Name: Pickled Onions
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 min
Total time: 11 min
Yield: 1 quart
Cuisine: American

Balancing Bowls Verified

January 29, 2026

Pickled onions are so easy to make and they jazz up so many dishes. From salads, bbq sandwiches, tacos, chili, avocado toast, and hotdogs, pickled onions are an essential flavor-boosting condiment in our house.

From the Cook

1/5

Pickled Onions

Balancing Bowls Verified

Ingredients

WarningSulphites allergen identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Slice 2 red onions into bite size pieces.

Tightly pack the onions into a clean 1-quart jar. In a small saucepan bring the water, vinegar, honey, salt, red pepper flakes, and black peppercorns to a boil.

Allow the liquid to boil for one minute and pour it over the onions in the jar.

Let the liquid settle over the onions before pouring out any leftover liquid.

Sometimes it takes a minute or two for all of the air to bubble up to the surface.

Top the jar off with as much liquid as fits.

Once the jar is filled to the brim with onions and the vinegar mixture, seal the jar.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Slice Uniformity Matters 🔪
Use a sharp mandoline or very sharp knife to create consistently thin, 1/8-inch slices of red onions to ensure even pickling and optimal texture.
Cold Pickle Technique 🧊
For a crisp, bright pickle, use the cold pickling method by pouring hot vinegar mixture over raw onions, which preserves their crunchy texture and vibrant color.
Vinegar Variation Hack 🍎
Experiment with a 50/50 mix of apple cider and white vinegar for a more complex, balanced pickling flavor that enhances the onions' natural sweetness.
Flavor Infusion Pro Tip 🌶️
Crush black peppercorns and red pepper flakes before adding to release more intense aromatics and create a deeper, more nuanced pickling liquid.
Storage Optimization 🏺
Store pickled onions in a clean, airtight glass jar in the refrigerator, where they'll stay crisp and flavorful for up to 2 weeks, developing more complex flavors over time.

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About the Cook

Balancing Bowls

I'm Nora! Balancing Bowls is the product of a slightly chaotic life, a need to make and grow things, and a love of creative cooking. If you're here because you're trying to feed your family well without losing your mind, you're in the right place.