Do you love the tangy, delicious flavor of pickled eggs? Learn how to make them at home with this easy step-by-step guide. Impress your friends and family with your homemade pickled eggs! It is so easy, just 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 so easy, and no knowledge of canning skills is required. We love everything pickled around here. Have you tried pickled jalapenos or pickled red onions?
Ingredients Needed
- Eggs: I like to use the large ones, but you can pickle any size
- 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
Hard boil a dozen eggs, peel them, and place them in a mason jar or taller bowl that does not require too much liquid to soak them. Meanwhile, make the brine by adding both kinds of vinegar, water, pickling spices, dill seed, salt, black peppercorns, and onions to a saucepan and bringing it to a boil.
Then, simmer for about five minutes. Pour over the hard-boiled eggs and add the fresh dill sprigs, onion slices, and garlic cloves. Finally, cover it with the lid, place it in the refrigerator, and let it sit for 3-4 days before enjoying.
Preparation Tips
- For whiter eggs, remove most of the cloves from the pickling spice.
- Pickled eggs are best 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.
- Enjoy the pickled onions in the jar as well. They are delicious.
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 icy cold water to stop the cooking process, or let the cold water run directly into the pan for several minutes to cool them down quickly.
More Egg Recipes
Grandma’s 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
- Follow my tips for hard-boiling eggs, with the most important tip being purchasing eggs that are close to expiration.
- For whiter eggs, remove most of the cloves from the pickling spice.
- Pickled eggs are best after several days. However, I have enjoyed them after twenty-four hours.
- Keep pickled eggs refrigerated at all times.
- Enjoy the pickled onions in the jar as well. They are delicious.
Nutrition
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Erin
I’m glad I finally made these! They’re so easy and rewarding! It’s absolutely addictive, you’ll be hooked after one bite!
Krystle Smith
I love this recipe! So easy to whip up – just a quick boil of the pickling liquid, pour over the eggs, and let the fridge do its magic.
Amanda M
This recipe takes me back to my childhood! I cannot get enough of these!
Kim Roberts
Can I use dill seed instead of the fresh dill?
Beth Pierce
Yes you can. If you don’t have any sprigs of fresh dill just use another 1/2 teaspoon of dill weed.
Sherry
Can I reuse the pickling juice after the eggs are eaten, can I just add more eggs and let them sit in juice then. Thanks for the help, I appreciate it.
Beth Pierce
I am always hesitant to say yes on things like that since food safety comes first.
Amy
Thank you for sharing your grandmas recipe. These are the tastiest pickled eggs I’ve ever made! I love that there’s no sugar in them; same as how I grew up eating pickled eggs. This is by far my favourite pickled egg recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much, Amy! The pleasure is all mine!
Lorie Atkinson
Really good just like my mom used to make definitely a keeper. Only thing I did was cut out the sugar
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Lorie! So glad that you liked the pickled eggs.
Barbara Miller
Great recipe! Try putting the boiled eggs in the juice from hot or mild chili pepper jars, add fresh sliced onion great treat.
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tip Barbara! I will try it will the brine from banana peppers.
Bonnie Click
No sugar??
Beth Pierce
I like them without sugar but you can certainly add 1/4 cup or so.
Kathleen
Me and my dad love to make pickled eggs together but we haven’t been been able to find that perfect recipe but this one sounds amazing I can’t wait to try it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Kathleen! Enjoy!!
Patty
Can you tell me what size jar i would need for this? Can i use 2 jars?
Beth Pierce
32 ounce. Yes you can use 2 jars.
Ian
This is exactly what I have been looking for. My main question is, how long do these keep in the fridge?
Beth Pierce
2-3 months but they must be refrigerated
Captain Mike
I saw the recipe and with all the great reviews, I had to give it a try. Just finished cooling and put it in the fridge but I noticed the garlic cloves turned green… is that normal?
Beth Pierce
Hey I found an interesting article on that. I have never had that happen. Why does my garlic turn green?
Mandy
What is “picking spices”?
Beth Pierce
Pickling spices are a blend of typically 6 to 8 seasonings and spices used for pickling. They are sold as a blend at most grocery stores in the spice isle.
Heidi Schaffer
I love anything pickled and this was my first time making pickled eggs! SO delicious!! Can’t wait to make again!
Betsy
These were good! Never had one before and I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. I think I’ll kind of have to be in the right mood for the next one, but they WERE good and I’m looking forward to being in that mood again!
Lily
These were amazing, so easy to make!! I love having pickled eggs in the fridge and adding them to salads.