These tangy, pickled red onions take only five minutes to put together — no hot brine needed. Make a big batch and use them for a million different things!
Tim and I are obsessed with this pickled onions recipe. The pickled onions feature a tangy, puckery flavor on their own, but when you add them to another dish, they really elevate the flavor and make that dish great. We frequently use them in our salads, soups, sandwiches, and more (see below for some ideas!). I’m pretty sure I always have a jar of these in the fridge, or at the very least something that is pickled!
How to Make Pickled Onions
This recipe is a quick pickle recipe — it doesn’t require any heating! Just mix the brine together and combine it with the onions in a jar. That’s it!
- Prepare the marinade: Combine the lukewarm water, vinegar, peppercorns, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Whisk the vinegar mixture until well combined.
- Slice the onions: Slice the 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, fully covering them. Seal the jar and refrigerate.
Hot tip: Typically, I like the onions to marinate for 1-2 days for the best result.
Quick Pickled Onions Tips
I’ve tried a few variations of this pickled onion recipe and have ultimately landed on this one, especially when following these tips. Check them out!
- 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 the onions as thinly as possible. Each onion slice should soak up as much flavor as possible to make it really tangy and flavorful. If you have one, use your mandolin slicer to make it easy.
- Use apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is my top choice because of its subtle sweet taste, but white vinegar is a good substitute.
- Swap in a natural sweetener: Traditionally, pickled red onions are made with white sugar. But, if you want an alternative, try using maple syrup, agave, or honey instead.
- Spice up your pickling brine (optional): 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 garlic cloves, ground cumin, bay leaf, red pepper flakes, fresh herbs, or dried oregano. Get creative!
Hot tip: Use the same exact pickling liquid to pickle radishes, carrots, beets, jalapeños and cucumbers! I’m hoping to make a pickling addict out of you…
Uses for Homemade Pickled Red Onions
The possibilities are seriously endless here. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Sandwiches/Wraps
I love a good tang in my sandwiches and wraps. My Cuban sandwich and steak sandwich are especially good with pickled onions. For breakfast, add the onions to breakfast quesadillas, or for dinner, stick them into a gyro wrap. Oh, and don’t forget burgers — they are amazing with pickled red onions!
Bowls
I love how easy it is to make a bowl and layer a whole bunch of ingredients inside! I really enjoy adding fresh pickled onions to my burrito bowl, Hawaiian poke bowl, and egg roll in a bowl.
Salads
Add pickled onions to any of your favorite salads. This simple garden salad really goes to the next level with the tangy crunch of an onion.
Sides/Dips
Pickled onions can be a side of their own, but they’re also great mixed into other side dishes and dips. Add them into guacamole or pico de gallo!
Toppings
Top a variety of dishes with pickled red onions for a tangy, vibrant flair. Carne asada street tacos, avocado toast, and smoked salmon toast all come out superb with a pickled onion topping!
Storing Pickled Onions
When I say make a big batch, I mean it. These onions keep for up to two weeks in the refrigerator in an airtight container (I like small mason jars). Plus, I personally think they get better with time. The longer they soak in the pickling liquid, the more flavorul they are!
More Pickled Veggies
- Marinated Mushrooms – Tangy mushrooms in 15 minutes
- Giardiniera – Picked carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli
- Marinated Tomatoes – Tangy tomatoes that are great as a side
- Pickled Cucumbers – Dill & garlic flavored pickles
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large red onion
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp peppercorns
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients for the recipe.
- Prepare the marinade by placing all ingredients (except onions) into a bowl or jar. Stir to combine until the salt and sugar dissolve. Slice the onions into half rings.
- Break the onions apart and place them into the jar. Pour the marinade over the onions and make sure they are fully covered. Seal the jar and refrigerate.
- Marinate for 1-2 days. Serve and enjoy!
do you remove the onions from the brine after a few days, or do you keep them in brine for up to two weeks
Great question! When it comes to pickled onions, it's perfectly fine to leave them in the brine for up to two weeks. The longer they sit in the brine, the more flavorful they become. Enjoy!
Only recipe I use for pickled onions!! I am not a fan of apple cider vinegar so I substitute it with white vinegar and it’s great!! I use it to pickle jalapeños too! Sometimes I’ll make a batch separately but most of the time just do it in one jar!! Thanx for the recipe!!
That's awesome to hear Tatyana! Substituting with white vinegar for pickled onions and jalapeños sounds delicious. Glad you're enjoying the recipe—it's perfect for making quick batches in one jar! Enjoy your pickled treats!
Delicious! Super quick and easy.
Thanks Kristina! So happy you loved it!
Can those recipe be processed?
Hey Rhonda- I haven't tried. This recipe is just a quick pickling recipe and the onions are best for only 2 weeks. Enjoy!
I’ve tried many different versions of pickled onions and yours is the best! I get so many compliments on them. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe
That is so good to hear, I'm so glad you love them, thank you for taking the time to comment!
I made these for a family burger night and they were fantastic, the perfect balance of sweetness and tangy vinegar. I tripled the recipe and they turned out great. The more they sit in the fridge the better they get!
Diana, thank you for sharing that. I actually have a batch in the fridge and we plan to do a burger night. Love the idea!
This marinate looks incredibly delicious! I love pickling vegetables, but I've never thought of pickling onions before. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Brittany! I hope you loved the recipe.
I would Make these if I won the k if set! I love pickled veggies and these would be amazing in so many things!
When you make them, let me know how you like them!
Your post is missing ingredient list like the marinating list
Oh, thanks for heads up. I made sure they are showing up now. 🙂