• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Spring
  • Recipes
  • Meal Prep
  • Courses
  • About

Allianna's Kitchen

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Spring
  • Recipes
  • Meal Prep
  • Courses
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Spring
    • Recipes
    • Meal Prep
    • Courses
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Allianna's Kitchen » Diet » Autoimmune Protocol

    Published: May 7, 2021 · Modified: Apr 26, 2023 by Allianna Moximchalk · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Mexican Pickled Onions

    53 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    jump to recipe / print recipe

    These Mexican Pickled Onions go great with just about anything! Unlike most pickled vegetables, these pickled onions are sugar free. We like to add them on top of salads, tacos, and enchiladas. I love to make them in bulk each month so that I always have them in my refrigerator when I make a dish that will pair well with them.

    Sugar free mexican pickled onions in a mason jar with a gold spoon on a platter.

    These pickled onions are tart from the vinegar but also still give you the taste of raw onion without being overpowering. The red onion is what causes the liquid of the jar to get the beautiful natural pink coloring to it. These are a great addition to my sheet pan chicken fajitas!

    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • Step by Step Instructions
    • Equipment Needed
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQ’s
    • Storage Instructions
    • Other Vegetable Recipes You Will Love
    • Want a free guide of my go to healthy alternatives?
    • Mexican Pickled Onions

    Why You Will Love This Recipe

    • It is so simple! With only six ingredients and less than 10 minutes you will have a jar of pickled onions sitting in your refrigerator for whenever you need them.
    • This recipe is naturally gluten free, sugar free, soy free, paleo, whole30, and vegan.
    • These pickled onions are so versatile and can be paired well with a multitude of dishes!
    • I love to pair these onions with my paleo sheet pan shrimp tacos for added flavor.
    • This is a great way to add flavor and crunch to your dish without adding a lot of calories.
    • This allows you to enjoy the flavor of raw onion without it being overpowering.

    Ingredients

    Mexican pickled onion ingredients in small glass bowls on a silver tray.
    • Red onions-I like to chop them up long ways nice and thin. The red on the onion is what will give your pickled onion juice the pink coloring.
    • White vinegar-This assists in the fermentation process. You will want to make sure to use white vinegar as other vinegars such as apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar will change the taste of the pickled onions.
    • Lime-This adds to the flavor.
    • Sea salt-Helps with the fermentation process. I like pink sea salt. 
    • Water – This is what will gives the added liquid to the jar of pickled onions so they all can soak equally.
    • Black peppercorns – This will add a spice and peppery flavor to the onions.

    See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

    Substitutions and Variations

    • If you do not like red onion or do not have red onion on hand, you can use the onion you have or the onion you prefer. This will change the flavor and color of the pickled onions though.
    • If you do not have fresh lime, you will. want to check to make sure pre-squeezed lime juice does not have any additives to it.

    This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you add or replace any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!

    Step by Step Instructions

    Raw onions and pickling ingredients in a silver bowl.
    First, chop the onions into small long pieces. Next, add the rest of the ingredients to a bowl and mix together. Add to a mason jar and make sure the onions are fully submerged. Shake the jar and place in the refrigerator overnight.

    Equipment Needed

    • Mixing bowl

    Expert Tips

    • Tip # 1: When slicing your onion, you will want to start by cutting the onion in half. Then, proceed to cut off the end that does not have the root and peel the outer layer off of the onion. Make sure to keep the root attached to the other side of the onion to help make it easier to cut. Then slice the onion into thing half moon slices holding the onion near the root end.
    • Tip # 2: Make sure to use whole black peppercorns so that they are easier to pick out of the pickled onions prior to eating them.
    • Tip # 3: If you cry when cutting onions, it can be helpful to place the onion halves into the freezer for a few moments prior to slicing to help prevent the onion juice from causing your eyes to water.

    Recipe FAQ’s

    What should I eat these with?

    We love serving these pickled onions with salads, tacos, chicken, and honestly just about anything.

    How long does it take the onions to pickle?

    They need to be stored in the brine for at least 12 hours. The longer, the better. The longer you let them sit, the more fermented they will become.

    Can I reuse the liquid from the pickled onions when I run out?

    If your onions have been in the refrigerator for a month then I would recommend making a new batch fresh. If it has been less than a month you can reuse the liquid and just add fresh onions to it. You will just want to make sure that the onions are fully submerged in liquid.

