How to Make Quick Pickled Red Onions
Table of Contents
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.
An Easy Pickled Red Onions Recipe
Welcome to one of my favorite condiments in the whole wide world.
Pickled Red Onions.
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!).
And to make things even better, there are so many ways to use pickled red onions to add flavor to everything from salads to burgers. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t have a jar of these pickled onions in your fridge at all times.
What You’ll Need
This is one of the quickest, absolutely easiest recipes ever. 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
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 add in 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!
Why You Simply Must Try this Recipe
I’ve seen many friends and family members turn up their noses at pickled onions, saying “I don’t like raw onions.”
But I beg everyone to try these.
The pickling process transforms the onion slices into just the most wonderful thing, erasing that raw bite that so many people find offensive. The onions are softened just a bit, bright and tangy. You must taste these quick pickled onions to believe this for yourself.
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.
Make it 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.
Make it peppery. Add a few whole peppercorns or some freshly ground black pepper to the jar.
Make it garlicky. Add a clove or two of fresh garlic. Smash the cloves or thinly slice them to impart even more of that garlic goodness.
Make it 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 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 they will keep for up to a month when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
What to Do With Pickled Red Onions
Once you have a jar of these pickled red onions in your fridge, there are countless ways to use them!
- Add them to carnitas. Without a doubt, my number one way to serve these onions is with carnitas. My favorite way is tucked into a carnitas taco, where their zesty bite contrasts brilliantly with the tender, rich pulled pork (shown below). Pickled onions are great with almost any Mexican meal – think tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and platters of baked nachos!
- Add them to salads. I LOVE pickled red onions on my sister’s Taco Salad with Creamy Taco Salad Dressing.
- Stuff them into sandwiches and wraps. They’re fabulous on egg salad and tuna salad sandwiches. And on simple avocado toast – the sharp contrast between the onions and creamy avocado are undeniably wonderful.
- Top your burgers and hotdogs. Definitely keep pickled onions on hand during the grilling season. 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 these banh mi meatballs (shown above) and this banh mi salad.
- They’re also pretty wonderful with Easy Korean Beef (shown below) and my Egg Roll in a Bowl.
The possibilities are truly endless!
Looking for More Pickled Vegetable Recipes?
I loooooooove pickled vegetables, and it just doesn’t get much better than quick refrigerator versions. I’ve quick-pickled celery, carrots (our youngest daughter’s favorite!), squash, and the most beautiful medley of mixed veggies.
My mom’s easy recipe for sweet refrigerator dill pickles is also a longtime favorite. I especially like them on slow cooker sloppy joes. They’re also super awesome to have one hand during the grilling season. The pickles pair wonderfully with all kinds of grilled goodness. Just think about how wonderful they’d be next to a crispy-skinned Beer Can Chicken!
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Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe
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!
Ingredients
- 1 large red onion
- 1 c. apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 c. red wine vinegar
- 1/4 c. sugar
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/8 tsp. ground allspice
- pinch of red pepper flakes
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.
Notes
from a farmgirl's dabbles
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 24Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 147mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 0gSugar: 5gProtein: 0g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Nutritionix. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.
This post was originally published June 2014 and has been a popular reader favorite. Some of the photographs and text were updated May 2017.
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.
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.
These are ridiculously good. I’ve made them many times and always get compliments on how amazing they are!
Hello! I am so excited to make these pickled red onions! I have just lately come to value all things pickled! Never in my 50 years of cooking have I pickled or canned anything. I am a bit nervous but you make it so easy. One quick question, could you please give some guidance on what constitutes a “large” canning jar? They seem to go up to 2 gallons so I am very confused. Thank you in advance!
These pickled red onions are soooooooo good! I made them last night and we enjoyed them at dinner tonight with bacon wrapped pork tenderloin. That little bit of allspice is just perfect!
It makes my soup better… have anyone ever try?
Can I water bath these for long term storage?
I would think so. Regular pickled onions are water bathed for 10 minutes after coming to a boil.
Jeff, after responding i thought I’d double-check my reply. I initally thought they could be water bathed because they are vinegar based but after double-checking, because onions are non-acidic they MUST be pressure canned.
Do you need to leave the onions and liquid to cool entirely before placing them in the fridge?
Hi Rimmy – it’s a very forgiving recipe – it’ll be fine even if you don’t.