🌶🍯 Hot Honey Pickled Red Onions
Quick-pickled red onions with a kick of heat and a touch of honey — perfect for burgers, tacos, salads, bowls, and sandwiches.
⏱ Time
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Prep: 5 minutes
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Rest: 30 minutes (best after 1–2 hours)
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Total: ~35 minutes
🍽 Makes
About 1½ cups
📝 Ingredients
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1 large red onion, thinly sliced
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½ cup apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar)
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½ cup water
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1½ tbsp honey
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½–1 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
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½ tsp salt
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Optional:
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1 small garlic clove, smashed
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½ tsp black peppercorns
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👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prep the Onions
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Thinly slice the red onion and place into a heat-safe jar or bowl.
2️⃣ Make the Pickling Liquid
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In a small saucepan, combine vinegar, water, honey, salt, and red pepper flakes.
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Heat gently until hot (not boiling) and honey is fully dissolved.
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Stir well.
3️⃣ Pickle
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Pour hot liquid over the onions until fully submerged.
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Add garlic or peppercorns if using.
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Let cool at room temperature for 30 minutes.
4️⃣ Chill & Serve
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Refrigerate for at least 1 hour for best flavor.
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Ready to use for up to 2 weeks.
❓ Q & A
Q: How spicy are these?
Mild to medium. Use less chili flakes for gentle heat, more for extra kick.
Q: Can I use hot honey instead of regular honey?
Yes! Swap honey + chili flakes for 2 tbsp hot honey.
Q: Do I need to cook the onions first?
No — the hot pickling liquid softens them perfectly.
Q: What vinegar works best?
Apple cider vinegar adds warmth; white vinegar gives a sharper bite.
Q: How long do they last?
Up to 2 weeks in the fridge in a sealed container.
Q: What do they pair well with?
Burgers, grilled chicken, tacos, sandwiches, salads, grain bowls — basically everything 😄