Easiest Pickled Red Onions
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This Easiest Pickled Red Onions recipe is a simple way to make quick pickled red onions with just vinegar and water. You will want to top all of your meals with these easy pickled red onions.
Don’t be afraid to make your own pickles at home!
I love all pickled things. I love pickles, spicy pickled peppers, sour kraut, and especially pickled red onions. Onions, vinegar and spices are relatively afforable foods, yet the pickles at the grocery store always seemed pricey.
I figured I was just paying for the glass jar each time I bought pickled red onions so I decided to make my own at home. I am constantly putting them on my salads, sandwiches, wraps, avocado toast, and pretty much everything I eat.
Does it sound like I’m a little obsessed with this pickled onion recipe? It’s okay because I am and soon you will be too!
How does pickling work? How do you pickle red onions?
There are two types of pickling process: vinegar pickling and fermenting. Fermentation is the process of pickling something over a long period of time, but vinegar pickling can be rather quick.
By immersing a vegetable in a vinegar solution, you preserve the fresh food. This allows the food to last much longer. An added benefit of pickling red onions is that you reduce the harsh and sometimes even spicy taste of a raw red onion.
For quick pickling you can immerse the veggies in warm vinegar mixture. For more traditional pickling you want to immerse your veggies in a room temperature liquid.
Looking for another easy pickling recipe? Check out this Easy Giardiniera Recipe!
What should I serve with these homemade pickled red onions?
I like to eat these pickles on pretty much everything, but they are the best on things like tacos, sandwiches and salads. Keep a jar in your fridge and pull them out whenever you need to add extra flavor and tang to your meal.
What ingredients do you need for this quick pickled red onion recipe?
- Red onion
- Water
- White vinegar
For this recipe, I always use white vinegar because it is affordable and I can get a bottle that is about the size of my torso. However, you can use many types of vinegar for this recipe.
If you use apple cider vinegar it will change the color of the pickle slightly, but you will have a more mild vinegar taste. You could also use red wine vinegar or rice vinegar. If you use balsamic vinegar for this pickled onion recipe, the onions will be slightly darker and sweeter, but still delicious!
I am sure there are all kinds of seasonings and spices I could and probably should be putting in this recipe, but it’s nice that keep it simple.
This easy pickled red onion recipe takes only 3 basic ingredients and takes very little time to do. I like to prep it at the beginning of the meal prep so that it can cool while I prep the rest of the food.
Can I pickle other kinds of onions?
Yes! This recipe is for pickled red onions, but you can use it to pickle any kind of onion in just 30 minutes. I like to use red onions because of their beautiful color and intense flavor, but you could pickle other types of onions and even scallions.
Pickled sweet onions like Vidalia onions would be a delicious addition to salads and sandwiches.
What kitchen tools will I need to this quick pickle recipe?
- Sauce pan for boiling the pickling liquid
- Sharp knife and cutting board for cutting the onion
- 2 cup mason jars for storing and pickling the onions – I find the wide mouth mason jars are easier to use.
To make super thin onion slices, use a mandolin to cut your red onion. I am always scared to cut my fingers so I make sure to use protective gloves each time I use the mandolin.
How to make pickled red onions
First, slice you red onion into thin rings or slices. Then, heat the water and vinegar over high heat just until it boils. Next, allow pickling liquid to cool.
Then, add the sliced onions to the mason jar. It’s okay if you have to smush them in there to get them all to fit.
Next, pour cooled pickling liquid over the onions and allow that to sit on the counter for an hour.
Finally, close the mason jar with an airtight lid and place the onions in the fridge to chill.
Store the onions in the fridge for as long as they last, which isn’t long in our home!
Keep reading for the full recipe! If you make this please leave a rating and review below or let me know on Instagram!
Easiest Pickled Red Onions
The easiest method for pickling red onions with just vinegar and water.
Instructions
- Slice the red onion into thin slices or rings
- Add sliced onions to a 2 cup jar with a lid – it’s okay to press the onions down to get them to all fit in the jar
- Place water and vinegar in a sauce pan over high heat
- Just as the liquid begins to boil remove from the heat
- Allow the liquid to cool for about 20 minutes and then pour over the sliced onions in the jar
- Fill the jar all the way to the top so that all of the onions are covered with the liquid
- Allow the jar to sit on the counter for about an hour before covering with the lid and placing in the refrigerator
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for as long as they last
JESSIE J says
Super simple, delicious, and now a forever staple in my fridge!
★★★★★
Madeline says
Thank you!! I love having these in the fridge as well!
Amanda says
I made a couple jars a few nights ago and it was my first time ever pickling anything. They were awesome and sooooo easy! I will definitely make them again. Can the same method be used for other things? Like maybe pickled brussels sprouts?
★★★★★
Madeline says
Ah yay!! I would assume so… pickled brussels sprouts sounds absolutely amazing!
Ames says
I love love love these!!! Super easy and so tasty!!!
★★★★★
Madeline says
Thank you!!
