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The Best Pickle Brands For Every Occasion

There's truly a pickle for everybody.

Headshot of Gabby RomeroBy Gabby Romero
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Sarah Ceniceros

It's no secret that we love pickles. We've used the salty, tangy snack in guacamole, potato salad, and even as a low-carb swap for sandwich bread. And you can't forget about the brine either. Why pour that liquid gold down the drain when you can mix it into a salad dressing or brine your holiday turkey? There's probably a version of any pickle recipe you can think on Delish. When it comes to ingredients, pickles are our bread and butter (pun intended).

Pickling has been used to preserve foods for millennia. Back before we had modern refrigeration, salt was the best way to extend the lifespan of fruits and veggies. But while there are still practical reasons behind this technique, pickles are also enjoyed as a specialty ingredient in their own right. They can be made the old-fashioned way with salt or quick pickled with a vinegar-based brine. And now pickles come in nearly every shape, size, and flavor.

But with such a wide variety, it's difficult to decide which pickle brand belongs in your fridge. So we did the hard work for you by trying every jar we could get our hands on. Delish hosted a super-scientific taste test to determine which pickles are best for any and every occasion. Whether you need something to stack in a sandwich, a travel-approved snack pack, or the perfect pickle to eat straight out of the jar—we've got you covered.

1
Best Overall

McClure's Garlic Dill Pickles

Garlic Dill Pickles
1
Best Overall

McClure's Garlic Dill Pickles

$99 at Amazon
Credit: Walmart

McClure's came the closest to offering the perfect pickle. These pickles manage to infuse the cucumber with a deeply savory tang without compromising the crunch. The combo of dill and garlic keeps the flavor classic and adaptable for just about any application. One of our editors said it simply: "McClure's always hits."

2
Best Dill Pickles

The Real Dill Caraway Garlic Dills

Caraway Garlic Dills
2
Best Dill Pickles

The Real Dill Caraway Garlic Dills

Credit: The Real Dill

Dill lovers, this one's for you. We tried many brands of dill pickles only to find that the herb has fallen to the wayside—but not with this jar. The Real Dill infuses their cucumbers with a strong dill flavor that offers an herbaceous counterpoint to the salty, sour tang.

3
Best Fresh Pickles

Grillo's Fresh Dill Pickle Spears

Fresh Dill Pickle Spears
3
Best Fresh Pickles

Grillo's Fresh Dill Pickle Spears

Credit: Sam's Club

Sometimes we're craving a pickle that veers closer to a fresh cucumber, and Grillo's hits the spot. They have a light, refreshing acidity and serious crunch factor. This is also the brand to buy if you're planning on winning over proclaimed pickle haters. "They're not too pickly—epic!" says video producer Marc Stauble.

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4
Best Bread and Butter Pickles

Bubbies Bread & Butter Chips

Bread & Butter Chips
4
Best Bread and Butter Pickles

Bubbies Bread & Butter Chips

Credit: Amazon

We'll be honest here: we don't exactly love bread and butter pickles. Too many of them are cloyingly sweet and blow out our palates with just one bite. But, without a doubt, Bubbies converted everyone in our office.

These pickles are made with cane sugar, unlike the corn syrup you can find in many store brands. The natural source of sweetness is nicely balanced with the brine. "I kept going back for more. I simply love these pickles," said one of our editors. In fact, many of us even said they could easily eat an entire jar.

5
Best Spicy Pickles

Bubbies Spicy Kosher Dills

Spicy Kosher Dills
5
Best Spicy Pickles

Bubbies Spicy Kosher Dills

Credit: Amazon

Bubbies is back at it again, this time with their spicy kosher dills. The hot peppers provide a spice that "sneaks up on you," according to one of our editors. "It's still pickle-y but with a nice kick that doesn't ruin your mouth," another added.

Their signature blend of spices creates a pickle that tastes reminiscent of a hot Italian sausage in the best way possible. We could easily see ourselves using these in a sandwich or bringing them to a barbecue.

