How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (2024)

Recipes » How to Make Quick Pickled Red Onions

by Brenda Score onMay 15, 2017 (updated May 23, 2023)

These Quick Pickled Red Onions are downright addictive! If you’ve ever wondered how to pickle red onions, this recipe is easy and is done in 15 minutes. The perfect addition to tacos, salads, burgers, and so much more!

How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (1)

The Best Pickled Red Onions

Welcome to one of my favorite condiments in the whole wide world: Pickled Red Onions!

There are so many ways to use pickled red onions to add flavor to everything from tacos to salads to burgers. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t have a jar of these pickled onions in your fridge at all times!

This refrigerator version is so easy, and takes only about 15 minutes to make. The onions are crispity crunchity and perfectly tangy-sweet. They last for weeks in the refrigerator (if you can keep your fingers out of the jar!).

How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (2)

What You’ll Need

All you need are four base ingredients to make pickled onions: red onion, vinegar, salt, and sugar. Here’s a quick rundown with my notes, but be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for specific amounts.

  • Red onion – One large onion or two small ones.
  • Apple cider vinegar – This kind of vinegar adds a touch of tangy sweetness. I don’t recommend using regular vinegar as the flavor profile is not the same.
  • Red wine vinegar – This vinegar adds a bit more depth.
  • Kosher salt
  • Sugar – I use white sugar. But I know that people also substitute honey, maple syrup, or agave.
  • Ground allspice – Only 1/8 teaspoon. I LOVE what this does for the flavor!
  • Red pepper flakes – For a little kick!
How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (3)

How to Pickle Red Onions

Making pickled red onions couldn’t be any easier! Here is how to do it:

  • Slice the onions: Slice your red onion into half moon slices about 1/8 inch thick. Use a very sharp knife or mandoline for this.
  • Simmer the pickling mixture: In a medium saucepan, combine the apple cider vinegar and red wine vinegar with some sugar and salt on the stovetop.
  • Add some spice & the onion slices: Sprinkle in a bit of allspice and a few red pepper flakes, then addin your onion slices.
  • Pickle: Let the mixture cool completely.
  • Chill: Then pour into a glass container, cover tightly, and refrigerate until chilled.

And this is how to pickle red onions. Easy-peasy!

How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (4)

Variation Ideas

There are many, many ways to customize your own pickled onion recipe:

  • Slice the onions thick or thin. I tend to mostly slice the onions about 1/8″ thick, to get some toothsome “crunch” factor. But on occasion, I like to use my mandoline to create ultra-thin, almost frilly, slices. They’re super pretty and delicate, perfect for making salads extra lovely. In the photos above, you can see the difference in sizes.
  • Use different vinegar. My recipe calls for a combination of apple cider vinegar and red wine vinegar. But you could try white vinegar, white wine vinegar, or rice vinegar, too.
How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (5)

Possible Flavor Profiles

  • Spicy. This recipe calls for a “pinch of red pepper flakes”, which gives the pickled onions just the slightest hint of heat. If you really like to “feel it”, though, add a slice or two of habanero or jalapeno pepper to kick it up another notch or two. Or just add more of the red pepper flakes.
  • Peppery. Add a few whole peppercorns or some freshly ground black pepper to the jar.
  • Garlicky. Add a clove or two of fresh garlic. Smash the cloves or thinly slice them to impart even more of that garlic goodness.
  • Herby. I especially love the allspice that this recipe calls for. But you could mix it up by adding other dried herbs, such as oregano, bay leaf, or ground cumin. You could even use fresh herbs – think basil, mint, rosemary, parsley, and cilantro – but fresh herbs won’t last as long in the pickling process, only up to a week.
How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (6)

How Long Do Pickled Onions Last?

How long do they last or how long will they keep? These are very different questions. They probably won’t last long because everyone is going to gobble these up! But pickled red onions will keep for up to a month when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (7)
How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (8)
How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (9)

How Do You Eat Them?

Once you have a jar of these pickled red onions in your fridge, there are countless ways to usethem!

  • Carnitas and Mexican dishes. Without a doubt, my number one way to serve these onions is with carnitas. Tucked into a carnitas taco or pretty much any other Mexican dish. Think tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and platters of baked nachos!
  • Rice bowls. These are perfect for rice bowls such as Tex-Mex scallop rice bowls and teriyaki chicken poke bowls!
  • Salads. I LOVE pickled red onions on my sister’s Taco Salad.
  • Sandwiches and wraps. They’re fabulous on egg saladand tuna salad sandwiches. And on simple avocado toast – the sharp contrast between the onions and creamy avocado are undeniably wonderful.
  • Burgers and hotdogs. Top your Juicy Lucy Burger with some tangy onions for the best cheeseburger ever!
  • Eat them with eggs. Pickled onions are awesome with eggs, especially a plate of huevos rancheros. I also like to add them to a fried egg sandwich with mayonnaise. And deviled eggs are super fun with some diced pickled red onions sprinkled over the top!
  • Add them to most any Asian dish. The bright onions go great with Asian flavors. Check out thesebanh mi meatballs(shown above) and this banh mi salad. They’re also pretty wonderful with Korean Beef (shown above).

The possibilities are truly endless!

How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (10)

Looking for More Pickled Vegetable Recipes?

I loooooooove pickled vegetables, and it just doesn’t get much better than quick refrigerator versions. Try my quick-pickled celery, carrots,squash, and the most beautiful medley of mixed veggies. My mom’s easy recipe for sweet refrigerator dill pickles is also a longtime favorite.

How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (11)

Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe

prep time: 10 minutes mins

cook time: 5 minutes mins

total time: 15 minutes mins

This recipe is incredibly quick and easy to make. The pickled onions are awesome with so many different meals – you'll quickly become addicted to having them on hand at all times!

