Quick Tangy Pickled Red Onions
A fast and easy recipe for tangy, crunchy pickled red onions ready in under 30 minutes, perfect for adding bright flavor to tacos, sandwiches, salads, and more.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: About 1 pint (2 cups) pickled onions 1x
- Category: Condiment
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium red onions, thinly sliced into 1/8-inch (3 mm) half-moons
- 1 cup (240 ml) apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- 2 tablespoons (25 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon (18 g) kosher salt
- 5–6 whole peppercorns
- 1 garlic clove, lightly smashed (optional)
- 1 dried bay leaf (optional)
Instructions
- Peel and thinly slice the red onions into 1/8-inch (3 mm) half-moons.
- In a small saucepan, combine apple cider vinegar, water, sugar, salt, whole peppercorns, smashed garlic clove, and bay leaf if using.
- Warm the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally until sugar and salt dissolve completely, about 3-4 minutes. Avoid boiling vigorously.
- Place the sliced onions in a heatproof jar or container and press down gently to fit as many as possible without crushing.
- Pour the hot pickling liquid over the onions, ensuring they are fully submerged. Press down with a spoon if needed.
- Let the jar cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes, then seal with a lid and refrigerate.
- The onions are ready to eat in 20-30 minutes but taste better after a couple of hours.
- Store refrigerated and consume within 2 weeks for best flavor and crunch.
Notes
Do not boil the vinegar mixture vigorously to preserve bright acidity and onion crunch. Press onions down in the jar to fully submerge and speed pickling. For softer onions, leave in liquid longer before refrigerating. Adjust sugar and vinegar to taste. Optional spices like red pepper flakes or cinnamon stick can be added for variations.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons (30 g)
- Calories: 15
- Sugar: 2.5
- Carbohydrates: 3.5
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 0.2
Keywords: pickled red onions, quick pickles, tangy onions, easy pickled onions, taco topping, homemade pickles