Cucumber pickles are a pantry staple that offer a perfect pop of flavor, crisp, tangy, and just the right amount of salty. Whether stacked on burgers, served alongside sandwiches, or eaten straight from the jar, they’re a simple pleasure that packs a punch. And the best part? Making them at home is surprisingly easy and endlessly customizable.
Pickling cucumbers are typically smaller and firmer than the ones used in salads, which helps them stay crunchy after soaking in brine. But truthfully, you can pickle just about any variety. The key is a well-balanced brine, usually a mix of vinegar, water, salt, and sometimes sugar. This base gives the pickles their signature tang, while leaving room for all kinds of flavor additions.
Garlic, dill, mustard seeds, peppercorns, red chili flakes, and even a bay leaf or two are common additions that elevate the flavor. Want it spicy? Add sliced jalapeños. Prefer something sweet and mild? Increase the sugar and add a few slices of onion. The flavor combinations are endless, and that’s part of the fun.
Quick pickles, or “refrigerator pickles” are especially popular because they don’t require canning. Just slice your cucumbers, place them in a jar with your seasonings, pour in the warm brine, let them cool, and pop them in the fridge. Within 24 hours, you’ve got flavorful, homemade pickles ready to enjoy.
They’re great to have on hand for snacking or to use as a flavor booster in all kinds of dishes. Chop them into potato salad for a tangy twist, layer them on sandwiches for crunch, or serve them as part of a charcuterie board. Their acidic bite helps cut through rich and fatty foods, making them the perfect contrast in any meal.
Cucumber pickles are proof that the simplest foods can be the most satisfying – fresh, flavorful, and packed with personality.
This recipe is made by Roger and Donna B Keck.
Ingredients
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- water to fill jar
- cucumbers peeled and sliced or speared
Instructions
Prepare the Brine:
- In a quart jar, mix together 1 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1/4 cup of white vinegar.
- Add some water to the jar and stir until the salt is dissolved.
Prepare the Cucumbers:
- Peel the cucumbers and slice them or cut them into spears, depending on your preference.
Pack the Jar:
- Pack the prepared cucumber slices or spears tightly into the jar.
Fill the Jar:
- Once the cucumbers are packed in, finish filling the jar with water until the cucumbers are fully submerged.
- Cover the jar with a lid.
Refrigerate:
- Place the jar in the refrigerator. The pickles will be ready to eat in just a few hours.
Enjoy:
- These quick pickled cucumbers are delicious and easy to make. You’ll find yourself making them often whenever you have enough cucumbers.
These pickles are super easy to make! I love that I can just toss everything in a jar. The flavors are fresh and perfect for summer. Definitely making this again!
I don’t know… Seems kinda plain to me. How can pickles be fresh if there’s only vinegar and salt?
I tried this recipe last week, and my family loved it! So refreshing for these hot days. Thanks for sharing!
Idk about pickles made like this. Seems a bit too basic for my taste.
I feel you! But sometimes simple is best. You can always add more spices if you want to jazz it up! 🌶️
I followed it but it tasted a bit too salty for my liking. Next time I’ll cut the salt down a little.
Easy and quick! My kids loved them. Can’t wait to try with different veggies!
So glad to hear that! Cucumber pickles are one of the best summer treats. What veggies are you thinking of trying?
I dunno, I think cucumbers are the only good ones for pickles. Other veggies might taste weird.
Is this safe for canning? It’s missing heat/processing steps. I get that it’s easy, but I wouldn’t leave it on the shelf.
These were super quick and turned out nice and crunchy. I added a couple extra peppercorns because I like it punchy. Great for snacking!
Quick yes, but I gotta ask—how do you keep them crunchy without cooking? I tried once and mine went kinda soggy.
Love hearing they stayed crunchy! I also added extra peppercorns—so good when it hits punchy.
I was skeptical about the vinegar ratio, but these turned out surprisingly good! I’ll use less salt next time though.
Super easy! I added some garlic and dill. Next level flavor!
I followed it exactly and the flavor is nice, but it’s more like lightly pickled than crunchy sour. Next time I’ll make sure the cucumbers are really fresh and cold.
Too salty for my taste. Might have to add some sugar to balance it out next time.
Um, isn’t this just putting veggies in vinegar? Is that really a recipe?
These pickles turned out so good! I can’t believe how easy this was! Definitely making again!
These pickles turned out great! Super easy to make and they taste amazing. Definitely a summer staple for me now!
Made these last weekend and they turned out crunchier than I expected. The vinegar + pepper combo is perfect for snacking.
Yesss! I love that “snack crunch” effect too. I’ve noticed the less you soak them, the crunchier they stay. Great call on the vinegar + pepper combo 😄
Crunchy?! Mine came out kinda soggy, maybe I didn’t use enough water? I also think I accidentally used apple cider vinegar… still tastes good though. Do you let them sit overnight?
Yassss! This is the best! Perfect for BBQs! 🍔
Yum! Perfect for summer BBQs 🍔🥒
I dunno, pickles in summer? Wouldn’t those just get soggy? 🤔
Absolutely! These pickles add a nice crunch to any BBQ dish. 🍽️
These pickles are so refreshing! Perfect for summer BBQs. Can’t believe how easy they are to make!
Really? I tried this recipe and it didn’t taste right. Too much salt maybe?
Totally agree! We’ve been making these every weekend. So good on burgers!
“Water to fill jar” is doing a lot of work here lol. I used enough to cover completely and mine came out a bit salty. Still edible though!
Loved these pickles! Made a large batch and they were gone in no time!
I tried this recipe but it was way too salty for my taste. Maybe I did something wrong? 🤔
I don’t know, they were too salty for my taste. I think I’ll try using less salt next time.
I followed the recipe, but mine came out too salty. Maybe less salt next time?
Super simple ingredients! I got it done in no time. Will definitely be making these again. 😍
Easy, cheap, and actually works. Five stars. Next batch I’m doing extra pepper!
Wait… so just vinegar + salt + pepper + water? No dill or garlic at all? Still good though? Might have to trust you 😄
I tried these and totally agree—surprisingly good for how simple they are. Extra pepper is the move 👌
Not a fan. Too vinegary for me. I guess pickles just ain’t my thing.
Yall, I ain’t never made pickles before, so I was skeptical. But OMG, these are so good! My kids ate ’em all in one day. Thanks!
That’s awesome! I’m so glad your kids liked them! I’m gonna try this recipe soon!
I added garlic and dill because I like a little more flavor. They turned out great!
I didn’t have cucumbers so I used zucchini instead and they were fine. But I think a recipe calls for tasting fresh.
Zucchini is a nice swap, but it won’t have that same crunch or flavor as cucumbers. Fresh is always best! 🥒
Welp, I think I messed up. I forgot to stir till dissolved and mine came out kinda weird. Could be user error though.
Not really what I expected… They taste kinda weird. Can you even call these pickles?
This is perfect for summer! I added some garlic and dill and it was amazing. Yum!
Yummy! My kids even ate them up! So happy I found this recipe. Thanks!
That’s awesome to hear! Happy kids mean happy parents! 😊
Not enough flavor for my taste. I think it needs garlic.
Is it really that easy? I’m skeptical about the vinegar.
I don’t even like cucumbers but these ain’t too bad!
These pickles turned out amazing! So crunchy and flavorful! Definitely making them again.
These turned out amazing! So crisp and tangy!
Only 10 minutes and done? that cant be real pickles 😅 But yeah, it’s tasty. Just don’t expect full-on dill pickle jar vibes.
I followed it exactly, but my pickles tasted kinda flat. Maybe I didn’t use enough vinegar? Also the instructions are missing the exact amounts of water—mine got too salty.
Way too salty! I had to add more water to fix it.
Honestly, I expected more flavor. Just cucumbers and vinegar? Lame.
I can see why you’d feel that way. They are super simple, but maybe try adding some garlic and dill next time for a kick!
Cool idea, simple pantry stuff. I used spears instead of slices and they held up well. Next time I’ll try adding dill seeds for more flavor.
What are cucumbers? Honestly, never heard of them before. Is this for real?
Cucumbers are like watery veggies. These aren’t for me. Just not my thing. lol
Eh… black pepper and vinegar with water isn’t really pickles to me. Also, the instructions jump around—there’s no full step 1.
I get what you mean—black pepper + vinegar + water feels more like a quick pickle brine than proper pickles. But the salt/vinegar mix should still do the job for a short soak. Also yeah, the steps are labeled 2 and 3… makes it confusing.
Pickles? Why would you want to make pickles? Just buy them, it’s easier. 🤷♂️
Making them at home is so much more fun! You can adjust the flavors to your liking. Plus, there’s something satisfying about homemade food. 🍽️
But store-bought pickles are way crunchier and I don’t have time to make my own. Sounds like a hassle to me. 😅
Superb recipe! Just a heads up, be careful with the vinegar – it can overpower the cucumbers if you add too much. But overall, really good! 😋
Super easy to make! I never knew pickles were this simple.
Hmm. I didn’t peel mine and they still came out okay, but the cucumber got a little softer than I wanted. Might be because I used very ripe cucumbers.
I’m confused: “water to fill jar” but how much is that? I eyeballed it and maybe my ratio was off. Still edible, just not tangy enough.
Simple and fast—like, actually easy. I used spears instead of slices and they stayed firm.
Yummm. The black pepper flavor is really noticeable and not overpowering. I ate them with sandwiches same day (I know, not traditional).
Yes!! The pepper really makes them pop without going harsh. I’ve done the same—cucumber pickles + sandwiches is honestly elite.
Not traditional but… it sounds good? Also black pepper is my favorite so I’d probably add even more than 1 tsp. Does it stay crunchy after a couple days in the fridge?
Yum! Quick and simple recipe. Love it! 🤩
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical with just vinegar + salt + pepper and no garlic/dill, but they’re actually pretty tasty. Needs a bit longer in the fridge though.
Same! I thought vinegar + salt + pepper would be too harsh, but the cucumbers mellow it out. I let mine chill overnight and it gets way better.
Not sure about this one… “water to fill jar” feels too vague. How much water exactly? Still, the flavor was okay.
I dunno, the vinegar was too strong for me. Maybe less next time? 🤔
I was skeptical, but dang these are good! Didn’t even take long and now I’m craving more.
Right?? I was skeptical too, but the vinegar + salt combo really does the trick. Now I keep opening the jar like it’s snacks 😅
Not gonna lie, I thought it would be too salty… but mine turned out good. I might’ve used less salt tho, and I didn’t peel mine. Either way, won’t mind making more.
My jar leaked a little in the fridge… but even then they were good. I think I stirred too vigorously and lost some of the seasoning. Still worth repeating.
So simple it’s almost suspicious 😄 Tastes like a quick fridge pickle situation. I added a few garlic cloves and it was even better.
Right?? It *is* kinda suspicious—in a good way 😄 I’ve made quick pickles that way and they always slap. Next time I’ll try your garlic cloves.
I don’t trust recipes that are only salt vinegar and pepper… but I guess cucumbers help. Did you boil the vinegar or just pour it in? Mine turned kinda bland last time.