Want to add big flavor to tacos, sandwiches and salads? This pickled red onions recipe is so easy and requires only 5 minutes hands on time.

Who said pickles had to involve a lot of effort? These pickled red onions take about 5 minutes to prepare, and only require 1 hour of waiting time. The result is an incredibly delicious condiment that’s perfect for topping tacos, sandwiches, and salads. We made this quick pickled onions recipe as part of our lentil and grilled vegetable tacos, but the sky is the limit when it comes to uses for these babies!  We plan to try to remember to have a jar in the fridge throughout the summer — but they go fast! We’ll probably have to start doubling this recipe.

How to pickle red onions

This pickled red onions recipe could not be easier to make! You simply have to thinly slice one red onion, and then place it in a pickling liquid made of vinegar, sugar, salt and water. Then, let everything stand at room temperature for 1 hour. As the red onions sit in the pickling liquid, they gradually break down and turn a bright pink color! They also pick up the flavoring of the pickling liquid. (You can also re-use the pickling liquid in salad dressings, by the way! It’s onion-y and acidic, which pairs perfectly with most salads).

How long do pickled red onions last?

After the 1 hour rest, you can store these pickled red onions in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You’ll want to keep these pickled onions in a sealed container, like a mason jar. Over time, the onions will lose more of their color and the pickling liquid will become brighter in color, but that’s normal! Because these pickled red onions last so long in the fridge, they’re great to make ahead of time if you know you’re having guests over for dinner or a BBQ. (Taco night, anyone?)

How to serve pickled red onions

So, you’ve made this pickled red onions recipe — now what to do with it? Here are a few of our favorite ways to use pickled red onions:

• Atop tacos — Any taco is made more perfect with pickled onions. Try Spiced Chickpea Tacos with Avocado Cream or Instant Pot Smoky Lentil Tacos.
• On sopes — Our Homemade Sopes with Black Beans recipe has pickled red onions as the garnish.
• On pizza — Pickled onions on pizza might sound crazy, but this Loaded Mexican Pizza is to die for.
• With roasted seggies — Try our Roasted Butternut Squash with Pickled Onions and you’ll become an instant believer.
• On sandwiches — A sandwich is a perfect carrier for pickled onions like our Vegan Banh Mi.

Looking for more pickle recipes?

If you’re looking for more pickle recipes outside these pickled red onions, here are a few of our favorites:

• All Our Pickle Recipes!
• Quick Refrigerator Dill Pickles
• Easy Garlic Dill Pickles
• Pickled Okra
• Quick Mixed Pickled Vegetables

Looking for more vegetarian recipes? 

• Easy Chickpea Salad Sandwich
• Loaded Quinoa Tacos 
• Quick Coconut Lentil Curry
• Norwegian Vegetarian Meatballs
• Simple Calzone Recipe

This recipe is…

This pickled red onions recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, gluten-free.

Pickled Red Onions Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

• Author: a Couple Cooks
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: About 1 cup 1x

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Description

Want to add big flavor to tacos, sandwiches and salads? This pickled red onions recipe is so easy and requires only 5 minutes hands on time.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 red onion
• ½ cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sugar or honey
• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 cup water

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Instructions

1. Thinly slice the red onion.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, sugar or honey, kosher salt, and water.
3. Place the onion slices in a jar and pour over the pickling liquid mixture. Sit at room temperature for 1 hour.

Notes

From Bon Appetit

• Category: Condiment
• Method: Pickling
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: Pickled red onions, Pickled red onion recipe, How to pickle red onions