Quick Pickled Red Onions is a recipe you’ll use again and again to add flavor to your salads, grain dishes, sandwiches, tacos and avocado toast.
“Most of us have fond memories of food from our childhood. Whether it was our mom’s homemade lasagna or a memorable chocolate birthday cake, food has a way of transporting us back to the past.” – Homaro Cantu
Don’t you just love a recipe that’s super easy to make and adds amazing flavor to your meals? I’m not a person that cans things – but refrigerator pickling is my jam. Why? Because it’s easy.
There’s something so comforting about making our own food. Plus, it’s just so fun to open your refrigerator and finding jars of homemade condiments waiting to be used in future dishes.
I found this recipe many moons ago in Mollie Katzen’s cookbook Vegetable Heaven.
If you don’t know who Mollie Katzen is, she was the owner of a famous vegetarian restaurant called Moosewood.
One of my most popular recipes on the blog (To-Die-For Hungarian Mushroom Soup) came from one of her cookbooks.
Whenever I talk about my stash of pickled onions in the refrigerator, I always get asked “How do you make pickled red onions?”
It surprises me more people don’t make their own, because they are so simple to make and keep on hand.
Once you start making this quick pickled red onion recipe, you’ll be like me and never be without them again. I always buy a large bag of red onions because I know I’ll use them up.
What I love about making Homemade Pickled Red Onions is how the onions go from a deep red color to just a gorgeous purplish-pink color because of adding the hot water.
The jars full of these pinkish onions are simply beautiful!
The onions stay crunchy and add that special touch to your food. This recipe is made with apple cider vinegar, so your adding a healthy ingredient to this yummy condiment.
I like to make pickled onions with honey instead of sugar, but sugar can be used instead.
Red onions are loaded with antioxidants, may boost digestive health and have antibacterial properties. Plus, they make everything taste a little bit more delicious!
Quick pickled red onions make a great gift idea as well. Put a couple of jars of pickled onions in a basket, along with some whole red onions, a jar of local honey, and a print-out of the typed up recipe rolled in a scroll and tied to one of your jars.
Your friends and family will love your thoughtfulness.
Pickled Red Onion Ingredients:
This recipe has just five ingredients besides water. It has red onions, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt and peppercorns.
That’s it. Super simple to make, and you probably already have the ingredients on hand.
I once read a cookbook that featured a line-up of famous chefs. They asked the same question of all of them – “What things do you always have on hand in case you might have a last-minute guest?”
One of the most popular responses was pickled vegetables in the refrigerator. It makes sense, because you can always put together a quick quesadilla, tacos or a charcuterie board.
You’ll look like a rock star with this handy recipe in your arsenal.
Cozy Living Group
Since you like to cook, I’m guessing you like all things cozy living. I created a Facebook group called Creating a Cozy Life with over 16,000 like-minded souls.
It’s a group where we share recipes, pictures of things that leave you in awe, and ideas on how to make your life just a little bit more snug. Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.
How to Make Pickled Red Onions:
2 medium red onions
4 cups boiling water
For the Marinade:
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons honey (you can substitute sugar)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon peppercorns
1) Peel the red onions. Slice the onions thinly (I use a Mandoline – if you don’t have one you don’t know what you’re missing!)
2) Transfer onions to a medium-sized bowl.
3) Pour the boiling water into the bowl over the sliced onions. Let the onions soak in the boiling water for at least 5 minutes.
4) Drain the onions in a colander.
5) Let the onions sit in the colander while you mix the marinade. Combine all the ingredients of the marinade in the medium-sized bowl, and stir well.
6) Add the onions into the marinade mixture and let them sit for at least 10 minutes.
7) Transfer the red onions with the liquid to jars with tight-fitting lids.
8) Chill the pickled red onions in the refrigerator until very cold.
Homemade Pickled Red Onions
Crunchy and delicious, Homemade Pickled Red Onions is an easy recipe to make and the perfect addition to sandwiches, salads, grain dishes or your favorite bean recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 medium red onions
- 4 cups boiling water
- For the marinade:
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 tablespoons honey (you can substitute sugar)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon peppercorns
Instructions
1) Peel the red onions. Slice the onions thinly (I use a Mandoline - if you don't have one you don't know what you're missing.
