Quick Pickled Red Onions

Love pickled onions but think you don’t have the time to make them at home? With just 4 ingredients and 30 minutes, you can have these quick pickled red onions to add to any dish! Great for tacos, burgers and more.

I love pickled onions. I love pickled anything, really – beets, peppers, pickles. All are delicious in my book.

I always thought the process of pickling things took forever or was overly complicated. It’s actually so easy. If you’re pickled veggie-obsessed like I am, you’ll be ready to pickle everything after you see how easy it really is. There’s no long brining time or canning process required!

Ingredients for Quick Pickled Red Onions:

Here are some notes on what you’ll need to make this recipe. Check out the recipe at the bottom of this post for the full details and measurements.

• Red Onions: You’ll want to thinly slice them so they can absorb all that vinegar quickly. I usually hand-slice them, but if you have a mandoline handy, even better!)
• Vinegar: I use white wine vinegar (not regular white vinegar – it’s too harsh) but you can also use red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or rice wine vinegar. Not sure what to use? Check out this Guide to Vinegars.
• Sugar: Your standard white sugar is perfect here. You can also use honey, maple syrup or another sweetener if you prefer.
• Salt: Salt helps enhance flavors, so adding a little bit will really bring out the flavor here.

If you’re feeling creative, you can also add peppercorns, garlic, jalapeños or fresh or dried herbs to the mix to give your pickled onions a new flavor. We also made some Spicy Quick Pickled Red Onions by doing just that!

To make Spicy Quick Pickled Onions we added:

• Peppercorns
• Red pepper flakes
• Chopped garlic
• Bay Leaf

This spicy version is also excellent eating right off the fork or a delicious addition to your favorite recipes.

Don’t have red onions on hand? We also love these Quick Pickled Sweet Onions.

How to Pickle Onions:

Did I mention how easy pickling onions is? Here’s the general process:

1. Prep the vinegar. Bring the vinegar, sugar and salt to simmer on the stove.
2. Slice, slice, baby. Thinly slice those onions and place them in a mason jar or airtight container.
3. Add the liquid. Pour the vinegar on top. Screw on the lid and give it a gentle shake to coat everything.
4. Marinate. Place in the refrigerator and let sit at least 30 minutes before enjoying.

Once you have your pickled onions ready to go, the possibilities are endless. Top off tacos, burgers, salads and more with these tangy, tasty onions. They’ll keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks so you can enjoy them on just about everything!

Quick Pickled Red Onions FAQs

Q: What are the main ingredients needed to make quick pickled red onions?
A: You just need red onions, white wine vinegar, salt, and sugar to make quick pickled red onions.

Q: How long does it take to make quick pickled onions?
A: Quick pickled onions take only 30 minutes active prep time plus 30 minutes for marinating in the refrigerator.

Q: What type of vinegar do you use for quick pickling onions?
A: White wine vinegar works best, but you can also use rice wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or red wine vinegar.

Q: How long will quick pickled red onions last refrigerated?
A: The quick pickled red onions will keep for up to 2 weeks refrigerated in an airtight container.

Q: What are some ways to use quick pickled red onions?
A: These onions are great on tacos, burgers, salads, and more to add a tangy flavor.

Q: Can you add other ingredients like garlic or jalapeños to quick pickled onions?
A: Yes, you can make spicy quick pickled onions by adding peppercorns, garlic, red pepper flakes, etc.