Quick pickled onions are ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes, perfect as a last-minute addition to salads, burgers, nachos, and more! This quick pickled red onions recipe is as easy as can be. Try them with this smoked salmon salad or a chicken croissant sandwich.
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This quick pickled onions recipe is practically foolproof and only requires about 5 minutes of work. Pickled red onions are gluten-free and vegan, and can easily be customized with your favorite aromatics.
If you like this recipe, try making your own red onion chutney next. It's great to have on hand for sandwiches, flatbreads, etc.
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🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Red onion: You can use yellow onions as well.
- Vinegar: I recommend using distilled white vinegar, rice vinegar, or a combination of white wine vinegar and red wine vinegar.
- Lime: Or lemon.
- Orange: Freshly squeezed orange juice makes a great alternative to sugar while also adding additional brightness from the citrus.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic.
- Bay leaf: Optional, but adds complexity. A little pinch of Mexican oregano would be great here too, if you like it.
- Habanero: Optional. Can also be substituted with jalapeño, serrano, or chili peppers.
- Salt & pepper: To balance out the sweetness of the onion.
🧅 How to Make Quick Pickled Onions
Step 1: Thinly slice red onion, then transfer to a clean mason jar. Add in thinly sliced garlic, habanero, salt, peppercorns, and a bay leaf.
Pro Tip: Try to keep the onion slices thin and uniform so they pickle at the same rate.
Step 2: Add fresh lime juice and orange juice, then top it off with vinegar and water. Seal the jar and give it a good shake before placing it in the fridge.
Step 3: Leave the onions to pickle for at least 30 minutes before serving.
🥗 Serving Suggestions
Quick pickled red onions make a great addition to a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich, a hot honey chicken sandwich, venison burgers, Chicago style hot dogs, and more.
I also recommend adding them to Corned beef nachos, grain bowls, tacos, dill pickle salad, pear goat cheese salad, and this watermelon salad recipe. They'd even be great over a bowl of zupa ggórkowa.
🤷🏻♀️ FAQs
How long will quick pickled onions last?
They should keep for 2-3 weeks when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
Can quick pickled onions go bad?
Yes, and they should be discarded if they develop an off odor, mold, a slimy texture, or if the brine becomes cloudy.
Are quick pickled onions fermented?
No. Fermented onions rely on beneficial bacteria and a salt brine instead of vinegar, and take days to several weeks to develop their flavor.
👩🏻🍳 Pro Tips
- For best flavor and texture, enjoy pickled red onions within 2-3 weeks.
- Keep onions fully submerged in the brine when storing.
- Placing them in the coldest part of the refrigerator (not the door) may extend their shelf life.
- Always use a clean utensil when serving pickled onions to help them stay fresh longer.
🥒 More Pickle Recipes
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📖 Recipe
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Quick Pickled Onions
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Thinly slice red onion, then transfer to a clean mason jar. Add in thinly sliced garlic, habanero, salt, peppercorns, and a bay leaf.
- Add fresh lime juice and orange juice, then top it off with vinegar and water. Seal the jar and give it a good shake before placing it in the fridge.
- Leave onions to pickle for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Notes
- Try to keep the onion slices thin and uniform, so they pickle at the same rate.
- For best flavor and texture, enjoy pickled red onions within 2-3 weeks.
- Keep onions fully submerged in the brine when storing.
- Placing them in the coldest part of the refrigerator (not the door) may extend their shelf life.
- Always use a clean utensil when serving pickled onions to help them stay fresh longer.
Nena Sterner says
We hope you enjoy this recipe!