These refrigerator pickles are incredibly simple to prepare.

Thinly slice the red onion and sweet bell peppers.

Slice the garlic cloves into thin pieces so their flavor can distribute throughout the brine.

Place the sliced red onion, sweet peppers, and garlic into a clean glass jar.

Add the black peppercorns, mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, and dried oregano.

If you’re using the optional dried chili pepper, add it to the jar as well.

Combine the white vinegar, water, kosher or pickling salt, and sugar in a small saucepan.

Heat over medium heat while stirring until the salt and sugar have completely dissolved.

Bring the mixture just to a gentle simmer and then remove it from the heat.

Carefully pour the warm pickling brine over the vegetables.

Make sure the onions, peppers, and garlic are completely covered.

Use a clean spoon to gently press the vegetables down into the brine.

This helps release trapped air pockets and keeps the vegetables submerged.

Allow the jar to cool to room temperature.

Once cooled, add the chopped fresh parsley and dill.

Seal the jar tightly.

Transfer the jar to the refrigerator and allow the vegetables to pickle for at least 4 hours.

For the best overall flavor and crunch, refrigerate them overnight before serving.

Here’s everything you’ll need to make these tangy pickled vegetables and what each ingredient contributes.

1 large red onion, thinly sliced — Provides a crisp texture, vibrant color, and distinctive sharp onion flavor that mellows slightly in the brine.
2 sweet bell peppers, thinly sliced — Add crunch, color, and natural sweetness that balances the vinegar and garlic.
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced — Bring bold, savory garlic flavor throughout the jar.
1 cup white vinegar — Forms the acidic base of the pickling brine and gives the vegetables their signature tang.
1 cup water — Dilutes the vinegar to create a balanced refrigerator-pickling brine.
1 tbsp kosher or pickling salt — Seasons the vegetables and enhances the other flavors.
1 tbsp sugar — Adds just enough sweetness to balance the sharp vinegar without making the vegetables overly sweet.
1 tsp black peppercorns — Add mild peppery warmth and classic pickling flavor.
1 tsp mustard seeds — Provide a subtle earthy, slightly sharp flavor.
½ tsp red pepper flakes — Add gentle chile heat to balance the sweet peppers.
½ tsp dried oregano — Adds a savory herbal note that works especially well with the onion and peppers.
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped — Brings fresh herbal flavor and color.
1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped — Adds a bright, aromatic pickled flavor.
1 small dried chili pepper, optional — Adds another layer of chile flavor and extra heat if desired.