Easy Spicy Pickles

Spicy pickles make a tantalizing treat that combines the tangy taste of pickles with the kick of spices, creating a flavor explosion that's difficult to resist. They're easy to make using just a handful of ingredients and are ready to eat the next day! Enjoy them on their own or add them to burgers, sandwiches, and so much more.

Making spicy homemade pickles can be a fun and rewarding process. If you enjoy store-bought pickles, you'll be amazed by the depth of flavor and crunch you can achieve in your homemade creations. So why not try your hand at creating your own spicy pickle masterpiece? You might wind up with a signature homemade recipe that you'll enjoy for years to come.

This was inspired by my pickled habanero peppers and pickled bologna recipes and pairs well with these sides for sandwiches.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• So Easy! This recipe is super simple to make and requires only a few simple steps.
• Versatile Recipe. You can easily adjust the spices according to your preferred heat level.
• So Many Ways to Use. These zesty pickles are delicious when served with sandwiches, salads, or on their own as a tasty, low-calorie snack.

Ingredients

Here's a look at the simple ingredients you need to make homemade pickles.

• Small Cucumbers: Choose small, uniformly green, firm cucumbers with minimal discoloration for making pickles that are tasty and crisp. Small pickling cucumbers NOT regular salad cucumbers work best. Kirby cucumbers are small, and firm, have bumpy skin, and are perfect for pickling. Another option is Persian cucumbers which are small, thin-skinned, have a mild flavor, and are less watery than other cucumbers which helps them stay crunchy when pickled.
• Jalapenos: For milder heat, use jalapeño peppers without seeds and white pith so that the spiciness isn't too overwhelming or overpowering. For more heat, you can use serrano, habanero, Thai chile, or ghost peppers in your pickling brine.
• Onions and Garlic: Chopped onion and minced garlic add aromatic flavor to your pickles.
• White Vinegar: White vinegar and apple cider vinegar are most commonly used but white wine vinegar or rice vinegar also work well.
• Dill Weed: I'm using dried dill for convenience but you can also use fresh dill but will likely want to add a bit more.
• Sugar: A bit of sugar is added to balance out all the flavors. If you prefer you can swap the sugar for honey to give your pickles some natural sweetness.
• Coarse Sea Salt, Kosher Salt, or Pickling Salt: All work perfectly.
• Red Pepper Flakes: For additional heat! You can experiment with adding our jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the brine.
• Black Pepper: Necessary flavor addition.

See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.

Pickle Variations

Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this spicy dill pickles recipe.

• Add More Vegetables: Add okra, cauliflower, green beans, asparagus, or carrots.
• Add Flavors: Consider adding premade pickling spices or cumin seeds for a warm, earthy flavor, black peppercorns, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, and bay leaves.

How to Make Spicy Pickles

Here's a look at the main steps for making these homemade pickles! Be sure to check the recipe card for the full details.

1. Fill the jars with the jalapeno slices.
2. Add the onions.

3. Add the garlic
4. And then the cucumber slices.

5. Place the dill, red chili flakes, salt, sugar, and pepper in a saucepan.
6. Add the vinegar and water to the pot and heat. Allow the pickling liquid to boil for 5 minutes.

7. Pour the liquid into jars over the cucumbers.
8. Allow it to cool uncovered for about 30 minutes. Cover the jars and refrigerate overnight.

⭐️ Hint: When adjusting the heat level of your pickles, remember that it's easier to increase the heat later on by adding more hot peppers or red pepper flakes. To make your pickles less spicy is difficult and could require diluting the brine and sacrificing some pickled flavor. So start with a minimal amount of heat, and adjust as needed to create spicy pickles perfect for you.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy our pickled rhubarb.

Storage

Store your spicy homemade pickles in a clean, airtight container like a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator. Make sure pickles are covered with the brine and they will last at least a few weeks or even a month.

This recipe uses an overnight pickling method, which only requires 12-24 hours of refrigerator time before your pickles are ready to be enjoyed.

How to Serve Homemade Pickles

Spicy Pickles are not just a tasty snack to enjoy on their own but a versatile condiment to include in a variety of meals. Here are a few ideas:

• Sandwiches: Adding them to your favorite sandwiches, such as our slow cooker philly cheesesteak sandwiches, fried pork chop sandwiches, best steak sandwich, or even a ham and cheese sandwich provides a delicious burst of flavor and makes an ordinary sandwich extraordinary.
• Hamburgers: Replace regular pickles with them on old fashioned burgers, smoked burgers, and air fryer hamburgers to give them an extra zing.
• Condiment: Chop up your spicy pickles and mix them into your favorite condiments, such as garlic mayo, honey mustard mayo, or onion ketchup. This will create a customized spicy condiment perfect for dipping or spreading on your favorite foods.
• Charcuterie Boards: Spicy pickles can also be served alongside cheeses, meats, and crackers on a charcuterie board.

Tips

Here are some tips to help you achieve pickle perfection.

• Pick cucumbers that are fresh, firm, and without blemishes or discoloration as soft or overripe cucumbers will not produce a crisp final result. Smaller cucumbers tend to be firmer, have fewer seeds and are better for pickling
• For less heat remove seeds and the white membrane inside the jalapenos.
• Keep the pickles submerged in the brine at all times for best results.
• Use gloves when handling hot peppers and do not touch your eyes.
• Pack the cucumbers into the jar snuggly but not overly packed. Give them room to absorb flavors and stay crunchy.
• Allow your pickles to marinate for at least 8 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld together resulting in a more flavorful pickle.
• Start with a conservative amount of heat and adjust as necessary to create the perfect batch of homemade spicy pickles for you.

FAQ

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More Condiment Recipes

If you like pickles here they are all in one place in our Perfect Pickles - All Kinds of Hot and Sweet Pickles Recipes. Do you like making homemade condiments? Here are some recipes you may also like to try!

Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.