Pickled Onions (2024)

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These Pickled Onions are the perfect way to brighten up any dish. They’re easy to make and are fresh, tangy, and delicious served on salads, tacos, sandwiches, burgers, you name it!

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Easy Pickled Red Onions

You’ve probably had pickled onions in certain dishes at restaurants. You’ve maybe even bought a jar at the store to add to your own recipes. But do you know how to pickle red onions all on your own?

This quick pickled red onions recipe is so simple, requires just 5 ingredients, and is ready to serve in under an hour!

Ingredients Needed

Here’s what you’ll need for this pickled onion recipe:

  • Onion: I love the flavor of red onions, but you can use white or yellow onions if you prefer!
  • Water: A little bit of water helps tone everything down just enough for the perfect balance of flavors.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: The sweeter flavor of apple cider vinegar complements the flavor of red onions deliciously, but feel free to use white vinegar, rice vinegar, or even red wine vinegar if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Maple Syrup: A little bit of natural sweetness helps offset the tangy, tart flavors of the other ingredients.
  • Salt: Enhances the flavors in the pickling mixture.

Variations

  • Make Them Garlicky. Give your onions a garlicky flavor twist by slicing up a couple of cloves and adding them into the mix.
  • Make Them Spicy. Add a little bit of heat with peppercorns or freshly cracked black pepper, red pepper flakes, or even sliced up habanero or jalapeño peppers.
  • Make Them Citrus-y. Give them a little extra tang with a squeeze of lime juice. I bought some with lime juice from a farmers market recently, and really liked the flavor!

How to Make Pickled Onions

This simple pickled onions recipe comes together in just a few minutes! Here’s a summary of the recipe. Scroll to the recipe card below for full instructions and ingredient amounts.

  1. Cook the pickling mixture: In a saucepan, mix together water, vinegar, maple syrup, and salt. Bring to a simmer.
  2. Combine with onions: Add sliced onions to a mason jar, then pour the hot vinegar mixture over the top. Use a spoon to press the onions into the vinegar and pop any air bubbles. Cool to room temperature for 20-30 minutes, then serve or store in the fridge.
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Do You Have to Brine Onions Before Pickling?

Nope! Some people choose to soak their onions in a salt water mixture before pickling, but I don’t find it necessary.

In theory, this step draws out extra moisture to keep the texture of the onions nice and crisp even as they sit in the vinegar mixture. However, since we’re pickling quickly, there isn’t a big risk of the onions becoming overly mushy. Might as well save the time!

Can You Pickle with Just Vinegar?

In theory, yes, but I highly recommend using the couple of additional ingredients listed.

Water and salt helps balance out flavors and maple syrup offsets the bitterness of the onion and vinegar. Without those, your pickled onions will be much more pungent!

Can I Can These Quick Pickled Red Onions?

No! Please do not try to can these pickled onions. This recipe is a quick “refrigerator pickle” recipe. It’s not designed for canning and has not been tested for longer storage.

If you do want canned pickled red onions, I recommend finding a recipe designed for that!

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Tips and Notes

  • Slice the onions thinly. Around 1/4-inch thick is just about perfect for me. Any thicker and the onions will take longer to pickle fully.
  • A mandolin works best but a knife is fine, too. If you have one, the easiest way to thinly slice the onions is using a mandolin (if you’re scared of one, ignore this tip). If you don’t have one, you can use a sharp knife. Just be very careful.
  • You can tell the ones are done pickling when they’re a brighter pink color and they become nice and tender. The liquid will also have cooled down.
  • Let them cool. to room temp before you put them in the fridge. This goes for anything hot, but especially these!
  • Extra pickling liquid? You can use it to pickle anything! Cucumbers, jalapeños, carrots, cabbage, you name it. Pretty soon you’ll be pickling everything!

What Do You Eat with Pickled Red Onions?

And it doesn’t stop there! These pickled onions make an excellent addition to so many different recipes. Feel free to get creative with it!

How Long Do Pickled Onions Last?

For ultimate freshness, I recommend enjoying your pickled onions within 3 days. However, they will last in an airtight container in the fridge for anywhere from 2-3 weeks.

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Pickled Onions

These Pickled Onions are the perfect way to brighten up any dish. They're fresh, tangy, and delicious served on salads, tacos, sandwiches, burgers, you name it!

Servings 1 cup

Prep Time 8 minutes minutes

Total Time 8 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 medium red onion thinly sliced
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt

Instructions

  • In a small saucepan, combine the water, vinegar, maple syrup, and salt. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

  • Place the thinly-sliced onions into a mason jar.

  • Pour the hot vinegar mixture over the onions, use a spoon to press the onions down into the vinegar, and let them cool to room temperature (about 30 minutes), at this point they should be sufficiently pickled for serving, but longer the better here!

  • Cover the jar and refrigerate leftover pickled onions for later! These quick pickled onions are best within 3 days, but they keep for 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator and fabulous on salads, bowls, tacos, with eggs, and more!

