According to Bubbies, purveyor of delicious pickles, bread and butter pickles got their name during the Great Depression because people would make bread, butter, and pickle sandwiches when meat and vegetables were scarce. Today, bread and butter pickles have become their own thing entirely! Often referred to as “sweet” pickles, bread and butter pickles are commonly used in salads, like tuna or egg, or for snacking.
We rounded up all the nationally available brands to find the best bread and butter pickles you can buy. These are the five we think you should be buying.
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- Trader Joe’s Organic Sweet Bread & Butter Pickles
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Trader Joe’s takes first place in our bread and butter pickle tasting. Unlike some of the other bread and butter pickles we tried, these aren’t sickeningly sweet. They have the perfect balance of sugariness and sourness. In addition to those two base flavors, there are interesting notes of mustard seed and turmeric. These perfect pickles had me wanting to eat them from the jar by the fistful. Plus, they’re cheap! Who doesn’t love a delicious and affordable pickle?
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart
- Mt. Olive Sweet Heat Bread & Butter Chips
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I love a little heat with my sweet, so these Mt. Olive Sweet Heat Bread & Butter Chips are perfect for me. I don’t typically expect complexity of flavor when it comes to sweet pickles, so these were a wonderful surprise. We debated in the office whether or not these were actually spicy, but we all agreed that they are definitely delicious, even if the heat may be a little toned down for some palates. These would be so good on a BBQ pulled pork sandwich or as an unexpected addition to a charcuterie plate. Try these if you’re looking for something a little different.
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Intstacart
- Market Pantry Bread & Butter Chips
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Market Pantry Bread & Butter Chips are a solid and tasty option if you’re looking for sweet pickles on the cheap. They’re thinner than some of the other chips we tried and reminded me of the pickles you get on a fast food burger or fried chicken sandwich. The taste is mild and there is a hint of celery seed. Grab a jar of these if you’re making burgers for a bunch of people and want to keep the cost in check.
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Target
- Bubbies Bread & Butter Chips
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Bubbies Bread & Butter Chips taste more like dill pickles than sweet pickles to me—but I’m not mad about it! I love a dill pickle and rarely find myself reaching for sweet pickles. This would be a great jar of pickles to buy if you live in a split household where some prefer dill and others prefer bread and butter. I also love that these chips are huge. Add these to a sandwich if you want it to have loads of pickle flavor.
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart
- Sonoma Brinery Fresh Bread & Butter Pickles
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I believe, in my heart of hearts, that pickles should come in a glass jar. It’s reusable, more sustainable, and just feels more pickle-y. Sonoma Brinery pickles unfortunately come in a plastic tub. I will give them a pass, though, because their Fresh Bread & Butter Pickles taste great. They’re super crunchy, very cucumbery, and not too sweet. These would be great for snacking because you could eat a whole plate full without getting sick of them. I also think these are one of the few sweet pickles that would be good paired with cheese. Get some Sonoma Brinery bread and butter pickles and a block of nice sharp cheddar and you have yourself a little midnight snack plate!
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Intstacart
Best of the Best
Most Interesting
Best Budget
Best for Dill Lovers
Best Fresh
Other Products We Tried: Mt. Olive Old Fashion Sweet Bread and Butter Chips, Open Nature Fresh Packed Bread and Butter Pickles, 365 Organic Bread and Butter Chips, Signature Select Bread and Butter Chips, Best Maid Bread-N-Butter Pickles, Mcclure’s Bread and Butter Pickles, Grillo Bread and Butter Chips
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