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Pickled Onions Recipe Only 3 Ingredients

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This super easy Pickled Onions Recipe using only 3 ingredients is the perfect condiment for burgers, salads, and sandwiches. Made in minutes and no fancy equipment needed.

Overhead shot of Pickled Onions Recipe Only 3 Ingredients in a glass bowl.

Do you like pickling and canning? I am not into all the involved steps, so this quick pickled onions recipe is perfect. In fact, you can even eat these pickled onions the same day!

Recently I shared a salad recipe, and I had a visitor comment that they would like the recipe for the onions I used in the post. So here it is, the secret pickled onions recipe used in my Best Cucumber Salad.

If you are like me, for the most part, I love things to be relatively simple when it comes to cooking. Yes, I do experiment and spend hours in the kitchen sometimes. Those are the days that I am trying out a new cuisine or technique.

Sliced red onions ready to pickle.

Sometimes I will venture into the kitchen and make bread or pasta from scratch. Now, that did not take my baba all day to do.If she was still here, she would run circles around me. I will never be as speedy as she. How those ladies did what they did still amazes me to this day.

My mom was ALL about pickling and canning. The cold room was full of glass jars. Fruit, jams, pickles, sauerkraut, and even pickled eggs. It was quite the ordeal watching her get everything ready. Wash and sterilize the jars, make the brine, fill the jars and then seal them.

Overhead shot of sliced onions in a jar and pickling ingredients to add to the jar.

Weeks of work during harvest kept the shelves stocked all winter long with delicious, homemade preserves. Canned tomatoes for pasta sauce and soups, jam for your toast and my hubby’s favourite, pickled beets to eat with a meal.

How to Make This Pickled Onions Recipe

I do miss all those wonderful foods my mom made. Unfortunately the “canning thing” did not rub off on me. I am all for “quick pickling”. This pickled onions recipe is just that, QUICK.

A glass jar of sliced red onions before the pickling vinegar is added.

My husband’s family was from England, and as you know they do love their pickled foods. My first experience was with pickled onions made in brine. I am not a fan of malt vinegar, so although he liked these very much, they were not my cup of tea.

Raw onions can be a bit hard to eat, even red ones. Hubby does not like raw onions at all, so I wanted a quick and easy way to pickle onions. I didn’t want to involve any special equipment.

This pickled onion recipe is super fast, and you can even eat the onions in about 15 minutes if you like. The longer you keep them, the vinegar will turn a beautiful pink colour, and the onions will soften slightly. They will always be crisp and have a nice tang to them, even after weeks in the fridge (if they last that long).

You will need 3 ingredients:

  • red onion
  • rice wine vinegar
  • sugar

You can even turn this into 2 ingredients if you omit the sugar. I like to balance out the flavour a bit, so adding the sugar helps with that.

Vinegar getting poured over the sliced red onions in the jar.

These pickled onions are made in minutes, I am not kidding. I just use a plain old sharp knife to slice the onions. If you want perfect slices, by all means use a mandolin. I am all about the simple here. No equipment, no cooking brine, no fuss!

All you do is:

  • thinly slice the onion
  • pack the slices in a glass jar
  • mix the rice vinegar and sugar in a measuring cup
  • pour over the onion slices
  • put on the lid
  • DONE!

Best Onions and Vinegar For Making Pickled Onions

We like red onions, so that is what I used in this recipe. I think any onion would work. As for the vinegar, go ahead and experiment. Perhaps you like one type over another. I have used red wine vinegar to quick pickle a cucumber. Experiment and come up with some tasty combinations.

Close up shot of Pickled Onions Recipe in a glass serving bowl, fork and jar in the background.

You can see why this easy Pickled Onion Recipe has become a staple. With BBQ season here, they will be flying out of the fridge into salads and burgers all summer long.

Do you have a quick pickle recipe you make all the time?

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Overhead shot of Pickled Onions Recipe Only 3 Ingredients in a glass bowl.

Pickled Onion Recipe Only 3 Ingredients

Course: bbq side, BBQ/Salad, Condiment
: Canadian
Keyword: quick pickles
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 17 kcal
Author: Homemade & Yummy

This easy Pickled Onions Recipe using only 3 ingredients is the perfect condiment for burgers, salads and sandwiches. Made in minutes, and you can even eat them the same day.

Print

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces red onion (1 onion)
  • 1 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  1. Get a glass jar with good fitting lid. I used a mason jar.

  2. Peel the onion and thinly slice.

  3. Place the onion slices into the jar.

  4. Mix the vinegar and sugar in a measuring cup until the sugar dissolves. 

  5. Pour over the onion slices.

  6. Put on the lid.

  7. Place in the fridge till ready to use.

  8. ENJOY!

Recipe Notes

If you want all your onion slices to be uniform, feel free to use a mandolin to slice with. These onions will keep for several weeks in the fridge.

Nutrition Facts
Pickled Onion Recipe Only 3 Ingredients
Amount Per Serving
Calories 17
% Daily Value*
Sodium 1mg 0%
Potassium 34mg 1%
Total Carbohydrates 3g 1%
Sugars 2g
Vitamin C 2.1%
Calcium 0.7%
Iron 0.3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Comments

  1. I very recently had breakfast with a friend at a jewish restaurant and the platter of food came with some pickled onions which were delicious! I kept thinking that I need to try and do my own pickled onions so I am very glad I saw this recipe. It looks so easy! I am definitely going to try them. How long will they keep in the fridge?

