Pickled Red Onions – Once Upon a Chef

By /
bowl and jar of pickled red onions


This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.

Pickled red onions are not only gorgeous, but their sweet, tangy flavor perks up just about any dish, from sandwiches to salads to tacos.

Photo by Alexandra Grablewski (Chronicle Books, 2018)

I’m always happy to have a jar of these pickled red onions in the fridge. Not only are they gorgeous and easy to make, but also their sweet and tangy flavor perks up just about any dish—from sandwiches to salads to tacos. And if you’re a raw onion-phobe like I am, they’re a great way to add onion flavor to a dish without the sharp bite of raw onion.

Table of Contents

What You’ll Need To Make Pickled Red Onions

pickled onion ingredientspickled onion ingredients
  • Red onion: This onion variety is not only pretty but also has a mild, sweet flavor.
  • Salt: Draws out moisture from the onions, softening them and helping to preserve the texture. Also enhances overall flavor.
  • Sugar: Adds sweetness to balance the salt and acidity of the vinegar, creating a tangy-sweet profile.
  • Apple cider vinegar: Acts as the primary pickling agent, infusing the onions with acidity and providing a sharp, fruity flavor.
  • Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements

Step-by-Step Instructions

In a small saucepan, combine vinegar, sugar, and salt.

adding vinegar, sugar, and salt to saucepanadding vinegar, sugar, and salt to saucepan

Bring to a boil and stir until sugar and salt are dissolved.

bringing vinegar mixture to a boilbringing vinegar mixture to a boil

Remove pan from the heat and add onion.

adding onions to the panadding onions to the pan

Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes.

onions sitting in vinegar mixtureonions sitting in vinegar mixture

Stir occasionally, until onion slices are softened.

stirring onionsstirring onions

Transfer onions to a medium jar.

transferring onions to a jartransferring onions to a jar

Pour vinegar mixture over onions. Press onions down so they are completely submerged.

pouring vinegar mixture into jarpouring vinegar mixture into jar

Let sit for at least 30 minutes before using. Cover the jar and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

covering jar with lidcovering jar with lid

Ways To Use Pickled Red Onions

  • Tacos: Pickled red onions provide a zesty kick that complements meat, beans, and other taco toppings. Try them with my Baja fish tacos or grilled shrimp tacos.
  • Salads: They add a pop of acidity and color to all sorts of salads. Try them with my corn salad, roasted red pepper salad, BLT salad, or summer avocado salad.
  • Burgers and Sandwiches: They offer a bright contrast to the richness of burgers and sandwiches. Add them to smash burgers, steakhouse burgers, turkey burgers, or grilled cheese.
  • Bowls: In dishes like burrito bowls or poke bowls, pickled red onions add a vibrant, tangy note.
  • Barbecue: Pickled red onions pair well with grilled flank steak, baby back ribs, or pulled pork, cutting through the richness and adding a bright element.
  • Mediterranean Dishes: They work well in wraps, or with falafel and mezze spreads, complementing hummus, tzatziki, and other dips.
  • Nachos: Pickled red onions add a sharp bite to melted cheese, beans, and other toppings. Try them with my beef nachos or chicken nachos.
bowl and jar of pickled red onionsbowl and jar of pickled red onions

You May Also Like

Pickled Red Onions

bowl and jar of pickled red onionsbowl and jar of pickled red onions

Pickled red onions are not only gorgeous, but their sweet, tangy flavor perks up just about any dish, from sandwiches to salads to tacos.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 6 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 large red onion, cut into ⅛-inch slices

Instructions

  1. In a small nonreactive saucepan, bring the vinegar, sugar, and salt to a boil. Stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat, and add the onion to the pan. Let sit, stirring occasionally, until the onion slices are softened, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer the onions to a medium jar and pour the vinegar mixture over the top. Press the onions down so that they are completely submerged. Let sit for at least 30 minutes before using. Cover the jar and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Gluten-Free Adaptable Note

To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you’re following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.

See more recipes:

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Posts

Scroll to Top