Quick Pickled Red Onions (and how to serve them!)

These easy quick pickled red onions are the ultimate secret weapon, instantly elevating dishes ranging from tacos, to burgers, to grain bowls, to salads and much more (see below!). They have the most incredible flavor from a few secret ingredients and they last for weeks in the fridge. Best of all, you’re not going to believe how easy they are to make (spoiler alert, they come together in less than 10 minutes of active prep time)! 

Ingredients:

These pickled red onions have been a staple in my kitchen for years. I originally started making them to pair with my Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas but soon started using them on everything. They’re zippy and bright with a sweet crunch (not to mention an incredible color), and a few simple ingredients gives them an unparalleled flavor. 

• Red onion: You’ll need just 1 large red onion for this recipe. 
• Apple cider vinegar: I prefer the flavor of apple cider vinegar in these pickled onions, but you could use white wine vinegar or rice vinegar instead.
• Sugar and salt: Sugar gives the pickles a slight sweetness, while salt balances all the flavors.
• Cinnamon stick: A cinnamon stick is the magic ingredient, infusing the onions with a delicious warmth. 
• Allspice berries (optional): Allspice berries also lend warmth and dimension to this pickled onions, but you can omit them if you don’t have them. 
• Black peppercorns: Peppercorns lend a touch of spice, balancing the sweetness. 

How to make quick pickled onions:

• Thinly slice one large red onion. You can slice the onion horizontally or vertically.

• Rinse the onion slices well in hot water. This will soften them slightly before pickling and mellow their flavor, allowing the pickling brine to better infuse. 

• In a small saucepan, combine apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, a cinnamon stick, allspice berries and black peppercorns. Bring the mixture to a boil. 

• Pour the hot vinegar mixture over the onions and stir to combine.

• Let the onions sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. As the onions sit they will soften and will evenly be submerged in the brine. 

• You can eat the pickled onions right away or you can refrigerate them for up to 3 weeks (you can keep the cinnamon stick in the brine or discard it before storing).

How to serve pickled onions:

The options are endless when it comes to serving these pickled onions, but here are some of my favorites. 

• With pork carnitas
• On chicken tacos and shrimp tacos
• On burgers and veggie burgers
• On enchiladas
• In salads, such as roasted squash salads and taco salads
• In grain bowls
• In sandwiches and grilled cheese

Tips for this recipe

• I love the sweetness of red onion for these pickled onions, but you can use a white onion instead.
• If you don't have apple cider vinegar you can use white wine or rice vinegar.
• You can refrigerate the pickled onions in an airtight container or pint sized ball jar.
• Try the pickled onions on these Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas!

FAQs

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Quick Pickled Red Onions

By Nicki Sizemore

These easy quick pickled red onions are the ultimate secret weapon, instantly elevating dishes ranging from Pork Carnitas, to burgers, to grain bowls, to salads and much more (see below!). They have the most incredible flavor from a few secret ingredients, including cinnamon, peppercorns and allspice berries (if you can’t find allspice berries you can omit them, but I do suggest giving them a try). You can eat the pickled onions after they sit, or you can refrigerate them for up to 3 weeks—they get even more flavorful with time.

Servings: 2 cups

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Resting Time: 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

• 1 large red onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 ½ tablespoons sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
• 1 cinnamon stick
• ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
• 5 allspice berries

Instructions

• Rinse the onion slices well under hot water. Shake them dry and put them in a heatproof bowl.
• In a small saucepan, bring the apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, cinnamon stick, peppercorns and allspice berries to a rolling boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar and salt. Pour the hot vinegar mixture over the onion slices and toss (the liquid won’t initially cover the onions, but that’s ok as the onions will shrink down). Let sit at room temperature, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes, or refrigerate them for up to 2-3 weeks.

Notes

Do Ahead: The pickled onions can be refrigerated for up to 3 weeks.

Loved this recipe? Check out @nickisizemore for more!

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy pickled onions recipe, pickled red onions recipe, Quick pickled red onions