Easy Quick Pickled Red Onions

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Delicious, crunchy, quick pickled red onions. Ready in minutes and stays fresh for weeks. Perfect for salads, sandwiches, snacks, and more.

If you like pickled foods, I highly recommend you make these quick pickled red onions and keep them in your fridge to have on hand.

It is a quick and easy recipe, with only a few simple ingredients, and it takes only minutes to make.

Afterward, you will have a nice batch of crisp, tangy, crunchy red onions to put on everything!

I also use the brine in this easy recipe on other veggies such as cucumbers, cauliflower, green beans, and more.

Every time I had pickled onions at a restaurant – whether on a sandwich or salad – I thought, ‘Why don’t I make these at home? I love them so much!’

Well, I finally did and it was so quick and easy. Now I’m wondering why I didn’t make these delicious quick pickled red onions sooner!

Let me show you how to make pickled red onions in no time at all.

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Tools Used For This Recipe

• medium pot. You will need this to dissolve the sugar and salt on the stove.
• glass jar with lid. I like to use a mason jar, you will need a 32-ounce size with a tight-fitting lid.
• measuring cups and spoons.
• sharp knife.
• cutting board.

Pickled Red Onion Ingredients

Red onions. Look for fresh, preferably organic, medium-sized, red onions. – or one large red onion will do.

Red onions are the star of this great recipe so it is important to find the best quality you can find.

Garlic. Fresh garlic for this quick pickled red onions recipe is best.

Peppercorns. You can use black peppercorns, or a combination of black, white, and green peppercorns, whatever you prefer.

Vinegar. As with the red onions, it is best to look for the best quality vinegar you can find.

I prefer to buy organic white vinegar but you can use all different types of vinegar such as red wine vinegar, rice vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.

Cane sugar. If you do not want to use white sugar, you can also use honey, maple syrup, or date syrup. The brine just needs a bit of sweetener to soften and ferment the onions.

Sea Salt. Another important ingredient when making pickling liquid so don’t skimp. If you wish, you can also use kosher salt.

optional ingredients to consider

Here are a few other ingredients you may want to consider adding to your quick pickled red onions.

• Red pepper flakes. For a bit of extra heat.
• Mustard seed. This is nice if you want a little extra zest.
• Fresh herbs. You can never go wrong with fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme, or dill.

How To Make Quick Pickled Red Onions

NOTE. For the exact measurements, full recipe, and nutritional information, please see the printable recipe card below.

In a medium pot, dissolve the sugar and salt with the water and vinegar, then let cool to room temperature.

Cut the red onions and garlic into thin slices and add them, along with the peppercorns, to your glass container.

Pour the cooled vinegar solution over the sliced onions to the very top of the jar.

Seal the glass jar tightly with a lid and place it in the fridge for storage.

How To Store

These quick-pickling red onions will last in the fridge for up to three months, as long as they are sealed well in an airtight container.

Recipe Tips

Make sure to thinly slice the onions and garlic so the brine absorbs better.

Occasionally flip the container to mix the onions and brine while it is chilling in the fridge.

The brine must be completely cooled before pouring over the red onions as you do not want to cook the onions!

Pickled Red Onions Serving Suggestions

There are many different ways to serve pickled onions. Here are some of my favorite ways to add quick pickled red onions to any dish.

Hummus or Avocado Toast. Eating my delicious no-oil chickpea hummus on toast, or avocado toast, is probably the lunch I go to most often, especially on busy work days.

Top it with pickled red onions and a handful of healthy greens like arugula, to take this open-faced sandwich to the next level.

Crunchy Salads. Adding the tangy flavor of pickled red onions to a salad is not only a beautiful condiment with its bright pink color, but it also gives your salad an even greater boost of nutrition.

Onions, in particular red onions, are rich in antioxidants, and help to reduce inflammation within the body, as well as decrease the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Grain bowls. Grain bowls are another great dish to add pickled red onions. The light, tangy and refreshing onions combined with the warm, hearty grain bowl become the perfect yin-yang combination – a great balance.

Vegan Cream Cheese and Crackers. Grab a whole-grain cracker with vegan cream cheese, and top it off with pickled red onions – oh my, another great crispy, crunchy, flavorful snack.

Additional Pickling and Side Dish Recipes

• No Garden? Best Cucumbers For Pickling From The Store
• Making A Simple Sauerkraut In A Fermentation Crock
• 15-Min Amazing Creamy Flavorful Chickpea Hummus, and NO OIL!
• The Best Sourdough Pretzels With Starter

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Let’s Connect

I hope you give this delicious quick pickled red onions recipe a try.

Also, consider making a batch of pickled onions as a gift for friends or family members, especially if they are pickle fans.

Easy, quick, pickled red onions. So delicious, so crunchy, and the perfect topper for any salad or sandwich.

Use the brine for other great pickled vegetables too. Enjoy!

QUESTION. What is your favorite pickled food? As much as I love these red onions, I think my absolute favorite pickled food is baby cucumbers.

Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you!

Printable Recipe Card to Enjoy

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