Easy Pickled Onions (Quick, Tangy & Delicious)

If you haven’t yet made your own pickled red onions, what are you waiting for?! It’s actually one of the easiest recipes to make and you don’t even need any fancy equipment. No canner. No machines or anything like that.

There’s something magical about a jar of pickled onions. They take the simplest dish—a taco, burger, salad, or grain bowl—and instantly elevate it with a pop of tangy flavor and vibrant color. Best of all, they’re incredibly easy to make at home. With just a few pantry ingredients and about 10 minutes of hands-on time, you’ll have a versatile condiment that keeps for weeks in the fridge.

Whether you’re looking for a quick pickled red onions recipe to serve tonight or want a lighter version with no added sugar, this post covers everything you need to know about making, storing, and using them.

This post is all about pickled onions.

As an Amazon Associate I earn on qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. I am in no way sponsored by any of the companies/products listed below and therefore have no bearing on the products I choose to review or recommend.

Why Make Pickled Onions at Home?

Homemade pickled onions aren’t just about flavor—they’re about flexibility. When you make them yourself, you control the ingredients, the sweetness, and the acidity. There are all kinds of unnecessary ingredients included in store bought pickled onions. Sure, you can get organic ones or ones with minimal ingredients in it. But you might have to pay an arm and a leg for it. You can also experiment with different vinegars, spices, and even add heat with chili flakes or jalapeños.

A good pickled onions recipe is:

• Fast – No complicated canning required. Just get an air tight container (mason jar works well).
• Versatile – Works with red, white, or yellow onions.
• Healthier – Skip processed sugars or excess sodium if you prefer. You don’t need to include sugar in this recipe. It’s totally up to you.
• Pretty – Bright pink onions look beautiful on the table. The vinegar really helps bring out that bright pink color!

Let’s get to it!

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make a simple batch of pickled red onions recipe, here’s what you’ll need:

• Onions – Red onions are the classic choice for their bold color, but white or yellow work too.
• Vinegar – White vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or rice vinegar give different flavor profiles. Personally, I’ve been using white vinegar for all of my pickling.
• Salt – Balances the acidity.
• Sweetener (optional) – Many recipes call for sugar, but you can easily make pickled red onions no sugar by leaving it out. I haven’t tried making this recipe with natural sweeteners so feel free to try it out to see how it tastes. I used a little bit of regular sugar to counter the vinegar, but you don’t have to.
• Flavor add-ins – Garlic cloves, peppercorns, chili flakes, or herbs like thyme and bay leaf add depth.

Equipment

• Mandolin – in the link included, this is the one I use. It’s not that difficult to use and protects my fingers/hands unlike a traditional mandolin. Alternatively, you can slice the onion with a knife.
• small saucepan
• 16 oz mason jars

Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe

Here’s a tried-and-true quick pickled red onions recipe you can make in less than 30 minutes:

Ingredients

• 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup vinegar (white, apple cider, or rice)
• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1–2 tsp sugar (optional)
• Optional: garlic clove, peppercorns, chili flakes

Instructions

1. Peel the onion. Then using a mandolin or knife, thinly slice the red onion and place into a clean glass jar.
2. In a small saucepan, combine vinegar, water, salt, and sugar (if using). Bring just to a simmer until salt dissolves.
3. Pour the hot mixture over the onions until fully submerged. Add flavor add-ins if desired.
4. Let cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate.

They’ll be ready to eat in about 30 minutes, but the flavor deepens after a few hours. Stored in the fridge, they’ll last 2–3 weeks.

How to Use Pickled Onions

Once you have a jar of pickled onions on hand, the possibilities are endless. We’ve been enjoying them lately on burgers and salads, but you can eat them with just about anything. These jars of pickled onions don’t last long in our house!

Try them on/with:

• Tacos and burritos
• Burgers and sandwiches
• Grain bowls and salads
• Grilled meats or roasted veggies
• Avocado toast or eggs

Their tangy crunch adds balance to rich foods and brightness to fresh ones.

Variations to Try

There are other kinds of variations of pickled onions you can make. Remember, these are pretty flexible so flavor them how you like!

• Spicy Pickled Onions – Add sliced jalapeños or red pepper flakes.
• Herb Infused – Toss in sprigs of rosemary or thyme for earthy flavor.
• Citrus Twist – Replace some of the vinegar with lime juice for a zesty kick.
• No-Sugar Pickled Red Onions – Perfect for those looking to cut back on refined sugar without losing flavor.

Final Thoughts

Making your own pickled onions recipe is one of the simplest ways to elevate your cooking. With a single jar, you’ll have a colorful, flavorful, and versatile condiment ready to brighten up every meal. Whether you go with a quick pickled red onions method for tonight’s tacos, experiment with spices, or stick to a classic pickled red onions recipe, you’ll quickly see why these are a kitchen staple.

This post was all about pickled onions.