Garlic Pickles, an easy homemade refrigerator dill pickle recipe with fresh cucumbers, lots of garlic, dill, onion, and a simple vinegar brine. These crunchy overnight pickles have bold garlic flavor and make the best snack, sandwich topping, burger addition, or zesty condiment!
If you’re a garlic lover, these homemade Garlic Pickles need a permanent spot in your fridge. Fresh cucumber slices, chopped garlic cloves, dill, and onion come together in a jar with a quick pickle brine for a simple recipe packed with big flavor.
Forget complicated canning! These easy refrigerator pickles are made overnight with simple ingredients and have that crisp, cold, deli-style taste everyone loves.
They’re perfect when you’re craving something crunchy and zesty. Eat them right from the jar, pile them on a hearty sandwich, add them to burgers, or chop them into a homemade relish. A fresh batch never seems to last long!
What are Garlic Pickles?
Garlic Pickles are cucumber pickles made with plenty of garlic for a bold, savory flavor. These refrigerator-style pickles use fresh cucumbers, dill, garlic, onion, vinegar, salt, and a little sugar to create a flavorful homemade brine.
Unlike traditional canning recipes, quick refrigerator pickles are stored cold in the fridge and don’t require special equipment. The cucumber slices soak overnight until they absorb the garlic dill flavor and become crisp and delicious.
You can make garlic pickles as thin slices, pickle chips, or even spears, depending on how you like to eat them. They’re a classic pickle recipe that’s easy to customize with spicy peppers, jalapeno, red pepper flakes, or other favorite seasonings.
What I Love About This Recipe
- These Garlic Pickles have that classic homemade dill pickle flavor with an extra boost of fresh garlic. The garlic cloves, dill, and onion give the brine a bold taste that gets better as the pickles chill overnight. They taste like gourmet deli pickles but are so easy to make at home. This is the perfect recipe if you love big pickle flavor.
- I love how these quick refrigerator pickles need only simple ingredients and no complicated canning process. Just fill a jar with cucumbers and seasonings, pour the hot vinegar brine on top, and let the fridge do the work. The result is crisp and crunchy pickles with very little effort. It’s a great recipe to make when fresh cucumbers are in season.
- This recipe is easy to adjust depending on your favorite pickle style. Add jalapeno, habanero, red pepper flakes, or other peppers if you like spicy garlic pickles with extra heat. Add a little honey instead of sugar for a different sweetness or try your favorite spices. You can make every batch a little different. You can also add more or less garlic.
- These pickles are a good addition to so many meals and snacks. Add a slice to a burger, serve with pizza, chop into relish, or enjoy with sandwiches and wraps. The crunchy texture and zesty garlic flavor make everyday foods taste a little more gourmet. You’ll want a jar ready in the refrigerator all the time.
Equipment You May Need
- Mason Jar – A large glass jar is great for storing the cucumbers, garlic, dill, and brine.
- Small Saucepan – Perfect for heating the vinegar mixture and dissolving the sugar and salt.
- Sharp Knife or Mandoline – Helps slice cucumbers into thin chips, rounds, or spears.
- Cutting Board – Makes prepping the garlic, onion, and fresh ingredients easy.
- Whisk – Helps quickly mix the homemade pickle brine.
(Full printable recipe card is at bottom of post.)
Garlic Pickles Ingredients
- Fresh Dill – Gives these homemade pickles that classic dill pickle taste and fresh flavor.
- Garlic Cloves – The star ingredient! Fresh chopped garlic adds bold, zesty flavor throughout the whole jar.
- Onion – Adds extra savory flavor to the refrigerator pickle brine.
- Cucumbers – Small or mini cucumbers work best because they stay crisp and crunchy. Slice thin or make pickle spears if you prefer.
- Water – Helps create the base of the simple homemade brine.
- White Distilled Vinegar – Adds the tangy pickle flavor. You could experiment with other vinegars like apple cider vinegar for a different taste.
- Sugar – Balances the vinegar and salt. Honey or another favorite sweetener can also work.
- Kosher Salt – Helps season the cucumbers and bring out their flavor.
- Black Pepper – Adds a little extra spice to the brine.
How to Make Garlic Pickles
Step One: Prepare the Pickle Jar
Place fresh dill, chopped garlic, and onion in a large mason jar. Add sliced cucumbers on top.
Step Two: Make the Garlic Brine
Heat water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan until boiling. Pour over cucumbers, cool slightly, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
(Full printable recipe card with full details is at bottom of post.)
