Learn how to make them at home with this easy step-by-step guide. Impress your friends and family with your homemade pickled eggs! They are so easy to make. Heat the liquid mixture, pour over hard-boiled eggs, cover, and refrigerate for the most flavorful pickled eggs you have ever had.
Enjoy them for a quick high-protein snack, in your favorite egg salad recipe, or on top of a fresh garden salad. They are very easy, and no canning knowledge is required. We love everything pickled around here. Have you tried pickled jalapenos or pickled red onions?
Ingredients Needed
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Eggs: I like to use the large ones, but you can pickle any size eggs
- Vinegar: I like to use a combination of white and apple cider vinegar
- Pickling spices: McCormick makes a pretty good pickling spice
- Other spices: Dried dill seed, coarse salt, black peppercorns, and sprigs of fresh dill
- Onion: Preferably sweet yellow or Vidalia. Both add sweetness and texture
- Garlic: Fresh, of course
How to Make Pickled Eggs
This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
- Hard-boil a dozen eggs, peel them, and place them in a mason jar or taller bowl.
- Add the vinegar, water, pickling spices, dill seed, salt, black peppercorns, and onions to a saucepan and bring it to a boil.
- Simmer the brine for a few minutes and then pour it over the eggs. Seal and refrigerate. Let them rest for 3-4 days before enjoying.
Preparation Tips
- For whiter eggs, remove most of the cloves from the pickling spice.
- Pickled eggs are best enjoyed after several days in the pickling solution; however, I have enjoyed them after twenty-four hours. The longer the eggs stay in the brine, the stronger the pickle taste.
- Store the pickled eggs in an airtight container in the fridge. They should be refrigerated and below the brine solution at all times. They will last up to 3 months when properly stored.
Steam The Eggs For Easy Peeling
I have never had trouble peeling steamed eggs. Fill a large saucepan with enough water to reach the bottom of a steamer basket. Bring it to a boil and carefully add the eggs to the steamer basket using a long-handled spoon or tongs.
Cover the pot and steam for 12-15 minutes. A single layer of medium eggs will require less time, while a double layer of large eggs will require the most time. Remove eggs to ice-cold water to stop the cooking process, or run cold water directly into the pan for several minutes to cool them quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they must be refrigerated to avoid bacterial growth. Please keep them below the brine solution at all times.
Store the pickled eggs in an airtight container in the fridge. They should be refrigerated and below the brine solution at all times. They will last up to 3 months when properly stored.
More Egg Recipes
Pickled Eggs
Ingredients
- 12 large eggs hard boiled and peeled
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons pickling spices
- 1 teaspoon dill seed
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 10 black peppercorns
- 1 sweet onion thinly sliced
- 3 sprigs fresh dill
- 2 garlic cloves
Instructions
- Place the peeled eggs in mason jars or a tall coverable container.
- Add both kinds of vinegar, water, pickling spices, dill seed, salt, black peppercorns, and onions in a saucepan and bring to a low boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Pour the hot liquid over the eggs.
- Put the garlic and dill sprigs in the jar with the eggs. Close the jars, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate for 3-4 days before enjoying!
Notes
- Store the pickled eggs in an airtight container in the fridge. They should be refrigerated and below the brine solution at all times.
- They last up to 3 months when properly stored.
Nutrition
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Patty at Spoonabilities
These pickled eggs are the best! Such a great way to use up all those hard-boiled Easter eggs!
Irina
To tell the truth, I have seen some recipes on how to make pickled eggs, but I have not given it a try, I love the idea; so, I will definitely make it. I love your recipe!
Jay
Never knew you could pickle eggs. I should try this
Thanks Beth
Melinda
How long will these last in refrigerator
Beth Pierce
You know the internet says 3-4 months if stored in the pickling juice. That sounds rather crazy to me. I would say a few weeks.
Doug
Greetings Beth,
A query. I am wondering about you using near end of date eggs?
Beth Pierce
They are so much easier to peel!
Carol Snow
If you are worried they are “bad” just place each egg in a glass of water. If it floats, you may want save it for something you crack open to check the smell, otherwise no problem. I lived on a boat for 10 years without refrigeration and I kept eggs for 3 and 4 months after I bought them from the store. I never had a bad one. The date on the carton is so the STORE can keep it’s inventory rotated. Food is still good after the ‘Best Buy’ date. To many people waste money throwing out food because of that date. Use your eyes, nose and common sense!
Doug King
right on….when in doubt throw it out! Your nose knows!
Mertie
I have been making pickled eggs and beets for over 50 years! When I got with my husband, I had to get rid of the beets as he said beets taste like how dirt smells. Yes, you can keep eggs for what seems like forever. I knew that older eggs. when boiled, peel much easier but when my dad told me that they could last much longer than the expiration date, I was surprised. As my dad spent all his summers working on his uncle’s chicken farm, I knew he was correct. I got so much information on food preservation from my grandma who was born in 1881 and my dad who was born in1919. When I was younger, we used to have a huge garden and I used to make everything from scratch and canned or froze all our produce including jams, pickles, spaghetti sauce and pie fillings too. Even made our own sauerkraut! Much older now and in a wheelchair so I had to retire myself from all that but still cook from scratch all the time!
Beth Pierce
Thanks for all the tips Mertie!
Jen
These totally remind me of my childhood! Can’t wait to make these for my kids.
Pam Greer
These are a blast from the past! I do all kinds of pickling and I can’t believe I’ve never pickled eggs! Thanks for all the tops and the easy instructions!
Lisa
Wow, I’ve never heard of pickling eggs! I eat hard-boiled eggs a lot but even I can get a little tired of the same flavor. I love the idea of pickling them to give them a slightly different flavor. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Andrea Metlika
I love picked things and this sounds wonderful. I really like that you add the onion in this to give it more flavor.
Rosa
HUGE pickle lover here so I am excited to give this one a try!