Pickled Red Onions Canning – Easy Homemade Recipe
Pickled Red Onions Canning
Pickled red onions canning is a simple yet transformative way to preserve the bright, zesty flavor of red onions. With their vibrant color and crisp texture, these pickled gems add an instant pop to sandwiches, salads, tacos, and charcuterie boards. The process of canning pickled red onions takes a humble kitchen staple and turns it into a versatile, shelf-stable condiment that bursts with flavor. Unlike raw onions, the pickling process softens their sharp bite while infusing a tangy sweetness from vinegar, balancing with the natural sugar in the onions.
What makes pickled red onions canning so special is the way it preserves both flavor and freshness. The acidic environment created by vinegar prevents spoilage while enhancing the onion’s natural taste. Many home cooks love the tangy crunch of these pickles, which adds depth to everyday meals without overpowering other flavors. Pickled red onions also bring an aesthetic appeal, turning a simple dish into something visually striking with their bright red hue.
Canning allows you to store these pickled red onions safely for months, making them a convenient and flavorful addition to your kitchen pantry. When combined with other Fermentation Ideas and Mason Jar Fermentation Recipes, pickled red onions become part of a broader repertoire of Homemade Fermented Foods, Probiotic Fermented Foods, and easy, DIY Ferment Recipes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You will appreciate this pickled red onions canning method because it is approachable, reliable, and produces consistent results. The recipe highlights the natural sweetness of red onions while balancing acidity, making every jar taste vibrant and fresh. Unlike simple pickling methods that may leave onions soft or overly sour, this canning technique preserves crispness while achieving a bright red color that is visually appealing.
Another reason this recipe stands out is its versatility. These pickled red onions complement a wide range of dishes, from salads to tacos, roasted vegetables, and even breakfast bowls. Their tangy-sweet flavor works as a topping, side, or garnish. Using a carefully balanced brine of vinegar, sugar, and salt ensures that the onions maintain a perfect texture and flavor throughout the storage period.

This pickled red onions canning recipe is also an entry point into the world of Lacto Fermentation Recipes and Fermented Veggies Recipes. By combining simple kitchen ingredients with a precise technique, you can explore Probiotic Fermented Foods and DIY Fermented Foods while enhancing your cooking repertoire.
The method is structured for home cooks who want professional results without complex equipment. You do not need specialized fermentation crocks or laboratory-like setups; a few Mason Jar Fermentation Recipes and attention to detail will yield the best pickled red onions every time.
Preparation and Cooking Time, Also Serving
These jars can be stored for up to 3 months when properly canned, providing an ongoing supply of vibrant, flavorful pickled red onions. The recipe also scales easily for larger batches.
Ingredients
Substitution Notes
Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Onions
Peel and thinly slice the red onions. Aim for uniform slices, roughly ⅛ inch thick, so they pickle evenly. Place the slices in a large bowl. This ensures each onion piece absorbs the brine consistently.

Step 2: Make the Brine
In a medium saucepan, combine apple cider vinegar, water, sugar, and salt. Add peppercorns and optional spices. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar and salt dissolve completely and the mixture comes to a gentle simmer.

Step 3: Pack the Jars
Sterilize 16-ounce Mason jars by boiling or washing in hot, soapy water and rinsing thoroughly. Pack the sliced onions into the jars, leaving about ½ inch of headspace at the top. Add one garlic clove per jar and any optional herbs or spices for flavor. Ensure the onions are tightly packed but not crushed.

Step 4: Add the Brine
Pour the hot brine over the onions, covering them completely while maintaining ½ inch of headspace. Tap the jars gently to remove air bubbles. Wipe the rims clean and seal with sterilized lids and rings.

Step 5: Process the Jars for Canning
Place the jars in a boiling water bath, ensuring water covers jars by at least 1 inch. Boil for 15 minutes. Carefully remove jars and place on a kitchen towel to cool. You should hear the lids pop as they seal, indicating a proper vacuum seal. Allow jars to cool completely, about 12 hours. Check seals before storing. Lids should not flex when pressed.
How to Serve
Pickled red onions can be served as a topping for tacos, burgers, or grilled meats. They enhance salads, roasted vegetables, and sandwiches with a bright, tangy crunch.
They also pair beautifully with creamy dips or spreads, offering contrast in both flavor and texture. For platters and charcuterie boards, arrange onions in small bowls or jars to maintain color and freshness.
For everyday use, add a few slices to avocado toast or grain bowls for a pop of flavor and visual appeal. Bright Red Pickled Onions elevate simple dishes effortlessly.
Additional Tips

Recipe Variations
Freezing and Storage
Nutritional Information
Approximate values per 2-tablespoon serving
Values vary slightly depending on vinegar type and sugar used.
Final Words
Pickled red onions canning is more than just a preservation technique; it is a way to bring vibrant flavor, texture, and color to your everyday meals. By mastering this method, you gain a reliable way to enjoy tangy, crisp onions year-round. Each jar showcases the bright red hues and sharp, yet balanced flavor that make pickled onions a favorite topping for tacos, sandwiches, salads, and roasted dishes. Taking the time to carefully slice, brine, and properly seal your onions transforms a simple ingredient into a culinary staple that elevates even the most basic recipes.
This recipe also opens the door to exploring broader fermentation practices and homemade preserving techniques. By following these steps, you can experiment safely with Mason Jar Fermentation Recipes, Lacto Fermentation Recipes, and other Probiotic Fermented Foods. It encourages home cooks to develop confidence in handling ingredients, balancing acidity and sweetness, and understanding how preservation techniques impact both flavor and texture. Whether you are preparing quick refrigerator pickles or long-term canned jars, this method ensures that your pickled red onions remain crisp, flavorful, and visually stunning every time.
Finally, canning pickled red onions is a rewarding process that combines practicality with culinary creativity. Once you experience the satisfaction of opening a jar filled with vibrant, perfectly pickled onions, you will appreciate how this simple addition can transform meals and elevate everyday cooking. Each batch offers opportunities to tweak flavors, experiment with spices, and create signature versions that reflect your taste. By investing a little time and care, you turn humble red onions into a versatile, shelf-stable condiment that brings both flavor and joy to your kitchen.
FAQ’s
Pickled Red Onions Canning – Easy Homemade Recipe
Course: Snacks4
servings20
minutes15
minutes15
kcalIngredients
4 medium red onions, thinly sliced
1 ½ cups apple cider vinegar
1 cup water
½ cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
2 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
Directions
- Peel and thinly slice the red onions. Aim for uniform slices, roughly ⅛ inch thick, so they pickle evenly. Place the slices in a large bowl. This ensures each onion piece absorbs the brine consistently.
- In a medium saucepan, combine apple cider vinegar, water, sugar, and salt. Add peppercorns and optional spices. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar and salt dissolve completely and the mixture comes to a gentle simmer.
- Sterilize 16-ounce Mason jars by boiling or washing in hot, soapy water and rinsing thoroughly. Pack the sliced onions into the jars, leaving about ½ inch of headspace at the top. Add one garlic clove per jar and any optional herbs or spices for flavor. Ensure the onions are tightly packed but not crushed.
- Pour the hot brine over the onions, covering them completely while maintaining ½ inch of headspace. Tap the jars gently to remove air bubbles. Wipe the rims clean and seal with sterilized lids and rings.
- Place the jars in a boiling water bath, ensuring water covers jars by at least 1 inch. Boil for 15 minutes. Carefully remove jars and place on a kitchen towel to cool. You should hear the lids pop as they seal, indicating a proper vacuum seal. Allow jars to cool completely, about 12 hours. Check seals before storing. Lids should not flex when pressed.
