TikTok's Viral Chickle Should Be On Every Bar Menu
Many unique food combinations have had their heyday in the mainstream. Some have turned out to be fads, going out as quickly as they come in, but only a select few have proven that they are here to stay. For instance, whether or not you are fan of pineapple on pizza, the fruit is not going away as a topping choice at pizzerias anytime soon.
The chickle may be the next food combination that is here for the long run. The word "chickle" may sound silly, but the snack it is named for is seriously delicious. A chickle is a pickle wrapped in cheese. Naturally, cheese plus pickle equals chickle. Originally a snack hack popularized by user @katieritchiie on TikTok, the chickle has grown into somewhat of a cultural phenomenon.
@shewillevolve
Like the above video demonstrates, countless taste testers are attesting to the merits of the chickle. Upon just looking at the final product, it is no wonder the snack has gone viral. At this point, it should only be a matter of time before the savory snack graces bar menus near and far.
A call to bring the chickle to bars
The beauty of the chickle is ultimately in its simplicity. It is merely a pickle slice wrapped in crispy, slightly burnt cheese, but the whole product is much more than the sum of its parts. The briny, slightly sour pickle and the crispy, savory crusted cheese make an unfathomably mouthwatering combination.
Though originally invented as a quick and casual homemade snack, the chickle has all the qualities of a classic bar bite. Like chicken tenders or Chicago's tavern-style pizza, a chickle is easy to eat with a single hand as you grip your drink with the other. While salty snacks are often offered alongside drinks at the bar as a sneaky tactic, the water in the brine won't make you as powerless to order that next drink as say pretzels or mixed nuts. All around, chickles deliver all the vibes and facets necessary to become a staple bar snack.
The homemade interim continues
Until the day bars catch on to the appeal of the chickle, it will remain a quick and satisfying homemade snack. Luckily for cheese and pickle lovers, new variations of the original recipe are popping up throughout the internet. Chickle chips, for instance, can be made by grilling smaller squares of cheese with pickle slices, as one TikTok creator demonstrated in below:
@shewillevolve Chickle Chips | for my pickle lovers🫶🏼 So many of you loved my pizza chips, I thought it would be fun to a pickle version. Crispy cheese around the edges with a garlic parm topping. So YUMMY with ranch!
Chickle chips are especially crispy with the pickle slice to burnt cheese ratio. And, like any chip, they make the perfect vessel for your favorite dip. If you prefer to stick to one or two handheld pieces, though, the options for customization are still endless. To make your ideal chickle, try customizing the type of pickle and cheese you use to match your taste preferences. There are many unique types of pickles offering slightly different flavors and levels of crunchiness, and the same goes for cheese. While waiting for your local pub to serve chickles, your ideal homemade chickle rendition is waiting for you to discover it.