Easy 5-Ingredient Quick Pickled Red Onions

​You only need ten minutes and five ingredients to make a fresh batch of Quick Pickled Red Onions! They add a tangy, salty flavor and bright pink color to many dishes. This is the easiest way to make them, with no stovetop cooking required.

This is a pickle recipe but ironically, I’m not a fan of pickles. They’re one of the few foods I avoid!

I’m talking big, crunchy dill pickles, sandwich spears, relish, or gherkins…it’s an aversion strong enough to make me want to avoid my food if it so much as shared a plate with a pickle!

But oddly enough, quick pickled stuff is kind of my jam. My Quick Pickled Cucumbers and Onions are one of my most popular recipes of all time, only recently passed up by Oi Muchim, a Korean version of spicy, sorta-pickled cucumber salad. 

​These Quick Pickled Red Onions are my current crush for the summer. I’m been piling them onto just about any and everything. I’ll share some suggestions for pairings below, but let’s get straight into the recipe!

Ingredients You’ll Need

You only need five simple ingredients to make this basic quick pickled red onion recipe.

• Red onion 
• Vinegar, such as apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, rice vinegar, or even red wine vinegar
• Sugar
• Salt
• Water

The key here is striking the right balance of sweetness to balance out the bite from the red onions. I put some measurements in the recipe card below, but you can tweak this easy recipe to get the flavor you really want. 

One thing I’ll add: don’t just grab any type of salt. I recommend kosher salt for best results. It will quickly dissolve in the vinegar mixture (basically, a pickling brine) so it stays nice and clear. And sea salt or super flaky salt (like Maldon) has much larger salt crystals, which means you get a much different level of saltiness. 

How to Make Quick Pickled Red Onions

It only takes a few minutes of prep time to make quick pickles like these, and most of that is time spent slicing!

Detailed instructions are also listed in the recipe card below. 

1. Start with clean jars or containers with tight-sealing lids. Add the brine ingredients (vinegar, water, salt, and sugar) to a glass or microwave-safe measuring cup. Heat for 60-90 seconds or until the sugar and salt dissolve in the hot water. 
2. In the meantime, use a sharp knife to slice the red onion into very thin slices. Loosely pack the sliced red onions into the jars or containers. 
3. Carefully pour the hot pickling liquid over the top, until the onions are just covered. Use a fork or tongs to pack the onions more tightly and remove any bubbles or air pockets. 
4. Seal the jar or container and store in the refrigerator. Wait at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the onions to soften and absorb the pickling liquid.

Street Smart Nutrition Tip: The best way to get consistent thickness is to use a mandoline. However, if you don’t have one, just be sure to use a sharp knife and a flat, stable surface to avoid any accidents. Thinly sliced onions will maximize the surface area, but slightly thicker slices will hold their crispy a little longer.

Serving Suggestions

Where to begin?! 

So many delicious ways to serve up these quick pickled onions. Here are just a few of my favorites:

• Pile onto your favorite sandwiches or burgers, or add them to wraps and avocado toast
• Add to rice bowls, grain bowls, or other hearty bowl-style meals
• Mix into salads of any kind. Personally, I love how they add tons of flavor to green salads like cobb salads or Niçoise salads
• Use as a topping for tacos. They pair especially well with fish tacos and vegetarian or plant-based tacos
• Try them with BBQ, like in a pulled pork bowl or served alongside your other favorite sides like potato salad
• Add them to charcuterie boards, snack plates, or other finger food-style appetizers

See how the possibilities just go on and on? You might need to start planning for a second batch before you even finish this first one!

Swaps and Substitutions

This basic recipe of quick pickled red onions is endlessly customizable. Treat this recipe as a base or starting point, then add other flavors and ingredients to make it your own. 

Feeling stuck? Take a peek in your fridge, spice cabinet, or even your garden. Try these combinations with your next batch!

• Drop in some whole peppercorns, crushed garlic cloves, or mustard seeds for a more traditional flavor profile.
• Swap the red onions for another type of onion. Yellow onions or sweet onion varieties (like Vidalia) won’t have the same bright pink color, but the flavor will be even more sweet.
• If you like it spicy, slice some jalapeño peppers or add red pepper flakes to the pickling liquid.
• Add some fresh herbs, such as green onions, dill, cilantro, or basil. Just be sure to thoroughly wash them first!
• Try a different type of sugar, such as honey, maple syrup, or agave.

These quick pickled red onions will be the perfect addition to all your summer meals. I hope you enjoy this easy recipe as much as I do!

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Storage Tips

​These quick pickled red onions will keep for at least 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator. 

But good luck getting them to last that long! Usually within a few days, a week tops, I’m staring down an empty jar. 

Note that the onions will continue to absorb the pickling mixture as they sit. The color will fade but the liquid left in the jar will take on that bright pink hue. It’s still fine to eat, but don’t expect your red onions to look red or purple after the first few hours. 

It’s also important to note that this is a quick pickling method. Meaning, it’s not like other traditional pickling methods that involve a full canning process to preserve food for an extended period of time. Don’t store these pickled red onions at room temperature, and don’t leave them sitting out for too long while you’re serving them. 

If you try this recipe and enjoy it, be sure to leave a rating or comment! I’d love to know how you serve these quick pickled red onions. I’m always searching for new ideas!

As always, thanks for visiting the Street Smart Nutrition blog. Cheers to more fearlessly nourishing meals!