I know you are going to love my spicy pickled onions recipe. This 2-ingredient recipe (plus seasoning) is incredibly tasty! The best bit is how surprisingly different these lime pickled red onions taste and they only take minutes to make!
For more easy pickled vegetable recipes, try these: Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles / Spicy Dill Pickles
Mexican Pickled Onions
I have been making this recipe for years, decades even. These are a little different from traditional British-style pickled onions. They are quick and easy with no boiling or cooking required.
Lime pickled red onions are the perfect accompanying side dish for Spanish or Mexican cuisine. But, not only that they team perfectly with all salads, burgers, eggs and more. I use them for all meals including breakfast dishes.
Why You’ll LOVE It!
- It’s so tasty. This quick Mexican pickled red onions recipe is far from the old pickled onions I ate as a kid. This is a no sugar, low carb recipe.
- Quick and Easy. Only two main ingredients and all you need to do is slice, mix and chill them.
- NO cooking needed. This is a no cooking pickled onions recipe. Yay!
The Ingredients
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the quantity of ingredients used and the full detailed recipe for this red onions recipe! Keep reading for more details on the ingredients, substitutes and step by step instructions on how to make them.
You really only need 2 ingredients in this super low carb and keto-friendly onion recipe.
Red onions – aka Spanish onions are perfect for this recipe. I use fresh red onions for pickling not frozen. You can use white onion if you prefer.
Lime juice – I prefer fresh lime juice over apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar for pickled onions. You can however use apple cider vinegar if you prefer. It does make the red onions more bitter and vinegary but if that is what you would prefer go for it. ACV will also lower the carbs a little.
Seasoning – salt flakes, black pepper or red pepper flakes are perfect for this quick pickle recipe.
How to Make It
This recipe really is simple. My Mexican pickles have no cooking required. We all love that, right?
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Step 1. Peel and slice the red onions. Place them into a glass bowl or directly into a mason jar to store them in.
Step 2. Cover with lime juice and seasoning. Mix to combine or pop the lid on the jar and shake to combine. Chill for 20-30 minutes before using the sweet pickled onions on your favourite tacos, burgers, salad or comfort food. Served here with our delicious Savoury Mince recipe.
Pickle Variations
There are loads of easy ways to make spicy onion pickles. For me, this is the best pickled red onions because it is quick. A true “quickle” recipe.
If you only have white or brown onion you can still make it. I would recommend adding a little sweetener as those onions are not so sweet in flavour.
Korean Pickled Onions – add a little soy or coconut aminos and chillies (to taste).
Asian Pickled Red Onions – swap the lime juice for rice wine vinegar. Add 1/2 teaspoon of finely minced ginger too. (These are super delicious).
Ranch Pickled Onions – Oh yeah baby! Add two teaspoons of our Ranch Seasoning and that is all you need! Maybe even add some sliced dill pickle for some extra yumminess!
What to Serve Them With
These gorgeous pink coloured pickled onions pair with so many different cuisines and dishes. From tasty tangy ceviche Costa Rica, to Clear Chicken Soup, hearty Beef Casserole or even a simple Cauliflower Salad. Here are just a few different ways to serve them.
Lettuce Wraps
- Grilled Chicken Lettuce Wraps: Use large lettuce leaves as wraps and fill them with grilled chicken, avocado, and lime pickled red onions. Add some cilantro and a squeeze of lime for extra flavour. Or try them with San Choy Bow.
- Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps: Mix canned tuna with mayo, celery, and a bit of mustard. Place a scoop in each lettuce leaf and top with Mexican onions.
2. Cauliflower Rice Bowls
- Mexican Cauliflower Rice Bowl: Sauté cauliflower rice with some olive oil, garlic, and cumin. Top with grilled shrimp or chicken, avocado slices, spicy pickled onions, and a dollop of sour cream.
- Mediterranean Cauliflower Rice Bowl: Sauté cauliflower rice with olive oil and garlic or use Greek Cauliflower with Lemon and Cumin. Top with grilled lamb or beef, Haydari Dip, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and lime pickled red onions.
3. Salads
- Keto Taco Salad: Create a taco salad or pickled onion tacos with romaine lettuce, ground beef or turkey, shredded cheese, avocado, sour cream, pickled jalapenos, and lime pickled red onions. Serve them with Cottage Cheese Queso or Chile Con Queso.
- Greek Salad: Combine chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, feta cheese, olives, and Mexican pickled red onions. Dress with olive oil, lemon juice, and oregano.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes and no. One cup of onion has approximately 13g net carbs. So moderation is key.
You can but I would recommend freezing the onions before pickling. While I use fresh red onions in this easy pickled onion recipe you can use frozen but fresh is so much better if you have them.
Sure thing! Use pickle juice or brine from any of your favourite pickles. Alternatively, use some apple cider vinegar or lemon juice in its place.
More Recipes to Try
If you don’t already know what to serve lime pickled onions with then here are just a few of my favourites.
We do have a lot of delicious keto recipes in our cookbooks using red pickled onions. Check out our cookbooks Slow Cook Keto and Keto Loco for some incredibly tasty keto Mexican recipes.
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Mexican Pickled Red Onions
Equipment
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Ingredients
- 1 (1) red onion thinly sliced
- 0.5 cup (0.5 cup) lime juice approx. 5-6 limes
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) salt flakes
Instructions
CONVENTIONAL METHOD
- Place all ingredients into a large jar and shake to combine.
THERMAL METHOD
- Place all ingredients into the mixer; mix 30 sec/ reverse/speed 1. Transfer to a jar and cover with lid. Chill for at least 10-15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Your Own Notes
Nutrition
Megan Ellam is an Australian keto recipes blogger and author of amazing keto cookbooks such as Keto Mojo, Slow Cook Keto, Keto Loco, The Healthy Family Keto Cookbook and Every Day Keto.
Megan has been following a ketogenic diet since being diagnosed with insulin resistance in early 2017.
20 responses to “Mexican Pickled Red Onions”
Super easy and super delicious 😋 😍 👌 It was perfect with chicken tortilla tonight. Another amazing recipe, thank you!Yay!
What an easy and delicious pickled onion recipe! Love all the variations suggested!You are welcome Rob
perfect condiment and it’s so stinking easy to make!They sure are!
great addition on the side for my rice meals, so easy and appetizing.Absolutely!
love how quick these are to make! such a delicious topper!So perfect!
These are so delicious and perfect with anything! I love speedy pickles!I am so happy you enjoyed them.
I love this recipe. I try to have a jar in the fridge all the time. They are very easy to make and are full of flavour. Add them to wraps and I love adding them to salads.They are so tasty aren’t they.
These are perfect when you need that “zing” to help cut through rich food or just simply eat them straight from the jar..simply delicious! So quick and simple to make.Glad you enjoy them Helen
This is such a quick tasty red onion pickle. I have a jar in the fridge and just keep adding to it when it gets a little on the low side. It’s great on salads and wraps and looks pretty too. I love the zestyness of the lime juice. Such a simple recipe that’s big on flavour.They are so good aren’t they Lynda
I LOVE these pickled onions. They’re so simple to make and lift any dish I add them to, from a simple salad to tacos. I’ve even topped bacon and eggs on toast with them! So delicious.So happy you love them Penny
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