Pickled Red Onions

I'm all about adding some red onion to dishes to jazz them up, but these Pickled Red Onions are on another level! It makes virtually any meal taste restaurant worthy.

They are so good with all kinds of Mexican dishes, including chicken tinga tacos, steak tacos, and taco bowls. But they are also amazing on burgers, salads, grilled chicken, and so much more. Let's be honest: these pickled onions taste amazing in almost everything.

The great thing about pickled onions, as opposed to many pickles, is that they are quick. No long brining time. No complicated canning. These are ready to go in just 30 minutes, and all you need is red onion, some limes, white vinegar, salt, and peppercorns.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

To make these tangy pickled onions, you will need a few key ingredients that you probably already have on hand:

• Red onion: With its slightly sweet flavor and bright color, red onions are the perfect choice for pickling. Sweet onions, yellow onions, white onions, and baby onions also work.
• Lime juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice is the key to locking in all that zesty flavor. I highly recommend sticking to fresh limes for the freshest flavor. Lime juice is key in making Mexican pickled onions. If you prefer a more traditional pickled onion, swap it for white or apple cider vinegar. If you use all vinegar, you will need to add some water. Instructions below.
• White vinegar: Feel free to swap this out for apple cider vinegar if you prefer.
• Salt: Pickles need salt to bring out the flavor. Kosher or sea salt is best.
• Peppercorns. Black peppercorns are optional, but I love the peppery flavor they add to this dish.
• Optional sweetener: Red onions have a lot of innate sweetness, so I don't like adding sugar or sweetener to my pickled onions. If you prefer a sweeter pickled onion, add 1-2 tablespoons of honey, maple syrup, or white sugar.

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Can white or yellow onions be pickled?

Absolutely! Although this recipe calls for red onions, you could pickle any kind of onion using the same method. Feel free to try a few different variations to see which one you like best.

We have made this recipe with every type of onion and they are all delicious!

How to Make Quick Pickled Red Onions

These pickled onions couldn't be easier to make. Here's what to do.

1. Choose Mexican Pickled Onions or Traditional Pickled Red Onions

There are two main types of pickled onion recipes. One is Mexican, and the pickling liquid is mostly lime juice. The other is more traditional, using vinegar as the main liquid.

Both methods create delicious pickled onions. We prefer Mexican-style pickled onions for Mexican dishes since the lime in the onions complements Mexican flavors.

With that said, both methods are delicious and work with any food you choose. One important note: the traditional pickled onions store a bit better in the fridge since the lime juice breaks the onions down more over time.

2. Thinly Slice the Onions

For both methods, start by slicing the onions thinly. Thick onions will not be pickled in 30 minutes. If you have a mandoline, that is the easiest method for getting thin, consistent onion slices. Otherwise, just slice them thinly with a sharp knife.

Pro tip: If you prefer really mild onions, soak them in ice-cold water for 30 minutes before pickling them. This removes some of that strong, pungent onion flavor.

3. Prepare the pickling liquid

For Mexican-style pickled onions, you need enough lime juice to cover the red onions sliced completely. Using a citrus juicer speeds up this process. For every red onion, you will likely need 4-5 limes. Combine the lime juice with white vinegar, kosher salt, and peppercorns.

For a more traditional pickling liquid, simmer ¾ cups of vinegar, ¼ cups of water, 1 tsp kosher salt, and 1-2 tablespoons of sweetener on the stovetop.

4. Combine onions and pickling liquid

Combine the thinly sliced onions and pickling liquid. Give everything a good stir or shake, and press the onions down into the liquid to ensure they are fully submerged.

Let the red onions rest for 30-60 minutes. Taste and season with salt if needed.

5. Serve

Now it's time to eat! Serve the pickled red onions with your favorite dishes. The leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Can I make this recipe in the microwave?

Yes! To make Pickled Red Onions in the microwave, follow these simple steps:

1. Slice the onions: Use a sharp knife or mandolin to thinly slice the red onion. Place the slices in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Prepare the pickling liquid: In a separate microwave-safe container, combine lime juice, white vinegar, salt, and peppercorns. You can also add a bit more lime juice if the onions won't be fully covered. Microwave the pickling liquid for about 30-45 seconds to warm it up and dissolve the salt.
3. Combine: Pour the warm pickling liquid over the onions in the bowl. Stir or press the onions down to make sure they're mostly submerged.
4. Let sit: Allow the onions to sit for at least 30 minutes in the microwave-safe bowl, ideally 60 minutes, to absorb the flavors and pickle.

This quick microwave method will still give you those deliciously tangy pickled onions perfect for topping tacos and sandwiches or adding to your favorite dishes!

Pickled Onions Variations: Spicy, Garlicky, and More

Yes! You can prepare this recipe as is or switch it up a bit to suit your preferences. Here are some of my favorite ways to make these pickled onions your own:

• Make it spicy: Try adding some jalapeños, serrano, or habanero peppers to the jar with your onions. Habanero peppers are the most traditional in Mexico, but they will be really spicy.
• Add garlic: For some extra garlic-y flavor, try adding some thinly sliced garlic cloves to the jar.
• Add some herbs: For a ton of added flavor, feel free to toss some herbs into the mix. Some of my top choices include fresh dill and bay leaves.
• Switch up your vinegar: No white vinegar on hand? No problem! You can use rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar for this dish as well.
• Blanch the onions: If you want to mellow out the onion flavor, blanch them in hot water before adding them to your brine.

Ways to Serve Pickled Onions

Pickled Red Onions are an incredibly fun dish to serve, as they go great with almost everything! To get you started, here are a few ideas for serving your pickled onions:

• Tacos: Pickled Red Onions are an easy way to give your regular old tacos a refreshing twist. Try adding them to these Steak Tacos, Chicken Street Tacos, or these Shrimp Tacos.
• Bowls: Whether you're making burrito bowls or Mediterranean bowls, you can't go wrong with a handful of pickled onions. They guarantee to create a stunning and photo-worthy bowl.
• Any Mexican entrée: Pickled Red Onions are the perfect way to freshen up your favorite Mexican meals! In addition to tacos, try adding pickled onions to Machaca Burritos, Pollo Pibil, Chicken Tinga, Sofritas, or Shrimp Fajitas.
• Salads: Pickled onions are a beautiful and tangy way to spice up nearly any salad recipe. I find that they add a delicious crunch when added to this Mexican Chopped Salad, Mexican Street Corn Salad, or this Watermelon and Avocado Salad.
• Burgers: Sorry, raw onions, but there's a new burger topping in town. Seriously though, pickled onions are a great addition to burger night. Try using them to top these Jalapeno Turkey Burgers, Salmon Burgers, and Chicken Burgers.
• Sandwiches: Similar to burgers, pickled onions are a great alternative to the raw onions you'd normally put on sandwiches and wraps.
• Egg Dishes: Top scrambled eggs, omelets, or avocado toast with pickled onions to enhance the flavor!