4.5 Stars (385 Reviews)

Print

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Slice the top and bottom off the onion and then slice onion in half, from top to bottom. Remove the outer peel. Lay the cut surfaces of the onion onto the cutting board, and then slice into half moons about 1/8" thick using a very sharp knife. I also recommend using a mandoline for slicing the onions, especially if you like super thin or very even slices.

  • In a medium saucepan, whisk together apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, sugar, and salt. Place over medium-high heat and bring mixture to a boil. Whisk until sugar and salt dissolve, then remove pan from heat and whisk in allspice and red pepper flakes.

  • Carefully add sliced onion to the pan and gently stir to combine. Let mixture cool completely at room temperature, stirring occasionally.

  • Pour into a glass container (I like to use a large canning jar), cover tightly with a lid, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. The pickled flavor will intensify over time, but it’s good to go after resting overnight in the refrigerator. This recipe is for refrigerator pickling only and needs to be stored in a refrigerator. Enjoy for up to one month.

Video

Notes

from a farmgirl’s dabbles

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 Calories: 24kcal Carbohydrates: 6g Sodium: 147mg Sugar: 5g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Spoonacular. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.

Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment below. And share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #afarmgirlsdabbles or tag @farmgirlsdabble!

© Brenda | A Farmgirl’s Dabbles

Cuisine: American

Course: Pickles, Jams & Preservation

Like this recipe? Save it to Pinterest!

How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (12)
How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (13)

This post was originallypublished June 2014 and has been a popular reader favorite. Some of the photographs andtext were updated May 2017.

4th of July Cinco de Mayo Holiday Recipes Side Dishes Vegetables

166 Comments / Leave a Comment »

« Previous PostSheet Pan Italian Chicken Sausage with White Beans and Peppers

Next Post »Skillet Fried Potato Hash with Bacon and Eggs

166 comments on “How to Make Quick Pickled Red Onions”

Leave a comment »

  1. DebReply

    Made this recipe last night for the first time, added a couple of jalapeno slices and WOW! Big hit with hubby and sons – served with cheeseburgers. Can’t wait to try on pulled pork tonight!

    • Brenda ScoreReply

      So glad you liked this recipe, Deb. It’s so versatile – you’re going to want pickled red onions on EVERYTHING now! :)

  2. LoisReply

    How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (14)
    You will find a use for these the more you make them. I love the flavor it brings to all I have tried it with.

  3. Lois DeRaadt-AckermanReply

    Do you reuse your pickled liquid in your next batch?
    Just wondering. I love this recipe. Just as it is. Going to try a jar of cucumbers with this recipe as well. Many thanks!

    • Brenda ScoreReply

      Hi Lois – yes, I often reuse the pickling brine!

  4. JaniceReply

    How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (15)
    Disappointed

  5. David HardingReply

    So delicious, so easy!! This is a keeper for sure!

  6. Avril BallantineReply

    Great recipe. Made it several times.
    Here’s a tip for less tears when peeling onions. Cut off the stem end first, then peel down the outside layers before cutting off the root end. Won’t eliminate the tears but will reduce them a bit.

  7. Diane OconnellReply

    I loved this recipe!! I substituted peppercorns for the allspice….

  8. Julia RobartsReply

    We’ve made your recipe a dozen times. We love it!! The combo of allspice and red pepper flakes is so good. We add it to all kinds of sandwiches from turkey and cold cuts to BBQ pulled pork to fried egg sandwiches. I add beet juice (from canned beets) once I add the raw onions, since without it the color is not deep enough for me. Might be our brand of red wine vinegar or something. But beet juice works great!

  9. MollyReply

    How is your liquid so dark? I used the red wine vinegar as well. Love the recipe though, very easy to make and they taste great!

    • Brenda ScoreReply

      Could just be the difference in the onions? My brine is always rather dark, though – and I make this recipe A LOT!! :)

    • SAReply

      Add a small slice of beet root…… you will get a nice Red color to the brine and the onions…..

  10. LisaReply

    This is the best recipe! I make it all the time. Once you have these pickled onions, you gotta keep making them. A true staple in our refrigerator. Thanks for sharing your recipe

    • Brenda ScoreReply

      Yay!! So glad you like this recipe! :)

  11. MaureenReply

    Thanks for this excellent recipe, and for the options for variations. This is something I want to have in my refrigerator as a staple. I love red onions, but raw slices are strong. These are so easy to use since they’re already sliced, and can be added to everything from salads and sandwiches to Mexican, Asian and Middle Eastern dishes.

  12. RMTReply

    An excellent recipe.

    I did not have ground allspice and was too lazy to grind the allspice berries that I had. I simply dropped a few whole berries in the recipes. Turned out great.

    We used the pickled onions on carnitas and buffalo chicken sandwiches so far.

  13. Heather HReply

    These are ridiculously good. I’ve made them many times and always get compliments on how amazing they are!

  14. KristenReply

    How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (16)
    This in the only way I can enjoy pickled red onions now. The others do not have anywhere the amazing flavor. Every person that tries these asks for a recipe. I throw in a few of your extra add ins, and the only problem with this recipe is that I have to wait for them to cool down to eat!!!

Leave a Reply

How to Make the BEST Pickled Red Onions - Quick Recipe! (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Fredrick Kertzmann

Last Updated:

Views: 6068

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Fredrick Kertzmann

Birthday: 2000-04-29

Address: Apt. 203 613 Huels Gateway, Ralphtown, LA 40204

Phone: +2135150832870

Job: Regional Design Producer

Hobby: Nordic skating, Lacemaking, Mountain biking, Rowing, Gardening, Water sports, role-playing games

Introduction: My name is Fredrick Kertzmann, I am a gleaming, encouraging, inexpensive, thankful, tender, quaint, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.