Kitchen Tips How To You Can Cook That How to Make and Use Pickled Red Onions They're pretty in pink but pack a big flavor punch. By Vanessa Greaves Vanessa Greaves Vanessa Greaves is a Senior Editor at Allrecipes with nearly two decades of experience helping home cooks gain confidence in the kitchen. A self-taught cook who grew up reading cookbooks for fun, Vanessa lives and breathes the challenges faced by busy everyday cooks to get dinner on the table. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Published on May 29, 2021 If you've ever had pickled red onions as a garnish on your food, you know that they're more than just a bright pink topping — that sweet and tangy condiment brings instant elevation to just about any dish, from sandwiches to salads, soups, dips, and more. You can even use the pickle brine to make cocktails. Watch the video above as Nicole McLaughlin, aka NicoleMcmom, shows you how to pickle red onions at home (it's so easy!) and shares 10 ways to use pickled red onions to make good food taste even better. And be sure to scroll down to get her pickled red onion recipe and tips. How to Make Quick Pickles With Just About Any Produce How to Make Pickled Red Onions Allrecipes Get Nicole's recipe for Perfect Pickled Onions Fresh, cold, and crisp pickled onions. So easy to make, you should always have these on hand to jazz up sandwiches, salads, charcuterie boards, tacos, and more. The leftover pickling liquid can be used to make dressings or marinades. They add a bright, tangy bite when served alongside rich foods. —NicoleMcmom Ingredients 3 medium red onions2 cloves garlic, or to taste1 medium jalapeño pepper, sliced, or to taste2 bay leaves½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste3 cups apple cider vinegar1 ½ cups water⅓ cup white sugar4 teaspoons kosher salt1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns Directions Cut onions into very thin slices; place in two 1-quart glass jars or one large bowl, packing them tightly together. Add garlic cloves, jalapeno slices, bay leaves, and pepper flakes.Combine vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and peppercorns in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring often until sugar and salt dissolve. Remove from the heat and let stand for 10 minutes.Pour warm liquid over the onions and press down if necessary to submerge. Cover and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. How to Pickle Onions 10 Ways to Use Pickled Red Onions Sandwiches: Brighten up any deli sandwich, burger, or saucy BBQ sandwich. Tacos: The sweet acidity is especially good on fish tacos and carnitas. Mayo-based salads: Add chopped pickled red onions to egg salads and potato salads, or use as a topper for deviled eggs. Green salads: Top any salad with pickled red onions to add flavor and eye-candy. Hot dogs: If you love relish on your hot dog, wait until you taste pickled onions. Stew or chili: The sweet and tangy bite of pickled onions balances the richness of stews and chilis. Avocado toast: Bright pink pickled red onions on avocado-green toast? It's an Instagram moment waiting to happen. (And it tastes fantastic.) Dips: Add chopped pickled red onions to rich dips like artichoke dip or stir it into pimento cheese. Marinade or salad dressing: When you finish off your onions, use the liquid like you would use any vinegar to make marinades and salad dressings. Cocktails: Pickled red onion liquid + gin = a pretty pink Gibson. Looks like a cosmo, tastes like a dirty martini. Let's just call it a new way to get pickled. Related 40 Foods You Can Pickle 8 Refrigerator Pickles to Make at Home Find More Pickle Recipes You can connect with Nicole as NicoleMcmom on Allrecipes and on Instagram @nicolemcmom. More tips, tricks, and ideas from Nicole: How to Make the Easiest Chocolate Cake From Scratch How to Make Copycat Five Guys Burgers and Fries How to Grill Easy Baby Back Ribs How to Grill Steak How to Make Fish and Chips Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit