Refrigerator pickles are simple to make and have a freshness that can’t be beat. This easy keto recipe has all the tang and flavor of a classic dill pickle, with a kick of spice.
I have made these refrigerator dill pickles so many times, I don’t even need to look at the recipe anymore. My family loves them and now that we grow our own cucumbers, I make multiple jars every summer.
I created this recipe in my early, early, EARLY days of keto recipe development. And I have to laugh that it took me this long to update the post with tips and best practices. Because I make these every year… so what was I waiting for?
And I have kept to the same recipe year after. It’s just that good! And after the pickles are done, I save the brine for keto chicken wings and grilled pork chops.
Why you will love this recipe
Refrigerator pickles have many benefits over canned pickles. They are extremely easy to make and don’t require any special equipment. You don’t need a canner and you don’t have to heat up your kitchen!
Canning vegetables requires much more precision so that they don’t spoil. You have to sterilize the jars and lids, get the water up to temperature, and make sure that everything seals properly. You avoid all of this work with my easy refrigerator pickle recipe.
And while I like mine with a little kick of spiciness, you can adjust these to your liking. You can leave out the jalapeno, add more garlic or dill, or add some other seasonings. You can even add a little sweetener if you like.
These keto pickles are so crisp and fresh, and you can cut the cucumbers any way you like. I like round slices because they work well for hamburgers and you can fit more slices into a single jar. My husband prefers the spears so sometimes we make them that way as well.
Ingredients you need
- Cucumbers: Choose smaller, shorter cucumbers for refrigerator pickles. Pickling cucumbers work well, as do varieties of Persian cucumbers. They are crunchier, and have thinner skins, so they preserve well. We grow a variety called Mideast Prolific and they make fabulous pickles.
- Jalapeños (optional): I love the spiciness that the peppers add, but you certainly don’t have to use them.
- Garlic: A few garlic cloves add wonderful flavor.
- Dill: Use fresh dill for these pickles. Dried dill simply doesn’t have the right flavor.
- Peppercorns: Grab some whole peppercorns for this recipe. They add a little pepperiness without making it too strong.
- Coriander: Ground coriander adds a truly unique flavor to these refrigerator pickles. I highly recommend it.
- Vinegar: The brine requires plenty of vinegar, as it’s what preserves the pickles and keeps them from spoiling. I like a mix of white vinegar and apple cider vinegar.
- Salt: Use kosher salt for this recipe. It can be either regular kosher salt or kosher sea salt.
Step by step directions
If you’ve never made refrigerator pickles before, you are going to be astonished at how easy it is!
1. Slice the cucumbers: Slice the cucumbers about 1/4 inch thick and place into jars. You can use one quart jar and one pint jar, or three pint jars.
2. Add the seasonings: Place the jalapeños, garlic, dill, peppercorns, and coriander in the jars with the sliced cucumbers. If you are using a quart jar and a pint jar, put two-thirds of the seasonings in the quart jar and one third in the pint jar.
3. Prepare the brine: Combine the vinegars, water, and salt in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Whisk until the salt is dissolved, then divide between the jars. Fill the jars all the way to the top.
4. Let sit: Place on the counter for 3 days, then refrigerate and let sit for at least two weeks. The flavor continues to develop as they sit.
Expert Tips and FAQ
The pickles can be eaten after 48 hours but they develop much better flavor if left to sit for at least 2 weeks.
You can slice your pickles any way you like. I prefer the crosswise slices, as they are easier to cut and great for burgers. But you can also slice them lengthwise or into spears.
If you want to make sweet pickles, add your favorite sweetener to the brine. How much you add depends on how sweet you want them. Most bread and butter pickle recipes take as much as a cup of sugar for 1 1/2 pounds of cucumbers. You can prepare the brine and add more sweetener to taste.
Try playing with the spices. Add some cumin in place of the coriander, or try a few cloves. You can also add turmeric for a more yellow color.
Frequently Asked Questions
These refrigerator dill pickles are good for up to 3 months in the fridge. To be honest, I’ve kept mine for up to 6 months and had no issues, since the brine takes mostly vinegar. However, for food safety reasons, I recommend consuming them by the 3 month mark.
