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These refrigerator dill pickles require just 10 minutes of hands on prep work and are great on sandwiches or eaten straight from the jar!

What’s better that a homemade jar of refrigerator dill pickles? (Answer: nothing!) Here at A Couple Cooks, we’re all about mastering quick pickles: pickles that can be made in minutes and stored in the refrigerator. We don’t have the time or energy for canning equipment and sterilizing…and we’d rather make a quick batch for easy snacking! You can pickle just about any vegetable, but there’s really nothing like the classic dill pickle. Ready to get started?

What are refrigerator pickles?

This recipe is the place to start if you’re new to canning or have never made pickles. Refrigerator pickles are vegetables that are pickled in a vinegar solution and simply refrigerated for 1 hour. They last for 1 month in the refrigerator, instead of a year or more on the shelf like traditional canned pickles. You don’t need any fancy canning equipment or sterilization. Not only is it simple, but you’ll also be surprised at the delicious flavor after relatively little effort!

Ingredients for refrigerator dill pickles

For this refrigerator dill pickle recipe, you’ll need only a handful of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

Baby or mini cucumbers (also called pickling cucumbers): Don’t even think about using large cucumbers! The cucumbers you’ll need for dill pickles are the small or baby variety, something labeled pickling cucumbers.
Fresh dill brings in just the right dill flavor
Garlic sounds out the savory palate
Coriander seeds for nuance in flavor
Black peppercorns
White vinegar
Sugar
Salt

If you prefer your homemade dill pickles to have a slight kick to them, you can also slice a few small chili peppers and add them to the mix. But they’re not required! After only a few minutes of prep and a 24-hour soak, a delightfully fresh and complex flavor emerges. In addition to the flavor, the cucumbers stay crisp and retain a lovely crunch.

How to make refrigerator pickles

Here are the main steps to how to make refrigerator pickles:

Slice: Quarter the cucumbers and slice the garlic in half.
Make the brine: Once the veggies are sliced, make the brine by mixing together vinegar, water, sugar and salt. Shaking them together in a separate jar allows the sugar and salt to dissolve.
Pack: Then, it’s time for the fun part—packing everything in the jars! This is both frustrating and extremely rewarding, because it feels like all those cucumbers can’t possibly fit into two quart-sized jars. Don’t worry about squishing the veggies, as the brine will soften them slightly and make everything fit together nicely.
Refrigerate 24 hours: Once you’ve poured the brine into the jars, let the pickles sit in the fridge for at least 24 hours before tasting them. These refrigerator dill pickles last up to a month in the fridge and make for a refreshing summer snack!

Ways to eat refrigerator dill pickles

The ways to enjoy these refrigerator pickles are endless! Here are a few of our favorite ways to eat homemade dill pickles (besides straight from the jar, that is):

On sandwiches — These refrigerator dill pickles would taste delicious mixed into a chickpea salad sandwich or tuna salad sandwich.
In a Bloody Mary — Try our Classic Bloody Mary, Bloody Maria, Red Snapper or Spicy Bloody Mary. Instead of a celery stick, use one of these dill pickles in your drink.
On veggie burgers — Nothing beats homemade pickles piled high on a veggie burger.
Mixed into salads — You could either chop up a few pickles and mix into your favorite salad (the flavor is reminiscent of canned artichokes or capers) or you could mix some of the pickle juice into a vinaigrette.

What are your favorite ways to eat pickles? We’re always looking for new ways to enjoy our homemade dill pickles!

More pickles recipes & canned DIYs:

If you’re into pickling and canning, here are more recipes you might enjoy:

This refrigerator dill pickles recipe is…

Vegan, vegetarian, plant-based, and gluten-free.