Easy Classic Pickled Eggs Recipe is a true pub favourite.
Popular bar styled food made at home with this easy no canning method. All you need is a nice big jar, hard-boiled eggs, and a brine to make the best-pickled eggs ever.
Who would have thought a hard-boiled egg cured in vinegar or pickling brine would create such a great snack and appetizer? Egg pickles!
Since I was a kid, my mom made these all the time. In fact, she was a true “canner”. All kinds of pickles, fruits, jams, canned tomatoes, sauces and of course sauerkraut, lined the walls of the cold cellar.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this old fashioned pickled egg recipe is at the bottom of this post.
I am more of a quick pickle person. This recipe is a no canning method, just like my zucchini pickles and pickled onions recipe! According to my husband, she made the best pickled eggs, until he tried them done my way.
If you love pickles without all the work, check out this roundup 30 Easy Refrigerator Pickles.
I still remember that room in the basement of my parent’s house. It was dark and only had a small light bulb that did not provide much light at all. The door was hard to open, and the cement floor was uneven. Inside the wooden shelves were lined with various sizes of glass jars.
She also made homemade sauerkraut, which we called kapusta. It is so delicious in the traditional Ukrainian Kobasa Kapusta recipe. Often seen on the holiday dinner tables.
Those days of traditional canning does not happen in my house.
Simple Pickling Ingredients
Like with ALL quick pickles, ingredients are easy to find.
- hard-boiled eggs
- white vinegar
- water
- salt
- *(affiliate) pickling spice
Mom would make these for every stag or bachelor party that was hosted by the family. Seems the guys loved eating these, especially when they drank beer.
I guess that is why they are a pub favourite, especially in the UK. They are found in fish and chip shops too.
I thought they were Ukrainian pickled eggs. Who knew they would be SO DELICIOUS!
Of course, my husband happens to be one of those people who loved my mom’s recipe. He would always be so happy when mom made them. In fact, she would make a jar just for him.
Now my grandkids can say grandma’s pickled eggs are the BEST! Just like the kind you can find in the bar.
How To Make Easy Pickled Eggs
This is a super easy no canning method.
- Sterilize a clean large glass jar. I add boiling water to it and let it sit for 5 minutes. Pour the water out and you are good to go.
- Have your hard-boiled eggs cooked and peeled (the hardest part is peeling those eggs).
- Place them in the jar.
- Boil the brine ingredients in a small pot.
- Pour over the eggs.
- Put on the lid.
- Let cool slightly, then place in the fridge.
- Let sit until seasoned (at least 3 days). Ok…this is the second hardest part.
After looking at my mom’s recipe, I just could not see how this would be tasty. Vinegar, salt, and mustard powder? Really? What happened to balance? Isn’t there supposed to be water, sugar, and seasoning?
The typical British recipe uses vinegar, salt and sugar. Mine is a no sugar recipe.
I knew I needed something different. I wanted my recipe to be infused with more flavour.
Egg Pickle Variations
- Brines can be all vinegar (usually white vinegar or malt vinegar)
- You can use beet juice or pickle juice in the brine
- Some recipes include salt and vinegar
- Some use only one or the other
- Additional seasonings such as dill, onion, jalapeno (for a kick of heat) can be added
- You can also use a pickling spice blend
Ok now for the test. I let hubby do the honours. Well to my surprise, he LOVED them. In fact even better than moms!!
This DIY easy pickling recipe is a must-try. You can make them YOUR way. Spicy, flavoured, coloured. Skip the eggs in a jar from Costco. These are better than store-bought hands down.
Recipe Tips
- If you want the pickling brine to be clear (like the ones you see in the store) do not use the pickling spice (cloves turn the brine brown).
- Be sure to let the eggs sit for AT LEAST 3 days in the fridge before eating.
- You can experiment with the brine ingredients, creating the brine you prefer.
- Be sure to serve at room temperature.
- Ways to serve pickled eggs include: snacks, party appetizers (especially game night) and sandwich fillings.
- The longer the eggs stay in the brine, the stronger the taste.
- Prolonged time in the brine tends to create a rubbery texture.
I would say safely 3-4 months. Since this is a quick pickle method, the shelf life is not as long as the traditional canned method, or the ones purchased in the grocery stores.
Yes for food safety you will want to keep them in the fridge.
The hard-boiled eggs are peeled before they are put into the pickling brine. Unpeeled eggs will not work in this recipe.
