I Re-Created the Fried Pickles Benny Blanco Makes For Selena Gomez

As a native Midwesterner, I know my way around a fried pickle. Crunchy? Check. Perfectly seasoned? Yup. Air-fryer-friendly recipe? No doubt about it. After Benny Blanco shared his own tutorial for frying up that crispy goodness, however, I'm holding a new standard for fried pickle recipes: would Selena Gomez approve?

In a Feb. 14 cooking video, the "Eastside" singer (and Gomez's multitalented valentine) serves up a perfectly fried dill slice coated in a panko breading. "Guys, it's Valentine's Day, and these are my girlfriend's favorite pickles," Blanco says in the TikTok. "The only problem is, you can only get 'em shipped from f*cking Texas. But we got 'em, so now we're gonna fry 'em."

It's not surprising that Blanco knows his way around a comfort food recipe — his cooking series (accompanied by mildly raunchy voiceovers) has cumulatively amassed billions of views across TikTok and YouTube. His debut cookbook, "Open Wide: A Cookbook For Friends," is expected to drop at the end of April. So, off the bat, I trust his fried-pickle expertise.

In this short TikTok clip, Blanco presents a gallon-sized jar of Gomez's favorite pickles, Best Maid Hamburger Slices. As Blanco demonstrates, you'll start by dipping the pickle rounds in batter, then generously coat with panko. "Say goodnight!" he jokes. While he doesn't share the exact ingredients here, it's reasonable to assume it's a mix of egg and buttermilk with a few spices.

Blanco recommends adding a splash of Sprite to the batter, which he says, along with an expletive or two, is completely optional. I was initially a skeptic, I'll admit it, and while the ingredient might seem out of place in such a savory snack, that bright hint of citrus actually plays nicely with the dill pickle's sourness.

You'll walk away with a thinly coated, flaky fried pickle that's primed for dipping in ranch dressing. While I can't guarantee this recipe will spark any romantic feelings, this deep-fried appetizer does provide a delicious crunch and dill flavor. After re-creating his recipe, I'd definitely save this appetizer for a leisurely weekend afternoon or reality TV watch party with friends.

I will say, there is a bit of a challenge when it comes to this particular cut of pickles: when frying up these thin rounds, I found that the pickles quickly dried out and shrunk. Adjusting the ratio of the breadcrumb coating to pickle (as well as frying for a few seconds less) thankfully did the trick.

It all comes down to your preferences. Best Maid's hamburger slices are ideal for re-creating Blanco's romantic snack, but they're a bit difficult to come by. While Blanco says that the family-owned-and-operated brand can only be shipped from Texas, you can also find them in a few large retailers across the US. It's well worth the time to hunt down these delicately sliced veggies, but it's understandable why you might want to include something more accessible. Any standard hamburger slice will work in this case.

Searching for a heartier crunch? Try swapping out the suggested pickles for a thicker-cut variety, like the TikTok-loved Grillo's Pickles. Prepare to increase the amount of breadcrumbs and then fry them for a few seconds longer.

No matter which way you slice it, you'll want to use large pickle rounds — all in a similar size — for cooking consistency. (Feel free to snack on the smaller slices while waiting for the oil to heat up.) Ensure all excess brine is dried before dipping them into the batter and panko to avoid any unpleasant sogginess.

Nicolette Baker is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn, NY. Her expertise lies primarily in food, drink, and fashion media, but she enjoys covering all aspects of lifestyle with an accessible approach. She's written for Food & Wine, Byrdie, Business Insider, VinePair, and Flourish.