This super easy Pickled Onions Recipe uses only 3 ingredients. The perfect condiment for tacos, burgers, salads, and sandwiches.
A simple method to make onion pickles in a jar. Beginner-friendly, fail-proof, perfect results without canning.
Do you like pickling and canning? I am not into all the work involved in traditional canning. This shortcut method is right up my alley. A great way to make pickled zucchini too! Speedy, made easy pickles in minutes.
Quick pickle recipes are great to have in the fridge during grilling season. The perfect topping to lots of great burgers, like in this homemade burger roundup.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for these quick pickled onions can be found at the bottom of this post.
Recently I shared a cucumber and onion salad recipe, and I had a visitor comment that they would like the recipe for the onions I used in the post. This is it, the perfect pickled onions for salads.
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.
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.
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.
3 Ingredient Pickled Onions
This shortcut pickled red onions 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:
- 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 sugar helps with that.
My husband’s family was from England, and as you know they do love their pickled foods. My first experience was a store-bought variety of traditional English pickled onions. 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.
He does however LOVE my Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings.
Stress-Free Pickled Onions Process
These pickled red 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!
- 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!
Quick Pickling Tips/Suggestions
Be sure to thinly slice the onions. The easiest way is with a (affiliate) mandoline. You can also use a very sharp knife. Thinner slices will absorb the vinegar quickly. The thicker the slices, the more time it will take to fast pickle the onions.
I need to try these in my Snap Pea Salad Recipe. I bet they would be awesome.
Choosing different kinds of vinegar. For this recipe, I used rice wine vinegar. Feel free to experiment. Other choices could be distilled white vinegar, sherry vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
I used red wine vinegar in this Smoked Salmon Plate to quickly pickle a cucumber.
Ways to sweeten pickles: In this recipe, I used white sugar. You can also use maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar. Again have a little fun in the kitchen and see what you like best.
Best onions for pickling: I like red onions. Other great choices would be White onions, Spanish, Vidalia, or Sweet onions. You can even use little pearl onions.
OMG, have you tried my homemade onion gravy from scratch? Seriously it is the best onion gravy in town. Move over HP Sauce, this is the NEW steak topper.
You can see why this quick and easy homemade onion pickle recipe has become a staple. With BBQ season here, they are flying out of the fridge into salads and burgers all summer long.
Do you have a herb garden? Give Fresh Herb Salt a try. A fun way to make homemade seasoning salt. Great as a meat rub, finishing salt and an awesome food gift too.
If you happen to be growing some mint, this flavoured simple syrup is perfect for adding to drinks, ice cream and more.
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You may also like these pickle recipes:
Easy Pickled Red Onions
Ingredients
- 10 ounces red onion (1 onion)
- 1 cup rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoons granulated sugar
Instructions
- Get a glass jar with good fitting lid. I used a mason jar.
- Peel the onion and thinly slice.
- Place the onion slices into the jar.
- Mix the vinegar and sugar in a measuring cup until the sugar dissolves.
- Pour over the onion slices.
- Put on the lid.
- Place in the fridge till ready to use.
Meredith
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!
Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY….these are super easy an delicious.
anna
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.
Homemade & Yummy
We always have a jar in the fridge. A must for BBQ season…perfect for burgers!!
Sara
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!
Homemade & Yummy
I know…these are the best. We don’t like RAW onions…so this is the answer to being able to enjoy them. Super easy too.
michele
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!
Homemade & Yummy
YUP…but all means leave out the sugar….you can’t go wrong making these. ENJOY!!
Paige
Well, I’m a canner and love doing it..so I’ll add this recipe to my list! These look great and super easy too!
Homemade & Yummy
Well either way….these are delicious….and so easy to make. Happy canning!!
Amanda
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!
Homemade & Yummy
I just had some on a wrap today…so delicious.
Kate
What a fantastic idea. These would so delicious on all of those veggie burgers that I am planning on making this summer! 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
YES…I always have a jar in the fridge and use them on so many things.
Amy Nash
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.
Homemade & Yummy
OMG burgers, sandwiches, tacos, salads…the list goes on and on.
Donna
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 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
Well enjoy these however you choose to make them.
Veena Azmanov
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.
Homemade & Yummy
Well these are perfect for so many things…and so easy to make. Hope you give them a try.
Natalie
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.
Homemade & Yummy
It really doesn’t get easier than this. Hope you give this recipe a try.
Dana
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.
Homemade & Yummy
I always have a jar of these in the fridge. Perfect for so many things.
Carmy
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.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes…the colour is so pretty….and these are so easy to make.
Sarah
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!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes the quick pickle method is for me….so easy to do.
Calleigh
I love pickled onions. I use these on my sandwiches because they add more flavors and crunchiness.
Homemade & Yummy
The are perfect for burgers, sandwiches and salads.