People have used pickle juice to make pickled eggs. This recipe uses a seasoned brine. If you use dill pickle juice, the eggs will have a dill pickle taste. Pickled eggs with beet juice will make them pink.
Still Looking For Some Great Egg Recipes?
Here are some of our favourites:
- Flavoured Devilled Eggs
- Poached Eggs and Lentil Hash
- Egg Tacos with Smoked Salmon
- Egg Muffin Baked Omelette
- Sausage and Egg Breakfast Tacos
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Easy Old Fashioned Pickled Eggs
Ingredients
- 12 large eggs (hard boiled & peeled)
- 4 cups white vinegar
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 ½ teaspoons course sea salt
- 1 tablespoon pickling spice
Instructions
- Sterilize a large mouth jar.
- Hard boil and peel the eggs.
To make the Brine:
- In a pot combine the vinegar, water, salt and pickling spice.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
To Pickle:
- Place peeled eggs into the clean jar.
- Pour brine over eggs.
- Seal jar. Leave on kitchen counter for about 1 hour, then place in fridge.
- Let eggs sit in brine for at least 3 days before eating.
- ENJOY!!
Renae
5 star recipe!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much.
Jennifer
I love pickled eggs! They are so great on salads and in dips!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Yes they are a great snack and addition to many things.
Marlene
Hi. Just wondering if I can use pickling vinegar? I just finished pickling relish, pickles and have some pickling vinegar left over. Looking forward to making this recipe. Hubby will be happy.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I don’t see why not. I am sure they will turn out delicious.
Gail Montero
It looks so easy and very doable. I always have a lot of eggs at hand so this is the perfect answer to that!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
It is so doable. I hope you give this pickled egg recipe a try soon.
Julie
I love pickled eggs and this recipe is perfect to follow. They came out great and I’ll be using this again.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
So glad you enjoyed this pickled egg recipe.
Byron Thomas
Back in the day, my friends and I would go line dancing at a country and western bar. They had a huge jar of pickled eggs at the bar and I would always treat myself to one of them. These remind me so much of those pickled eggs from so many years ago. Thanks for the memories!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Yes it seems like pickled eggs are a favourite in the bar for sure.
Natalie
I made this last Christmas, one jar just to try it out. It was my first time making pickled eggs at home. It turned great. I will definitely make this again.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
So glad you enjoyed this classic pickled egg recipe.
Kristine
I was going to try this but you don’t list any amounts for the brine.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Not sure I understand your question. The instructions to make the brine are in the recipe card. You can adjust the amount of brine you need according to the number of eggs you make. Add the boiled eggs to a jar, and fill with brine.
Debra DeNoble
I have also added sliced onion rings to the brine. Really great to have a slice of pickled onion with your egg.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
That sounds like a delicious addition. So glad you liked the recipe.
Rick
I think that FOUR cups of vinegar is a typo?
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Hello, this makes A LOT of brine. You can certainly adjust the amount you need.
Carolyn McCollough
When using beet juice how much is used in the recipe
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I do not use beet juice in my recipe, however, I did mention you can add beet juice, mostly for colour. You can experiment and see what works for you.
Kelly
Pickled eggs are just the Best for snacking. I add fresh Dill Weed to mine.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Well the Ukrainian in me can NEVER disagree with adding dill…..the perfect thing to do.
Diana
I so want to try this recipe! Question though, you state white vinegar, is it distilled? If not, I can’t seem to find white vinegar that is not distilled?
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I sent you an email. I use just plain white vinegar. The kind your find on the grocery store shelf.
Colleen
Can eggs that have the yolk showing be pickled . I have young chickens and when I boiled the eggs part of the yolk is not covered by the white. Will the yolk disintegrate in the brine?
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Hello Colleen, honestly I do not know as I have never tried. I would for sure experiment. Perhaps make a smaller jor with leftover brine and see how they turn out.
Melissa
I have a question and I can not find an answer on any website. My eggs float, so one of them is not completely submerged in the brine. Is that okay or is it going to go bad because the tip is exposed? This is my first time making them and I can’t find a place online that answers this question.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I would say remove that “floating egg”. I think it needs to be submerged in the brine completely.
Annette Warrick
Can you replace water with beet juice ?
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I have not made it with beet juice, but others have.
Jill
Hi! Do you have to add the pickling spice to brine? I don’t want the brine to turn brown but also don’t know if you need the pickling spice for flavor? I’ve never made pickled eggs before but am looking forward to it! Thanks for the recipe!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
You don’t have to use the spice, and yes it does add some flavour to the brine. My mom did not use the spice in her pickled eggs.