Pickle Relish
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This quick pickle relish recipe, made using store-bought pickles, takes less than 10 minutes to prepare. Perfect for adding a zesty crunch to burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches, this easy relish is a flavorful addition to any meal. Whether you’re hosting a BBQ or just sprucing up a weekday dinner, this pickle relish recipe is your go-to for a burst of deliciousness.
Homemade condiments are a game changer to summer grilling season! Serve these along side Homemade BBQ sauce with your burgers and dogs this year! OR try the full pickle version!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Relish Recipe
- Speed: It takes less than 10 minutes to prepare, making it perfect for busy schedules.
- Flavor: Adds a tangy, zesty crunch to a variety of dishes, enhancing their overall taste.
- Versatility: Perfect for burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and more, making it a versatile condiment.
- Customization: Allows you to adjust the ingredients to your taste, such as adding more or less spice or sweetness.
This easy relish recipe is your shortcut to bold flavor without the wait. With just a handful of fresh ingredients and a quick toss in tangy pickle juice, it’s ready to elevate burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, or anything off the grill. No cooking, no canning—just chop, mix, and chill.
Think of it as a fresher, brighter condiment with chopped pickles, peppers, and onions. It’s crunchy, zippy, and totally customizable with a sprinkle of fresh dill. Perfect for backyard BBQs or last-minute dinners when you want something quick but still homemade.
Looking for something a bit more traditional? Try this dill pickle recipe!
Ingredients You’ll Need
So what are the ingredients in this easy pickle relish recipe? Since it is a “quick fix” recipe, it uses cucumbers that are already pickled. Which means you get bold fresh flavor without all of the work of classic relish!
- Dill or Sour Pickles: Ensure the pickles are finely diced for an even texture throughout the relish. Pat the pickles dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture, preventing the relish from becoming too watery. Make sure to reserve the juice.
- Bell Peppers: Use fresh, crisp bell peppers for the best texture and flavor. Dice the peppers into small, uniform pieces to ensure they blend well with the other ingredients.
- White Onion: Finely dice the onion to ensure it distributes evenly and provides a balanced flavor.
- Fresh Dill: Fresh dill adds a wonderful fresh, herbaceous note to the relish. Finely chop the dill to ensure it mixes well and releases its flavor throughout the relish.
- Pickle Juice: The pickle juice not only adds tanginess but also helps to bind the ingredients together. Start with the recommended amount and add more if needed to reach your desired level of tanginess and consistency.
Jesseca’s Recipe Review
This might be the easiest way to level up a plate of burgers or brats. The crunch, the tang, the hit of fresh flavor. It all comes together in minutes and tastes like you spent way longer. I’ve made it for cookouts, quick lunches, and even as a topper for grilled chicken, and it never lasts long.
Tip from Jesseca:
Use cold pickles straight from the fridge when chopping—this helps keep everything extra crisp and gives the relish a refreshing snap.
Substitutions and Variations
These variations can help you tailor the pickle relish to your specific taste preferences and complement different dishes.
- Sweet Pickle Relish: Use sweet pickles instead of dill or sour pickles. Include a tablespoon of sugar or honey to enhance the sweetness.
- Spicy Pickle Relish: Finely dice a jalapeño or add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. Include a dash of hot sauce or Sriracha for extra heat.
- Garlic Pickle Relish: Mince 1-2 cloves of garlic and mix into the relish for a garlicky flavor.
- Herbed Pickle Relish: Mix in finely chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, cilantro, or chives for added freshness and complexity.
- Mustard Pickle Relish: Stir in a tablespoon of yellow or Dijon mustard for a tangy, mustardy twist.
- Tangy Lemon Pickle Relish: Squeeze in some fresh lemon juice and add a bit of lemon zest for a bright, tangy flavor.
Dill Pickle Relish Recipe
This makes a dill relish. Since I start with dill pickles and add more fresh dill to the seasoning, you end up with a more bold less sweet finish. A sweet relish contains more sugar and has less of a tart vinegar taste. It pairs well with hot dogs, hamburgers, tuna and chicken salad.
- Prepare Ingredients: Finely dice the pickles, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and white onion. If using fresh dill, finely chop it as well.
- Combine Ingredients: Place all the diced pickles, bell peppers, onion, and chopped dill into a medium-sized bowl. Pour in the pickle juice.
