If you are looking for a quick, simple recipe to make crunchy, Claussen style pickles, you are in the right place! This is the only pickle recipe you will need. They are delicious, full of garlicky, dilly flavor, super crunchy and super fast to whip up anytime.
Can I just say that my family LOVES pickles? Dill pickles to be specific, complete with that dilly, garlicky, crunchy flavor goodness. I can’t ever seem to keep them stocked! I used to buy a big jar of Claussen pickles almost every time I took a trip to the store. Claussen pickles are THE BEST! The fact that they are refrigerated and never heated, I think, makes all the difference. You just don’t get that crunchy freshness any other way. When I buy them, we usually get the biggest jar because everyone loves them at my house, but I don’t think they ever even last a week! It seems like every time I look in the fridge there is just a jar of pickle juice. This recipe for quick & easy refrigerator dill pickles takes barely more time than driving to the store to buy a new jar.
Pickle Juice for Growing Pains
Funny side note about pickle juice. My grandma swears that pickle juice gets rid of growing pains… sounds funny but there might be something to it. My grandma did raise 9 kids, so she probably knows a thing or two. Maybe there is something scientific about vinegar when it comes to growing pains, or maybe it is all in their heads (After all, the mind is a powerful thing). Regardless, I always keep pickle juice on hand for when those unexpected growing pains crop up. Whenever one of my kids say “Mom! I have a growing pain in my leg!” (usually in the middle of the night, right?!) I give them a tiny cup with a couple Tablespoons of pickle juice and send them on their way. It usually does seem to work, if nothing else at least to get their mind off the pain and on to something else. I usually don’t hear anymore complaints about it.
The Best Quick & Simple Dill Pickles
Anyway, back to the topic of pickles. One day after finding ANOTHER empty pickle jar in my fridge I thought, “I really need to find a quick way to make pickles!” Because, let’s be honest, Claussen pickles get expensive when you go through them so fast! It had gotten to the point where I started saying “no, you can’t have a pickle, they will be gone too fast!” But it’s hard to say no when pickles are a healthy snack that my kids love! Better they are eating pickles than empty carbs or treats. Enter best and quickest pickle recipe ever! I hope your family enjoys this recipe for quick & easy refrigerator dill pickles. Don’t be surprised if they are gone in one day!
Crunchy Refrigerator Dill Pickles
Crunchy, garlicky, dilly, refrigerator pickles. Quick, small batch recipe that can be made anytime a pickle craving hits.
Ingredients
For the Brine:
- 1 1/2 cups Water
- 1/3 cup Vinegar (Apple Cider Vinegar gives more depth of flavor)
- 3 1/2 - 4 tsp Salt
To the Jars:
- 10 Cocktail Cucumbers, sliced into spears
- 4 - 6 Cloves of Garlic, minced
- 2 dashes of Pepper (divided)
- 2 tsp fresh dill, or 1 tsp dried (divided)
Instructions
- Add water, vinegar and salt to a small pot. Heat on stove until salt is dissolved. Turn off heat and let cool.
- While brine is cooling, wash cucumbers and slice into fourths to make spears. Pack cucumbers tightly into two pint sized canning jars.
- Add half of the garlic, half of the dill and 1 dash pepper to each jar.
- Pour brine over the cucumbers leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
- Twist on lids and tip jars upside down and back to mix (preferably over the sink in case of leaks.)
- Store jars in the fridge.
- Pickles should be perfect in about 3 days. Enjoy!
Notes
* These pickles are delicious after just a few hours in the fridge! However, for best results, leave them alone for 3 days, gently turning upside down to mix every so often.
* I like to buy cocktail cucumbers from Costco to make the recipe. One bag will make 2 jars with a few left over. Bigger cucumbers can be used if preferred.
* Can be preserved using a water bath canning method for longer storage although doing so will cause the pickles to lose their crunch. Instant Pot water bath canning works perfect for this size batch.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
80Serving Size:
2Amount Per Serving: Calories: 6Total Fat: 0g
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