Step 1: Prepare the pickles. Drain the pickle slices thoroughly and pat them very dry with paper towels. This is crucial for crispiness.
Step 2: Set up your dredging station. In one shallow bowl, place the flour. In a second shallow bowl, whisk the egg. In a third shallow bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, and pepper.
Step 3: Bread the pickles. Working in batches, dredge each pickle slice first in the flour, shaking off excess. Then dip it into the beaten egg, allowing any extra to drip off. Finally, coat it generously in the panko mixture, pressing gently to ensure the breadcrumbs adhere.
Step 4: Preheat and arrange. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Arrange the breaded pickle slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. You will likely need to do this in 2-3 batches.
Step 5: Air fry until golden. Lightly spray the top of the pickles with cooking spray. Air fry for 6-8 minutes, then flip the pickles and spray the other side. Continue to air fry for another 4-7 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
Step 6: Serve immediately. Remove the crispy air fryer pickles from the basket and serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce like ranch or sriracha mayo.