Quick Pickled Onions

If you are looking for a beautiful, deliciously fresh tasting condiment to add to your homemade pantry, there is no better recipe than this one for Quick Pickled Onions! Nothing is prettier than this jar of rose-colored bits of flavorful goodness looking back at you from a lighted refrigerator when you open the door!

Recipes like this one for Quick Pickled Onions are how I (and so can you!) turn out creative meals, that don't take all day. Because nobody has time for that! Condiments are the answer, my friends, homemade condiments to be exact. Quick Pickled Onions add flavor to a quick saute, whether it is meat or veggies. When sprinkled over salads, and even stirred into tuna salad for sandwiches. Tucked into a burger is also pretty delicious...

Do you ever have a busy day where you are willing to jump into the car and go fetch take-out for dinner? It's OK, we all have, from time to time! But slowly I learned that every meal I cook and serve can be not only homemade but enjoyable, delicious, and healthy. Also, not every meal needs to take hours...

When you have homemade condiments as part of a well-stocked pantry, everyday meals come together quickly! And did I mention deliciously? Yes, we do talk these pickled onions up, and for good reason. The flavor! Plus, it just doesn't make sense to spend time cooking a meal, that no one will enjoy, or worse, not eat. 

We even use them in our recipes:

Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon Sour Cream Pickled Red Onions and Capers.  A better dish you will not find, easy to make and so delicious. 

BBQ Chicken Salad for Sandwiches.  A unique take on chicken salad for sandwiches!

Winter Pea Salad Plate with Tomatoes and Cashews.   All salads should be this good...

Yes, Quick Pickled Onions are that tasty! And as luck would have it, they are very easy to make. We prefer red wine vinegar in this recipe, but it is not set in stone. Use what you prefer or have on hand! There is no right or wrong vinegar, they will all make a delicious jar of onions. But I do love the color when made with red wine vinegar. Quick Pickled Onions will keep for a long time! You will find, however, that they don't last a long time! Often I will double the recipe so we don't run out...

Some thoughts on this recipe:

You may also make Quick Pickled Onion Rings. They are quite pretty and make a lovely gift for a friend. 

The pickling brine is delicious when added to your homemade vinegarette. 

After all the pickled onions have been eaten, use the brine to marinate chicken thighs or pork chops before pan-frying or grilling out of doors.  

Ingredients needed for this recipe:

• red onion
• whole cloves
• bay leaves
• red wine vinegar
• sugar 
• salt

You will also need the following:

• kitchen knife
• cutting board
• measuring cups
• medium-sized saucepan
• pint jar with lid OR storage bowl and lid

Now we are ready to begin!

Quick Pickled Onions
adapted from: sidewalk shoes,
makes 1 pint (or so)

Update: 11.29.2021

1 medium/large red onion, diced

3/4 c white, cider, or red wine vinegar 
2 t salt
3 T sugar
1 - 2 bay leaf
2-4 whole cloves (use what you prefer)

Remove the outer peel and any tough layers of the onion. Dice into small pieces. 

Combine vinegar, salt, sugar, bay leaf, and whole cloves in a medium-sized saucepan, bring to a boil and let simmer until sugar is dissolved.

Add the diced red onion pieces, stir once or twice. Remove the saucepan from the heat (do not cover), and let sit until mixture has cooled to room temperature. 

Pour the contents into a pint jar, cap, and place them in your refrigerator. 

Storage options for Quick Pickled Onions. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 6 months, due to the high acid/brine solution. But rest assured, they don't last long, so no need to worry about spoilage!

UPDATE:  For your convenience, a "copy and paste" version of Quick Pickled Onions has been included below. 

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Printable "copy and paste" version:

Quick Pickled Onions
adapted from: sidewalk shoes,
makes 1 pint (or so)

1 medium/large red onion, diced

3/4 c white, cider, or red wine vinegar 
2 t salt
3 T sugar
1 - 2 bay leaf
2-4 whole cloves (use what you prefer)

Remove the outer peel and any tough layers of the onion. Dice into small pieces. 

Combine vinegar, salt, sugar, bay leaf, and whole cloves in a medium-sized saucepan, bring to a boil and let simmer until sugar is dissolved.

Add the diced red onion pieces, stir once or twice. Remove the saucepan from the heat (do not cover), and let sit until mixture has cooled to room temperature. 

Pour the contents into a pint jar, cap, and place them in your refrigerator. 

Storage options for Quick Pickled Onions. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 6 months, due to the high acid/brine solution. But rest assured, they don't last long, so no need to worry about spoilage!

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