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Quick Pickled Red Onions are the perfect blend of sweet, tart, and crunchy. Add them to literally anything for a burst of flavor and make them in minutes with four simple ingredients.

This recipe is loaded with flavor and simple to make. Use it to top a perfectly prepared Ribeye Steak or add some to a Toasted Steak Sandwich to enjoy any time.

overhead view of finished quick pickled red onions in jar on marble surface

Months ago I decided to try quick pickling red onions. I found a popular recipe and gave it a try, but it wasn't my favorite. Then while looking in my mother's refrigerator I saw that she had a jar of homemade sweet and sour pickles and pickled red onions.

Of course, I had to give her version of pickled red onions a try and they were the perfect combination of sweet, tangy, and delicious flavor that I had been looking for. I quickly asked her for the recipe and was surprised at how simple it is to make. Since then, they have become a staple in my refrigerator. They are so easy to make and I use them to complement many meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I especially love using them in recipes that require red onion instead of sliced raw onion. Talk about a flavor explosion! You have to give this recipe a try.

Jump to:

Which vinegar is best for pickling?
Ingredient Notes
Additional Ingredient Ideas
Instructions
When are they ready?
And by the way...
📖 Recipe
Recipes to Pair with Easy Pickled Onions

Which vinegar is best for pickling?

For this recipe, you will use white wine vinegar. However, you may substitute the white wine vinegar for white vinegar, rice vinegar, champagne vinegar, or even apple cider vinegar.

Ingredient Notes

overhead view of ingredients needed to make quick pickled red onions in separate containers on marble surface

Red onion - One medium size red onion will work for this recipe. Slice it vertically as thinly as possible using a chef's knife. If you have a mandoline available, that will make the process a bit easier.
White wine vinegar - This is the most important ingredient when it comes to making pickled onions. For this recipe, we are using white wine vinegar for a mild flavor, but you may also use white vinegar instead.
Sugar - Use granulated sugar or cane sugar to balance the acidic flavor of the onions. You may also substitute maple syrup or honey in the same unit of measure.
Salt - A coarse salt works best, but feel free to use any salt that you have available.

Additional Ingredient Ideas

In addition to the above ingredients, you can also add jalapeno pepper slices, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, a sliced clove of garlic, and a teaspoon of black peppercorns. You may also use yellow onion for this recipe instead of red onion.

Don't be afraid to get creative with this recipe and add your favorite flavor combinations that you enjoy. This recipe is truly hard to mess up.

Instructions

Using a knife, remove the top and bottom of the onion and peel any excess off to reveal the skin of the onion. Thinly slice the red onion into round strips. If you have a mandoline, you can use it instead.

thinly sliced red onion on blue cutting board with knife

Place the red onion slices in a medium-sized wide-mouth jar with a lid.

In a small glass pitcher, stir together the white wine vinegar, sugar, and salt until combined. The mixture will be cloudy and the sugar will dissolve. It will still be grainy from the coarse salt.

vinegar, salt, and sugar in separate containers on marble surface

close up side view of Pyrex and spoon with vinegar, salt, and sugar combined

Pour the vinegar mixture over the red onions in the jar. Stir together and the red onion will begin to reduce in size and be able to fully submerge in the vinegar mixture.

prepared pickled red onion in small open jar

Place the lid on the jar and allow it to sit undisturbed for at least 30 minutes at room temperature. Give them a stir and store covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Enjoy!

When are they ready?

The pickled red onions in this recipe are ready to use and eat 30 minutes after they have been prepared. They will last in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. The longer these pickled onions sit the better they get. The onions will become softer and absorb more of the vinegar marinade.

close up side view quick pickles onions in jar

And by the way...

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📖 Recipe

Quick Pickled Red Onions

LaKita Anderson

Quick Pickled Red Onions are the perfect blend of sweet, tart, and crunchy. Add them to literally anything for a burst of flavor and make them in minutes with four simple ingredients.

4.92 from 12 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 0

Resting Time 30

Total Time 40

Course Sauce

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 14 kcal

Ingredients

1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
½ cup white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon coarse salt

Instructions

Using a knife, remove the top and bottom of the onion and peel any excess off to reveal the skin of the onion.
Thinly slice the 1 medium red onion into round strips. If you have a mandoline, you can use it instead. Place the red onion slices in a medium-sized wide-mouth jar with a lid.
In a small glass pitcher, stir together the ½ cup white wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt until combined. The mixture will be cloudy and the sugar will dissolve. It will still be grainy from the coarse salt.
Pour the vinegar mixture over the red onions in the jar. Stir together and the red onion will begin to reduce in size and be able to fully submerge in the vinegar mixture.
Place the lid on the jar and allow it to sit undisturbed for at least 30 minutes at room temperature.
Give them a stir and store covered in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition

Calories: 14kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 292mgPotassium: 26mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 1mg

*All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands used, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

Keyword quick pickled red onions

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Original post date 02/03/2020. Updated 02/16/2022.

overhead view of prepared quick pickled red onions in wide mouth weck jar beside the lid

Recipes to Pair with Easy Pickled Onions

Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ideas for these Quick Pickled Red Onions? Please share them in the comments below!

Comments

4.92 from 12 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Quick Pickled Red Onions

Which vinegar is best for pickling?

Ingredient Notes

Additional Ingredient Ideas

Instructions

When are they ready?

And by the way...

📖 Recipe