today, but it's not mainstream. You'll be hard-pressed to find a peanut butter and pickle sandwich on a restaurant menu, but you may be able to find someone to make it for you — or you could just make it yourself. The key ingredients are creamy peanut butter, good bread (from a bakery is ideal), and pickles. Usually, folks use dill pickles, but sometimes bread and butter pickles are the preference. The dill pickles cut through the sweetness of the peanut butter, while the bread and butter pickles elevate the sweetness while adding a little spice.
The team at HuffPost tried the sandwich to see if it was "Good or Gross." The verdict? Good. They liked how the taste of the brine combined with the sweet and rich flavor of the peanut butter. But they especially loved the crunch factor that the pickles brought to the table, so crunchy pickles are a must. Give it a try. You may find a new lunchtime favorite.
10. Cranberry pickle pie
In 2021, Fox 13 News shared a tweet that set the internet ablaze. In it, they shared a picture of an alleged cranberry and pickle pie, stating that it's a "Utah thing" in the caption. The comments on the thread, mostly from Utahns, are denying that this abomination is of their making. One commenter writes, "Hot dogs in Jello? Yes. Pickles and cranberry pie? No." Utah does have pickle pie, however, which is perhaps how they were blamed for this unholy version.
We reported on the cranberry pickle pie when the story first emerged, crediting a woman named Antoinette with creating the pie. It turns out that it was a misreading and misunderstanding between friends. The pie in the image isn't even a cranberry and pickle pie. Chef Bryan Dooley of Bryan's Black Mountain Barbecue created the pie in 2010. It's a savory pie made with sweet potatoes, green beans, beets, and spices, topped with pickle slices. The dish was featured on a now-defunct blog called Pen & Fork and was called the Veg-a-Pickle Pie.
The real facts were uncovered by Arianna Rees of The Beehive, who decided to make an actual cranberry pickle pie with her friend Stephanie. While the pie wasn't too bad on the first day — tart with notes of pickle — by the third day, it was inedible. So while this was a trending pickle recipe, it probably won't be the most popular pickle recipe. Of course, you can be the judge of that!
11. Pickle ice cubes for mixed drinks
When it comes to mixing drinks, pickle juice brings a lot to the table. Picklebacks, for example, are a popular choice that's strangely satisfying. Shots of bourbon or whiskey are served with equal shots of pickle brine. Pickle juice serves as the chaser, and it's surprisingly good.
Adding pickle juice to your repertoire will make you look like a true mixology master. Make pickle juice ice cubes if you don't want to store old jars of pickle juice in your fridge. We saw this idea on YouTube from MyRecipes, and it makes perfect sense. You can use pickle ice cubes to upgrade Bloody Marys, martinis, and other cocktails. When the ice cubes melt, the drink becomes salty and briny, adding a whole new dimension to an ordinary drink.
Another idea for the pickle juice ice cubes (besides pickle juice cocktails) is using them to replace electrolytes after a workout. According to Healthline, pickle juice is a common remedy for leg cramps, though more research is needed. A quick shot of the stuff works best, but if you are all out of pickles but have these pickle ice cubes stashed in the freezer, it'll work in a pinch.
12. Flamin' Hot Cheetos pickles
There's a good chance that Flamin' Hot Cheetos are among your favorite snacks if you like spicy foods. Have you ever considered stuffing them inside a pickle? The stuffed version is how Megan Thee Stallion shared Hot Cheeto pickles with Jimmy Fallon recently (per Houston Chronicle).
Another method mentioned on Scary Mommy involves crushing Flamin' Hot Cheetos into dust with a rolling pin, mallet, or food processor. Put the halved, quartered, or sliced pickles in the bag along with the crumbs and shake until well coated. Pickles with a crunchier texture are better for snapping into this snack.
Check out YouTube user JoJo Seufert's air fryer recipe for an even crunchier version. To begin, make an egg wash with milk and eggs. Add flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne to a shallow dish. Place the ground Cheetos in a separate dish. In order to coat the pickle spears, roll them in flour, then in egg, then in Cheetos crumbs. Dip them in the egg wash again before adding a final coat of Flamin' Hot crumbs. Air fry them for eight to 10 minutes at 390°F, flipping halfway through. There is a pleasant crunch to these pickles, but you might find eating warm pickles a little odd — unless you're from the South, where fried pickles aren't uncommon.
13. Snickles (pickles and Snickers)
"You're not you when you're hungry." The iconic ad featuring Betty White made Snickers synonymous with satisfying hunger. But the "Snickle" trend seems more like a pregnancy craving than a snack attack.
You can enjoy a Snickle one of two ways. For the first option, slice a large pickle in half, scoop out the seeds and some of the flesh in the middle. Then place the chocolate bar in the middle like a sandwich, and eat up. For the second method, core the pickle (the largest you can find) and insert the Snickers into the hole. Enjoy your sweet, salty, and sour snack.
So, what do people think of the Snickle? Nick Cannon is a self-proclaimed Snickle-eating champ, according to XXL Mag. The results on TikTok are mixed. Some enjoy the unusual flavor combination while others aren't fans of the pairing at all. User williamcraft09 gave a balanced view with a score of 5 out of 10. He seemed to think the snack leans more toward the "yuck" side because of the difficulty of assembly rather than the taste.
Even the Snickers team got in on the challenge. Alas, no one featured in their taste test was a fan. It turns out they enjoy the candy bar without briney cucumbers in the equation.