Pickled Red Onion Recipe
on May 16, 2023, Updated Sep 13, 2025
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Once you see how easy this Pickled Red Onion Recipe is, they’ll become an instant fridge staple 😉. They add the perfect crunch and color to Shrimp Tacos 🌮 and Greek Chicken Gyros, and even act as a tangy sidekick to your BBQ spread. (I’m lookin’ at you, pulled pork 🐖👀!) This quick method uses only 2 ingredients and takes 2 minutes ⏲️ of prep time. The result? A base you can customize with all your favorite herbs and spices. Pickled red onions are naturally low in calories, vegan, and gluten-free 🙌. So no matter how you serve them, you’ll always have something fresh and tangy to liven up your meals.
Why You’ll Love This Pickled Red Onion Recipe
My Pickled Red Onion Recipe is a game-changer in the world of quick recipe additions. By reusing the brine from pickled pepperoncini, the prep takes virtually no effort. Use red onions for that gorgeous pink hue 🌺 or try white onions if you prefer a milder flavor. Add a clove of garlic for extra punch 👊, stir in a pinch of sugar for sweetness, or leave it out for a sugar-free version. I make these pickled onions weekly because they are so versatile and add an incredible flavor burst to 🥗 salads, wraps, souvlaki, burgers, and more. If you’re a zero-waste kitchen, you’ll adore how this recipe repurposes leftover pickling brine into a delicious addition to your favorite meals.
Ingredients
Red onion: I take a medium red onion and slice it into thin rings. The thinner the better! This will help the onion slices absorb the brine more easily.
Pickled pepperoncini brine: Save the brine from an empty jar of pepperoncini – or any pickled veggie. We’re going to re-use it to make easy pickled red onions without heating or canning.
Nonna’s Tip 🧅
If you prefer a milder taste, simply use the pickling juice from other vegetables like pickles or olives.
Storage Tips
These Pickled Red Onions will stay fresh in the fridge for about 2 to 3 weeks ✨. It’s best to make them ahead to let all the delicious flavors really sink in overnight. Freezing isn’t the best idea 🥶 (they’ll lose their crunch), but you can always whip up a small batch if you don’t think you’ll finish the whole jar. For a shelf-stable option, you’ll need to properly can them, but this quick pickled onion recipe is meant to live happily in your fridge 💕.
Pickled Red Onion Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Use any variety of onion 🧅 you have on hand, such as sweet onions, yellow onions, or shallots.
- Add herbs and spices like black peppercorns, mustard seeds, or 🌿 dill for extra flavor.
- For sweeter pickled onions, add your preferred sweetener, such as a tablespoon of sugar or 🍯 honey.
- Add 🍋 lemon or lime zest to the pickling liquid for a citrusy twist.
- For a spicy kick, add sliced jalapeños or other 🌶️ hot peppers to the pickled onions.
- Use the brine from other pickled vegetables you enjoy, such as pickled jalapeños, banana peppers, olives 🫒, or others.
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Best Served With
- Tacos, burgers, or pizza as a topping.
- A fresh Cobb Salad 🥗 or Simple Green Salad.
- Delicious 🥑 avocado toast.
- High Protein Chicken Gyros and a rice or grain bowl.
- On top of a sandwich 🥪 made with this Pulled Pork Recipe.
Common Questions
If you don’t like heat or spice, you can use the liquid from pickles, olives, or any other milder vegetables you have on hand.
They will last in the fridge for 2-3 weeks in an airtight jar. Ours only last a few days, as my family can eat them all in one sitting 😉.
Yes, you can add extra spices, herbs, garlic, peppers, or a pinch of sugar to the pickling liquid for additional flavor.
You can create a quick pickling liquid using vinegar, water, salt, and any other additional spices or herbs you like if you don’t have any pickled vegetables on hand.
Not at all! You can make these easy pickled red onions sugar-free.
Pickled Red Onion Recipe
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 jar pickled pepperoncini, or any pickled vegetable
- 1 medium red onion, peeled and sliced into thin circles
Instructions
- Purchase a jar of any pickled veg (or use one you already have). I used pepperoncini this time but any pickled veggies will work.
- Once the jar is empty of most or all solids, save the pickling liquid. Add the sliced onions to the jar and gently press the onions down with the back of a spoon, making sure the onions are fully submerged in the pickling liquid.
- Put the lid back on and leave it in the fridge overnight. The following day you will be left with delicious pickled onions that you can use as the perfect topping to your favorite recipes. Enjoy!
Notes
- Onion varieties: Use any variety of onion you have on hand, such as sweet onions, yellow onions, or shallots.
- Herbs and spices: Add herbs and spices like black peppercorns, mustard seeds, or dill for extra flavor.
- Sweeteners: For sweeter pickled onions, add your preferred sweetener, such as a tablespoon of sugar or honey.
- Zest: Add lemon or lime zest to the pickling liquid for a citrusy twist.
- Spicy kicks: For a spicy kick, add sliced jalapeños or other hot peppers to the pickled onions.
- Brine alternatives: Use the brine from other pickled vegetables you enjoy, such as pickled jalapeños, banana peppers, olives, or others.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
