Easy Refrigerator Quick Pickled Red Onions

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Quick Pickled Red Onions are one of the easiest ways to add flavor, vibrant color, and a little tangy crunch to almost any meal. Made with just a handful of simple pantry ingredients, these quick refrigerator pickled onions transform ordinary tacos, sandwiches, salads, burgers, and grain bowls into something special. If you’re looking for more quick pickled recipes, Quick Refrigerator Bread & Butter Zucchini Pickles and Quick Pickled Candied Jalapeños will make your taste buds happy.

Easy Refrigerator Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe

Refrigerator Quick Pickled Red Onions

Their sweet-tart flavor mellows the sharp bite of raw onions while keeping their crisp texture, making them a staple condiment you’ll want to keep on hand all year long.

Don’t you 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 fun to open your refrigerator and find jars of homemade condiments waiting to for use 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.

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.

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.

Refrigerator Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe - on cutting board with fresh thyme
Refrigerator Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe

This recipe is made with apple cider vinegar, so you’re adding a healthy ingredient to this yummy condiment. I like to make pickled onions with honey instead of sugar, but you can use sugar instead.

Red onions are full of 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. Add whole red onions, a jar of local honey, and a print-out of the recipe rolled in a scroll and tied to one of your jars.

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 charcuterie board.

With this handy recipe in your arsenal, you’ll look like a rock star.

Ingredients to Gather

  • Red Onions – Provide a crisp texture and beautiful color while absorbing the tangy pickling brine.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar – Gives the onions their bright, tangy flavor with a touch of natural sweetness.
  • Honey – Balances the acidity of the vinegar and adds a gentle sweetness to the brine.
  • Salt – Balances the overall flavor and helps the onions soften as they pickle.
  • Peppercorns – Whole peppercorns add a subtle peppery note that complements the sweet and tangy flavors.
Ingredient Fresh Sliced Red Onions for Pickled Red Onions Recipe
Ingredient Fresh Sliced Red Onions for Pickled Red Onions Recipe

Creating a Cozy Life Group

Since you found this recipe for quick pickled red onions, I’m guessing you like all things cozy living. I created a Facebook group called Creating a Cozy Life with over 214,000 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.

Simple 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 black peppercorns

Directions

1) Peel the red onions.  Slice onions thinly using a sharp knife or a mandoline. (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 vinegar solution and let them sit for at least 10 minutes until they come to room temperature.

7) Place onions with the pickling liquid in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Chill the pickled red onions in the refrigerator until cold.

Recipe Tips

  • In the original pickled onion recipe, there was 1/2 teaspoon of whole cloves that was optional.  Since I’m not a big fan of cloves, I omitted them.
  • For a healthier vinegar, use apple cider vinegar with the mother.
  • One of the ladies in our Cozy Living Group prefers spicy pickled red onions. She suggested adding red pepper flakes for a nice kick.
  • You can also add a couple of garlic cloves or a minced jalapeño for a different variation to this pickled red onion recipe.
  • For pickled red onions with no sugar, you can substitute Stevia for the honey. For every tablespoon of honey, you can use 6-9 drops of liquid Stevia.
  • Maple syrup or cane sugar can replace the honey in this recipe.
  • White wine vinegar, rice vinegar, white vinegar, sherry vinegar, and red wine vinegar can replace apple cider vinegar this quick pickled onions recipe.
  • Mustard seeds, bay leaf, fresh herbs, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and star anise are also simple ingredients you can add to your pickles.
  • White onions can replace the red onions.
  • Make thicker onions if you are using them for a burger topping.

Storage Tips

According to Mollie Katzen, these Homemade Pickled Red Onions will keep for months in the refrigerator in a glass container with a tightly-lidded jar.

What to do with Red Onions Quick Pickled

This recipe is a favorite way to add flavor to your meals. They are the perfect addition for healthy eating to your favorite dishes.

Refrigerator Quick Pickled Red Onions on Hot Dogs
How to Make Pickled Onions – Pickled Refrigerator Red Onions on Hot Dogs
  • Hot Dogs and Sandwiches – Quick pickled red onions work well on sandwiches and hot dogs. Whether you put them on an Italian sub, pork sandwiches, favorite burger, gyro, or grilled cheese sandwich, everyone will love the zing these onions will give your next culinary adventure.
  • Quesadillas – Put some pickled red onions in your next quesadilla to take it to another level.
  • Tacos – Fish tacos, beef tacos, and chicken tacos will all taste better with the crisp texture of pickled red onions.
  • Burritos – Refrigerator red onions all wrapped up in a burrito with your favorite beans, rice, or meat is the perfect combination. They also go well in burrito bowls.
  • Eggs – Add the pickled onions to scrambled eggs, quiche, or omelet. Pickled thin slices of red onions also taste amazing on breakfast sandwiches.
  • Potato Salad – Pickled red onions add big flavor to potato salad.
Raw Red Onions in a Bowl
Raw Red Onions for Pickled Red Onion Recipe

Recipe Toolbox

Add a pop of color and flavor to your meals with these Quick Pickled Red Onions made with honey! This easy quick pickled vegetables recipe combines crisp red onions, tangy vinegar, and natural honey for the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Ready in minutes, these homemade pickled onions are delicious on tacos, sandwiches, burgers, salads, grain bowls, and more. If you're looking for an easy refrigerator pickle recipe, these honey pickled red onions are a simple way to elevate everyday meals with bright, fresh flavor.
Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe

If you tried this recipe, let me know in the comments below how you liked it.

