Classic Pickled Onions
Brighten up your dishes with the zingy, tangy flavor of Classic Pickled Onions! This simple yet irresistible recipe combines thinly sliced red onions with a perfectly balanced brine made of apple cider vinegar, sugar, and salt, infused with aromatic whole black peppercorns, bay leaf, garlic, and a hint of spice from red pepper flakes. Ready in just minutes of prep and brimming with vibrant flavors, these pickled onions are a must-have condiment for tacos, salads, burgers, or charcuterie boards. Make ahead and enjoy this quick-pickling method that delivers crisp, tangy onions in as little as one hour, with their boldness deepening over 24 hours. Easy to store and perfect for meal prep, these refrigerator pickles keep fresh for two weeks, ensuring a splash of flavor at every meal!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 large red onions
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 garlic clove
- 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
Peel and thinly slice the red onions. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan, combine the water, apple cider vinegar, sugar, and salt. Add the whole black peppercorns, bay leaf, crushed garlic clove, and red pepper flakes.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil. Stir until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved.
Remove the saucepan from heat and let the brine cool for about 5 minutes.
Pack the sliced onions into a clean, heat-proof jar or container with a tight-fitting lid.
Pour the warm brine over the onions, making sure they are fully submerged in the liquid.
Let the onions sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to cool down completely.
Seal the jar and refrigerate. The pickled onions will be ready to eat after at least 1 hour of chill time, but they're best if left to pickle for about 24 hours.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, ensuring onions are submerged in brine.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
324 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 0.8 g | 1% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.1 g | 0% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 7115 mg | 309% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 68.3 g | 25% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 8.7 g | 31% | |
| Total Sugars | 48.6 g | ||
| Protein | 5.2 g | 10% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 144 mg | 11% | |
| Iron | 1.7 mg | 9% | |
| Potassium | 830 mg | 18% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
