Easy Refrigerator Pickled Red Onions

Liven up your leftovers or add interest to tacos, burgers, sandwiches, nachos and more with these crisp and tangy quick refrigerator pickled red onions! These quick pickles are so easy to make and can be ready to eat in less than 30 minutes!

Jump to:

• ❤️Why this recipe works
• 🛒Ingredients
• 🔪Easy instructions for pickling red onions
• Possible Variations
• ❓Do I need a special jar for quick pickles?
• ❓How long will these pickles last?
• 🗒 Serving Suggestions
• 📖 Recipe Card

❤️Why this recipe works

You can make them year-round! We often think of making pickles in the late summer when gardens and farmers' markets are overflowing with fresh produce. But pickling red onions in a small batch can be done at any time of the year.

Convenient! Having a jar of pickled red onions in the fridge for tacos, burgers, sandwiches or pizza means you always have the opportunity to jazz up a meal. They add a bright colour, satisfying crunch and a tangy flavour to any dish!

Easy to make! Once I realized how easy it was to make Quick Refrigerator Pickled Beans, I experimented with making Quick Pickled Shallots with Apple Cider Vinegar and Refrigerator Pickled Jalapeños. Now I always have a jar of each in the fridge, ready to spice up a recipe.

Quick! These pickled onions can be ready to eat in under an hour! You won't need a long brining time. No pressure canning is needed either!

🛒Ingredients

🔪Easy instructions for pickling red onions

1. Wash.  Wash and sterilize jars and lids by filling them with boiling water or running them through a cycle of the dishwasher. You'll need two 8 oz jars or one 16 oz. jar.
2. Combine. Combine the ingredients for the pickling liquid and simmer until the sugar and salt have dissolved and the brine has begun to boil. You can heat the pickling brine in a saucepan on the stovetop or in a glass container in the microwave.
3. Slice. Slice the onion. You can use either a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer to make slices about ¼ inch thick.
4. Fill. Fill the jars with the onion slices. Add the garlic cloves and peppercorns.
5. Pour. Cool the brine slightly, then pour it over the onion slices to fill the jars, leaving about ½ inch of headroom.
6. Store. Add a lid and store in the refrigerator.

Possible Variations

Use a different vinegar. You can substitute apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar or even rice vinegar. Apple cider vinegar will result in a darker brine.

Add some heat! Add a pinch of red pepper flakes, or even a slice or two of jalapeño or habanero pepper.

Pickle white or yellow onions for a different flavour.

❓Do I need a special jar for quick pickles?

You can use any jar with a tight-fitting lid. I like Weck jars, but I also use Mason jars, especially a wide-mouth variety.

❓How long will these pickles last?

Pickled red onions will last for up to a month or more if you keep them in a tightly sealed jar in your fridge.

🗒 Serving Suggestions

Add pickled red onions to quesadillas, burgers, or sandwiches. They make a beautiful addition to an antipasto platter or charcuterie board. They add flavour and interest to this Italian Potato Salad, Summer Veggie Pasta Salad, or Tomato Avocado Black Bean Salad.

📖 Recipe Card