Learn how to make pickled red onions! They are tangy, crunchy, slightly sweet, and a perfect addition to almost anything!

pickled red onions in a jar

This pickled red onion recipe is quick and easy to make! They are tangy, crunchy, punchy, fresh, and slightly sweet. It’s the ultimate flavor boosting, with a bright red-pinkish color that turns every rather dull dish into a gourmet meal.

a jar of quick pickled red onions

It’s worth always having a jar of them in the fridge. Pickled red onions are versatile and a perfect topping for almost anything. Such a great addition to jazz up tacos, nachos, Mexican burritos, poke bowls, grain bowls, burgers, hummus, breakfast sandwiches, avocado toasts (add poached eggs), salads, roasted vegetables, smashed baby potatoes, and so much more!

If a recipe calls for raw onions, swap them with pickled onions for a twist. This is especially delicious in cucumber, kale salad, or potato salad

email me this recipe 💌

Plus, enjoy weekly doses of recipe inspiration as a bonus!

quick pickled onions in a jar

Good To Know: This pickled onion recipe is a quick way to pickle onions! Pouring the hot pickling liquid over raw onions makes them ready in only 2 hours. However, I strongly recommend leaving them in the fridge overnight for a more intense flavor.

Ingredients

See recipe card for quantities.

Pickled Red Onions Ingredients
  • Red Onions → I like them finely sliced! Thicker slices work too, and are even crunchier.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar → Change the basic recipe up with white vinegar, red wine vinegar, or rice vinegar. 
  • Water → A quarter cup of water is added to the brine to dilute the vinegar.
  • Sugar → Helps to balance out the pungent flavor of the vinegar. I use white sugar. Can be substituted with a sweetener of your choice such as maple syrup, honey, or erythritol for a sugar-free version.
  • Salt → Just a pinch is needed to bring out all the different flavors.
  • Spices: Garlic Clove, Bay leaf, Black Peppercorns → To make the flavor of pickled onions more complex.

Variations → Adjust spices for a different twist: chili pepper, red pepper flakes, a stick of cinnamon, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, star anise, sliced ginger, or fresh herbs (I recommend sprigs of thyme) can be added.

Visual Step-by-Step Instructions

This visual step-by-step instruction will help you along the way – definitely recommended if you’re a cooking beginner! 😉

  • Peel red onions and slice them into fine rings (using a mandolin slicer).
Pickled Red Onions Recipe Step 1
  • Add apple cider vinegar, water, sugar, and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir until the sugar and salt have dissolved.
Pickled Red Onions Recipe Step 2
  • Add sliced onion rings, garlic clove, bay leaf, and black peppercorns into an 8 oz (250ml) mason jar.
  • Pour boiling-hot pickling liquid over the onion rings.
  • Close the jar tightly, allow to cool briefly, and leave to infuse overnight in the refrigerator.
Pickled Red Onions Recipe Step 3-5

Storage Instructions

The pickled onions will keep for 4 weeks in the refrigerator. Important: Always use a clean fork to dig into this jar.

little label with ribbons and a heart

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.

Follow me on InstagramPinterest, or Facebook, and sign up for my free newsletter to stay updated with new recipes. Thank you for your support! ❤️✨

📖 Recipe

4.89 from 9 votes

Pickled Red Onions

Learn how to make pickled red onions! They are tangy, crunchy, slightly sweet, and a perfect addition to almost anything!
Servings: 1 Jar
calories :113kcal
Prep :5 minutes
Cook :5 minutes
Total :10 minutes

email me this recipe 💌

Plus, enjoy weekly doses of recipe inspiration as a bonus!

Ingredients
 
 

  • 7 oz red onions
  • 1 clove garlic, halved
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Peel red onions and slice them into fine rings (using a mandolin slicer).
  • Add sliced onion rings, garlic clove, bay leaf, and black peppercorns into an 8 oz (250ml) mason jar.
  • Add apple cider vinegar, water, sugar, and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Once the sugar and salt have dissolved, pour boiling-hot over the onion rings.
  • Close the jar tightly, allow to cool briefly, and leave to infuse overnight in the refrigerator.

Notes

Stays fresh for about 4 weeks if stored in the refrigerator.
Adjust spices according to taste. You can add chili peppers, red pepper flakes, one cinnamon stick, mustard seeds, sliced ginger, herbs, or any flavor of your choice.

Nutrition

Calories :113kcal
carbohydrates :22g
Protein :2g
fat :0.2g
fiber :4g
sugar :9g

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




4.89 from 9 votes (5 ratings without comment)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

7 Comments