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overhead photo of a pickled red onions in a mason jar next to a red onion
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5 from 3 votes

Pickled Red Onion Recipe

These easy quick pickled red onions are tangy, crisp, and incredibly easy to make with just a handful of simple ingredients. Made with sliced red onions, apple cider vinegar, sugar, and salt, they add the perfect bright pop of flavor to tacos, salads, sandwiches, salmon lox, and more.
Prep Time5 minutes
Rest Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 5 minutes
Course: Garnish, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Calories: 14kcal
Author: Ebony Robinson

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 Large Red Onion sliced
  • 1 cup Filtered Warm Water
  • 1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Granulated Sugar
  • 1.5 tsp Iodized Salt

Instructions

  • Thoroughly clean and sanitize a 16oz Mason Jar. Then, using a sharp knife, or a Mandoline thinly slice one red onion into even onion slices. Place the sliced onions into a clean mason jar or airtight container.
  • Gently warm 1 cup of water in a small pot or medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Do not boil. Stir in the apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, and salt until the sugar and salt dissolves completely.
  • Carefully pour the warm vinegar mixture over the sliced onions inside the mason jar. Make sure the onions are fully submerged in the pickling liquid.
  • Allow the onions to cool slightly at room temperature before sealing the jar. Store the onions in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, although I personally love letting them sit overnight for the best flavor. Enjoy!

Notes

  • For the best flavor, allow the pickled red onions to sit overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
  • Thinly sliced onions work best because they absorb the pickling liquid faster and become perfectly tender-crisp.
  • A 16-ounce mason jar is ideal for this recipe and helps keep the onions fully submerged in the brine.
  • If your onions are not fully covered by the liquid, gently press them down with a spoon after a few minutes as they soften.
  • Apple cider vinegar gives these onions a slightly sweeter, smoother flavor, but white vinegar or red wine vinegar also work well.
  • Add black peppercorns, bay leaves, garlic cloves, or red pepper flakes for extra depth of flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 14kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.02g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.003g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.001g | Sodium: 439mg | Potassium: 31mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 0.3IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.1mg