11 Essential Pickle Recipes for Summer

Can we talk about pickles? I love a homemade pickle! And honestly, they are not hard to make at all! Here are my 11 Essential Pickle Recipes you can make all year round, but are truly best during the summer harvest season!

And best of all? You don't need any complicated canning equipment or special instructions. These recipes are all refrigerator pickle recipes, meaning that they can be made and stored in your fridge right away.

Jump to:

The Base Refrigerator Pickle Recipe
Spicy Pickle Recipes
Other Refrigerator Pickle Recipes

If you are more of a hands-on reader, check out my book, Seed to Table, which includes a section on Pickling, as well as some other preservation ideas!

The Base Refrigerator Pickle Recipe

What I love about refrigerator pickles is that they are quite foolproof. A beginner can prepare them, and even if your measurements are slightly off, the result will still be good.

This recipe right here is my basic refrigerator pickle recipe. All you need to remember though is that you need both vinegar and water to pickle, as well as salt. Sugar is optional, but it helps round things out. Some of my recipes will use more or less sugar and salt depending on what we are pickling.

The key however is the vinegar solution. If you only use vinegar, the pickle will be way too sour and tart (not enjoyable). And if you don't have enough vinegar in the pickling solution, you might not get the fruits and vegetables to pickle correctly. So make sure to follow the quantities in the recipes.

Easiest Refrigerator Pickles Ever

If you've never made pickles before, you're in for a treat. This recipe for refrigerator pickles is so easy, you'll be wondering why you haven't discovered it sooner!

Refrigerator Pickle Recipe!

Spicy Pickle Recipes

Here are my top spicy pickle recipes. Enjoy them on tacos, and bowls, with many of my main dishes. If you are a fan of spicy condiments, check out some of my Fermentation Recipes for more ideas.

Mason jar full of quick pickled jalapenos.

10-Minute Quick Pickled Jalapenos

Once you give this quick pickled jalapenos recipe a try, I guarantee you won't go back to store-bought canned jalapenos ever again. Best of all, this recipe comes together in about 10 minutes!

Quick Pickled Jalapeno Recipe!

Mason jar full of Mexican pickled vegetables.

Escabeche (Homemade Spicy Mexican Pickled Vegetables)

Escabeche (Spicy Mexican Pickled Vegetables) is a classic condiment served at most Mexican restaurants that can easily be made right at home. This refrigerator pickle recipe is not only foolproof and easy, it comes together in under 15 minutes. Enjoy these spicy pickled vegetables with tacos, rice dishes, and eggs.

Mexican Pickled Vegetables Recipe!

An open jar of pickled banana peppers on a wooden board.

Pickled Banana Peppers Recipe (Quick and Easy)

This Pickled Banana Pepper recipe is an excellent starting point on your pickling journey. It’s easy to prepare, straightforward, adaptable, and foolproof! Add these sliced peppers to sandwiches, bowls, shawarma wraps, subs, hot dogs, and hamburgers.

Pickled Banana Pepper Recipe!

Other Refrigerator Pickle Recipes

Here you will find my other pickle recipes which can be prepared mild. Feel free to add chilies to them if you prefer a hotter pickle.

Some of these recipes are part of my Levantine Recipes category. They work perfectly with recipes like Chicken Shawarma, Beef Kofta, Chicken Kofta, and Arayes (Stuffed Pita).

Large pickling crock filled with pickled Italian vegetables, herbs and spices.

Homemade Giardiniera Pickles (Italian Pickled Vegetables)

Homemade Giardiniera Pickles, also known as Italian Pickled vegetables, are a staple in my fridge all summer long and a great way to preserve the harvest or farmer’s market haul! Enjoy these pickles on their own straight out of the jar or as a tangy and sweet side dish to rich meals.

Giardiniera Pickles Recipe!

A bowl with pickled pink cauliflower florets.

Levantine Pickled Cauliflower (Refrigerator Pickle)

Levantine pickled cauliflower is an easy and delicious entry into the wonderful world of preservation and pickling. This recipe comes together with just a few simple ingredients. The deep pink color is so gorgeous and fun you might even get your kids to eat cauliflower!

Levantine Pickled Cauliflower Recipe!

Sealed and labeled jar of dilly beans on a board with dill, peppercorns, mustard seeds, beans and garlic around the base.

Dilly Beans (Pickled Green Bean Recipe)

Pickle lovers, this classic Dilly Beans recipe comes together in under 20 minutes. The briny, salty and tangy pickled beans are a great addition to a charcuterie board, grazing table, or cocktails like a Bloody Mary or Caesar. This is a perfect summer recipe when fresh dill and string beans are abundant!

Dilly Beans Recipe!

Cherry tomatoes with dill and garlic in a pickling jar.

Pickled Cherry Tomatoes

If you're looking for a great way to enjoy cherry tomatoes, pickling might just be the answer! Pickling is a traditional preservation method that involves immersing food in a solution of vinegar, salt, and spices. The result is a tangy, flavorful condiment that can be used in a variety of dishes.

Pickled Cherry Tomatoes Recipe!

An opened jar of pickled Mexican onions with a label on a wooden board.

Mexican Pickled Onions (Yucatan Style)

This Mexican Pickled Onions recipe is unique, delicious and addictive. What makes it special (and Yucatan-style) is the addition of sour citrus juice. But not to worry, you don’t need to go searching for sour oranges to make this. Grapefruit and limes sub in beautifully. Best of all, this recipe comes together in under 20 minutes and your pickles will be ready the next day.

Mexican Pickled Onion Recipe!

A jar with sliced daikon radish in a pickling solution, with a Danmuji label.

Korean Pickled Radish (Danmuji Recipe)

Danmuji (Korean Pickled Radish) is a sweet, tangy, and colorful condiment that can be made at home. This recipe comes together in under 15 minutes and will last you several months in the fridge. One of the many Korean side dishes known as banchan.

Danmuji Recipe!

Pink pickled turnips in a bowl on a board.

Lebanese Pickles (Pickled Turnips)

Lebanese pickles, or as I like to call them, shawarma pickles or pink pickles are a Middle Eastern staple that brings color and a sweet and sour touch to any dish. If you’ve ever had a shawarma or falafel wrap, chances are you have tried, and loved these pickled turnips!

Pickled Turnips Recipe!

Overhead shot of a jar of pickled sliced green tomatoes and spices on a wooden board.

Pickled Green Tomatoes

Pickled green tomatoes are a great way to use up those end of the season unripe tomatoes! These tangy, crisp treats are the perfect addition to sandwiches, salads, or enjoyed straight from the jar for a flavorful twist on a classic snack.

Pickled Green Tomatoes Recipe!

If you make any of these recipes, please make sure to leave a rating and review. It's so helpful to other readers.

For more Urban Farm and Kitchen, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, visit the Urban Farm Shop, or subscribe for new posts via email.