Canned pickles are shelf stable, whereas refrigerator pickles must be kept in the fridge at all times. The canning process heats the filled jars to the boiling point and allows the lids to seal. But they often taste less fresh than refrigerator pickles.
These refrigerator keto pickles have no added sugar and only 1g of carbohydrate per serving.
For store-bought brands, look forpickles with no added sugars. Most dill, garlic, and sour varieties are processed without sugar. However, bread and butter and sweet pickles do contain sugar, as does sweet relish.
More keto recipes you will enjoy
Refrigerator Pickles Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs (680.39 g) pickling cucumbers
- 1 medium jalapeno pepper, quartered
- 2 cloves garlic, quartered
- 3 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) chopped fresh dill
- 1 ½ teaspoons (1.5 teaspoons) whole black peppercorns
- 1 ½ teaspoons (1.5 teaspoons) ground coriander
- 1 ½ cups (382.5 g) white vinegar
- ¾ cup (179.25 g) apple cider vinegar
- ¾ cup (177.44 g) water
- ¼ cup (73 g) kosher salt
Instructions
- Slice the cucumbers crosswise into 1/4-inch rounds or lengthwise into 1/4 inch slices. Arrange the slices in 1 quart jar and 1 pint jar (or 3 pint jars)
- Divide the jalapeno, garlic, dill, peppercorns and coriander between the jars.
- In a medium saucepan, bring the white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, water and salt to a simmer, stirring to dissolve most of the salt.
- Divide the brine between the jars, and fill almost to the top. No need to leave any headroom.
- Leave the jars on kitchen counter for at least 3 days. Then refrigerate for at least 2 weeks before eating.
Notes
Nutrition
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I am such a fan of dill pickles. They are one of my favorite snacks when I used to come home from school…okay, so maybe when I come home from work I do the same thing now. Hehe 😉
I really love this recipe, thank you so much for sharing it Carolyn! I am for sure going to give it a go…
These look so so good! I'm almost out of the awesome jalapeno pickles we bought at a food festival a few months back, but now it looks like I have a replacement recipe. Yay!
Carolyn,
I know what you mean about the summer just flying by! Great choice for this month's event and I like all the substitutions you made, such a versatile recipe – your pickles look amazing!
I've never made pickles at home! These look and sound super tasty! Great selection, and great job with this one! 🙂 Thanks for sharing…
I love love love refrigerator pickles! You get all the fun of making pickles without having to boil jars or any of that. Your pickles look fantastic!
I canned dill pickles for the first time last year and was so sad when I ran out of them! There was no comparison to store bought ones, I agree! I canned twice as many this year : ) Yours looks wonderful!
Time totally goes by tooooooooo quickly! And can you believe, I ONLY like dill in pickles. Dill (like rosemary) is just one of those herbs that I can't get down with. But in a pickle…. yes, please!
I absolutely love pickles, and this is perfect recipe..fantastic pictures Carolyn!!! (My mouth is watering!:))
I see many time this type of pickle in market but never try ur one is home made is great…… really nice recipe thanks for sharing this.
This is something I have never heard before..love the use of Dill here!
I wish I had a jar of these to bring along. Want to take my place, please, please, lol. I tried commenting on this last night but it wouldn't let me for some reason. Have a great week, will catch up soon.
-Gina-
Huge dill pickle fan but I've never tried making them myself. I love how recipes like this you can adjust to your liking even more so than other items.
Mmmm! Pickles are one of my favorite foods! I can see these pickles cozying up with my burger very soon! Thanks for sharing!
You picked a great recipe – looks good! Love the idea of the SRC!
You picked a great recipe to try. I love pickles and this sounds like a recipe I need to try. Yummy! Wish time would slow down a little. Since becoming a mommy I have realized just how quickly time flies especially with having a daily routine.
I've never pickled anything and this is such a great recipe! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Great variation on my pickle recipe! I'm going to do slices next time, myself. They're so versatile!
I've always wanted to make pickles! My summer is flying too, I wish it would slow down a bit!
I love pickles! These look great, and I bet they do get better with time.
Is the kosher salt coarse grind?
Either is fine.
Wonderful selection, Carolyn!!!