Pickled Red Onions

These quick and easy pickled red onions are made with no sugar. They are so delicious and they make a wonderful addition to any meat or poultry dish.

I don’t know about you, but I love pickles. I think they add so much flavor to almost any meal. Maybe I get it from grandma. One of my fondest childhood memories is having lunch at her place – thick slices of whole-grain bread topped with even thicker slices of briny feta cheese, with fat cucumber pickles on the side.

Pickled red onions are very easy to make. I make them often because I really enjoy their unique flavor. I like them even better than these very tasty (and easy to make) quick pickles.

The ingredients needed to make this recipe

You’ll only need five ingredients (plus water) to make these tasty and healthy pickles (exact measurements are included in the recipe card below):

1. Red onion: I haven’t tried this recipe with yellow onions, though it just might work!
2. White vinegar: White wine vinegar also works in this recipe.
3. Kosher salt: If you use fine salt, you might want to reduce the amount you use.
4. Dried bay leaves.
5. Whole peppercorns.

How to pickle red onions

Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. It’s a very easy recipe. Here are the basic steps:

1. Place sliced red onions in a jar.
2. Pour a hot liquid made of water, vinegar, salt and spices on top.
3. Let rest for a few hours.

How quick pickling works

Quick pickling, or vinegar pickling, is a pickling method of heating up an acidic solution of vinegar, water and salt, then immersing vegetables in the solution.

The acidic solution changes the flavor and texture of the vegetables, and also acts as a preservative.

There’s no sugar in this recipe

Most recipes call for adding sugar – some for lots of it, some just a teaspoon. I’m trying to eliminate sugar as much as possible these days.

So I do not use any sugar in this recipe, and I don’t think that’s a problem at all. These onions are absolutely delicious.

Can I use vinegar other than white vinegar?

Yes! You can use red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or cider vinegar. White vinegar changes the color of red onions and turns them pink, as you can see in the photos.

So if you prefer a darker color, red wine vinegar is a good option. Apple cider vinegar might cause the red onions to darken a bit too much. But they will still taste good.

What to serve with pickled red onions?

They are wonderful when paired with just about any meat dish you can think of.

I like to serve them with grilled meats, so I often serve them when I make grilled chicken breast or grilled skirt steak. They are also good with slow-cooked pot roast.

Why not just buy them?

One of the best things about this recipe is that it’s so easy. It requires a minimal amount of work and the results are so good.

It’s also good to make homemade pickles because store-bought ones often have not just unhealthy sugar, but also preservatives and even added food colors.

It really irritates me, the unnecessary junk that some food manufacturers put in our food. The more we can rely on homemade food, the better. And while sometimes homemade takes time and effort, this is not at all the case with this recipe.

What about leftovers?

Leftovers keep well in the fridge, in a sealed glass jar, for about a week. They rarely last that long in our house. Since red onion pickles go so well with so many dishes, we go through them pretty quickly.

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4.97 from 61 votes

Pickled Red Onions

These delicious pickled red onions are made with no sugar. They are so easy to make, and a wonderful addition to any meat or poultry dish.

Prep Time3 hrs 10 mins

Total Time3 hrs 10 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: pickles, red onions

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 14kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large red onion
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 4 bay leaves
• 6 whole peppercorns

INSTRUCTIONS

• Peel the onion and slice it into thin, 1/8-inch slices. Separate the slices and place them in a jar large enough to accommodate all of them (a 1-quart jar should work).
• In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar, water and salt. Add the bay leaves and the peppercorns. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until the salt dissolves.
• Turn the heat off. Pour the liquid over the onions. With a wooden spoon, press down on the onions to make sure they are well-covered. Close the lid and allow to sit at room temperature 3 hours before serving. Refrigerate leftovers for up to a week. 

NUTRITION INFO Nutrition info is approximate and may contain errors. It is calculated using the SparkPeople.com recipe calculator, and the carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Please feel free to make your own calculations. Please read the disclaimers in our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Please verify they are before using.

Nutrition Facts

Pickled Red Onions

Amount Per Serving

Calories 14

% Daily Value*

Sodium 281mg12%

Carbohydrates 3g1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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