This old-fashioned Cucumbers and Onions in Vinegar recipe is also an easy version of quick pickled cucumbers and onions. These crisp refrigerator pickles add crunch, texture and the just the right amount of tang served as a Southern summer side dish at your next BBQ.
Cucumber and onion salad is a 5 ingredient recipe if you don’t count water!
Also known as refrigerator pickles or "cucumbers and vinegar", this quick pickle recipe takes less than 10 minutes of hands-on prep.
Then, all you need to do is set them aside in the refrigerator for a couple of hours to marinate. In fact, the longer this vinegar cucumber onion salad is left to marinate, the more flavor is absorbed.
I remember growing up with a bowl of these often in the fridge all summer long, right next to a jar of propagated green onions. Another favorite refrigerator pickle I love to make, now, is Quick Pickled Red Onions.
Shortcuts
- Using an inexpensive, hand-held mandolin slices cucumber and onions quickly and evenly.
- If your cucumbers have large seeds in them, you can slice the cucumbers in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds by raking a small spoon down the middle.
- English cucumbers do not need to be peeled or seeded.
- This same pickling liquid can be used to pickle other fruits and vegetables, so make a double batch of the pickling liquid and pickle some matchstick carrots or radishes.
This simple recipe for cucumbers and onions in vinegar makes an ideal make-ahead side dish for taking to your next summer potluck, back yard cook out, or picnic with family and friends.
Ingredients
What you will need to make this marinated cucumber and onion salad.
Scroll down to printable recipe for exact ingredient quantities.
These burpless cucumbers (also called English cucumbers) came from my garden.
- Distilled white vinegar or white wine vinegar
- Warm water
- Granulated sugar
- Salt
- Two large Cucumbers, one or two English Cucumbers, or 3 or 4 Kirby cucumbers
- Sweet onion
If you love creamy cucumber salad, try my shortcut Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad.
How to make Pickled Cucumbers and Onions in Vinegar
Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe with detailed instructions.
- Whisk together vinegar, water, sugar, and salt.
- Peel the cucumbers and cut into ⅛ to ¼-inch thick slices.
- Peel and slice the onion.
Pro Tip: Use very warm water to help melt the salt and sugar.
A keto cucumber onion salad can be made simply by leaving out the sugar in this recipe.
- Add the cucumber and onions to the vinegar mixture in a bowl with a lid or right in a large jar with resealable lid.
- Cover and chill in the fridge at least 1 to 2 hours for the best cucumber onion salad.
- Serve with a slotted spoon and sprinkle with some black pepper, if you like.
It's that easy to make
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Substitutions & Variations
- Creamy Cucumber Salad - Replace vinegar, water, sugar and salt with Ranch dressing or Greek yogurt and fresh dill. Here's my shortcut creamy version.
- Marinated Cucumbers and Onions - Marinate sliced cucumbers with a simple store-bought olive oil vinaigrette.
- Fresh herbs - sprigs of dill, mint, oregano or parsley can be added to the pickling liquid.
- Spice things up - add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Pickled Cucumbers and Red Onions- Thinly sliced red onion makes a colorful marinated cucumber onion salad. Sprinkle in some feta cheese for a Greek marinated cucumber salad.
- Pickled Vegetables - Add cherry tomato, radish, bell peppers, zucchini, shallot, and carrot can all be added to the same pickling liquid.
Don't like onions? Just leave them out and add and extra ½ cup of cucumber slices.
Love onions? Here's my recipe for Quick Pickled Red Onions.
Helpful Information
Yes, I recommend peeling the cucumbers and discarding the tough outer skin. However, if you are using an English cucumber or burpless cucumber, you don't need to peel it first as it has a thinner skin and less bitter.
You can use any vinegar for quick-pickled cucumbers and other vegetables. I like to use white distilled vinegar or white wine vinegar. Other vinegars are red wine or sherry vinegar can be used, however the darker vinegars will slightly discolor the cucumber and onions.
You can store this pickled cucumber and onion salad, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
What to serve with Cucumbers and Onions in Vinegar
This tangy side dish is ideal for serving alongside any main dish. When you are grilling out, it's the perfect salad to accompany grilled burgers, chicken breast and shrimp. It's also delicious with fried chicken.
Try it with my Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Wings.
Some of my other summer side dish recipes to serve with pickled cucumbers and onions are Corn Avocado Tomato Salad, and Sour Cream & Green Onion Potato Salad with Bacon.
Storage Tips
- To Store. Store pickled cucumber and onions salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
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Want more easy pickle recipes?
Cucumbers and Onions in Vinegar
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Equipment
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup distilled white vinegar or white wine vinegar
- ¼ cup very warm water
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
- 1 teaspoon table salt (1 teaspoon Kosher salt)
- 2 large cucumbers or one large English cucumber (2 cups sliced)
- ½ cup sweet onion slivers half of a small onion
- Freshly ground black pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk together vinegar, water, sugar, and salt in a medium size bowl.
- Peel the cucumbers. If cucumbers are large, you can remove seeds. (If using English cucumbers, no need to peel or seed.) See NOTE below.
- Slice the cucumbers about ⅛ to ¼-inch thick. Add the cucumber and onions to the vinegar mixture and stir gently.
- Cover and chill in the fridge at least 2 hours to marinate or "pickle". The longer they marinate, the more flavor the cucumber and onions absorb. Serve with a slotted spoon. Sprinkle with black pepper, if you like.
Notes
- Creamy Cucumber Salad - Replace vinegar, water, sugar and salt with Ranch dressing or Greek yogurt and fresh dill.
- Store-bought vinaigrette - Marinate sliced cucumbers with a simple olive oil vinaigrette.
- Red Onion- Red onions are fairly sweet and add color and flavor.
- Apple Cider Vinegar- I'm a huge fan of apple cider vinegar and the extra flavor it adds to recipes, but be aware that it discolors the white onion and light colored cucumbers, slightly.
Nutrition
Nutrition analysis on GritsAndGouda.com recipes are mostly calculated on an online nutrition calculator. I am not a dietitian and nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on products used.
Mary
I have made this quite often especially in the summer when I need a quick carry-in dish. The only thing that I do different is, I add a few shakes of Old Bay it gives It a little bit of a kick start.
Kathleen
Oh! I love that idea! I'll have to try it that way!
Lisa
This salad sounds amazing. I usually use oil instead of water but I will definitely give this a try.
Kathleen
I do hope you try it! It's one of the most popular recipes on my website. The water gives the cucumbers and onions an extra extra crisp texture!
Susan
This is so simple and so delicious. I made it the first day and it was all gone the next so today I made it again for tomorrow. I used Monkfruit for the sweetener. It was just perfect! We love that it’s so fresh, light, filling snd adds a nice taste variation to our summer meals!!
Kathleen
Using Monfruit for the sweetener is a great idea! Thank you for sharing!
Jodie Kay Baker Minor
Super simple way to use those fresh garden cucumbers that are piling in from the garden! I made this for church fellowship meal and there was barely a serving left!
Kathleen
Oh! Potlucks are perfect for this easy salad. So glad you could take home an empty dish. That's always a good sign of a good recipe!