Easy Recipe For Pickled Eggs

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Pickled eggs are great to snack on, serve as an appetizer, or add to the side of a meal. Not only are they fun to make, but the tangy salty flavor is also so delicious! In this easy pickled egg recipe, there is no canning equipment required because we use brine and the power of a refrigerator instead. It’s so simple!

This post is sponsored by our friends at Mountain Rose Herbs.

Eggs are one of the most versatile ingredients you can keep in your kitchen. They’re easy to cook and can be enjoyed in so many ways, from scrambled and sunny side-up to more unique recipes like baked egg in a mushroom and an egg smoothie, having eggs on hand means you’re always just a few minutes away from a satisfying meal or snack.

These pickled eggs are no exception – they are super easy to make and packed with flavor. Many recipes add sugar to the vinegar solution but no sweetener is necessary. The tangy touch of vinegar is enjoyable by itself.

If you’re trying to stay keto, you want to minimize your sources of carbohydrate to 20 to 30 g net carb per day. Generally speaking, you’ll be safe by sticking to low-carb vegetables, avocado, and cheese. With all that’s going on, it’s easy to see how unnecessary the sugar is. 

Replacing sugary sweetness with rich and robust flavor is the key to these sugar-free pickled eggs. Since these are made without sugar, the carbs are very low. The minimal amount of carbs in these pickled eggs is not significant enough to throw you out of ketosis.

This version is sugar-free, perfect for anyone on a keto diet and interested in easy keto recipes. It is also fiber-free, so people who do best with a carnivore diet and make carnivore diet recipes can enjoy pickled eggs too!

Old Fashioned Pickled Eggs

Pickling an egg may sound a little strange, but the end result is worth trying.

As popular bar food, pickled eggs were often found in jars, suspended in vinegar, on the counter top ready to be served out as a healthy, natural snack. They are particularly popular in the UK where Aspall Cider House hosts the World Pickled Egg Competition annually.

With peak popularity from 1860 until prohibition, old-fashioned pickled eggs preceded deviled eggs and Scotch eggs which later became a more common treat. Now, it’s more likely you will find chicken wings, jalapeño poppers, and mozzarella sticks.

We like pickled eggs because they are a wholesome, family-friendly snack. I also give them as gifts during the holidays or just as a thank you to someone who helps us. All you need to do is tie a ribbon around the jar and then you have a beautiful homemade gift. Edible recipes are great gifts for keto dieters!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Perfect for meal prep: Make a batch ahead of time and enjoy it throughout the week. They’re great for salads, sandwiches, or a quick energy boost.
• Easy, unique snack: No water bath, serializing jars, special equipment, or canning experience required to make this delicious snack. No complicated steps, just boil, brine, and wait!
• Long shelf life: Pickled eggs last for weeks in the fridge, so you’ll always have a tasty bite on hand. Ideal for keeping a healthy, protein-packed option ready to go.
• Healthy snack: Pickled eggs are a healthy snack, side, or appetizer. Naturally low-carb, and made with a few simple, everyday ingredients, this easy recipe is good for many diet types. They’re gluten-free and grain-free making them paleo and whole30 friendly. Flavored with a few select plant-ingredients this is one of many delicious keto carnivore recipes!
• Ideal for losing weight: Because they are low calorie, yet nutrient-dense, pickled eggs are good for losing weight. Eggs are high-protein and promote fullness.

How to Make Pickled Eggs

Making pickled eggs from scratch has never been easier. Before anything else, check if your eggs are rotten by looking out for discoloration, foul odors, or unusual textures. You wouldn’t want to ruin a batch with a bad egg. Prep time is only 10 minutes. Yes, the cure time is quite long (the longer, the better!), but I promise you it’s worth it.

Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.