Serving Suggestions
- Eat these Garlic Pickles cold straight from the jar for a crunchy snack.
- Add pickle chips to burgers, sliders, or your favorite sandwich.
- Chop into homemade relish for hot dogs, wraps, or hearty meals.
- Serve with pizza, ranch dip, cheese boards, or appetizer trays.
- Pair with grilled meats, barbecue, or simple summer dinners.
- Add spicy garlic pickles with jalapeno, sriracha, or hot peppers for extra heat.
Quick Tips for Best Results
- Use small or mini cucumbers for the best crispy pickle texture.
- Make sure the cucumber slices stay completely covered with the vinegar brine.
- Add more or less garlic depending on how strong you want the flavor. Or even a little garlic powder for a stronger flavor.
- Slice cucumbers evenly so the whole batch pickles at the same speed.
- Try red pepper flakes, jalapeno, habanero, or your favorite spice for hot garlic pickles.
- Store these in the refrigerator since this is a quick pickle recipe and not traditional canning.
Garlic Pickles FAQ
How should I store Garlic Pickles?
Store Garlic Pickles in a covered mason jar or airtight glass container in the refrigerator. Keep the cucumbers covered with brine so they stay crisp and full of garlic dill flavor.
Can I freeze Garlic Pickles?
I would not recommend freezing these pickles. The cucumber slices can lose their crunchy texture once frozen and thawed.
How long will Garlic Pickles last?
These refrigerator pickles should last about 1-2 weeks when stored properly in the fridge.
Substitutions?
Instead of granulated sugar, you could use honey or your favorite sweetener. Instead of garlic cloves, you can try using garlic powder.
Can I use low-fat ingredients?
These homemade pickles are naturally low-fat. Just check specific ingredient brands if needed.
What else can I add to this recipe?
Try adding mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, jalapeno, habanero, extra dill, or other favorite spices. You can also add garlic powder to the brine.
Can I make this vegan/vegetarian/low carb/gluten-free?
Here are some suggestions, but I can’t guarantee results. Be sure as always to check particular brands and ingredients if you’re following a specific diet or have diet restrictions or allergies.
Vegan – These pickles should be vegan, but check individual ingredients.
Vegetarian – It’s vegetarian. Be sure to check individual brands/products just to be sure though.
Low-Carb – You can try a sugar substitute for a lower-carb option.
Gluten-Free – These should be gluten-free, but always check ingredient labels.
Other Recipes You May Enjoy
- Refrigerator Italian Pickles – Easy homemade refrigerator pickles with Italian flavors.
- Garlic Cheddar Drop Biscuits – Homemade Red Lobster copycat biscuits.
- Garlic Herb Taco Seasoning – A simple taco seasoning blend with lots of garlic!
Hope you enjoy these easy homemade Garlic Pickles. Tell me in the comments if you like your pickles extra garlicky or spicy!
You may also like these Mexican Refrigerator Pickles!
Garlic Pickles
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh dill
- 2 Tablespoons garlic cloves chopped (about 6 large cloves)
- 1 Tablespoon onion chopped
- 1 1/2 cup thinly sliced small cucumbers (about 3 small cucumbers)
- 3/4 cup water
- 6 Tablespoons white distilled vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- dash black pepper
Instructions
- Place dill, garlic, and onion in a large mason jar. Place sliced cucumbers on top.
- Meanwhile, place the water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in small saucepan over high heat. Whisk until mixture comes to a boil. Pour hot liquid over cucumbers. Cool slightly, then place top on jar and refrigerate overnight.
Notes
- We had better luck with small cucumbers rather than larger ones.
- Make sure your cucumbers are completely covered with the liquid.
- You can add more/less garlic for more/less garlic flavor.
- Instead of granulated sugar, you could use honey or your favorite sweetener.
- Instead of a large mason jar, you could use another large container, although I would suggest not using plastic.
Nutrition:
(Nutrition data is provided when available for informational purposes only and calculated using an online nutritional calculator. For the most accurate information please calculate based on specific ingredients and brands you use as well as any changes you made to the recipe. I am not a certified nutritionist or registered dietician and any nutritional information provided should only be used as a general guideline and estimate.)
About Lisa Huff
Lisa Huff is a Cookbook Author, Freelance Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Blogger/Writer, and award-winning home chef. She loves creating unique recipes from healthy to decadent including cocktails, appetizers, main dishes, dessert recipes and more and has appeared on various shows, publications, and websites.