- Mix Together: Stir all the ingredients together until everything is well mixed and evenly coated with pickle juice.
- Chill the Relish: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and place it in the refrigerator. Let it chill for at least 1 hour, or up to 24 hours, to allow the flavors to blend.
- Serve: After chilling, your pickle relish is ready to serve. Enjoy it as a side with your favorite grilled dishes.
That’s it! You’ve made your own delicious pickle relish. Enjoy!
Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions
This pickle relish recipe is a make-ahead dream. After mixing, let it chill in the fridge for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld—but it actually gets better the longer it sits (up to 24 hours).
- To store: Transfer the relish to an airtight container and keep it refrigerated. It stays fresh and crunchy for up to 5 days. Stir before each use to redistribute the juices.
- Make-ahead tip: Chop everything up to 2 days in advance and store the components separately in the fridge. Combine with pickle juice the night before serving for the best texture and flavor.
Recipe FAQs
This dill relish recipe does use chopped pickles as the base. However, it combines more fresh ingredients for bold flavor. Bell pepper, onion, and dill are the secret to making the BEST homemade relish recipe.
Use large dill or sour pickles for this recipe. They provide the tangy flavor that is essential for a good pickle relish.
Dice the pickles, bell peppers, and onions into small, uniform pieces. This ensures that each bite of relish has a consistent texture and flavor.
Let the relish chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld. For the best flavor, let it marinate for up to 24 hours.
Store the relish in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to two weeks.
If the relish develops an off smell, changes in color, or shows signs of mold, it should be discarded.
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Quick and Easy Pickle Relish Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large dill or sour pickles (finely diced)
- 1/4 cup red pepper (finely diced)
- 1/4 cup yellow pepper (finely diced)
- 1/4 cup white onion (finely diced)
- fresh dill (optional)
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons pickle juice
Instructions
- Finely dice the pickles, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and white onion. If using fresh dill, finely chop it as well.
- Place all the diced pickles, bell peppers, onion, and chopped dill into a medium-sized bowl. Pour in the pickle juice.
- Stir all the ingredients together until everything is well mixed and evenly coated with pickle juice.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and place it in the refrigerator. Let it chill for at least 1 hour, or up to 24 hours, to allow the flavors to blend.
- After chilling, your pickle relish is ready to serve. Enjoy it as a side with your favorite grilled dishes.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
More Summer Recipes to Try
- Cheese Stuffed Burgers
- Western Style Burgers
- Salmon and rosemary kabobs
- Spicy Deviled Eggs
- Pretzel Wrapped Hot Dogs
- Homemade Chili Dogs
More Favorites from One Sweet Appetite
Can I can this pickle relish?
Great question! This recipe is meant as a quick refrigerator relish, so it isn’t tested for canning or long-term pickling. If you’re looking to safely pickle and store it on the shelf, I’d recommend following a USDA-tested canning recipe to be sure the acidity levels are correct. For this version though, just keep it in the fridge and enjoy within a couple of weeks.
I want to try this ASAP. How long will it last in fridge?
How long is the shelf life of this in the fridge?
Can it be doubled ,or quadrupled etc… and canned for longer shelf life?
Hi there, this relish should stay good for around 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. I wouldn’t recommend canning this recipe.
I made this today using what I had in my pantry. I even added some capers. It turned out really tasty, thanks for the great recipe
Capers sound like a fun addition! I’ll have to give that a try. Thanks for the comment, Jo.
I tried it with a couple of pulses of the food processor and it came out great.
Hi, J! I’m so glad this recipe worked out for you. It’s one of our favorites, especially during the spring and summer!
This sounds great! I use dill relish for an add in for many things. Do you think a quick pulse in the food processor would work? I like my relish a little more chopped up than the picture. Thank you!
Hi Renee, If you like a more fine chop, I’m sure this would work in a food processor. Let us know how it turns out!
I made this using sweet & spicy pickles, so I now have sweet & spicy pickle relish. It’s very good!
I will have to try that! I love sweet and spicy pickles! Just finished a jar this morning.
I tried this recipe and it turned out really good. Thanks for the recipe.
“1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons pickle juice, finely diced”
Care to elaborate on how to dice pickle juice?
So sorry that was confusing for you. Obviously you can’t dice pickle juice but you can dice pickles. It’s been fixed.