Make Pickled Onions in Just 15 Minutes

Pickled red onions add a vibrant color and flavor to salads, soups, sandwiches and more. They are sure to make your dish stand out. Typically I like to give it a day or two for the onions to absorb the flavors of pickling juice. The end result is a crunchy, tangy delicious garnish!

Marinade for Pickled Onions

To make the marinade for the pickled onions, all you need to do is combine water, apple cider vinegar, salt, sugar and peppercorns. It’s so easy! Sometimes I even use a bit of the marinade and a drizzle of olive oil as a lazy salad dressing.

How to Prepare this Quick Pickled Onion Recipe 

Making these quick pickled red onions doesn’t require heating up a brine in a small saucepan. It’s made with absolutely no need for heat! 

• Prepare the Marinade: First, combine the lukewarm water, vinegar, peppercorns, sugar and salt in a bowl. Whisk the ingredients until well combined.   
• Prepare the Onions: Next, slice onions into thin half moons with a sharp knife. Break them apart and stuff them into a jar. 
• Assemble the Jar: Pour the marinade over the onions and make sure they are fully covered. Seal the jar and refrigerate.
• Marinade the Onions: Seal the jar and refrigerate the onions for at least two days. Enjoy! 

Quick Pickled Onions Tips

• Choose the right onion.Grab one large red onion or two small ones. I like using red onions the most because they have higher acidity and a stronger flavor than yellow or white onions.
• Slice the onions thinly. For the best results, slice your onions as thinly as possible. You want each onion slice to soak up as much flavor as possible. If you have one, use your mandolin slicer.
• Use apple cider vinegar. Apple Cider Vinegar is my top choice due to its subtle sweetness. However, you can use white vinegar as well.
• Swap in a natural sweetener. Traditionally, pickled red onions are made with white sugar. But, if you want to be ultra-healthy, try using maple syrup, agave or honey instead.
• Spice up your pickling brine. Want to add an extra flavor punch to your onions? Make it spicy by adding some habaneros or jalapeños to the mix. You can also add a couple of cloves of garlic cloves, ground cumin, bay leaf, red pepper flakes, fresh herbs or dried oregano. Get creative!

What to Eat Pickled Red Onions With

The possibilities are seriously endless here. Here are a couple of my favorites dishes to add pickled red onions to.

• Cuban Sandwich – A nice layer of pickled red onions compliments the savoriness of the meat and creaminess of the cheese. Think of them the same way you would pepperoncinis.
• Garden Salad – Take your garden salad to the next level by topping it with some pickled red onions. Get a bite of the onions and feta cheese together and it’s game over! 
• Gyro Wrap – Gyros are one of our favorite handheld treats! Lamb, feta, tzatziki and fresh vegetables all wrapped up in a warm pita is our idea of heaven on earth. Swap out the raw red onions for pickled ones to really up the flavor factor.
• Steak Sandwich – All the fatty, juiciness of steak is elevated with pickled red onions. Throw them right on top of the havarti cheese. Yum!
• Carne Asada Street Tacos, Breakfast Quesadillas & Nachos – Pickled onions are a great addition to some of our favorite Mexican dishes. 
• Pico de Gallo & Guacamole – Give your salsa or guacamole a puckery punch by swapping out the raw onions for pickled onions. 

Storing Pickled Onions

When we say make a big batch, I mean it. These onions will keep for up to two weeks stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Bonus: They get better with time. The longer they soak in the pickling liquid, the more flavor you get. If you can, store your pickled red onions in a mason jar.

FAQ

More Pickled Veggies to Try

• Marinated Mushrooms – Tangy mushrooms in 15 minutes
• Giardiniera – Picked carrots, cauliflower & broccoli
• Marinated Tomatoes – Crunchy, tangy mushrooms
• Picked Cucumbers – Dill & garlic pickles

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Recipe

Easy Pickled Onions Recipe

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Servings

12 Servings

Prep Time 15 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

These quick pickled onions are tangy, puckery and super versatile. Without the need for hot brine, they come together so quickly and are irresistible!

Ingredients

• 1 large red onion
• 1 cup lukewarm water
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp peppercorns

US Units – Metric

Instructions

• Prepare all ingredients for the recipe.
  
• Prepare the marinade for the onions by placing everything into a separate jar. Stir to combine until salt and sugar dissolve. Slice onions into half rings.
  
• Break them apart and place them into the jar. Pour marinade over the onions and make sure they are fully covered. Seal the jar and refrigerate.
  
• They're best after one or two days.
  

Nutrition Facts

Easy Pickled Onions Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 11 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Sodium 389mg16%

Potassium 26mg1%

Carbohydrates 2g1%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin C 0.7mg1%

Calcium 4mg0%

Iron 0.1mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.