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Home » Recipes » Pickle Recipes

Mexican Pickled Red Onions

Published: April 20, 2022 | Last Updated: January 2, 2023 | Lisa 4 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links.

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Last Updated January 2nd, 2023 at 06:22 pm by Lisa

An ad for how to make Mexican pickled red onions in a clamp jar and in a white bowl.

Mexican Pickled Red Onions are an easy recipe with no canning skills needed. Ready in 30 minutes to top hamburgers, salads, tacos, tostadas, and pulled pork.

This tasty condiment for Mexican food is just like what they serve you in restaurants. Quick pickled onions keep in the fridge for 3-4 weeks to enjoy in all kinds of ways.

The secret is lime juice, that is what makes these authentic. There is something about pickled things in a jar that always gets me, so gorgeous...

While on vacation, we found a Mexican restaurant right on the beach just off the coast of the resort town of Mazatlán.

Each heavenly bite of these fish tacos came filled with fresh toppings. They added the perfect condiments like cool slices of avocado, pickled carrots, and cabbage along with the pink onions.

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In Spanish, these are called cebollas encurtidas. They are found paired with all kinds of Mexican cuisine and are common in Central America as well.

The perfectly fried fish tacos were rich yet clean. And so heavenly with an ice-cold Pacifico beer and ocean waves crashing on the beach. Oh, and all the toppings matched the hot pink top I wore that day, I swear it wasn't planned... 🌮😎

How To Make Mexican Pickled Red Onions

You will need a glass canning Mason jar or glass container. It is nice to use a clamp-style jar, but any clean glass jar works.

  • 1 small red onion (8 ounces) cut into ¼" half-moon slices
  • 3 limes (lemon juice works in a pinch)
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup white vinegar (rice vinegar, white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or red wine vinegar)
  • 1 teaspoon of sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon dry Mexican oregano
  • 1-2 bay leaves
  • 2-3 jalapeño peppers, serrano chiles, or habanero
  1. Slice red onions into ¼" thin half-moon strips with a chef's knife. Juice all 3 limes.
  2. In a small pan, bring to a boil the water, white vinegar, sea salt, oregano, and bay leaves. Turn off the heat. Add the sliced onions and lime juice, and let cool.
  3. Once the onions cool down, add them into a jar or container with the pickle brine liquid. Add 1-2 chiles, you can slice them if you wish.
  4. Clamp the jar closed, or place the lid on and store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.
  5. You can use your onions after 30 minutes, but the flavor will be better after waiting overnight.

sliced fresh onions: white onions or sweet yellow onions all will work.

whole spices: mix it up and add some red pepper flakes, bay leaf, toasted cumin seeds, whole allspice berries, or black peppercorns.

chiles: add whole or sliced chiles like serrano, jalapeno, or a habanero if you want your tangy condiment onions spicy.

PRO TIP: Instead of just quick pickled red onions, add thinly sliced carrots, radishes, cabbage, or bell peppers to your jar!

How To Eat Pickled Red Onions

What makes this easy Mexican recipe work is the citrus juice. The acid in the limes and vinegar tames the strong flavors of the onions. You can slice thin or thicker slices of onion, and make a quick batch with this simple recipe right before dinner!

This red onion recipe is the perfect condiment for so many recipes...try on:

  • chicken tacos
  • tostadas
  • try on grilled hamburgers
  • carne asada tacos
  • chop and mix into classic taco salad
  • awesome with pulled pork sandwiches
  • shrimp tacos
  • cochinita pibil (shredded Mexican pork)
  • fish tacos
  • tuck inside a French gourmet grill cheese sandwich
  • French Gourmet Grilled Cheese
  • Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
  • Easy Taco Salad

Your pickled onions will look like this right after cooking...

And the next day after they chill in the fridge, they turn a gorgeous hot pink...

Pickled Onions FAQ

What do pickled onions taste like?

Oh, they are so good! Pickling the onions takes that harsh bitterness out of them, and makes them taste almost sweet. They are softer and not as crunchy and add a briney pickle flavor to tacos and salads.

How long do red pickled onions last?

Since you are pickling them, they are going to last over 30 days. Keep them chilled in the fridge ready to grab for recipes.