Megan R says
Amazing!!! So much easier than expected and the best tasting pickled onions I’ve had. Going to be a weekly staple from now on
★★★★★
Madeline says
Thank you!! I am so glad you love them as much as I do
Kate says
These are so good and so easy. If you like pickled onions, you’re going to keep these in your fridge at all times!
★★★★★
Madeline says
Thank you, Kate!!
Carolyn says
Just made these for tacos. So easy and delicious!!
★★★★★
Madeline says
Thanks, Carolyn!!
Lauren says
We were looking for a good pickled red onion recipe and this is it! Bonus—it’s also the easiest of the ones we tried. I make a batch most Sunday’s and leave them in the fridge to put on everything during the week
★★★★★
Madeline says
love that!! thank you!!
Hannah says
Made these once and haven’t stopped since! The best and easiest recipe
★★★★★
Madeline says
amazing!! Thank you!!
Samantha says
I’ve been meaning to make these forever and let me tell you, I wish I had made them sooner! They enhance EVERYTHING you put them on and they’re so easy to make. Definitely a new fridge staple!
Samantha says
I forgot to put the 5 stars!!
★★★★★
Madeline says
hahah thank you for coming back to do it!! you rock!!
Madeline says
THANK YOU!!
Maggie says
First time pickling something! This will definitely be a staple in my fridge from now kn
Madeline says
YAY! they are the best
Christina says
If there was a word that means easier than Easiest this would fall into that category! The best was to spice up a meal, salad, anything, and makes a ton when you use the whole red onion!! Love having these on deck to be a little more “fancy” with my meals!!
★★★★★
Madeline says
Amazing!! thank you so much!
Katy says
so easy!!! and to think I’ve been intimidated by pickling for so long. You’re my pickled onion queen. thank you!
★★★★★
Madeline says
Yay!! Thank you! I agree i never realized how easy it could be until I tried!
Kristi says
Are they shelf stable?
Madeline says
they are not. Please store them in the fridge
Jess Mitchell says
Easy and delicious.
★★★★★
Madeline says
yay! thanks!
Danielle says
I make these like every week to have in salads! Love that this recipe doesnt call for a bunch of ingredients and that I can always make these in a pinch
★★★★★
Madeline says
yessss love to have these in the fridge always!
Lily says
These are utterly delicious! Thank you for sharing.
★★★★★
Madeline says
wonderful! thank you!
Asha says
I made these pickled onions to add an extra something to my usual meal prep lunches and they are SO good and super easy! They are the perfect addition to any dish that could use some zest.
★★★★★
maryjane says
Good idea! Thank you!
Kelly says
I made these last night for the second time. Both times I made them to put on Mahi-Mahi fish tacos. They were so easy to make! My whole family loved them and everyone said that they really “made’ the tacos! I only had ACV, but it worked just fine. Thanks, Madeline!
★★★★★
Karen says
Added these to some tacos and they were perfect and so easy! Plenty leftover in the fridge for salads this week. Thanks!
★★★★★
Madeline says
wonderful! thank you!
Jess says
So delicious and so easy! I can’t believe I waited this long to make them!
★★★★★
Madeline says
Yay thank you! So glad you loved them!
alyson says
can you use distilled white vinegar?
Madeline says
yep! Thats usually what I use
Vanessa Underhill says
These are literally the easiest, and most delicious, pickled onions I have tried. Such a good way too up the flavor and satisfaction to a meal!!
★★★★★
Madeline says
Yay I love to hear it! Thanks Vanessa!
Jen says
So easy and adds a load of flavor to any dish!
★★★★★
Joanna says
This is going to be my go-to pickled red onion recipe from now on. Perfection! It was so great to find a recipe that didn’t include sugar. Thank you !
★★★★★
Lauren says
I love anything red onions and this is such a great and easy recipe. Definitely a staple in my fridge. Thanks for sharing!!
★★★★★
Madeline says
awesome!! thank you so much
Emily says
So easy! Love putting on salads and tacos
★★★★★
Madeline says
me too! thank you!!
Lindsay says
This recipe was so easy to make and follow! I added peppercorns, garlic cloves, and red pepper flakes to my onions for an added kick. It turned out deliciously spicy, and they worked well for a burrito bowl I planned for dinner. Definitely putting this recipe down in my recipe book to make again. Thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
Madeline says
wonderful!! thank you!
Christine Harper says
Love this recipe! Go back to it over and over! 😊😊
★★★★★
Madeline says
yay that’s the best compliment! thanks so much Christine!
Erin says
So easy and delicious! My husband loved them so much I had to make a second jar.
★★★★★
Madeline says
hah I love it! can never have too many!
Natalie says
Easy and very flavorful addition to meals. I’m going to try it with radishes.
★★★★★
Madeline says
Yum!! Enjoy!
Sean says
Perfect. Easy and delicious on Tacos. They came out perfect.
★★★★★
Madeline says
Yes! So good on tacos. Thanks, Sean!
Vanessa says
I make these all the time for sandwiches and salads! So easy and a delicious addition to a meal.
Madeline says
Woooohoo! Great to hear. Thanks, Vanessa!