Keyword: how to make pickled onions, how to pickle red onions, pickled onion recipe, pickled onions, pickled onions recipe, pickled red onions, quick pickled red onions

Course: Condiment

Method: No Bake

Author: Lexi's Clean Kitchen

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Share a photo and tag @lexiscleankitchen — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

Pickled Onions (2024)

FAQs

Is it okay to eat pickled onions every day? ›

Salt is a necessary part of any diet, but in small amounts. Vinegar has long been believed to have health benefits also, but the acidity of vinegar is nobody's friend. A pickled onion retains large amounts of both these ingredients, making them fine as an occasional part of a diet, but not as a routine component.

What's the best vinegar to pickle onions? ›

I particularly like a mix of white wine and rice vinegar, and apple cider vinegar and white vinegar are a fun tangy combination. These variations are great, but they're totally optional; your quick pickled onions will be delicious even if you stick to the basic recipe!

Why am I addicted to pickled onions? ›

Additionally, some people may enjoy the health benefits associated with onions, such as their anti-inflammatory properties and their potential to reduce the risk of certain diseases. Therefore, it is perfectly normal for someone to enjoy and crave pickled onions or sweet onions.

Are pickled onions good for gut bacteria? ›

Fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut or pickled red onions contain high amounts of good probiotics and digestive enzymes. Maintaining a healthy gut flora can aid your digestion and overall energy levels.

Are pickled onions anti-inflammatory? ›

Aside from giving your meals a flavor boost, onions are teeming with nutrients down to the core. Each layer is abundant with anti-inflammatory properties, vitamins and nutrients.

Do pickled onions speed up metabolism? ›

No, pickles don't help with fat burning. And if you try it anyway, and eat your normal meal but then eat a bunch of pickles, you'll get fatter because you're consuming more calories. The only way to burn fat is to consume fewer calories than you burn, on a regular basis.

Why do you soak onions in salt water before pickling? ›

Some people choose to soak their onions in a salt water mixture before pickling, but I don't find it necessary. In theory, this step draws out extra moisture to keep the texture of the onions nice and crisp even as they sit in the vinegar mixture.

Is drinking pickled onion vinegar good for you? ›

Was this helpful? Drinking pickle juice might sound gross, but there are several reasons to consider it. It is hydrating and may help with muscle cramps, blood sugar, and gut health, among other benefits. Athletes have been sipping this briny beverage for years.

How long do pickled onions last once opened? ›

Of course, once that jar of pickled onions has been opened, it will need to be refrigerated. And while it might be tempting to keep them cold until they're used up, the USDA gives all opened home-canned goods a pretty short window: Just three to four days in the fridge.

Are silverskin pickled onions good for you? ›

Pickled onions contain high amount of good probiotics and digestive enzymes. Pickled onions can aid your digestion and overall energy levels. They are a good source of soluble fiber which helps us to lose body fat.

Do pickled onions make you smell? ›

Spices and seasonings

It's not just your breath that can give away what you've eaten recently. The way the body breaks down vinegar, onions, garlic, curry, cumin, and other spices and seasonings can leave compounds that come through your sweat, giving it a distinct odor.

What country eats pickled onions? ›

By country

Pickled red onions in bitter orange juice are especially emblematic of Yucatán cuisine, where they are used as a garnish or condiment, especially for seafood. In Switzerland, they are served to accompany raclette, along with pickled gherkins.

Is it bad to eat a whole jar of pickled onions? ›

Can eating too many pickled onions be harmful? Eating too much of anything can be harmful. I don't think too many pickled onions could ever be a death sentence, it would take a whole hell of a lot of onions to do you in, but an upset stomach might come your way.

Are jarred pickled onions healthy? ›

Pickled onions, for example, can be a beneficial part of a healthy diet. The pickling process does use a large amount of salt and sugar, but when eaten in moderation and considering the fact that pickled vegetables retain their nutritional values, they can be included in your diet.

Are pickled onions good for your heart? ›

The average person consumes roughly 20 pounds of this pungent and versatile food per year, eating onions raw, cooked, pickled, or powdered. They're rich in chemicals that can help protect your heart, lower your risk of some cancers, and make it easier for your body to make insulin.

Is it OK to eat pickled vegetables every day? ›

While pickles should be consumed in moderation due to their high sodium content, they may have some health benefits: Probiotic effects: Naturally fermented pickles and their juice contain good bacteria, which when ingested in moderation can help with digestion and immune health.

Do pickled onions count as one of your five a day? ›

8. Pickled gherkins and pickled onions. They might be made from vegetables, but these don't count because they almost always have sugar and/or salt added. There can be big differences between products and brands, so if you're buying pickles, check the label and choose the one with the lowest salt and sugar.

How long can you eat pickled onions? ›

Let the pickled onions cool to room temperature (about 20 to 30 minutes), at which point they should be sufficiently pickled for serving. Cover and refrigerate leftover pickled onions for later. Quick-pickled onions are best consumed within three days, but they keep for 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

Is pickled onions a low risk food? ›

Some examples of low risk foods include: Dry goods - Crackers, biscuits, flour, plain breads and rolls. Acidic foods - Pickled foods, vinegar, fruit. Fermented products - Salami, pepperoni.

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