More Quick Pickle Recipes

Refrigerator Jalapeno Dill Pickles with jalapeno zing, garlic, and fresh dill require no canning and make perfectly crisp and crunchy dill pickles. Pickling cucumbers at home is easy, anyone can do it. I promise you will enjoy the process as it is quite relaxing.

If you like refrigerator pickles, try these Refrigerator Pickled Green Beans, they are perfect for a Bloody Mary garnish or a healthy snack.

The cold pickling brine gives these Zucchini Pickles a zippy flavor and crisp texture, and what a great way to use up the summer squash that grows so fast in our gardens. Pickling Spice can be made at home, you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry. Try either my Jalapeno Pickled Eggs or my Chili Pepper Pickled Eggs, so easy and a great protein snack.

  • Refrigerator Dill Pickles
  • Pickled Green Beans (Dilly Beans)
  • Zucchini Pickles
  • Jalapeno Pickled Eggs

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Mexican pickled red onions in a clamp jar and white bowl with chiles and limes on a colorful striped cloth.
Print Pin Recipe

Mexican Pickled Red Onions Recipe

Make Pickled Red Onions with no canning. These are an easy beginner pickle that takes 10 minutes to prepare and ready to eat in 30 minutes but taste even better after a couple of days. Great condiment for Mexican food like tacos, tostadas, or top salads, hamburgers, pulled pork or grilled cheese sandwiches.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4 cups
Calories 18kcal
Author Lisa Hatfield

Equipment

Epicurean Non-Slip Cutting Board
Chef Knife
Regular and Wide Mouth Mason Jar Plastic Lids
4- 1 Quart Mason jars, lids, rings

Ingredients

  • 1 small red onion 8 ounces, cut into ¼" half-moon slices
  • 3 whole limes juiced
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 whole jalapenos serano chilies or habenero hot peppers
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Slice red onions into ¼" thin half-moon strips with a chef's knife. Juice all 3 limes.
  • In a small pan, bring to a boil the water, white vinegar, sea salt, oregano and bay leaves. Turn off heat. Add the sliced onions and lime juice, and let cool.
  • Once the onions cool down, add into a jar or container with the pickle brine liquid. Add 1-2 chiles, you can slice them if you wish.
  • Clamp the jar closed, or place the lid on and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.
  • You can use your onions after 30 minutes, but the flavor will be better after waiting overnight.

Notes

Recipe Uses 

Try on tacos, salads,  hamburgers, pulled pork sliders, and slow cooker pulled pork sandwiches.

Storage

Keep in an airtight glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 weeks.

Red Onion Sizes

A large red onion weighs approximately 14 oz, they will of course vary. 
A small red onion weighs approximately 9 oz, they will of course vary. 

Onions

You can use any type of onion for this recipe such as white, yellow, or sweet Maui yellow onions. The color will be different based on the onion you use. 

Vinegar

You can use any type of vinegar for this recipe such as rice vinegar, white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.

Nutrition

Calories: 18kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 585mg | Potassium: 46mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 14IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let's see it on Instagram! Follow us @Delicious.Table and tag us on your recipe photo with #delicioustable
Need ingredients or equipment to make this recipe? Shop Now Every cooking product recommended I own, use, and love how they perform in my kitchen. Happy Cooking! Lisa
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Delicious Table earns advertising fees from qualified purchases linking to Amazon.com

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. mary drobny says

    April 29, 2022 at 5:22 pm

    5 stars
    Going to make these onions for toppers on my avocado toast! I think these onions will be good on potatoes too.

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      April 29, 2022 at 8:27 pm

      Oh that is so great Mary!!! I have a jar in my fridge right now. I am going to be doing a taco shoot really soon, and can't wait to eat them...enjoy my friend and thanks so much for your comment!

      Reply
  2. Jessica Robinson says

    April 27, 2022 at 8:24 am

    5 stars
    These were so fun to make and super simple to do! Such wonderful flavor to add to burgers- we love them on burgers with blue cheese!

    Reply
  3. Heather says

    March 07, 2018 at 10:34 am

    5 stars
    These were fun to make and try with different foods. I made them twice so I could bring a jar down to my dad and step-mom who live on a farm and they were really impressed. I didn't tell them how easy or quick it was. 🙂 I will definitely be making these regularly to have on hand. They just add a boost of flavor to everything.

    Reply

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