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Spicy Pickled Onions

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Spicy Pickled Onions are a simple mixture of ingredients that transforms raw onions and jalapenos into a crispy, tangy condiment. Add them to salads, sandwiches, eggs, tacos, and burgers, or eat them plain. So good!

Overhead view of a jar of spicy pickled onions with jalapenos.

Quick Pickled Onions

Are you more of a “load up the condiment” type of person, or an “everything plain and simple” type of person? Because if you are the former, you will be using these pickled onions on EVERYTHING.

I’m definitely a condiment lover because I love a variety of textures and layers of flavors in everything I eat. So if I’m consuming a sandwich or burger, I’m in need of a bib because I make quite a mess at every dang bite. But it’s WORTH IT.

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Why This Recipe Works:

  • SIMPLE RECIPE – You’ll need eight simple ingredients for this pickled onion recipe. 
  • TANGY AND DELICIOUS – We love the tangy flavor of pickled onions. They are the perfect condiment to have handy in your refrigerator. 
  • MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER – We’re obsessed! These refrigerator pickles are a great way to add flavor to a wide variety of dishes. We go through a big batch every couple of weeks.
Side view of a jar of spicy pickled red onions and jalapenos.

Ingredients needed for Quick Pickled Red Onions:

  • Red Onion – One large red onion, sliced thin.
  • Jalapeno – Use one large jalapeno (with seeds) for heat.
  • Garlic – I added a few whole garlic cloves too.
  • Water – Use about 1 3/4 cups of water in your brine.
  • Vinegar – I used 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar, but you could substitute red wine vinegar or plain white vinegar (distilled).
  • Sugar – Sugar is needed to make these slightly sweetened. However, you can use a natural sweetener too – like honey or maple syrup.
  • Salt – Kosher salt or sea salt.
  • Peppercorns – For some depth of flavor, optional.
Labeled ingredients for spicy pickled onions.

How to make Quick Pickled Red Onions:

Step 1
Slice Onion. Peel and slice one large onion into thin strips.

The thinly sliced red onion on a cutting board.

Step 2
Prep jalapeno and garlic. Then slice the jalapeno into small strips. Peel the garlic.

Step 3
Make brine. Combine brine ingredients in a small sauce pan – water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil over medium heat and then simmer vinegar mixture for a couple of minutes or until sugar dissolves.

A pan of the cooked brine.

Step 4
Combine. Place the sliced onions, jalapeño peppers, and garlic in a mason jar (about liter sized). Pour the pickling liquid overtop and let cool.

Step 5
Store. Store pickled red onions in the refrigerator. I prefer to use them by the end of two weeks.

Recipes to Pair With Red Pickled Onions:

The following are a few of our favorite dishes to pair with quick-pickled onions.

Recipe FAQs:

Are there health benefits to eating spicy pickled onions?

Pickled onions are a perfect accompaniment to a healthy diet. They’re rich in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, and low in calories and fat.

Should I refrigerate pickled onions?

Yes, let the pickling brine come to room temperature, and then store the jar in the refrigerator.

When will my pickled onions be ready to eat?

When they’re bright pink and tender, your pickled onions are ready to eat.  It takes about two hours for very thinly sliced onions, or overnight for thicker sliced onions.

How long will quick-pickled onions last in the refrigerator?

These will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Side view of the spicy pickled onions.

Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)

xoxo ~Sue

Side view of a jar of spicy pickled onions.

Spicy Pickled Onions Recipe

Spicy Pickled Onions are a simple mixture of ingredients that transforms raw onions and jalapenos into a crispy, tangy condiment. Add them to salads, sandwiches, eggs, tacos, and burgers, or eat them plain. So good!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: condiments, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 1 jar
Calories: 155kcal
Author: Sue Ringsdorf

Ingredients

  • 1 large red onion – sliced thin
  • 1 large jalapeno – sliced thin (include seeds)
  • 3 large garlic cloves – peeled
  • 1 ¾ cups water
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons peppercorns

Instructions

  • Slice the red onion into thin slices. Slice the jalapeno into thin slices as well. Peel the garlic. Place onions, jalapeno, and garlic in a jar.
  • In a small sauce pan, combine water, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, and then simmer for a couple of minutes, or until sugar and salt are dissolved. Pour mixture over the onions.
  • Let this mixture cool slightly before placing in the refrigerator to enjoy.

Notes

  • When they’re bright pink and tender, your pickled onions are ready to eat.  It takes about two hours for very thinly sliced onions, or overnight for thicker sliced onions.
  • I prefer to use these by the end of two weeks or so.

Nutrition

Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 3523mg | Potassium: 437mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 202IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @Suebeehomemaker or tag #suebeehomemaker!

3 Comments

  1. Ohhhh, these are fire!! Such a yummy add to soooo many things and spicy just like I like it!! I will keep these in my fridge always…..

  2. A great way to energize salads during swim suit season! 💪

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Exactly! 🙂

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