Quick Pickled Red Onions

Of all the recipes for pickled red onions, this one is the best! This super frugal pickled onions recipe only takes 5 minutes to make, and you’ll have a zesty, tangy topper for everything from burgers to scrambled eggs!

It’s no secret that my family LOVES Mexican dishes. Slow Cooker Carnitas and Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas make regular appearances on our dinner menu.

Aside from Mexican food being easy to make, it’s super easy on the budget. Pair a protein with a few key side dishes – like Cilantro Lime Rice, Easy Guacamole, Blender Restaurant-Style Salsa, and Slow Cooker Refried Beans – and dinner is done!

This leads me to another one of my favorite flavorful sides: pickled red onions!

QUICK PICKLED RED ONIONS INGREDIENTS

I love this pickled onion recipe because other than the red onions, everything you need is already in your pantry!

• Red onions
• Vinegar
• Sweetener
• Salt
• Water

Psst…Did you know that many salts contain MICROPLASTICS? It’s a sneaky toxin that may be in your everyday salt, and thus your everyday food (um, gross). I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because their salt is FREE of microplastics, and it tastes delicious! (PLUS, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt – just pay shipping and handling!)

HOW TO PICKLE RED ONIONS

Step 1. Combine the pickling mixture in a small saucepan on the stove and bring it JUST to a simmer. You don’t need to cook anything, but this lets the sweetener, seasonings, and salt dissolve and blend. (You can also do this in the microwave).

Step 2. While the mixture is on the stove, slice the onions. I use a chef’s knife, but a mandolin would be perfect here. The thinner the better!

Step 3. Combine the pickling mixture and the onions in a glass pint mason jar and shake gently. Make sure the onions are completely covered by the vinegar mixture.

Step 4. Let the pickled onions rest for at least 30 minutes and then serve or refrigerate.

TIPS FOR RECIPE OF ONION PICKLE

• Save money and keep your glass jars from spaghetti sauce or peanut butter. Wash them out well and remove the labels and they’d be perfect for storing this recipe of onion pickles!
• The thinner the onions, the better! Take your time to ensure they’re sliced super thin or use a mandolin for consistency. If you want thicker onions, see my tips below for customizing your recipe.
• I like to use apple cider vinegar, but you could easily use white vinegar, white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, or red wine vinegar too. You can even use a combination of vinegars, which is perfect if you’re running low on one particular kind. A splash of lemon juice or lime juice would add a yummy citrusy twist to the pickled red onions!
• I like coconut sugar. It’s a less-processed type of granulated sugar that we’ve VERY slowly migrated to throughout our real food journey. You could use white granulated sugar, which is traditional, or you can use honey or maple syrup. Each will give a slightly different flavor to your finished pickled onions.
• When the onions are gone, use the leftover brine in a salad dressing or marinade as the vinegar portion. It will add a pop of flavor to yet another meal!

CUSTOMIZE THIS QUICK PICKLED ONIONS RECIPE

Give personality to your pickled red onions recipe! I personally love the flavor of these quick pickled onions as-is, but there are lots of ways you can customize them to make them truly unique.

• Partially boil the onions. This is called a par-blanch, and it mellows out the flavor of the onion. You’ll want to bring 2 cups of water to a boil, place the onions in a fine mesh strainer, then pour the boiling water slowly and evenly over the onions, over the sink.
• Cut thicker onions. You’ll need to let the sliced onions sit in the pickling liquid for at least an hour before serving, but they’ll add a fun crunch to your meals!
• Make spicy pickled onions. Add fresh jalapenos for mild heat, or even a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes from the pantry will do the trick.
• Try a peppery pickled onions recipe variation. Add a few black peppercorns or a few turns of freshly cracked black pepper (or a few shakes if your pepper is already ground).
• Make garlicky pickled red onions. Add slices or a whole clove of garlic – or two or three!
• Use up fresh herbs. If you have a little bit of rosemary or dill or oregano leftover from another recipe or whole cloves from Instant Pot ham, add them to your pickled onions! Bay leaves would be the perfect all-purpose flavor, but any herb would be good.
• Use different onions. Red onions have a natural bite to them, but yellow or white onions would make yummy pickled onions too!

WHAT TO DO WITH PICKLED RED ONIONS

The ways to use pickled red onions are truly endless, but here are some of my favorites:

Mexican Dishes: Put pickled red onions on top of tacos made with Slow Cooker Carnitas or Ground Beef Taco Meat, or Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas, burritos, quesadillas, on top of Spinach and Chicken Enchiladas or Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas, or even on top of nachos.

Breakfast: Dress up your Scrambled Eggs or Fried Eggs, your Migas or huevos rancheros, top Breakfast Sandwiches, layer on top of avocado toast, or add to Instant Pot Breakfast Casserole.

Salads, Sandwiches & Bowls: Add to the Best Burgers, wraps like this Chicken Caesar Wrap, fancy up your Grilled Cheese paninis, or make Grain Bowls to help use up when you have left in the fridge.

Meat and Seafood: The most delicious condiment for any meat dish, but especially BBQ dishes like Slow Cooker Brisket or Instant Pot BBQ Chicken!

And if you like recipes for pickled red onions…try swapping the onions for carrots or radishes for a different tangy pickled topping.

RECIPES FOR PICKLED RED ONIONS FAQS

MORE YUMMY MEAL ADDITIONS

• Easy Lime Crema
• 15-Minute Hot Sauce Recipe
• Easy Guacamole
• Cilantro Lime Coleslaw
• Easy Pickled Jalapenos