2)Transfer onions to a medium-sized bowl.
3) Pour the boiling water into the bowl over the sliced onions. Let the onions soak in the boiling water for at least 5 minutes.
4) Drain the onions in a colander.
5) Let the onions sit in the colander while you mix the marinade. Combine all the ingredients of the marinade in a medium-sized bowl, and stir well.
6) Add the onions to the marinade mixture and let them sit for at least 10 minutes.
7) Transfer the red onions with the marinade to jars with tight-fitting lids.
8) Chill the pickled red onions in the refrigerator until very cold.
Tips for making the Best Pickled Red Onions:
1) On the original recipe there was 1/2 teaspoon of whole cloves that was optional. Since I’m not a big fan of cloves, I omitted them.
2) For a healthier vinegar, use apple cider vinegar with the mother.
3) One of the ladies in our Cozy Living Group prefers spicy pickled red onions. She suggested adding chili pepper flakes for a nice kick.
You can also add a couple cloves of garlic and a minced jalapeno for a different variation.
4) For pickled red onions no sugar, you can substitute Stevia for the honey. For every tablespoon of honey, you can use 6-9 drops drops of liquid Stevia.
How long do Pickled Red Onions last?
According to Mollie Katzen, these Homemade Pickled Red Onions will keep for months in the refrigerator with a tightly-lidded jar.
Here’s some fun pickling cookbooks I found on Amazon:
Pickling Everything: Foolproof Recipes for Sour, Sweet, Spicy, Savory, Crunchy, Tangy Treats
We’ve reached the end of Quick Pickled Refrigerator Red Onions. I hope you enjoyed it.
Make sure you subscribe, so you don’t miss a post. You wouldn’t want to miss other recipes like Homemade Ginger Ale.
Let me know in the comments below how you liked this easy Pickled Red Onions recipe.
Make sure you join our Creating a Cozy Life – Hygge Style facebook group. You’re not going to believe how amazing it is. Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.
Pin this recipe below on your recipe board on Pinterest.
Thanks for stopping by. I’m so happy you found us!
Related Posts:
Quick Refrigerator Bread and Butter Zucchini Pickles
Just wanted to let you know that Moosewood Restaurant is still in Ithaca, NY, but Molie Katzen has not lived in Ithaca nor been involved with the restaurant for 40 years. She has written cookbooks under her own name but all subsequent Moosewood Restaurant cookbooks have no connection to Mollie. In fact, Mollie and the Moosewood Collective split up acrimoniously over that first cookbook.
Wow! I didn’t know all that. Thanks for letting me know. Kelly
These are really yummy, Kelly! Thank you! Pickled onions are one of my very favorite things. We make Asian style bowls with leftovers (rice or noodles with assorted vegetables, a couple sauces and fresh herbs), and these go great. I also love them on salads!
I’m so glad you liked them! They are so darn easy to make and add tons of flavor. Kelly
Absolutely!! Thanks for posting!,🥰
Made these!! Put them on a toasted cheese sandwich!! To die for!!❤️👏🏻
I’m so glad you love them! Thanks for letting me know. Kelly
How Namur jars do you get?Rosie
It depends on how big of jars you use. It makes 3 1/2 cups of onions.
How soon can you eat these?
Hi Clare! Refrigerate your red onions until they are really cold, and then they are ready to eat. Enjoy! Kelly
I just made these for the first time. I used Mike’s Hot Honey! Yummy!!
Hello Jan! Hot honey I bet is yummy too. Thanks for letting me know. Kelly
I just made these today !! They look fantastic! I cannot wait to try them ! Thanks for a great recipe !
I hope you loved them! Kelly
Have you done these with white onions…
I haven’t done them with white onions, but I bet they would taste amazing as well. Kelly
This recipe is the best! i’ve tried so many pickled onion recipes but none of them were good to compare with this one. Perfect balance of sweet and sour taste. my picky son really loves this one. thanks for sharing.
Hello Gloria! I’m so glad you liked it. Your son has a refined palate apparently! Thanks for letting me know. Kelly
These are amazing…can I can these.? I usually want them in a moments notice and don’t have any made. The longer they sit the better they are. Thank you.
You’re very welcome Sharon! I’m so glad you loved them. Kelly