Shake Shack Launches Its First-Ever New Side Dish: Fried Pickles

Shake Shack’s meal options just got more versatile. On Tuesday, May 20th, the international fast food brand announced that they’re adding a brand new side dish to the menu, the first such addition in the restaurant’s 20-year history. Before today, crinkle cut fries (available plain, with cheese, with spicy cheese, or with bacon) were the only side on the restaurant’s menu.

Fried pickles are now available ala carte or as an add-on to any Shake Shack order this summer, an addition many former customers may be happy to see on the standard menu.

In 2024, one-third of Shake Shack’s guests who tried the seasonal BBQ lineup shared that they loved the fried pickle topping. Additional, one-third of quick service restaurant (QSR) consumers have expressed interest in more side options to pair with Shake Shack’s burgers and sandwiches. Enter: Fried pickles for $3.99.

Made with Shake Shack’s proprietary brine, these crispy dill pickles are lightly coated in in batter, seasoned and fried until crispy, then served with a side of house-made Shack Ranch for dipping.

“Our new fried pickles are the perfect sidekick to our summer BBQ lineup,” shared John Karangis, Executive Chef and Vice President of Culinary Innovation at Shake Shack. “We start with our classic Shack pickles and give them a flavorful coating and fry them until crispy. The contrast between the crunchy exterior and the juicy pickle interior pairs beautifully with our burgers. It’s a classic summer favorite elevated the Shack way – premium ingredients cooked to order.”

Shake Shack is far from the only QSR brand leaning into the pickle trend this year.

In April, Popeyes launched a new, limited-edition pickle menu including a pickle glazed chicken sandwich, pickle glazed boneless and bone in wings, pickle lemonade, and fried pickles, served with ranch dipping sauce.

This past November, Burger King also added its own version of a fried pickle: Pickle fries. The long dill spears are breaded, fried and served, like fries, to dip with Hidden Valley Ranch. Sonic also offers a similar pickle free

Those eager for a fast food fried pickle taste test can also seek out renditions at Buffalo Wild Wings, Culver’s, and Dairy Queen.

Pickle flavor, of course, isn’t just delegated to counter-service restaurants. The boom of pickliness can be seen across supermarket and convenience store aisles, be it on Wonderful’s pickle-flavored pistachios, Lay’s dill pickle flavored chips, dill pickle Flamin’ Hot cheetos, or whatever the pickle-flavored snack of the week is.