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July 9, 2026 Leave a Comment

Pickled Onions

A small jar of red pickled onions with a white lid held in a hand with a jar of pickled carrots and two jars of pickled cauliflower behind it.

 Pickled Red Onions Recipe

Pickled Onions add a sweet and tangy zing to tacos, Salmon Bowls, sandwiches, and salads. Pickling onions is easier than you think. The brine only takes minutes to prepare, and no water bath is needed. Pack a pint jar with sliced onions, pour the hot brine over the onions, let them cool, and then place them in the refrigerator. That’s it!

An opened jar of red pickled onions with a fork inserted diagonally from the top middle. In the background are sliced red onions on a cutting board.You typically see pickled red onions. I have never tried a different type of onion and am not sure what it would taste like, but any onion will work. Pickling onions takes the edge off the flavor, making them not as strong. This is a plus for people who might not otherwise put onions on a dish.

If you’re looking to add a bright pop of color and flavor to a bowl or sandwich, try these quick and easy Pickled Onions.

A bowl filled with sliced cucumbers, matchstick carrots, diced avocado, pickled red onion, diced mango, salmon flakes, and white rice.Recipes for Preserving Fruits and Vegetables

  • The Best Homemade Salsa for Canning
  • How to Make Homemade Fruit Leather in Your Oven
  • Less Sugar Cooked Raspberry Jam Recipe
  • Refrigerator Pickled Carrot Sticks
  • Sure-Jell Less Sugar Strawberry Freezer Jam
  • How to Freeze Zucchini for Baking

Step-by-step Photos For How to Make Pickled Onions

4-photo picture collage of how to make Pickled Onions.

A small jar of overflowing pickled red onions.Tips for Making Pickled Onions

  • One large onion sliced fits in a pint-size jar.
  • Any type of onion will work, but you usually see red pickled onions.
  • If you have whole cloves, you can use a couple of them to replace the pinch of ground cloves.
  • You can substitute the pinch of cloves and the piece of cinnamon stick for a few whole allspice or a pinch of allspice.
  • The garlic clove can be whole, smashed, or minced.
  • Make sure the onion slices are submerged in the brine, leaving 1/4- to 1/2-inch space at the top of the jar.
  • Let the jar of onions completely cool before putting the lid on.
  • Store the pickled onions in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks.

Two-photo Pinterest picture with the text of the title in the middle, separating the two photos.Chef’s Tools for Pickled Onions:

  • Glass Jars with Airtight Lids
  • Onion Holder for Slicing
  • Mandolin Slicer
  • Cutting Board
  • Pickling Salt
  • Cinnamon Sticks

Pinterest picture of Pickled Onions with the text of the ingredients at the bottom and the text of the title above the ingredients list.

Serve Pickled Onions with...

A Polish pottery bowl full of Classic Chicken Salad with Grapes on a large plate surrounded by triscuit crackers.Classic Chicken Salad with Grapesalbacore tuna salad on a bagel with potato chips on a white plateAlbacore Tuna Salad with Apples, Celery, and Red OnionA bowl with chopped romaine lettuce topped with small slices of cheese, diced onions, diced tomatoes, sweet potato fries, french fries, ground beef, sliced pickle chips, burger sauce, and croutons.Easy Cheeseburger Bowls

Pickled Onions
 
Print
Prep time
15 mins
Cook time
5 mins
Total time
20 mins
 
Author: Maria, adapted from the Daring Gourmet
Recipe type: Condiment
Ingredients
  • 2 large red onions (1 large onion for a pint jar)
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 1 cup water
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 garlic clove, whole, smashed, or minced
  • 1 tbsp sea salt or pickling salt
  • ½-inch piece of cinnamon stick
  • Pinch of ground cloves
  • ¼ tsp black peppercorns
Instructions
  1. Peel and slice the onions into thin rings as pictured, and pack them tightly into a sealable glass jar.
  2. Next, put all the ingredients except the sliced onions in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Turn the heat down and simmer the mixture for 2 minutes.
  3. Pour the hot brine over the packed onions until completely submerged, leaving ¼- to ½-inch space at the top of the jar. Leave the jars of onions out on the counter with the lids off to completely cool.
  4. Place the lid(s) tightly on the completely cooled jar of onions and place it in the refrigerator. The onions are ready to eat in 24 hours, but the longer they stay in the refrigerator, the more pickled they will be.
  5. The pickled onions will keep for up to 6 weeks in the fridge.
  6. Enjoy!
3.5.3251

Recipes with Onions You'll Love!

A horizontally placed white and blue polka-dotted Polish pottery bowl of Spinach Poppy Seed Salad.Spinach Poppy Seed Saladcreamed-onionsCreamed OnionsA blender full of poppy seed dressing with picked red onions.Poppy Seed Dressing with Pickled Red Onions

Pinterest picture of Pickled Onions with the text of the title at the top.

Other Pickled Onion Recipes
  • Easy Pickled Red Onions
  • Pickled Red Onions
  • Quick Pickled Cucumbers and Onions

Canning, Condiments, Gluten Free, More, Recipes, Seasonal
Pickled Onions
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