How to Make Pickled Red Onions Recipe

Name: How to Make Pickled Red Onions
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 1 1/2 pints
Ingredients: 1 pound red onions (about 2 med or 1 large), thinly sliced; 1 1/2 cups white vinegar; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/2 cinnamon stick; 5 cloves; 1 bay leaf; 1 star anise; Dash red pepper flakes; Fresh ginger slices, allspice berries, oregano, garlic, cumin seeds, mustard seeds (optional)

I keep on making things that, when I think about it, would be enhanced with some pickled red onions.

Bean soup, liverwurst, salmon, and especially hot dogs and hamburgers would all be terrific with some pickled onions on the side.

How to Make Pickled Red Onions

All you really need to make pickled red onions is some sliced red onion, vinegar, and sugar. There's lots of leeway with the spices and herbs used.

Spices to Use in Pickled Red Onions

For this batch, I used cinnamon, cloves, star anise, bay leaf, and red pepper flakes. You could easily throw in some ginger, swap out the chile flakes for some cumin, or substitute allspice for the cloves.

refrigerator pickled red onions — Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Are These Pickled Onions for Canning?

No, they aren't for canning. These are refrigerator pickled onions. We haven't tested this recipe for hot water bath canning, so we recommend you find a specific canning recipe if you want to hot water bath.

The Best Jars and Containers to Store Pickled Red Onions

Because these are refrigerator pickled onions, you can use any glass jar with a tight lid. Traditional canning jars work but so will a glass spaghetti sauce jar or glass pickle jar—with their lids—that you ran through the dishwasher and sanitized. Do not use plastic for these pickled red onions.

More Pickled Recipes to Give a Try!

How to Make Pickled Red Onions

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 20 mins

Yield 1 1/2 pints

1 pound red onions, (about 2 medium or 1 large), thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups white vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 stick cinnamon stick
5 cloves
1 bay leaf
1 star anise
1 dash red pepper flakes
Fresh ginger slices, allspice berries, oregano, garlic, cumin seeds, mustard seeds. optional

Blanch the onions:

Blanch red onions in a saucepan of boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain in colander.

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Boil the vinegar with sugar and spices:

While the water is heating in Step 1, in a separate saucepan combine the vinegar, sugar, and spices. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Add the onions and simmer:

Add the blanched, drained onions to the vinegar mixture. Simmer for 1 minute.

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Transfer to a glass jar:

Allow to stand until cooled before putting the lid on and storing in the refrigerator. The pickled red onions will keep for several weeks refrigerated.

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
660	Calories
1g	Fat
148g	Carbs
6g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Calories	660
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g	2%
Saturated Fat 0g	1%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 28mg	1%
Total Carbohydrate 148g	54%
Dietary Fiber 8g	27%
Total Sugars 121g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 24mg	120%
Calcium 145mg	11%
Iron 2mg	10%
Potassium 795mg	17%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.