Quick Pickled Red Onions
Published 6/24/2024
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These quick pickled red onions are a dream! Combine apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, a little sugar, and salt in a jar or bowl. Add sliced red onions and throw them in the fridge and 2 hours later you’ve got pickled onions for dinner and the week ahead!
I remember pickling veggies (cucumbers, onions, and peppers!) with my grandma as a kid and let me tell you, the old- fashioned way of pickling is definitely a process! Not only is it intimidating, but it takes hours and commitment.
That’s why, we’re excited to share our QUICK pickled onion recipe with you. Same great flavor, but a lot less time!
This Quick Pickled Onion Recipe is the BEST!
We are a big pickled vegetable family. We love dill pickles, pickled cauliflower, and pickled onions. We seriously put these quick pickled onions and quick pickled spicy peppers on everything. They’re a straight-up dream on our pulled pork.
If you have avoided putting pickled onions on your burger or adding them to a salad just because you don’t want to take the time to pickle, you’re in luck! These quick pickled onions are a short cut to a delicious pickled onion.
When I say shortcut, I do not mean that these pickles are “less than” compared to a traditionally picked vegetable. But they do take way less time. In fact, they’re ready to go in just 2 hours and there is no stovetop involved!
What You Need to Quick Pickle Onions
You only need 5 ingredients to whip up these onions! Here is everything you need.
- Red Onion
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Sugar
- Salt
what type of onions to use
What type of onion do you use for quick pickled onions?
We use red onion because they are sweeter and have a flavor that we enjoy with a quick pickled onion. We also love the color that purple onions give our pickled onions!
You CAN use white or yellow onions, too! Use what you have on hand. Other than onions, you only need a few more ingredients to pickle your onions.
How to Quick Pickle Onions
- Slice the onion. Slice your onion (any color) in strips or rounds. The thinner you slice them, the quicker they will pickle. Set aside.
- Shake up the ingredients. Add the vinegar, sugar, and salt to a mason jar and cover. Shake the ingredients until the sugar and salt have dissolved.
- Add onion to the vinegar mixture. Uncover the mason jar and add the onions to the vinegar mixture. Cover and shake the jar again so the onions are covered in vinegar.
- Refrigerate. Place the pickled onions in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or over night for the tastiest pickled peppers!
- Enjoy. Add your quick pickled onions to your favorite recipes and enjoy!
Hot tip for slicing onions!
If you’re looking to get perfectly sliced onions, we recommend using a mandolin. She’s tried and true and everything will be even.
A Few Ingredient Swaps
- White Sugar – you can substitute white sugar with honey or maple syrup for a natural sweetener option!
- Vinegar– if you don’t have both of the vinegars for this recipe go ahead and just substitute either vinegar with the other!
- Salt– don’t skip the salt in this recipe! You REALLY need it for pickling!
How do I cut onions for quick pickled onions?
We like to cut our onions into rounds, but you can also slice onions and pickle them as well. The thinner you cut your onions, the quicker they will pickle!
How long does it take for onions to pickle?
It takes about 30 minutes for onions to being to pickle. However, let your onions pickle for about 2 hours before eating them. If you have the time, let the pickles sit overnight for optimal flavor!
How long do quick pickled onions last?
If quick pickles are stored in an air tight container, they can last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
What do you store pickled onions in?
You want to store pickled onions in an airtight container like a mason jar or a glass meal prep containers
How to Serve Your Quick Pickled Red Onions
We love to serve pickled onions on any of our burgers! Try serving them with one of the dishes below.
- Black Bean Burger- You are going to love these easy and flavorful black bean burgers. They’re made with quick roasted garlic, an entire can of black beans, quinoa, and delicious spices.
- Mexican Juicy Lucy– Wow your guests with this beautiful and delicious Mexican Juicy Lucy Recipe! They are made with lean beef and stuffed with cheddar cheese then topped with a homemade fire-roasted corn pico for a healthy, nutritious dinner on the grill.
- Smoked Chicken Salad– Got leftover smoked chicken? Make this super simple smoked chicken salad recipe for an easy way to re-purpose your leftovers! Serve these pickled onions right now top!
Pickled onions are great on salads to add a bit of tang and sweetness! Serve them over any of our delicious salad recipes!
Quick Pickled Onions Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon sugar, white, brown, coconut*
- 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
Instructions
- First, place apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, salt, and sugar into a mason jar. Screw the cover on and shake the jar until the salt and sugar have dissolved.
- Then, place the sliced onion into the jar. Be sure that all of the onion is covered in vinegar.
- Place the lid back on the jar and give it one more shake.
- Finally, place the jar in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight for the optimal quick pickled onion!
Tips & Notes
- Option to add more sugar if you like sweeter pickled onions.
- Storage: store pickles in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.
I can’t wait to try this recipe on my next burger! I think it would be delicious with a nice juicy burger and some melted cheese.
I’m going to try using this recipe to pickle other vegetables, such as cucumbers and carrots.
I love that these onions are so tangy and sweet. They’re the perfect addition to any savory dish.
I love this recipe for quick pickled onions! It’s so easy to follow and the onions turn out delicious every time. I like to use them on tacos, burgers, and salads.
Great recipe! Pickled Onion is the most fav salad in our family. None of our dinners go without pickled onion salad. I tried manky brand of apple cider vinegar but found AVG https://avghealthcare.com Apple__ good as it is ayurvedically formulated vinegar
Thanks, I‘ve tried it and it was delicious!
These are so easy to make and so delicious!! These will become a staple in our fridge. Thank you!!
Glad you love these onions!
Pickled red onions are one of my favorite salad toppings so this quick version is handy for when I forget to make them way ahead! Cheers Linley!!
Pickled red onions are one of my favorite salad toppings so this quick version is handy for when I forget to make them way ahead! Cheers Lindley!!
Hey Linley,
This saves so much time! Do you have any more recipes for pickling other things or we can use the same method for them as well?
Right?! We love them so much! We do a similar thing with spicy peppers, onions, and garlic! That recipe is going up later this month!
Waiting eagerly for them!