    Mexican pickled onions in a mason jar on a try with a slice of lime.

    Storage Instructions

    • This recipe can be stored in the refrigerator in a mason jar for up to one month.

    Other Vegetable Recipes You Will Love

    • lemon cucumber pickles 2 scaled
      Lemon Cucumber Pickles
    • whole30 coleslaw 3 scaled
      Whole30 Coleslaw (Paleo, Dairy Free, Keto)
    • IMG 3764
      Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts With Bacon And Pomegranate
    • paleo potato salad on a plate with green onion on top
      Whole30 Potato Salad (Paleo, Dairy Free)

    Want a free guide of my go to healthy alternatives?

    download FREE guide here
    Mexican pickled onions in a mason jar on a try with a slice of lime.

    Mexican Pickled Onions

    Course Snack
    Cuisine Mexican
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Fermenting tine 12 hours hours
    Total Time 12 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
    Servings 10 servings
    Author Allianna Moximchalk
    9kcal
    Cost $1
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Equipment

    • Large mason jar

    Ingredients

    • 1 whole purple onion sliced longways and very thin
    • 1.5 cups white vinegar
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 tbsp black peppercorns omit for AIP
    • 1 tsp sea salt
    • 2 whole limes juiced

    Instructions

    • Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix. Pour in a mason jar and make sure the onions are covered with the liquid. Shake and place in the fridge over night.

    Notes

    Storage: This recipe can be stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to one month. 
    Nutrition: The nutrition for this recipe is an estimate and the calorie count is not guaranteed.  It is based on 10 servings. 
    Servings: This recipe should yield 10 servings. 
    These easy pickled onions without sugar go great with just about anything!
    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 9kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 235mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Tag me on instagram @alliannaskitchen!

    More Autoimmune Protocol

    • peach cobbler in two bowls
      Healthy and Easy Vegan Peach Cobbler
    • beets and carrots on a plate
      Roasted Beets and Carrots
    • close up photo of turkey soup in a bowl
      Instant Pot Turkey Soup
    • sweet potatoes in a bowl
      Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lori says

      February 17, 2022 at 5:58 pm

      5 stars
      Love making a batch of these and keeping them in the fridge. They are the best addition to salads.

      Reply
      • Allianna Moximchalk says

        February 17, 2022 at 6:22 pm

        Perfect to have on hand! Thanks!

        Reply
    2. Alyssa says

      May 12, 2021 at 12:49 pm

      5 stars
      I seriously can’t wait to try these! Pickled onions are my fav.

      Reply
      • allianna says

        May 12, 2021 at 11:18 pm

        Mine too 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    about sidebar alliana

    Hi, I'm Allianna! Allianna's Kitchen started by accident after battling an undiagnosed autoimmune disease for nearly my whole life.

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • peanut butter and jelly chicken wings on a plate with limes
      Peanut Butter And Jelly Wings
    • close up photo of dehydrated kale chips in a bowl with nutritional yeast on top
      Dehydrated Kale Chips
    • close up photo of pork belly in a bowl
      Air Fryer Pork Belly
    • paleo hollandaise sauce on toast
      Dairy Free Hollandaise Sauce
    • gluten free fried shrimp 3 scaled
      Gluten Free Fried Shrimp
    • Gelatin and water in a glass mixing bowl with a small whisk.
      How To Make A Gelatin Egg | AIP Egg

    Spring Recipes

    • bacon wrapped asparagus 1 scaled
      Bacon Wrapped Asparagus In The Air Fryer
    • instant pot zucchini with red pepper flakes in a bowl
      Instant Pot Zucchini Recipes
    • Lemon garlic asparagus on a serving dish.
      Lemon Garlic Asparagus
    • fresh pesto in a jar
      Dairy Free Whole30 Pesto
    • dairy free strawberry pretzel salad on a plate with whipped cream on top
      Gluten Free Strawberry Pretzel Salad
    • strawberry poppyseed salad 1 scaled
      Panera Inspired Strawberry Poppyseed Salad

    Footer

    • Recipes
    • My Courses
    • Meal Prep Services
    • Contact
    • About Me
    • Blog
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Allianna’s Kitchen 2022 - All Rights Reserved