• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Pinch and Swirl
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Collections
  • About
  • Free Recipe EBook
  • My Saved Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Collections
  • About
  • Free Recipe EBook
  • My Saved Recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Recipes » Condiments and Spices

    Quick Pickled Red Onions

    Published: Aug 17, 2017 · Modified: Aug 17, 2020 by Marissa Stevens · 7 Comments

    Gluten FreePaleoVegetarianMediterranean

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    Quick Pickled Red Onions served in a small white bowl with tongs

    Quick Pickled Red Onions - just 5 minutes of active time. Many pickled onion recipes call for sugar, but these are honey sweetened, giving them an extra depth of flavor.

    Quick-Pickled-Red-Onions served with tongs in a white bowl

    Quick pickled red onions are something I love to have on hand to add a little sparkle to green salads and bean salads, burgers (piled high on Brioche Buns) and pita sandwiches (made with this pita bread recipe) - especially Lamb Shawarma. When I discovered how easy they are to make, I've never looked back. (Just like my Giardiniera, Refrigerator Pickles, Pickled Asparagus, Pickled Radishes, and Pickled Beets!)

    Lamb Shawarma with pickled red onions

    I started with a simple recipe from Bon Appétit and swapped in honey for sugar. I also increased the pickling time to overnight instead of just an hour, giving the onions plenty of time to soften and soak up all that delicious tangy sweetness. To make these, you don't even need to turn on the stove. Just whisk the brine together and pour over thinly sliced red onion, cover and marinate overnight. You'll have delicious quick pickled red onions to use in everything for up to two weeks, but good luck with them lasting that long!

    Quick-Pickled-Red-Onions served with tongs

    Quick Pickled Red Onions

    Marissa Stevens
    If you love quick pickled red onions, you've got to try this quick and easy recipe - just 5 minutes of active time. Many pickled onion recipes call for sugar, but these are honey sweetened - it gives them an extra depth of flavor.
    5 from 1 vote
    Save Recipe Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Condiment
    Cuisine Pickled Foods
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 14 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 medium red onion thinly sliced and separated into rings
    • 1 cup water
    • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

    Instructions
     

    • Place onion in a bowl (ideally with a lid).
    • Whisk together water, vinegar, honey and salt until honey and salt are dissolved; pour over onion and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight before serving.

    Notes

    Don't worry if some of the onion sticks out of the brine. In a few hours, the onion will soften and be covered in brine. I like to stir it once or twice during the initial pickling period to coat the onion evenly.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 14kcalCarbohydrates: 3gSodium: 584mgPotassium: 14mgSugar: 2g
    Tried this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @pinchandswirl or leave me a comment and rating below.

    More Condiments and Spices

    • Spooning jalapeno Ranch Dressing out of a glass jar.
      Jalapeño Ranch Recipe
    • Lime Crema served in a white bowl and photographed from above.
      Lime Crema
    • White Bean Hummus served in a green ceramic bowl with pita bread for dipping.
      White Bean Hummus
    • Cranberry Orange Relish served in a white bowl with a silver spoon.
      Cranberry Orange Relish

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. David @ Spiced says

      August 21, 2017 at 4:57 am

      Thanks for the reminder to make some pickled red onions! They really are so easy to make, and they're an excellent topper on all sorts of other dishes. We love putting pickled red onions on our pulled pork sandwiches! But now I want nothing more than pickled red onions on that amazing shawarma recipe you posted! 🙂

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        August 23, 2017 at 2:30 pm

        Adding them to pulled pork sandwiches! Tucked that away in my brain for later. 🙂 Thanks, David!

        Reply
      • Angie says

        May 12, 2022 at 3:43 pm

        5 stars
        Agreed!!! That shawarma recipe with pickled onions sounds like the plan!

        Reply
    2. Dorothy Dunton says

      August 18, 2017 at 9:07 am

      Hi Marissa. I think we eat more onions that most people, I go through at least a three pound bag every week. We just bought a jar of locally made dark, wildflower honey at a roadside produce truck. Pickled onions are such a great condiment to have on hand. I really like them on blue cheese burgers. These will be in my frig by nightfall.

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        August 19, 2017 at 12:17 pm

        You always know how to make me happy, Dorothy!

        Reply
    3. Julia Mueller says

      August 18, 2017 at 7:06 am

      I looooove pickled onions!! I've made them, myself using coconut sugar, and it took the coconut sugar forever to dissolve, so I'm really digging this honey idea. I'm definitely going to have to try this!!

      Reply
      • Marissa says

        August 18, 2017 at 3:38 pm

        I never considered coconut sugar - that's a great idea too. It takes a bit of whisking to get the honey to dissolve, but the vinegar acidity helps. 🙂 Have a great weekend, Julia!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    The best food happens at home. I love delicious food prepared simply with fresh ingredients and that’s just what you’ll find here! You can count on me for well tested, mouthwatering recipes designed for home cooks. Learn more →

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Facebook
    12 Recipes to Know by Heart Book Cover
    Subscribe for Free E-Cookbook

    Reader Favorites

    • Oven Roasted Crispy Pork Belly
    • lemon garlic pasta served in a white bowl
      Lemon Garlic Pasta
    • Bacon Wrapped Scallops
    • Homemade Ramen Noodles
    • Homemade Tonic Water
    • Shrimp Tacos served on a white oval platter with extra sauce on the side.
      Shrimp Tacos
    • Mashed Red Potatoes photographed from above featured
      Mashed Red Potatoes
    • gyro served on a black plate
      Gyro Meat Recipe
    • Pork Belly Ramen
    • Grilled Lamb Chops

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Meet Marissa
    • Contact

    Copyright © 2022 PinchandSwirl

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Email