Pickled Red Onions {quick and easy!}

posted on May 15, 2017 by Brenda

These Pickled Red Onions are downright addictive! They are quick and easy to make, and are awesome with so many different meals!

Pickled Red Onions from afarmgirlsdabbles.com - A truly versatile and addictive condiment, these pickled red onions take just a few minutes to make!

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 10 minutes to make!

The onions are crispity crunchity and perfectly tangy sweet, and last for weeks in the refrigerator (if you can keep your fingers out of the jar!).

There’s no reason why you shouldn’t have a jar of these pickled onions in your fridge at all times!

*Here are a few recipes where I particularly enjoy using these pickled red onions: Without a doubt, my number one way to serve these onions is with carnitas. They’re also fabulous on egg salad and tuna salad.

(This post was originally published June 2014 and has been a popular reader favorite. Some of the photographs and text were updated May 2017.)

pickled vegetables from afarmgirlsdabbles.com - a medley of vegetables pickled with a quick refrigerator pickling

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 (shown above).

Sweet Refrigerator Dill Pickles from afarmgirlsdabbles.com - slices of cucumber are quick pickled for a bright and tangy pickle

My mom’s easy recipe for sweet refrigerator dill pickles (shown above) is also a longtime favorite.

I especially like to have them on hand when I make my slow cooker sloppy joes and during the grilling season. The pickles pair wonderfully with all kinds of grilled goodness, especially when using barbecue sauces!

Pickled Red Onions from afarmgirlsdabbles.com - A truly versatile and addictive condiment, these pickled red onions take just a few minutes to make!

How to pickle onions

In this recipe, you simply stir apple cider vinegar and red wine vinegar with some sugar and salt on the stovetop. Sprinkle in a bit of allspice and a few red pepper flakes, and then add in your onion slices.

This is how to pickle red onions. Easy-peasy!

Pickled Red Onions from afarmgirlsdabbles.com - A truly versatile and addictive condiment, these pickled red onions take just a few minutes to make!

Quick Pickled Red Onions are a wonderful thing!

I’ve met many a friend and family member who has turned 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.

Pickled Red Onions from afarmgirlsdabbles.com - A truly versatile and addictive condiment, these pickled red onions take just a few minutes to make!

There are many ways to use this pickled onion recipe

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

Carnitas pork recipe from afarmgirlsdabbles.com - pork is braised for hours, leaving you with fork-tender, flavorful awesomeness

My favorite way to eat pickled onions

My favorite way is tucked into a carnitas taco, where their zesty bite contrasts brilliantly with the tender, rich pulled pork. (shown above) Pickled onions are great with almost any Mexican meal.

Banh Mi Meatballs from afarmgirlsdabbles.com - pork meatballs simmer in a richly flavored, sticky sauce

Pickled onions are also awesome with eggs, especially a plate of huevos rancheros. Check out this breakfast taco bar from Aimée at Simple Bites – so fun!

The bright onions go great with Asian flavors. Check out these banh mi meatballs (shown above) and this banh mi salad.

Pickled onions make most any sandwich or burger sing.

They’re pretty wonderful on salads, too. Like this one from Heather Christo, using fresh greens. And this fresh watermelon salad from Food 52, so lovely.

The possibilities are truly endless.

Pickled Red Onions from afarmgirlsdabbles.com - A truly versatile and addictive condiment, these pickled red onions take just a few minutes to make!

F YOU LIKE THIS PICKLED RED ONIONS RECIPE, YOU MIGHT LIKE:

*Here are a few recipes I’d like to try: Pickled Jalapeños from Honey and Birch and Sweet and Sour Asian Pickled Cucumbers from foodiecrush.  And, oh how I love me some Pickled Ginger – this recipe comes from Foodie with Family.

Print Recipe

Pickled Red Onions {quick and easy refrigerator version!}

Pickled Red Onions are quick and easy to make, and are awesome with so many different meals. You’ll quickly become addicted to having them on hand at all times!

Yield: about 2 cups

Prep Time:10 minutes

Cook Time:5 minutes

Total Time:15 minutes

Calories per serving: 30

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

Directions:

Slice the top and bottom off the onion and then slice it 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.

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 are 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.

from a farmgirl’s dabbles

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Pickled Red Onions from afarmgirlsdabbles.com - A truly versatile and addictive condiment, these pickled red onions take just a few minutes to make! #redonions #redonion #pickled #pickledredonions #pickledonions

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

Recommended for this post:

OXO Cutting Board

Wusthof Santoku Knife

Apple Cider Vinegar

Allspice

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posted in Pickles, Jams, & Preservation, Vegetables
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