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A jar of pickled red onions with a napkin and lid off to the side.
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Pickled Red Onions Recipe

Try these Pickled Red Onions for a condiment you'll make over and over again. Great on salads and sandwiches, in wraps, and more.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Cool Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 24 servings
Calories 6kcal
Author John Kanell

Equipment

  • Small pot
  • Mandoline (optional)

Ingredients

For the Pickled Onions:

  • 1 medium red onion (300g)
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 cup vinegar (240mL), distilled white, red wine, or apple cider

Optional Seasonings:

  • 1 garlic clove peeled and smashed
  • ½ teaspoon whole black peppercorns
  • 1 bay leaf

Instructions

  • Thinly slice the red onion into circles or thin slices. Place in a quart-sized glass mason jar (or divide amongst two pint-sized jars).
  • In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, salt, vinegar, and 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring frequently to dissolve the salt and sugar. If using any optional seasonings, stir them in.
  • Pour over the onions and let cool to room temperature for about 1 hour. You can use the onions immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 1 week. (They have the best flavor if they sit overnight, but you can also use them immediately after they cool.)

Notes

  • Check the onions before you start. You want to make sure your onions do not have any soft spots, mold, or mildew. Sometimes, when onions are stored for a long time, they can develop mildew in the layers of the skin. Check the onion before and after peeling it.
  • Add citrus. You can replace up to ¼ cup of the vinegar with fresh lime or lemon juice or add a strip or two of citrus zest to the jar.
  • Customize this pickled onion recipe to your taste using pickling spices and/or cumin, fennel, or mustard seeds. I like to insert a sprig of fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or dill. You can also add a small dried chili or a dash of red pepper flakes for heat.
  • Use a different sweetener: Feel free to use maple syrup or honey instead of granulated sugar.

Nutrition

Calories: 6kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.01g | Saturated Fat: 0.003g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.002g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.001g | Sodium: 194mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.03mg