Refrigerator Sweet Pickles, an easy sweet dill pickle recipe full of flavor and ready the next day. No canning needed for these simple pickles that can be eaten as a snack, added to burgers, or made into relish!
(For your shopping convenience, this post contains affiliate links.)
These easy Refrigerator Sweet Pickles are perfect for summer! Great way to use up some of those summer cucumbers. The best for summer picnics, BBQs, and potlucks.
I’m not one for canning, so refrigerator pickles have been my go-to for years! These sweet pickles are a bit sweet and sour thanks to the sugar and vinegar. If pickles aren’t your thing, give these Pickled Jalapeños a try.
What are Refrigerator Pickles
Refrigerator Pickles are easy homemade pickles that do not need to go through the “canning” method. You generally pour a hot brine over the cucumbers (or vegetables) and refrigerate overnight or longer. Easy!
You do need to store the pickles in the refrigerator. They are not shelf-stable since they did not go through the typical canning method BUT they last a long time in the fridge.
(Full printable recipe card is at bottom of post.)
Sweet Pickles Ingredients
- Fresh dill
- Garlic
- Onion
- Cucumbers (small thin firm cucumbers that don’t have a lot of seeds tend to work best)
- Water
- White vinegar (or vinegar of choice but can change the taste of the pickles quite a bit
- Sugar
- Salt
- Pepper
How to Make Refrigerator Sweet Pickles
- PREP INGREDIENTS. Place dill, garlic, and onion in a large mason jar. Fill jar to top with cucumbers.
- MAKE BRINE. Meanwhile, place the water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in small saucepan over high heat. Whisk until the mixture comes to a boil and sugar has dissolved. Pour hot liquid over cucumbers. Cool slightly, then place top on jar and refrigerate overnight. Shake occasionally.
Uses for Sweet Pickles
- Delicious on or in sandwiches (like on this Chick-fil-A Sandwich), burgers (like these Killer Burgers or Pickle Chicken Burgers), and hot dogs.
- Perfect chopped up and put in salads like pasta salads (like this Pasta Salad), chicken salads, and more.
- Chop up the pickles and make a sweet relish.
Quick Tips for Best Results
- Small thin firm cucumbers that do not have a lot of seeds seem to work best. Big wide cucumbers with a lot of seeds just don’t seem to work as well but you’re welcome to try.
- Make sure the brine is hot when pouring over the cucumbers. It seems to soak in the brine a little better.
- Refrigerate the pickles at least 12 hours but a few days is even better if you can.
- Fresh dill works a lot better than dried.
- Wide mouth glass jars, such as wide-mouthed quart mason jars, work well for storing.
- If you can shake the jar every now and then for the first day or so.
Refrigerator Sweet Pickles FAQ
How should I store the pickles?
Store the pickles covered in the fridge. They are not shelf-stable.
Can I freeze them?
No, I would not suggest freezing them.
How long will the Refrigerator Sweet Pickles last?
Depending on how fresh your ingredients are, they should last at least a few weeks to a few months.
Substitutions?
Instead of granulated sugar, you could try other sweeteners. Different kinds of vinegar would also be fun to experiment with.
Can I use low-fat ingredients?
All the ingredients should already be low-fat.
What else can I add to this recipe?
You can add your favorite spices or herbs. Mustard seed, celery seed, or even turmeric would be good. For a sweet and spicy pickle, a few slices of jalapeño would be great.
Didn’t turn out, what went wrong?
It’s generally the type of cucumber people use. Wide watery cucumbers full of seeds do not usually work well.
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 – All ingredients should be vegan.
Vegetarian – All ingredients should also be vegetarian.
Low-Carb – You can try a sugar substitute for a lower carb version.
Gluten-Free -All ingredients should be gluten-free.
I’m a bit of a refrigerator pickle addict, so check out all my other pickle recipes!
Other Refrigerator Pickle Recipes You May Enjoy
- Italian Pickles – Delicious dill pickles with Italian seasoning.
- Mexican Pickles – Another easy dill refrigerator pickle recipe with Mexican flavors.
- Overnight Homemade Pickles – A simple traditional refrigerator pickle recipe.
- Ranch Pickles – Dill pickles with ranch seasoning, delicious!
- Spicy Pickles – A bit of a kick in this one.
Hope you enjoy this quick and simple homemade refrigerator pickle recipe. Tell me in the comments if you added any other herbs or spices!
Shop the Post:
Like cucumbers? You might also like this Cucumber Raita recipe!
Refrigerator Sweet Pickles
Ingredients
- 1 cup (or handful) of fresh dill sprigs
- 1 garlic clove chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 3 cups thinly sliced small cucumbers
- 1/2 cup water
- 3/4 cup white vinegar
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place dill, garlic, and onion in a large mason jar. Fill jar to top with cucumbers.
- Meanwhile, place the water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in small saucepan over high heat. Whisk until the mixture comes to a boil and sugar has dissolved. Pour hot liquid over cucumbers. Cool slightly, then place top on jar and refrigerate overnight. Shake occasionally.
Notes
This post was originally published in (month year), but updated in (month year) with additional information.
Patty at Spoonabilities says
I could totally eat the entire jar. These look amazing!
Sara says
I had no idea you could make pickles without canning! I am going to try this with some fresh farmers market cucumbers!
Amy says
Yum these pickles look so tasty!
Sue says
Pickles without all the work of canning? I am THERE! Thank you for this easy recipe.