Is it sweet? Is it sour? Does it actually taste like pickles? You're about to find out!
There’s just something about pickles… I’ve been crunching them obsessively ever since I was five! That’s when my parents took me to Eppes Essen, a deli in Livingston, New Jersey, where the deeply green sour pickles were served in briny bottomless metal bowls studded with coriander seeds and peppercorns. (Psst: You might be able to recreate the flavor with classic pickle recipes like Grandma used to make.)
So I was thrilled when pickle-flavored potato chips landed on grocery shelves and was “pickled” pink when pickle ice cream became a thing. Now Sonic is on the pickle bandwagon with its brand new Snow Cone Slush flavor, Pickle Juice. I had to have one!
Finding the Pickle Juice
It’s hard to find a Sonic when you live in New York. (Thank goodness for Sonic copycat recipes!) But I was lucky enough to be in Chicago for the weekend, where there were two Sonic locations to choose from, and one was only a 7-minute drive from the airport. I could tell the nice man at the register seemed really pleased when I ordered my Pickle Juice slush, so I asked him if I was the first all day. He laughed and said, “No, ma’am! But you’re the first who didn’t ask for an add-in.” (By “add-in,” he meant lemon, strawberry, lime or pineapple flavoring, as well as candy add-ins like Popping Candy and Nerds.)
Nope, I’m a pickle purist, I told him, and he promptly went to get my pure Pickle Juice slush order.
How It Tasted
I was surprised that the color wasn’t the audacious electric green I was expecting. (To be honest, I was kind of relieved about that, actually.) It was more like the color of a homemade margarita. I was also surprised by the scent: pickles! But of course! Why should I have been surprised? I just didn’t think it was possible to capture that scent in a slush. But what was most surprising was how the flavor evolved as I drank it.
At first: The sweetness dominated
After a moment or so: As my tongue got cold, and perhaps my sweet-tastebuds fatigued a bit…there it was! Pickles! It tastes like pickles! Again, why should I have been surprised?
As the surprise element faded: Wait, is that salt? Perhaps a subtle hint of lime?
Ultimately, I’d call it sweet and tangy and super-refreshing, like a pickle-flavored margarita. (Hey, there’s an idea, right?) I would order it again—but maybe Sonic will bring it to the grocery store. Next, try this delicious cotton candy pickle.
Recipes to Make When You're Obsessed with Pickles
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Taste of Home
Air-Fryer Pickles
Enjoy deep-fried pickles? You’ll love this version even more. Dill pickle slices are coated with panko bread crumbs and spices, then air-fried until crispy. Dip them in ranch dressing for an appetizer you won’t soon forget. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado
Go to Recipe
Bacon Cheeseburger CasseroleThis casserole has it all: ground beef, bacon, onions and cheese, all baked up in your trusty 9x13 pan. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Dill Pickle DipMy love for pickles led me to create this dill pickle dip. It's so easy to whip together. But be warned...it's addicting! —April Anderson, Forest Lake, Minnesota
Dill Pickle SoupThis dill pickle soup is made from a century-old Swiss recipe. Traditionally, it is a winter soup, but we serve it year-round because of the demand. —Nancy Ross, Salem, Oregon
Cuban SlidersThese wonderful little rolls are baked until lightly toasted and the cheese melts. The leftover King's Hawaiian ham sliders keep really well in the fridge, and they make a lovely cold snack. Followers of my blog, houseofyumm.com, go nuts for these! —Serene Herrera, Dallas, Texas
Cheeseburger PizzaMy husband's favorite foods are pizza and cheeseburgers, so I combined the two in a pie with mayo and dill pickle juice. People who try this cheeseburger pizza always laugh in surprise because it's so good. —Angie Zimmerman, Eureka, Illinois
Dill Pickle Potato SaladThis creamy dill pickle potato salad makes a flavorful and attractive addition to a Fourth of July picnic or church supper.—Nancy Holland, Morgan Hill, California
Cheeseburger NachosCheeseburger nachos are the perfect game-day graze. Load them up with all the toppings or let everyone claim part of the platter that they can top with their faves. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Fried Dill PicklesYou may be surprised when you see how easy it is to make a batch of Fried Dill Pickels. Don't be surprised if they get snatched up in a flash! —Eloise Maynor, Scottsboro, AL
