In mid-late summer gardens both big and small explode with their bounty. This is why we toiled, sweated and nurtured. This Pickled Cucumbers recipe is SO easy and gets rave reviews.
If you need to know what do do with garden cucumbers, besides eating them fresh from the garden with S&P. Or sliced into salads, or the Polish way with sour cream. Try making Pickled Cucmbers. It is a great way to both use them up and have them in the fridge for when the mood strikes.
No need to know how to can pickles for this easy recipe. All you need are fresh cucumbers and a handful of other pantry staples.
Another quick and easy pickled salad recipe to try?? This AMAZING Korean Carrot Salad! Make it once and enjoy all week! If you like kimchi or pickled ginger this easy recipe is for you!
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- cucumbers
- red onions (optional)
- white vinegar
- sugar
- celery flakes
- red pepper
- kosher salt
- water/ice
Variations
- I add red onions for both flavor and color. If you dislike onions, you can leave these out.
- Add in a few cloves of freshly peeled garlic.
- Depending on what I have in the garden, I may add in slices of jalapeno, as well as slices of hot cherry peppers or chili peppers, long hots etc. However based off your heat preference, taste the peppers before adding to see just how spicy they are. Pickling slightly reduces heat.
- If you are using hot peppers, you may wish to only add in a small amount or red pepper flakes or none at all.
- Toss in sweet peppers or even carrot slices if you like.
- If you have peppercorns in the house feel free to toss a ½ teaspoon of any variety. If not don't purchase them just for this.
- Sometimes I spiralize these (spiralized spicy pickled cucumbers), that's so easy and fun and ready in just a couple hours, great in a number of Asian / Korean dished, salads and more.
These Quick & Easy Sweet & Spicy Pickled Cucumbers are a perfect & light accompaniment to any BBQ meal and they seem to be a go-to late night snack for my hubs and kids
They compliment salads, sandwiches and even certain stir fry's.
If you're looking for something to do with your garden cucumbers, or the ones a lovely neighbor or family member may have gifted you, or those from a farmers market / grocery store. Try this! It is ready to eat in about 18 hours, plus these Quick & Easy Sweet & Spicy Pickled Cucumbers make a fantastic hostess or food gift!
Tips
- Fresh cucumbers work best.
- Don't slice too thin, not see-through. You want some crunch.
- Play around with the recipe and adjust the heat level or the sweetness level. I call these sweet and spicy pickles because you get a hit of both.
- FYI - The red onion makes the pickles and brine turn pinkish.
This is also a great way to cook with your kids! Kids who have an understanding of a knife can help slice your cucumbers and just about any age can help pack the jars. Then, they can proudly announce..."I made this and give jars away as gifts!!"
Storage
- Store in airtight jars in your refrigerator for up to 5 weeks.
- Flavor will continue to deepen over time.
Do you have a favorite vegetable to pickle?
The below image is from 2013, those jars weren't packed tight (these were give away gifts for friends. A sample, lol!)
Recipe originally posted July 2013. Updated August, 2024.
Hope you and yours enjoy this homemade sweet & spicy pickles as much as we do!! Enjoy! XO Colleen
Recipe you may want to try
Sweet & Spicy Pickled Cucumbers
Equipment
- 4 Quart Sized Mason Jars
Ingredients
- 4-5 large cucumbers sliced
- 1-2 red onions sliced thin
- 3 ¼ cups white vinegar
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- 1 TBS celery flakes (or celery seed)
- 1-2 teaspoon red pepper flakes depends on how spicy you like it
- 1 ½ TBS Kosher salt
- 3 ¼ cups of ice
- see notes for optional add-ins
Instructions
- Toss your sliced cucumbers and onions in a large bowl, then fill each jar with the mixture, gently pushing down the veggies to allow room for more. If adding peppers, peppercorns etc. Do so here.
- In a pot, combine the vinegar, sugar, celery flakes, red pepper flakes and salt and bring to a boil. Remove the pot from the heat and add in 3 cups of ice.
- Stir until the ice is melted. Pour mixture into your jars, until you are just shy of the top. Push down on the cucumbers (with a spoon, muddler or something similar) to allow any air bubbles to escape and fill to just under the top. Ensuring all cucumbers are submerged.
- Place the lids on and allow jars to cool to room temperature.
- Place jars in the refrigerator until you are ready to enjoy or share them. They will be ready the next day (sometimes after 18 hours they are good to go. Flavor will continue to deepen.
Asha Shivakumar says
It was such a funny post from the neighbor to the rascals..:)
You grow that much in your garden, Wow. The pickles look soooo good, I would put in on everything..
isabelleathome says
Hi Colleen, saw your recipe on Tasty Kitchen. I made your pickled cucumbers last week. I also made some pickled carrots and I am blogging about it tomorrow (Monday) I did connect your recipe, I always give credit where credit is due! 🙂 Just wanted to let you know 🙂 Great recipe. Have a wonderful week.
Lori M Smith says
Can these be water bathed to last longer?
Colleen says
Hi Lori, I can't answer that since I have never canned. Something I really would like to learn.
Deb says
Since the cucumbers and onions are fresh and placed into jars without processing (cooking), you can not hot water bath.
An alteration to the recipe to include hot water bath (canning):
In a pot, combine the cucumbers, onion, vinegar, sugar, celery flakes, red pepper flakes and salt. Add in 3 cups of ice, stir until the ice is melted and bring to a boil.
Pour mixture into your jars, until you are just shy of the top. Remove air bubbles.
Place the lids on.
Process in a hot water bath for 15 mins.
Billy says
I love that you included some red onion in the pickle - to be frank, pickled red onions are my favorite pickle by far! Cucumbers are a close second - so killing two birds with one stone and using your recipe is gonna send me to the moon! Thank you for sharing!
Colleen says
Awesome Billy! Thanks...I hope you enjoy!
Merianne says
What are celery flakes? A spice? I know of celery salt and celery seeds. Please advise. Recipe looks awesome. Thanks, Merianne
Colleen says
Hi! They are dried celery leaves and stalk portions. I buy McCormick brand.
Belkis Salgueiro says
Hi can i just use white onion if I don’t have red? Will the flavor be totally different?
Colleen says
I have never tried it with white. The flavor will be different since red onion is sweeter (same goes for Vidalia). It should still be a delish accent!
Lyne says
these look really yummy.Can I can them instead.we don't eat a lot of pickles so I mlike to can them instead.
Colleen says
You sure can, I am jut not a canner, so I can't tell you with authority how to can. Hopefully one day, I'd love an in person class or something like that.