    Reply

  3. I have never had a pickled onion, but these look and sound good! I am going to have to try pickled onions on a burger or a hotdog this summer!

    Reply

  4. Can’t wait to try these with some of the burgers we’re planning on testing our homemade bread with! This sounds like it will be a major flavor bomb!

    Reply

  5. I love quick pickled veggies! Agree with you that canning isn’t my forte, but anything that can be done in the refrigerator is a great way to use all those summer veggies!

    Reply

  6. My grandma has always been a huge pickled jar fan. I wish that is one thing I carried on from her. I miss her pickled onions and well be trying this recipe in summer when our onions come in!

    Reply

  8. I love pickled onions on salads and with falafel, but I never remember to make them ahead of time! I love that your recipe can be enjoyed the same day… can not wait to try them tonight with our burgers. Thank you!

    Reply

  9. I love making pickled onions at home, one of my favourite condiments ever! It’s such a simple way to jazz up any dish, and my favourite is to add it to sandwiches and salads.

    Reply

  10. Yes! I am digging deep into salads this summer, and pickled red onions are a definite must for my list of ingredients. I love that you kept it super simple and to the point, too! And I love the balance in your life of sometimes making fresh pasta / sometimes going for super quick and easy recipes. I can’t wait to make these and keep these in the refrigerator for all of my summer salads!

    Reply

  11. I loved the recipe and was so happy you mentioned we could leave out the sugar! I will now always have a jar of this on hand! They were the bomb!

    Reply

  13. A cafe near me makes the most amazing roast beef sandwich with pickled onions. One of my favorite things to order for lunch. I never realized that pickled onions were so easy to make at home! I’m going to have to make a batch of these for our salads and sandwiches this summer!

    Reply

  14. What a fantastic idea. These would so delicious on all of those veggie burgers that I am planning on making this summer! 🙂

    Reply

  15. I love pickled onions and that these are so easy you can make them and eat them on the same day! We always eat them with carnitas, but I like your suggestion of putting them on burgers. That sounds so good.

    Reply

  16. I love having pickled onions on hand for burgers and other dishes. Loving this quick version! I am all about canning and spend hours in the kitchen canning everything, it will be nice to have a quick and easy recipe for a change 🙂

    Reply

  17. I have got to make pickled onions soon. I love pickles and I often make the basic cucumber and veggies but I have never done it myself but I know I will love it cause I love red onions. Can’t wait to do this soon. Saving it for later.

    Reply

  18. I always wanted to try pickled onions. It always sounded so good and so flavorful. This recipe is so easy and onion look so delicious. Can’t wait to make this.

    Reply

  19. Yes! I absolutely love pickled onions, especially on tacos. I usually make instant pickled onions by simmering them in cider vinegar and a smidgen of sugar. But it would be great to have a jar of these gems ready to go in the fridge. They add such big flavor and beautiful color.

    Reply

  20. Okay, the fact that this came out pink means I’ll have to try it. If it’s pink, I’ll try it at least once! I don’t think I’ve ever pickled onions before so it’ll be interesting to try.

    Reply

  21. I make quick pickled veggies all summer long! They’re so delicious, and a lot less complicated than canning. These onions are so pretty and pink!

    Reply

  23. I love quick pickles too. When we have an abundance of a certain crop, usually fruit, we go straight to canning and freezing. But whenever I can, i like the quick pickling method. Your easy method is really perfect. I don’t like the sharpness of raw onions so your recipe sounds like it really cuts the sharpness out of it. Saving this!

    Reply

  24. I am planning to make pickled onions for this grilling season, your recipe is perfect I need to try it. great with burger or sandwiches.

    Reply

  25. Pickling is so easy and delicious…I need to do it more often! I love this idea for pickled onions…it’s perfect for summer grilling season. This would go with so many dishes!

    Reply

  27. I love red onions and pickled red onions even better! I love the fact that this is a quick an easy recipe too. Maximum flavor with little effort is my kinda recipe! A must try for sure!

    Reply

  28. I love pickled onions and I always take a huge heap of it when eating at Indian restaurant. It is so simple to make and I love the flavor and the color of the red onions. It looks absolutely gorgeous. I can’t wait to try it.

    Reply

  29. I must admit I have never pickled onions. I have eaten them but never thought of doing it myself. So easy I must try soon. I love pickle so would be great to have on hand.

    Reply

  30. I love to can — at least I used to. When we lived out in the country I canned so many jars of veggies and fruit I couldn’t wait to move and not have to. Now, I miss it. I love the idea of having jars and jars of preserved foods. I even canned broths and soups. Well, with all the canning I did, I never pickled onions. We enjoy eating onions so this is definitely a recipe I have to try.

    Reply

  31. I am not a big fan of raw onions or making elaborate pickled ones. So this recipe is just perfect for me. Using rice vinegar sounds interesting.

    Reply

  32. I can think of so many great ways to use these onions. I have never tried anything like this. I just love how pretty they look to and to have on hand for garnishing. I bet they are perfect for any salad toppings!

    Reply

  33. Funny, I made pickled onions/cucumbers just before I came across your post!. I do basically the same thing, but add a tiny — repeat tiny — amount of pickling spice. We love this combo with pickled herring, Ry-Krisp, potato salad with lots of dill, and Aquavit. Yummy!

    Reply

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