This old fashioned pickled eggs recipe uses fresh dill, thinly sliced onion, white vinegar and garlic cloves to make an addictive and healthy snack that you can just keep in your fridge. They’re incredibly good and also make the best homemade egg salad or deviled eggs.
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Pin ItIf you want another option for another incredibly good old-fashioned pickled eggs recipe, try these beet pickled eggs (if you’re looking something just as classic, but with a beautiful twist).
Pickled Egg Ingredients
There are literally a thousand ways to make pickled eggs, like my jalapeno pickled eggs (which I make when I am getting a craving for spicy food).
If you’re looking for a pickled egg recipe that’s really traditional, old-fashioned and classic, here’s what you’ll need.
- Dill: I only recommend using fresh dill! Dried dill won’t be as flavorful and I don’t recommend using it.
- Vinegar of choice: I love using the classic white vinegar when making these, but you can also use other light vinegars as a substitute, my favorite being white wine vinegar or rice vinegar.
- Onion: Thinly sliced white onions are best, but red onions work as well!
- Salt: Pickling salt is prefferable, but regular kosher salt will work also.
- Fresh Garlic: Freshly peeled (don’t used jarred, pre-peeled garlic).
- Pickling Spices: You can use any brand of pre-mixed pickling spice, but my favorite is probably the classic McCormick blend.
How to Make Old-Fashioned Pickled Eggs
- Hard-Boil the Eggs. Boil your eggs for 10-11 minutes, then transfer to ice water to cool (this makes them a lot easier to peel!). Peel and set aside.
- Make the Pickling Brine. Bring the white vinegar, water, sugar, onion, pickling spices, and salt to a boil. Simmer until dissolved, then cool to room temperature.
- Pack Everything Into the Jar. Pack the hard-boiled eggs into a jar with garlic and dill. Pour brine over to cover, seal, and refrigerate at least 24 hours (best after about a week).
What Do Pickled Eggs Taste Like?
Typically pickled eggs are a mixture of sweet, salty, and vinegary. Try to imagine the taste of a hard boiled egg mixed with a mouthful of pickle juice and you wouldn’t be too far off!
They really are quite addictive and make the best snack. If you love pickles and eggs, you’re going to love pickled eggs.
How Long Do Pickled Eggs Last?
Pickled eggs last up to 1 month in the refrigerator.
I personally prefer them over water-bath canned pickled eggs, as canned, shelf-stable pickled eggs generally have a somewhat nasty texture (it’s hard to describe, but they get kind of rubbery and crumbly, which is pretty unappealing).
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Pin ItPickled Egg Recipe Variations
While I love classic dill and garlic pickled eggs, there are also so many other yummy variations!
- Beet Pickled Eggs
- Spicy Jalapeno Pickled Eggs
- Bread and Butter Pickled Eggs
- Amish Mustard Pickled Eggs
- Bloody Mary Pickled Eggs
- Soy Sauce Eggs
Pickled Egg Recipes
Beet Pickled Eggs
Pickled Egg Recipes
Spicy Jalapeno Pickled Eggs
Pickled Egg Recipes
Bread and Butter Pickled Eggs
Pickled Egg Recipes
Amish Mustard Pickled Eggs
Pickled Egg Recipes
Bloody Mary Pickled Eggs
Pickled Egg Recipes
Spicy Soy Sauce Eggs
Old-Fashioned Pickled Eggs
Equipment
- 1 large 32oz regular mouth mason jar
Ingredients
- 12 large eggs
- 2 to 3 fresh dill sprigs
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 large white onion thinly sliced
- 3 cups white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp coarse salt
- 4 tsp pickling spices
Instructions
- Add the eggs to a saucepan of boiling water and cook for 11 minutes.
- Transfer the eggs to a bowl of iced water to cool.
- Allow to sit for 5 minutes.
- Pell and set aside.
- To make the brine, add the water, vinegar, sugar, white onion, pickling spices and salt to a pot and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce the heat and simmer until dissolved.
- Remove from the heat.
- Cool the brine for 30 minutes, until it reaches room temperature.
- Pack the eggs into a jar.
- Add the garlic and dill in the jar.
- Pour the brine over the eggs, leaving 1/2″ of headspace.
- Close the jar with a nonreactive lid and refrigerate until needed.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
P.S. Here is a link to the Pickled Egg Cookbook if you want 16+ more pickled egg recipes (enjoy!).
I’ve made pickled eggs before. I think the outside of the egg white is a little tough. Is there a way to prevent that? I making this tonight. Gotta use some dill๐
Hey Kay! Most likely it’s just from boiling the eggs too long. I would try to boil them less. Here’s the method I use.
Put eggs in pot, and add cold water up to just above the eggs. Turn burner to high. Once they reach a rolling boil, turn off the burner, put a lid on the pot, and let them sit for 9 minutes. After 9 minutes, run the pot under cold water in the sink to stop the cooling process.
Just put a jar of these in the fridge. Last summer I made deviled eggs out of pickled eggs. Seriously tasty! Can’t wait to try these. thanks
Haha, amen Jerilea! Deviled eggs and egg salad are 2 of my favorite things to make with pickled eggs. SO YUMMY.
Under the “freezing” section, it says to add “1/4 of the in” with the eggs. Do i assume correctly that it is supposed to be 1/4 of the brine?
Correct, sorry! Appreciate you pointing out the typo.
Love pickled eggs , they are refreshing and hit the spot for a bite to eat on the run.
Ha, me too Shirley! They also make an insanely good egg salad ;)
This is close to how I made mine. I did my vinegar 5cups and my water 3cups but the rest is pretty close! Im happy I found your recipes! Its my first try and I was beginning to believe I frankensteined it! Lol I did mustard seed in mine! Pretty yellow color๐Ill let ya know how it turned out! My biggest concern was finding a recipe that was sugar free! Thanks!
Hey! Hoping to try the recipe in the next day or two. Was wondering thoughโฆ if I canโt find fresh dill, would it still have the delicious dill flavor from freeze dried dill? And how much would I use?
I just sometimes feel like dried herbs donโt quite hit the spot the way fresh herbs do.
Hey Elicea! The pickled eggs definitely wouldn’t have the same flavor profile, but they would still be delicious with freeze dried dill :)
Ty u 4 sharing
Awesome recipe! Make them all the time, with no pickling spice . I do use the red pepper flakes . Delicious ๐
Great base brine and instruction.
Want a fun way to use these?
Egg Salad Sandwich…. but you use the pickled eggs instead of plain ol’ hard boiled.
IM TELLIN YOU….
Okay, you’re speaking to my soul with this tip Miguel!
I TOTALLY agree with you. Once you make egg salad with pickled eggs, you will never make it with plain old hard-boiled eggs ever again, lol.