Fried pickles are a side dish and appetizer found commonly in the Southern U.S.

[1] Fried dill pickles were popularized by Bernell "Fatman" Austin in 1963 at the Duchess Drive In located in Atkins, Arkansas.

[4] Fried pickles are served at food festivals and menus of individual and chain restaurants throughout the United States and elsewhere.

[12] Fried pickles are frequently served with a ranch dressing or other creamy sauce for dipping.

In 1963, before the culinary world knew of ranch dressing, the Fatman offered ketchup as a dipping sauce.