• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Get our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide
freezer meal quick start guide

Get Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide

Loading

About
Free Resources
Contact

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

YouTube

TikTok

Thriving Home

Food & Lifestyle

  • Recipe Index
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch & Dinner
      • Sides & Salads
      • Soups & Chilis
      • Appetizers
      • Snacks
      • Desserts
      • Baked Goods
      • Beverages
      • Condiments
    • Method
      • Freezer Meals
      • Stovetop
      • Oven
      • Slow Cooker
      • Instant Pot
      • Grill or Smoker
      • 6 Ingredients or Less
    • Diet
      • Gluten-Free
      • Dairy-Free
      • Vegetarian
    • Ingredients
      • Chicken & Turkey
      • Beef
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Pasta & Pizza
    • Holiday
      • Birthday
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine's Day
    • All Recipes
  • Freezer Cooking
    • Start Here
    • Freezer Meal Recipes
    • 1 Hour Freezer Prep
    • Cookbooks
  • Menu Plans
  • Shop
    • Cookbooks
    • 1 Hour Freezer Prep
    • Shop Our Favorites
    • Gift Guides
Search...
Home Recipe Index Condiments

Easy Pickled Red Onions

Updated: 10/27/22
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

These Easy Pickled Red Onions are one of my favorite new homemade condiments and only take minutes to put together. In our recipe, thinly sliced red onions go from an eye-watering spicy experience to a slightly sweet, mellow topping. My kids will actually eat these plain!

Pickled red onion in a mason jar
Contents hide
About the Recipe
Supplies You’ll Need to Make Pickled Red Onions
How to Make Pickled Red Onions
What Dishes to Use Pickled Red Onions On
How Long Do Pickled Red Onions Last?
Easy Pickled Red Onions
Did you make this?

About the Recipe

The older I’ve gotten, the more I crave complexity in the dishes I make–more color, texture, and flavors coming through. I’ve found that the secret to achieving that goal is often in the toppings!

While a red onion is already a nice pop of flavor to an entree, pickled red onions bring a whole new level of flavor. Look at the side by side comparison of raw red onions vs pickled red onions.

Comparison of raw red onions and pickled red onions

For instance, as we were testing our Carnitas recipe for one of our 1 Hour Freezer Prep Sessions, I knew they needed more. More crunch, more wow factor, more party-in-my-mouth. These pickled red onions, along with our Cilantro Lime Aioli, did the trick!

Supplies You’ll Need to Make Pickled Red Onions

You’ll need just a few ingredients and tools to make this easy condiment.

Equipment:

  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife or mandolin
  • 16 ounce or larger Mason jar with lid

Ingredients:

  • Red onion
  • Water
  • White vinegar
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Sugar
  • Salt
Ingredients for pickled red onions

How to Make Pickled Red Onions

Making pickled red onions is SUPER easy. We even have step-by-step photos to guide you.

Trim off the ends of the onion

Using a sharp knife, trim off the top and bottom of the red onion.

red onion with ends cut off

Slice the onion

Cut the red onion in half vertically (from root to end). Peel off the flaky, outside skin. Then, slice the onion very thinly vertically–from top to bottom.

slicing up red onion for pickled red onion

Boil the pickling liquid

Boil the water, vinegars, sugar, and salt in a small pot on the stove. Remove from heat.

pan with vinegars for pickling onions

Marinate the onions

Shove the onions in a mason jar, pour the brining liquid over them, and screw on the lid. Set in the fridge for at least 2 hours and up to 3-4 days.

red onions in a jar being pickled

You’re done!

Easy peasy, right?

pickled red onions in a jar

What Dishes to Use Pickled Red Onions On

From Mexican dishes to salads, soups, sandwiches, and more, this condiment lends acidity, color, and crunch to a variety of recipes. Try them on one of these…

a plate of carnitas with toppings in the background

Slow Cooker Crispy Carnitas

Shredded Beef Nachos

Mexican Chopped Salad

Turkey Pesto Paninis

cheeseburger on a whole wheat bun with oven fries on the side

Cheesy Chive Burgers

shaved brussels sprout salad

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

cooked mexican soup

Crowd Pleaser Mexican Soup

cobb salad on a white plate with yellow napkin

My Favorite Cobb Salad

Get ready to kick up your condiment game and wow your tastebuds with these Easy Pickled Red Onions!

How Long Do Pickled Red Onions Last?

These taste best if eaten within about 3 days, but can remain in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Easy Pickled Red Onions

Pickled red onions take minutes to throw together and add a briny-sweet-spicy crunch that kicks up the flavor and texture in all kinds of dishes, like tacos, salads, wraps, and more.

Yield: 12 servings 1x
Prep: 10 minutesCook: 2 hoursTotal: 2 hours 10 minutes
Print Recipe Rate Pin for Later
  • Email
Units:
Scale:

Ingredients

  • 1 large red onion
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Optional: small pinch of red pepper flakes

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

  1. On a cutting board, trim off both ends of the onion and discard the outer skin. Cut in half from top to bottom. Lay both halves flat side down and then slice very thinly vertically (from top to bottom). (Alternatively, you can use a mandolin to slice the onions.)
  2. Pack the onions down into a 16 ounce mason jar.
  3. In a small pot, add the water, both vinegars, sugar, salt, and (optional) red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil and then remove from the heat.
  4. Pour this brining mixture over the onions, screw on the lid, and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. These taste best if eaten within about 3 days, but can remain in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.

Equipment

Chefs Knife

Buy Now →
© Author: Thriving Home
Method: Pickling

Did you make this?

Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Rate Recipe

Tag Us on Instagram

59 shares
  • Share
  • Email
Rachel Tiemeyer

Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

Read more...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

sidebar

polly and rachel

Welcome

We’re moms, cookbook authors, and freezer cooking evangelists. Our mission is to help your home thrive, one delicious meal at a time. Let’s make the most of your time in the kitchen! Read more.

Follow Us On Instagram!

freezer cooking

Order On:

Amazon • Target

Autographed Copy

Learn More

freezer to table

Order On:

Amazon • Target

Autographed Copy

Learn More
freezer meal quick start guide

Get Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide!

We’ll send you the best of the best recipes, tutorials, and freezer meal expertise. A $9.99 value for free!

Loading

Reader Favorites

marinades for chicken breasts in freezer bags

7 BEST Chicken Marinades

freezer meal

The 70+ Best Freezer Meals on the Planet

20+ Easy Crock Pot Recipes

smoothie packs

7 Frozen Smoothie Packs (+ Printable with Shopping List)

freezer meal update
New to freezer cooking?

Grab Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide!

5 days of recipes & tips from freezer meal experts.

Loading

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

YouTube

TikTok

About
About Us
Work With Us
Press
Recipes
All Recipes
Freezer Meals
Menu Plans
Shop
Cookbooks
1 Hour Prep Sessions
Gift Guides
Explore
Free Resources
Shop Our Favorites
Facebook Group
Privacy Policy
Accessibility
Disclaimers
Contact
© 2023 Thriving Home
Site Credits
Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top
59 shares