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More Recipes You’ll Love!

Printable Version Best Pickled Red Onions with Nutritional Information

Easy Refrigerator Quick Pickled Red Onions
Yield: 3 1/2 cups

Homemade Pickled Red Onions

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

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.

© Kelly
Cuisine: Condiments / Category: Recipes

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92 Comments

  1. 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.

    Reply

  2. 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!

    Reply
  7. Pingback: Homemade Pickles That You Must Try To Make At Home | Donnadonella

    1. Hi! I clicked on “print”, and I can’t get the pickled onion recipe to print. I really, really, want to print it! Thanks!

      Reply

  10. 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.

    Reply

  11. 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.

    Reply

  12. these are epic!! I would love to add the garlic & try that variation, but when in this process would i add it??

    Reply

  13. Are these ever good, love them!! Didn’t have red onions but sweet onions so used them, they could probably take a few more minutes to cool but couldn’t wait!!

    Reply

  15. I love pickled onions so I made these this morning. They are in the fridge now. Can’t wait to eat them! Thanks for the quick, easy recipe!

    Reply

  16. I cannot wait to try this recipe! I was just thinking the other day that I would like to try to pickle my many “walking onions” that are in my garden. But this looks even better!

    Reply

    1. @Kelly,
      Hey Kelly this is the Second time I have made these is better in the theater each time what I like about it is it’s so quick and easy !!!

      Reply

  18. I looked at 10 or more recipes on Pinterest and went with this one. Glad I did, because it was great on our ‘Baja Fish Tacos’.

    Reply

  23. Have you ever reused the liquid in the jars? As in- you have fresh onions and do the boiled water on them and just drop them into the jar you have already been using or do u make a new batch every time?

    Reply

  25. I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to can these. I would look up food fermentation for information on that.

    Reply
  26. Pingback: 7 Amazing Homemade Pickle Recipes You Need To Try - Yellow House On Yale

  28. I’ve made theses a few times and can’t keep them long enough. They are so good on crackers with cream cheese too!! Do you keep the peppercorns in the marinade when you transfer the onions to the jars? It doesn’t look like they are in your pictures and sometimes I find it hard to pick them out when putting the onions on stuff like tacos.

    Reply

  29. Super easy and very tasty! Love these pickled onions and they were a breeze to make. Using a mandoline to slice the onions helped quite a bit to keep the tears away and got them all sliced in just a couple minutes. The marinade is tasty. There is a perfect balance of sweet and sour. The only challenge I had was needing to pick out the peppercorns depending on how I served these. If they are in a condiment dish of their own – no problem, folks can pick them out. When I added them to a salad though, I needed to pick them out first. Not a big deal, and much better than someone getting a surprise bite of peppercorn!

    Reply

  31. I love this recipe. I have The Moosewood Cookbook (1972). I have also gifted many of them to friends. The restaurant was in Ithaca. Fabulous! another favorite of her books …Enchanted Broccoli. try it

    Reply

  32. Why pour the boiling water over the onions and let them sit? Doing that will cause the medicinal goodness to be excreted from the onions. I say warm your ACV and pour it over them in the packed jar that way all the healthy goodness of the onion remains and is ingested. 🙂 I’m going to make these and do just that. 🙂

    Reply

  33. Made Greek bowls today with your fabulous pickled onions as an addition. They honestly were the star of the evening! Everyone loved them! Now we all want to keep pickled red onions in the frig. Thank you for the easy, delicious recipe!!

    Reply

  34. All I can say is thank you for this recipe and WOW! I Love anything pickled – including red onions – but never would have believed that I could make them myself or it would have been so easy! These are delicious 😋

    Reply

  35. I’m new to pickled onions and am SO HAPPY to have found your recipe! They are so easy and delicious. I like one of the comments about heating the vinegar and pouring it over the onions. Also going to try Red Wine Vinegar. Making them for a picnic next week.

    Reply

  38. Made the pickled red onions. Added more spices but was short one onion. Will definitely be making more.

    Reply

  39. I absolutely love this recipe, I use them on my salads, avocado toast. I eat them right out of the jar. Honestly I have had to start making them twice a week and that’s doubling the recipe. Thanks so much for this amazing recipe! 😊

    Reply

  40. Found recipe when looking what to put on fish tacos. So glad I did. Easy, simple and oh, so, delicious!! Thank you for posting this recipe. I did make a mistake and had the onions in the hot water more like 20 mins but family still enjoyed them on the fish tacos. Even my daughter who is not an onion fan.

    Reply

  41. I love this recipe!!! And my family too! Have made it many times! It goes well on many foods! I love the variety of ingredients that you suggested for ways to change it up!

    Reply

  42. I adore making different refregerator pickles. I will try this red onion version w/Apple Cider Vinegar, and see how it turns out.

    Reply