Ingredients You Need

• Hard-boiled eggs: Read how to make perfect boiled eggs so you don’t have to struggle with peeling eggs. 
• Water
• Raw apple cider vinegar: Acts as a natural preservative. I prefer using apple cider vinegar for this recipe instead of plain white vinegar because it has some sweetness to it and gives a delicious, tasty pucker.
• Onion 
• Pickling spices: Pickling spice is made of cinnamon, mustard, coriander, allspice, peppercorn, dill, fennel, cloves, celery seed, juniper berries, bay leaf, ginger root, and chili flakes. More than 10 spices and whole berries are mixed together and work wonderfully for any refrigerator or canned pickled fruit or vegetable recipe. It’s a great spice blend to have in your keto pantry staples.
• Salt

Step-By-Step Instructions

Pickled eggs are a flavorful, high-protein snack that’s ready whenever you are. They’re perfect for curbing cravings without any guilt. Plus, making them is as easy as one, two, three! Follow the simple instructions below to get started.

Step 1: Make the brine

Bring the water, vinegar, onion, spices, and salt to a gentle boil for about 5 minutes. Then remove from heat and cool slightly.

Step 2: Pack the jar

Place peeled hard-boiled eggs in a clean jar. Pour the brine, with spices, over the eggs and seal the jar.

Step 3: Let them pickle

Next, transfer to the refrigerator and leave to sit. The peeled hard-boiled eggs need to infuse for at least 2 days and up to 1 week before they are ready to eat.

While you wait, the acidity in the vinegar solution acts as a natural preservative and prohibits unwanted bacteria from growing. The salt also serves to create an environment where microbes cannot thrive.

Substitutions

You can make pickled eggs with ingredients that you prefer or have on hand. Although this recipe only calls for simple, easy-to-find ingredients, here are my substitution recommendations in case you’re missing some.

• Hard-boiled eggs: If you want a different twist, try quail eggs for a bite-sized version or duck eggs for a richer flavor.
• Water: Water is used to dilute the vinegar and create a balanced brine that isn’t overwhelmingly tangy. Substitute water with an herbal tea, such as green or black tea, to add subtle earthy notes.
• Raw apple cider vinegar: White vinegar works in a pinch. You can also try red wine vinegar for a more robust taste.
• Onion: Replace with shallots or garlic cloves.
• Pickling spices: Customize with more heat by adding red pepper flakes or swap in dill seeds for a fresher touch.

Expert Tips

• Customize the brine: Play around with different spices and seasonings to match your taste. Try adding dill, mustard seeds, a bit of sugar or honey for sweetness, or a few slices of fresh chili peppers or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. Adding red onion or cooked beets to the brine will make your eggs pretty and pink!
• Don’t skimp on the salt: Salt helps preserve the eggs and brings out the flavors in the brine. Be generous with it, but there shouldn’t be so much that it ruins the flavor.
• Don’t overcrowd the jar: Leave some space between the eggs in the jar. This allows the brine to fully penetrate each egg, making sure that every bite is flavorful.
• Keep it airtight: Make sure that the jar is always sealed tightly to keep air out. 
• Stir occasionally: Every couple of days, gently shake the jar or turn it upside down to ensure the brine covers the eggs completely and the flavors are evenly distributed. If you notice any exposed eggs, add more brine to cover them.
• Reuse the brine: If you have leftover brine, you can reuse it to pickle more eggs or other vegetables like cucumbers or carrots for an extra flavorful treat!

How to Store This Recipe

Pickled eggs should always be stored in the refrigerator in a clean jar with a tight-fitting lid. To be safe, it’s best to consume pickled eggs within 3 to 4 weeks.

Another great method of egg preservation is to freeze raw eggs. Frozen eggs can last up to a year, depending on how fresh they were when you froze them.

What to Serve with Pickled Eggs

Pickled eggs are a versatile snack that can be enjoyed in many ways. Serve them as an appetizer or snack with your favorite cheese and crackers for a fun and flavorful charcuterie board addition. 

We love them on a spread with cheese curds, pickle chips, and flax crackers. Add them to salads and sandwiches. Enjoy them with a cold beer for a classic snack pairing!

More Easy Egg Recipes To Try

• Tomato zucchini egg cup
• Egg roll in a bowl
• Carnivore egg pudding
• Sweet cinnamon eggs
• Carnivore egg-in-a-hole