6
Best Texture

Claussen Kosher Deli-Style Pickle Spears

Kosher Deli-Style Pickle Spears
6
Best Texture

Claussen Kosher Deli-Style Pickle Spears

Credit: Walmart

The key to a solid snap lies in the integrity of the cucumber skin. And no brand came close to the heft of Claussen's kosher dill spears.

"After eating a lot of squishy, spongey pickles, it was nice to have one with a backbone," said one of our editors.

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7
Best For Travel

Rick's Picks Snacking Pickles - Garlic Dill

Snacking Pickles - Garlic Dill
7
Best For Travel

Rick's Picks Snacking Pickles - Garlic Dill

Credit: Walmart

When you want a savory low-carb snack, a pickle is the perfect pick. There's a reason why gas stations offer bagged pickles to enjoy as a road trip treat. But those plastic wrapped cucumbers can't hold a candle to Rick's Picks Snacking Pickles.

These individually packaged bags are filled with savory and sour pickle spears that come in a variety of flavors. Our fave is the garlic dill—it captures that classic pickle flavor we know and love.

8
Best For Sandwiches

Claussen Kosher Dill Pickle Sandwich Slices

Kosher Dill Pickle Sandwich Slices
8
Best For Sandwiches

Claussen Kosher Dill Pickle Sandwich Slices

Credit: Walmart

We considered a few things when it came to pickles for sandwiches, but the most important factor was texture. We need a pickle to stand up to all the other ingredients and bring a refreshing crispness.

Claussen's pickles had the best texture out of any brand we tried. So naturally, their sandwich slices would be our top pick. These pickles are sliced with deep ridges to maximize the surface area and the crunch.

9
Best For Eating Straight Out Of The Jar

Maille Cornichons

Cornichons
9
Best For Eating Straight Out Of The Jar

Maille Cornichons

Credit: Walmart

Cornichons are an adorable addition to any charcuterie board, but let's be real: they're also the ideal pickle to eat straight out of the jar. They're crunchy, bite sized, and even come with a built-in strainer so you don't have to dig your fingers deep into the container.

Maille's cornichons are the best in the business because of their bright, salty bite and strong mustard seed-infused spice.

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10
Best Splurge

Katz's Delicatessen Half Sour Pickles

Half Sour Pickles
10
Best Splurge

Katz's Delicatessen Half Sour Pickles

Credit: Katz

If you consider yourself a pickle connoisseur or want to give a salty, briny gift to someone special, you should absolutely splurge on getting a delivery of these pickles from Katz's Delicatessen.

If you've never been to this New York City institution, it's an iconic deli that's been slinging sandwiches and Jewish specialty foods since 1888. And it's even the place where they filmed that iconic scene from When Harry Met Sally—"I'll have what she's having."

Their half sour pickles are made in house the old-fashioned way with salt and lactofermentation. They're crisp, salty, garlicky, and worth every penny.

11
Best Non-Cucumber Pickle

Oh Snap! Pretty Peas

Pretty Peas
11
Best Non-Cucumber Pickle

Oh Snap! Pretty Peas

Who said pickles can only be made with cucumbers? Brands everywhere are offering up different pickled vegetables to switch up the status quo. And if you want to expand your pickle horizons, you need to pick up a pack of Oh Snap's Pretty Peas.

These snap peas stay super crisp and pick up a light tang. It has a similarly vegetal flavor that we love in a standard pickle with a boost of natural sweetness. We'd gladly eat these as a snack or chopped up in a salad.

Headshot of Gabby Romero
Gabby Romero
Editorial Assistant

Gabby Romero is Delish’s editorial assistant, where she writes stories about the latest TikTok trends, develops recipes, and answers any and all of your cooking-related questions. She loves eating spicy food, collecting cookbooks, and adding a mountain of Parmesan to any dish she can.

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