Homemade Pickles
Get ready for the most amazing homemade refrigerator pickles you’ll ever taste! These zesty garlic dills are incredibly simple to make and bursting with flavor.
During this time of year, fresh produce is abundant. There’s nothing quite like the taste of vegetables and fruits that have been allowed to ripen on the vine until they reach perfection. Although you can usually find what you need at the grocery store, the flavor just doesn’t compare when certain types of produce are out of season. Personally, I find the biggest difference in flavor between tomatoes and cucumbers.
I love canning my own produce, but on scorching hot days, who wants to spend hours boiling large pots of water and steaming up the kitchen? Not me!
Refrigerator Pickles Recipe
Our homemade refrigerator pickles are the perfect solution. You can make a single jar or multiple jars of these pickles, and they will be ready to eat after just one day of refrigeration. Plus, they are a fantastic addition to any cookout, picnic, or gathering.
Homemade Dill Pickle Recipe Ingredients
For this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- Pickling Cucumbers: Look for shorter cucumbers with bumpy skin.
- Vidalia Onion: If you can’t find Vidalia onions, a regular sweet onion will do.
- Fresh Dill Weed: Recognizable by its distinct aroma, it adds that signature dill taste to the pickles.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Its mellow fruity flavor blends perfectly with the spices in this recipe. You can also use white vinegar.
- Water: Use enough to fill the jar to the top.
- Garlic Cloves: You can never go wrong with garlic!
- Pickling Salt: If you can’t find pickling salt, kosher salt will work as a substitute.
- Granulated Sugar: Balances the savoriness of the pickles without overpowering them.
- Whole Black Peppercorns: Provides a milder taste compared to ground pepper.
- Whole Yellow Mustard Seeds: These super-small seeds are packed with bold flavor.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Adjust the spice level to your liking by adding more or less to your pickles.
How to Make Pickles
Making these dill pickles couldn’t be easier:
- Pack a clean pint-sized jar with sliced cucumbers, onion slices, and dill sprigs. Leave a 1/2 inch of space at the top for liquid.
- In a small saucepan, heat the vinegar, water, garlic, and spices until the mixture simmers and the salt and sugar dissolve.
- Allow the brine to cool down to warm, then fill the jar, ensuring everything is covered with brine.
- Close the lid tightly and refrigerate for 24 hours before eating.
I prefer to use small pickling cucumbers with thick, bumpy skin. They hold up well and stay crunchy. You don’t need too many cucumbers to fill a jar either; in fact, I was able to fit three 4-inch long sliced cucumbers in a pint-sized jar.
Zesty garlic dill pickles are my personal favorite, but feel free to adjust the recipe to suit your own taste buds. You can make them less garlicky or even sweeter if you prefer.
Tips for Refrigerator Pickles
Another great thing about homemade dill pickles is that you can use any clean jar with a lid. There’s no need to purchase special canning jars because these pickles don’t undergo the canning process. Simply pack the jars with cucumbers, a bit of onion, and dill. Then make the brine and pour it over the top. Lastly, pop the pickles in the fridge.
If you’re using jars of unconventional sizes, you may need to adjust the amount of brine to fill those jars. Additionally, feel free to experiment with different cucumber shapes. I’ve made long sandwich slices, spears, and crinkle-cut round slices. If you have a large enough jar and small enough cucumbers, you could even leave them whole.
Have fun exploring the possibilities!
See The Recipe Card Below For How To Make Homemade Refrigerator Pickles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do refrigerator pickles last?
Homemade pickles can last for up to two months in the refrigerator, but keep in mind that the longer they sit, the less crunchy they’ll become.
What are dill pickles made of?
Dill pickles are made by soaking pickling cucumbers in a brine mixture of water, vinegar, salt, and pickling spices. As the cucumbers soak, they transform into pickles.
What are the best pickles?
The best pickles are the ones you make at home! They’re simple, delicious, and allow you to know exactly what you’re consuming. These homemade refrigerator pickles taste just as good, if not better, than store-bought ones.
What other vegetables can be pickled using this recipe?
If you’re not a fan of cucumbers, you can use this pickle brine with green beans, cauliflower, bell peppers, or hot peppers.
Serve These Quick Pickles On…
- Grilled French Onion Steak Sliders
- Drowned Carnitas Party Sandwiches
- Greek Chicken Salad Sandwiches
- Homemade Sloppy Joes
- Frito Chili Cheeseburgers
- Best Ever Tuna Salad Sandwich from Simply Recipes
More Pickled Recipes
- Easy Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles
- Perky Pickled Jalapenos
- Giardiniera Pickles Vegetables
- Quick Pickled Onions
- Amazing Pickled Watermelon Rind
- Pickled Eggs and Beets
Check the printable recipe card below for nutrition information, including calories, sodium, protein, fiber, vitamin C, and calcium percentages.
Disclosure: A Spicy Perspective participates in affiliate advertising programs. We may earn a commission when you make a purchase through links on our site.
Share this amazing recipe with your friends!