Dilly Turkey MeltThis is a hearty grilled sandwich with a distinctive and delicious combination of ingredients. The pickle slices add a bit of fun, and the barbecue sauce provides a hint of sweetness that's irresistible. —Henry Mujica, North Riverside, Illinois
Pastrami Roll-UpsFor a book club event, I created pastrami roll-ups with cream cheese and a pickle. Those tasty bites quickly pulled a disappearing act. —Merritt Heinrich, Oswego, Illinois
Dill Bloody MarysWith a nice level of pepper, and just enough dill from the pickle, these Bloody Marys are sure to please. To make Contrary Marys simply leave out the vodka. —Jay Ferkovich, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Cheeseburger PieThis cheeseburger pie tastes so much like its namesake—right down to the pickles in it! We home-school our children so I like easy recipes like this that get them involved in cooking. —Rhonda Cannady, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Dilly Mini Cheese Balls??These mini cheese balls are perfect for any gathering, no matter what time of year it is! Kids love the cheesy, salty flavor, and adults appreciate how easy they are to make. —Carole Lanthier, Courtice, Ontario
Moist N Tender WingsHere are some irresistible, fall-off-the-bone chicken wings that everyone will love. Chili sauce and powder give them just a bit of heat, while molasses lends a hint of sweetness. They make a fantastic meal served with rice. –Sharon Morcilio, Joshua Tree, California
Cubano Macaroni SaladOne of my favorite sandwiches is a hot Cubano, piled high with juicy pork, layers of ham and melty Swiss cheese. These same ingredients are amazing in a macaroni salad. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California
Cheeseburger NachosCheeseburger nachos are the perfect game-day graze. Load them up with all the toppings or let everyone claim part of the platter that they can top with their faves. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Cuban Roasted Pork SandwichesFor an incredible hot sandwich, slowly roast pork in a seasoned citrus marinade, then layer slices of the meat with pickles, zippy mustard, ham and cheese. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Ham & Pickle WrapsI decided to try this recipe on my card club, and it was a big success. They loved it. This ham pickle roll up recipe can be swapped around and changed in so many different ways and always turns out as an awesome appetizer or great-looking centerpiece over a hand of cards.
Chili Dog PizzaMy girls love it when I make this mash-up pizza with hot dogs and chili. It’s a marvelous way to use up leftover chili. —Jennifer Stowell, Smithville, Missouri
Garlic-Dill Deviled EggsIn my family, Easter isn't complete without deviled eggs. Fresh dill and garlic perk up the flavor of these irresistible appetizers that you'll want to eat on every occasion. —Kami Horch, Calais, Maine
Sweet and Hot Chicken with Dill Pickle SauceThis is my low-carb version of Nashville hot chicken. We try to cut carbs as much as possible, so the fried breaded version and the sandwich version of this dish were out. Instead, I make a baked rendition with the same delicious flavors. This is also amazing made with chicken tenders and served in wraps. —Fay A. Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas
Peanut Butter Pickle SandwichCrunchy, tangy, salty and sweet, this open-faced peanut butter pickle sandwich hits all your cravings. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
One-Pot Bacon Cheeseburger PastaWhen the weather's too chilly to grill, I whip up a big pot of this cheesy pasta. Believe it or not, it tastes just like a bacon cheeseburger, and it's much easier for my young children to enjoy. —Carly Terrell, Granbury Texas
Lauren Cahn is a New York-based writer whose work has appeared regularly in The Huffington Post as well as a variety of other publications since 2008 on such topics as life and style, popular culture, law, religion, health, fitness, yoga, entertaining and entertainment. She is also a writer of crime fiction; her first full-length manuscript, The Trust Game, was short-listed for the 2017 CLUE Award for emerging talent in the genre of suspense fiction.
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Updated: Jul. 03, 2023
