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    Home » Real Food » DIY/Condiments/Sauces » Pickled Red Onions

    Pickled Red Onions

    By Kristen Chidsey | 6 Comments | Published February 24, 2021 | Updated February 8, 2021 *This post may include amazon links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Add flavor to your dishes with these simple, tangy, bright Pickled Red Onions. They take only a handful of ingredients and come together in just 30 minutes. They are the perfect complement to tacos, rich meats, and sandwiches.

    These tangy, bright Pickled Red Onions come together in just 30 minutes with a few simple ingredients.

    Pickled Red Onions add flavor and dimension to countless dishes from tacos to sandwiches to nachos to pizzas.

    Fork scooping out pickled red onions for jar.

    One of my favorite homemade condiments is pickled red onions. They add a huge punch of flavor and are super simple to make.

    This version for quick-pickled onions will allow you to enjoy tangy, slightly sweet, pickled onions in just 30 minutes with just a few pantry ingredients.

    What you Need

    Ingredients for pickled red onions labeled on white counter.

    You only need onions, vinegar, salt, and sugar to make pickled onions. I do like to add in whole peppercorns for more flavor, but they are an optional addition.

    How to Pickle Onions

    • Thinly slice the onions. The best way to do this is to use a mandoline, but you certainly can just use a sharp knife instead of a mandoline.
    Thinly sliced red onions on a cutting board nex to a mandoline.
    • In a medium saucepan, heat water, vinegar, salt, and sugar together over medium heat until the sugar and salt dissolve. Turn off the heat and allow that mixture to cool slightly.
    Saucepan with pickling liquid.
    • Divide the sliced red onions between 2 pint-size jars. Add ½ teaspoon of peppercorns to each jar.
    • Pour the vinegar mixture evenly over the onions.

    Pouring pickling liquid in 2 jars of sliced red onions.

    • Use a fork or spoon to push the onion slices into the pickling liquid to fully submerge.

    Spoon pushing down red onions in pickling liquid.

    • Place the lid on the jars and refrigerate.
    • The onions will be ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes, but they will become softer, more flavorful, and brighter in pink the longer they sit.
    Jar on counter with pickled red onions.

    How to Use Pickled Onions

    There are countless uses for pickled onions--let your imagination and taste buds guide you. Here are some of my personal favorite ways to use them.

    • Top Pulled Pork Sandwiches with them in place of coleslaw, or addition to coleslaw.
    • Cut heavy dishes like Beef Barbacoa or Carnitas with the addition of these onions.
    • Top tacos with pickled red onions. They are an especially great compliment to Cauliflower Tacos and Lentil Tacos.
    • Use them to top a Chickpea Salad or add to Spinach Bacon Salad, or any side salad.
    • Add to Egg Salad, Tuna Salad, or Chickpea Salad to cut the richness and add tang.
    • Pickled red onions are delicious on BBQ Chicken Burgers, Classic Burgers, and Black Bean Burgers.

    Flavor Options

    This is a fairly basic recipe for pickled onions. Feel free to experiment with the seasonings and spices by adding things like garlic, dill, or star anise, etc. 

    • Add Garlic. Add in one or two thinly sliced cloves of garlic to the onions before pickling for a nice punch of garlic flavor.
    • Add Heat. Add a sliced jalapeno to the onions to add heat and flavor to the final pickled onion. Or you can add in ½ to 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes.

    FAQs on Pickled Onions

    How long do pickled red onions last?

    They will safely keep for 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator, but I find they taste best used within 5 days.

    Do you have to use sugar to pickle onions?

    Technically, no, you only need vinegar and salt to pickle anything. However, a bit of sweetness balances out the acidity of the vinegar and the sharpness of the onions. I would suggest using a sweetener of some sort--be it granulated sugar, honey, or maple syrup.

    Can you use a sugar substitute for pickling?

    I really don't recommend using a substitute like Stevia or Splenda, as it can change the texture of the onions and has an aftertaste. I would recommend omitting or cutting the sugar in half instead of using a sugar substitute.

    What is the best vinegar to use for pickling?

    Any basic vinegar, like white distilled vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or rice vinegar works well. I typically opt for plain white vinegar as it is cheap and always in my pantry.

    Do you have to use red onions?

    Red onions are the most commonly pickled onion due to their beautiful pink color once pickled. But this method works with any variety of onions. Keep in mind the flavor will be impacted by the onion you select.

    Should my pickled onions turn pink?

    The longer the onions sit in the pickling liquid, the more vibrant the hue of pink will become. After a couple of days, the entire onion slices will be bright pink. However, these quick-pickled onions are ready to be used after just 30 minutes, once they are soft and pliable.

    More Easy Homemade Condiments

    • Homemade Tartar Sauce
    • Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce
    • Homemade Ranch Dressing

    If you enjoyed these pickled onions, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.

    Jar of pickled onions on counter.

    Pickled Red Onions

    These Quick-Pickled Red Onions require only a handful of ingredients and come together in just 30 minutes.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Condiment
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Refrigerate: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 18kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • 2 small red onions
    • 2 cups water
    • 2 cups white vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
    • 2 tablespoons sugar
    • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Using a mandoline, or a very sharp knife, thinly slice the onions into ⅛ inch thick slices. Divide the onions evenly between two pint-size jars or one quart-size jar.
    • If using, add ½ teaspoon of peppercorns to each jar of onions.
    • In a medium saucepan, heat the water, vinegar, salt, and sugar over medium heat, until the sugar and salt are dissolved, whisking occasionally. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly about 5 minutes.
    • Pour the vinegar mixture over the onions, dividing the mixture evenly between the jars. Use a fork or spoon to submerge the onions fully in the vinegar mixture.
    • Place the lid on the jars and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    Storage: Pickled Red Onions will last in the refrigerator between 2-3 weeks. 
    Onions: While red onions are the standard choice for pickling, feel free to use any onion you like. Keep in mind if your onions are not cut thin, it will take longer for them to become pickled. 
    Vinegar: Use white distilled vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or rice wine vinegar. 
    Sugar: Feel free to use honey, maple syrup, or granulated sugar. If you like really sweet pickled onions, double the amount of sweetener used. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 18kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 875mg | Potassium: 25mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
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    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sue

      November 10, 2021 at 8:39 pm

      mine have lasted up to 3 months, because of the vinegar, love them.

      Reply
    2. Katie

      February 25, 2021 at 12:18 pm

      5 stars
      These are amazing!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 25, 2021 at 2:08 pm

        They really do add tremendous flavor!

        Reply
    3. Kim

      February 25, 2021 at 11:37 am

      5 stars
      I'm not a fan of onions, but I do love them pickled! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    4. Lori

      February 25, 2021 at 11:15 am

      5 stars
      My favorite to add to burgers! This is such an easy method, and they turned out great- thank you!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 25, 2021 at 2:09 pm

        Wonderful! I love hearing that Lori!

        Reply

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