Quick Pickled Cucumbers

A serving bowl of sliced cucumbers and onions.

5 from 108 votes

Crisp and refreshing, this recipe brings out the fresh flavor in cucumbers and creates a tangy and crunchy side dish. Delicious!

Prep Time10

Cook Time0

Total Time20

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 39kcal

Author: Melinda O'Malley Keckler

Ingredients

5 cups thinly sliced cucumbers 3 or 4 English cucumbers OR 4-5 regular cucumbers; peeled, unpeeled or partially peeled - your choice
1 large onion thinly sliced - I recommend sweet onions
1 ½ cups sugar
1 cup white vinegar
3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
1 ½ teaspoons canning salt Kosher or sea salt can be used instead
1 ½ teaspoons celery seed

Instructions

Slice the Cucumbers and Onions

Thinly slice the cucumbers and onion into a large bowl or food-safe container. Toss to combine and set aside.
5 cups thinly sliced cucumbers, 1 large onion

Make the Brine

Whisk together the remaining ingredients in a glass measuring cup and pour the liquid over the cucumbers and onions.
Toss lightly so all the cucumbers and onions are coated with the brine.
1 ½ cups sugar, 1 cup white vinegar, 3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar, 1 ½ teaspoons canning salt, 1 ½ teaspoons celery seed

Chill and Serve

Serve right away or for the best flavor, cover and refrigerate for a few hours to chill all the ingredients. Serve with a slotted spoon.
The pickled cucumbers will stay fresh and tangy in the brine for several weeks, although they tend to soften and become less crunchy after 4-5 days.
It's fine to reuse the brine with another batch of cucumbers and onions!

Notes

Any variety of cucumbers will make delicious refrigerator pickles, but I've had the best results using the English Cucumber. It has a crunchier texture and a thinner peel. Serve this side dish with Sweet Corn Pasta Salad or Easy Edamame Salad for a tasty collection of sides at your next BBQ.

The nutritional details were calculated using a fraction of the sugar listed in the recipe, since the brine is strained off the cucumbers and onions for serving.

Nutrition