How to Pickle Red Onions
Quick Pickled Red Onions – Add a wonderfully tangy-sweet punch to your dishes with our easy pickled red onions recipe. Bonus, it only requires 5 ingredients and 30 minutes to make!
How to Pickle Red Onions
We all have those reliable go-to dishes that we love. Recipes that we no longer need a recipe for because we’ve made them so many times; true comfort meals that are consistently predictable.
Aren’t those great?
But… Don’t you also sometimes want to add some serious pep to that comforting predictability?
Our easy Quick Pickled Red Onions recipe is perfect for topping your favorite foods with bright, bold, and tangy flavor that won’t overpower the dish you know and adore.
Today I am showing you how to make the BEST pickled onions in about 30 minutes and with just 5 simple ingredients!
If your go-to meal could use a bit of perky acidity and texture, this Pickled Red Onions recipe is exactly what you need.
They are a fabulous tangy-sweet complement for everything from barbecue plates and tacos, to Indian curries and stews. Kept cold in the fridge for up to two weeks, pickled onions add refreshing bite to nearly any dish that’s hot or cold.
Get ready to enjoy a ridiculously easy condiment that will elevate all of your favorite recipes!
5-Ingredients You Need
If you have been intimidated to try a home pickling recipe because of the possibly daunting list of ingredients and steps, think again and give this easy “refrigerator pickle” recipe a try!
These quick pickling onions requires only 5 simple ingredients and a few easy steps.
Here is everything that you need:
- Red onion
- Hot water – not boiling
- Apple cider vinegar
- Sugar or honey
- Salt
Apple cider vinegar will provide a lovely slightly-sweet flavor, but you can substitute rice wine vinegar for a milder taste.
How to Cook Pickled Onions
1. First, prep the red onions by peeling and slicing into 1/8th inch rounds.
2. Find a glass jar or airtight container that is large enough to hold the sliced red onions and liquid.
3. Next, pour the hot water into the large container and stir in the sugar or honey, and salt. Stir until the sugar and salt dissolve. Then stir in the apple cider vinegar.
4. Lastly, add the red onion slices and press them down to make sure that they are completely submerged in the pickling liquid. Let the onions soak and “pickle” in the liquid for at least 30 minutes. The longer they sit, the softer and more tangy the onions will be.
After 30 minutes you can serve, or cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Sealed in an airtight container the Pickled Red Onions will keep well in the fridge for up to two weeks.
What Can You Put Pickled Red Onions On?
To me these pickled onions scream summer barbecue, and I love to add them to barbecue platters along with Crock Pot Brisket Sandwiches or our Coffee Brushed Barbecue Ribs.
Quick Pickled Red Onions are super tasty for adding some bright crunch to Tacos El Pastor and Corn Crusted Fish Tacos, or as a new topping for your favorite nachos.
Cold and crunchy right from the fridge, onions also add delicious depth to roasted dishes like Roasted Indian Fish with Creamy Curried Cauliflower and hearty stews, chilis, and curries!
Can I Use Other Onions to Make this Pickled Onions Recipe?
You can! Try this recipe with sweet white onions and white vinegar for a tasty dish with lots of tangy bite.
Looking for More Easy and Delicious Condiment Recipes?
- Best Homemade Refrigerator Pickles
- Easy Guacamole Recipe
- How to Make the Best Tzatziki Sauce
- Southern Comeback Sauce
- How to Make Herb Infused Honey
Pickled Red Onions Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large red onion
- ½ cup hot water
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar or honey
- 2 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Peel and slice the onion into 1/8th inch rounds.
- Find a glass jar or airtight container, that is large enough to hold the sliced onions and liquid.
- Pour the hot water into the container and stir in the sugar or honey, and salt. Stir until it dissolves. Then stir in the vinegar.
- Add the onions slices and press them down to make sure they are submerged. Let the onions soak and “pickle” in the liquid for at least 30 minutes.
- Serve, or cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Because I used a quart jar, I doubled the vinegar/ water/ honey and salt…then put sliced red onions in a med. deep microwave safe bowl poured brine over onions and let it sit for 30 min.Then transfered to quart jar.
This is awesome! I love how easy this is to make!
We put these on everything! They are absolutely delicious.
Yum! I LOVE onions! I’m sure I’ll love these. I can’t wait to make them.
great addition to dishes, especially tacos!