Spicy Pickled Red Onions and Jalapenos Recipe
This spicy pickled red onions and jalapenos recipe is a simple and flavorful condiment that takes a few ingredients and 10 minutes to make! A fantastic addition to tacos, chili, or soups.
Finely chop onions and place them in a jar with vinegar, sugar, salt, and some peppers for spice. They’re a little sweet, tangy, and savory – a great way to elevate your next dinner.
Want more great pickled vegetable recipes? Try our spicy pickled green beans, Mexican pickled carrots, and our favorite easy pickled beets recipe!
I love flavor additions like these spicy pickled onions, that are easy to make and bring big taste to any dish you put them on. I made these to top a big bowl of spicy pinto bean stew, and they were fantastic!
I also add them to soups, even prepared soups like ramen, to give a little homemade flavor to pre-made dishes.
Notes From Our Kitchen
- These onions are bright, fresh, spicy, and savory.
- They take less than 10 minutes to make.
- A simple and versatile quick pickle recipe with a few pantry staple ingredients
- The perfect condiment to serve with taco bowls, enchiladas, or burritos.
- Cooks of any skill level can successfully make these pickled onions by following along with our step-by-step photos and video below.
Ingredients You’ll Need
See our recipe card below for the full ingredient amounts and instructions.
The star of this recipe is red onions. I love the crunch, slightly spicy flavor, and deep pink color of red onions. Not only are they beautiful, but they add a fantastic flavor to any dish.
We also use jalapeño peppers for a little kick. It adds a nice amount of spice and also some great fresh flavor.
The onions are pickled in a brine of white wine vinegar, granulated sugar, and a pinch of sea salt. All of these give the quick-pickled onions a delicious tang and sweet and tart flavor.
Additions and Substitutions
You don’t have to use red onions. You can use yellow onions, white onions, or sweet Vidalia onions to pickle as well.
If you want to kick the heat up a notch, you can use habanero peppers instead of the jalapenos.
I love the classic pickle flavor of white wine vinegar. However, you can try pickling in different flavors of vinegar, like apple cider or white wine vinegar, for a more sophisticated tang.
How To Make Spicy Pickled Onions (Step-By-Step Photos_
This is a quick-pickle recipe, which lasts up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. It’s not meant for long-term storage, but is a great perishable pickle when you want something quick!
Step 1: Thinly slice the onions and jalapenos.
Step 2: Place them in a mason jar (I used a quart sized jar.)
Step 3: Add the white vinegar, which should just cover the onions. If it does not, add more to cover the onions. Add the sugar, and salt.
Step 4: Seal the jar with a lid and band, and shake well until the sugar and salt are combined. Refrigerate and use within 2 weeks.
- Thinly slice the onions and jalapenos. Place them in a mason jar (I used a quart sized jar.)
- Add the white vinegar, which should just cover the onions. If it does not, add more to cover the onions. Add the sugar, and salt.
- Seal the jar with a lid and band, and shake well until the sugar and salt are combined. Refrigerate and use within 2 weeks.
Recipe FAQs
I like a simple white vinegar for bright, fresh, and tangy onions. You can use different varieties like white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or even balsamic to alter the flavor profile!
I prefer red onions, which turn a beautiful pink color after just a few minutes of pickling. Red onions have a sharp almost spicy flavor that pairs well with jalapeno peppers in this recipe.
Absolutely, for a spicier pickle, you can add serrano peppers or habanero peppers. For a milder flavor, add Anaheim or poblano peppers.
This recipe is a quick red onion pickle recipe, so it will last in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It’s not suitable for long-term pickling and is not a shelf-stable canning recipe.
More Flavorful Condiment Recipes
- Spicy Mustard Recipe
- Honey Garlic Sauce
- Thai Hot Sauce Recipe (Fire Api)
- Spicy Chimichurri Radish Sauce
- 3 Ingredient Satay Sauce with Peanut Butter
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Spicy Pickled Red Onions and Jalapenos
Equipment
- mason jar
Ingredients
- 2 red onions sliced
- 1 jalapeno pepper sliced
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
Instructions
- Thinly slice the onions and jalapenos. Place them in a mason jar (I used a quart sized jar.)
- Add the white vinegar, which should just cover the onions. If it does not, add more to cover the onions. Add the sugar, and salt.
- Seal the jar with a lid and band, and shake well until the sugar and salt are combined.
- Refrigerate and use within 2 weeks.
Video
Nutrition
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What a treat