Spicy Pickle recipe, an easy recipe for spicy overnight pickles with not that many ingredients! Find out how to make homemade overnight refrigerated dill pickles that are ready the next day with very little effort. These simple pickles can easily be made more or less spicy depending on your personal taste.
Spicy Pickle Recipe for you today! Ever wonder how to make homemade pickles without canning or without waiting a long time for the cucumbers to turn to pickles? What if I told you that you could have tasty spicy dill pickles in less than 24 hours? You’re going to love these simple dill pickles!
I’m not much of a “canner”. I wish I was. No one in family really canned food and now that I’m older I’ve kind of scared myself out of it. The idea of not canning “correctly” and killing everyone has me a bit scared. haha!
So when I first tried overnight pickles I knew they were for me. Check out my Overnight Homemade Pickles Recipe from a few years ago along with a video that shows how easy they are to make.
How to make Spicy Pickles?
To get started on these overnight homemade pickles, pick out some small pickling cucumbers. Personally, I prefer really small skinny cucumbers that don’t have a lot of seeds. The cucumbers should also be firm.
In a large mason jar (such as quart mason jars), add the dill, garlic, red pepper flake, and chopped onion into the bottom of the jar.
Fill the jar to almost the top with sliced cucumbers. Don’t over pack them, but fit as many as you can in your jar.
In a small pan bring the water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper to a boil. Turn off the heat, then carefully pour the hot liquid into the jar over the cucumbers. Be sure the liquid fully submerges the cucumbers and everything.
Let it cool for awhile, then place the top on the jar and refrigerate overnight for about 12-24 hours.
I used granulated sugar, but you could also use honey. You could experiment with other sweeteners as well but I can’t guarantee how they will turn out.
For a more sweet and spicy pickle, you could add more sugar or sweetener. Just make sure it all dissolves in the water and vinegar.
As far as spiciness, these spicy pickles got “hotter” the longer they were in the refrigerator. I didn’t think they were REALLY hot, but they’re definitely spicy.
If you’re a little unsure about how spicy you want the pickles, I’d suggest starting with about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes for a more mild spicy pickle.
If you like VERY spicy food, you may want more than 1 tablespoon of red pepper flakes. However, I’d suggest for the first time starting on the lower side and work your way up.
If sweet is more your thing, try these Homemade Refrigerator Sweet Pickles.
These pickles need at least 12 hours in the fridge, but 24 hours would be better. Like I said, they do get a little spicier the longer they are in the jar.
You don’t need to drain the liquid or anything. I just leave the pickles in the jar with everything else and use a slotted spoon to get the pickles out.
How Long Do Pickles Last?
These homemade overnight spicy pickles could probably last a few months in the refrigerator. However, after awhile they may get soggy and not taste great. Personally, I’m not sure I’d keep them more than a few weeks.
Be sure to keep them covered in the fridge. Since these are not “canned” they need to remain in the refrigerator.
You could easily change up these pickles by adding your favorite herbs and spices. I’d suggest trying them as-is first, then the next time add your favorite spices. Or make little jars of different varieties to test a lot of flavors at once.
Check out this quick video to see how quick these refrigerator pickles come together…
Spicy Pickle Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup (or handful) of fresh dill sprigs
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 3 cups thinly sliced small cucumbers
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 3/4 cup white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (or honey)
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place dill, garlic, red pepper flakes, and onion in a large mason jar (such as a quart jar or use several smaller jars). Fill jar to top with cucumbers.
- Meanwhile, place the water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper in small saucepan over high heat. Whisk until the mixture comes to a boil. Pour hot liquid over cucumbers. Cool slightly, then place top on jar and refrigerate overnight.
Notes
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.)
Jeff the Chef | Make It Like a Man! says
I love pickles, but I’ve never made them. Thanks for this simple recipe!
Lisa Huff says
Thanks Jeff!
DH says
Can you use jarred minced garlic instead of garlic cloves?
Lisa Huff says
Yes that will work. You can add as much or as little of the garlic as you’d like depending on how much you like garlic. :)
KC says
Can you use dilll seed or dill weed as substitute for fresh? And how much?
Lisa Huff says
Maybe, but I would not recommend and don’t think you’ll like the results. You can give it a try though. I’d start with a few teaspoons then can always add more.
Joi says
I have a hard time finding spicy pickles in grocery stores. They’re labeled as “spicy” or “hot” but they are really sweet. I HATE sweet pickles lol. I decided to use your recipe and make my own. I am OBSESSED. They’re so goood!! I will be making pickles monthly now! Awesome recipe and it was very easy to follow. Thank you!!!
Lisa Huff says
Thank you so much! :)
Phyllis says
I’d like to try this recipe, but I don’t want any sweetness to it. Is sugar really required or can it be omitted? Can you even taste the sugar?
Lisa Huff says
It helps a little with all the vinegar. You don’t have to use it or you could use your favorite sugar substitute.
Thelma says
It says to put the red peppers flakes in the jar. Then the instructions say “add pepper” in the vinegar solution. What pepper???
Lisa Huff says
That would be the black pepper (last ingredient in list). I just added the “black” to the pepper in the directions to make it more clear. Thanks!
Joy says
I’m going to try this… would adding jalapenos be good?
Lisa Huff says
Yes, as long as you like the taste of jalapenos it will be fine.
Miki M Morrow says
Getting ready to try these. Thinking about giving as gifts for holidays. what is the shelf life when refrigerated?
Thank you!
Lisa Huff says
AT least a few weeks if not longer.
Charles says
These are awesome!! Really spicy, just the way I like it.
Will certainly look at more of your recipes that I come across, thanks!
Lisa Huff says
Happy to hear you enjoyed the pickles!
Verbena says
Hello. I am wondering what the point of boiling water is. I have see some people who omit this part.
Thanks.
Lisa Huff says
It helps some of the ingredients dissolve in the liquid and helps the cucumbers take on the flavor more quickly.
Lori says
Can this recipe be processed in a water bath for longer shelf life?
Lisa Huff says
I am not a “canner” so I can not say for sure.
Charles says
I water bath canned them not long ago. They seem to still be good. If you want the picles as crunchy as the original recipe, I suggest “pickling cucumbers”.
joe stutz says
These are as my 9-year-old granddaughter says. The BOMB!! She eats them for breakfast. lol
Lisa Huff says
Ha! I love that! Pickles for breakfast sounds good to me! :)
Janmarie says
In the nutritional info it says saturated fat, where does that come from in the ingredients?
Lisa Huff says
Good question! The red pepper flakes have a small amount of fat. Might not be as much and the cucumbers don’t soak in that much, but calculator rounds.
Ashley says
Used monkfruit sugar substitute and they were amazing
Lisa Huff says
Great, thank you! :)
Michelle Vavra says
Such an awesome recipe for pickle chips or spears. We use the spears in Caesars!
Lisa Huff says
Thanks! :)