If you love sweet, tangy pickles with plenty of crunch, Bread and Butter Refrigerator Pickles are one of the easiest homemade versions to make. Thin cucumber slices soak in a simple vinegar brine with onions, mustard seeds, turmeric, celery seed, and sugar for that classic deli-style flavor.

There is no canning, boiling jars, or complicated preserving required. Just slice, brine, chill, and enjoy them on sandwiches, burgers, snack plates, and summer meals.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• No canning required
• Sweet, tangy, and crunchy
• Perfect for burgers and sandwiches
• Made with simple pantry spices
• Ready to prep in about 20 minutes
• Keeps well in the refrigerator
• Great for summer cucumbers
• Easy to make in small batches

Unlike dill pickles, bread and butter pickles have a sweeter brine with warm spices and thin onion slices. The flavor is bright, nostalgic, and perfect when you want something crunchy with a little sweetness.

Ingredients

For the Pickles

• 1 pound small cucumbers, sliced into thin rounds
• ½ small yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup white vinegar
• ½ cup apple cider vinegar
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• ½ teaspoon celery seed
• ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
• ¼ teaspoon black peppercorns

Ingredient Notes

Cucumbers

Small pickling cucumbers, Kirby cucumbers, or Persian cucumbers work best because they stay firm in the brine. Slice them evenly so every piece pickles at the same speed.

Onion

Thinly sliced yellow onion adds classic bread and butter pickle flavor. Sweet onion also works if you want a milder taste.

Vinegar

The mix of white vinegar and apple cider vinegar gives the pickles a clean tang with a little fruitiness. You can use all white vinegar if that’s what you have.

Sugar

Bread and butter pickles are meant to be sweet. The sugar balances the vinegar and creates the signature flavor.

Turmeric

Turmeric gives the brine its warm golden color. Use only a small amount so it does not overpower the pickles.

How to Make Bread and Butter Refrigerator Pickles

1. Slice the Cucumbers and Onion

Wash the cucumbers well and trim off the ends.

Slice the cucumbers into thin, even rounds. A sharp knife works well, but a mandoline can help create very even slices.

Thinly slice the onion and set it aside with the cucumbers.

2. Pack the Jar

Add the cucumber slices and onions to a clean glass jar.

Pack them firmly, but do not crush them. Leave a little space at the top so the brine can fully cover the vegetables.

3. Make the Sweet Brine

In a small saucepan, combine the white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, sugar, kosher salt, mustard seeds, celery seed, turmeric, red pepper flakes, and black peppercorns.

Warm over medium heat just until the sugar and salt dissolve. Stir gently so the spices distribute evenly.

You do not need to boil the brine.

4. Pour the Brine

Let the brine cool for a few minutes, then pour it over the cucumbers and onions.

Make sure everything is fully submerged. If needed, gently press the cucumbers down with a spoon.

Seal the jar and give it a gentle shake to distribute the spices.

5. Refrigerate

Place the jar in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours.

The flavor is better after 48 hours, when the cucumbers have fully absorbed the sweet and tangy brine.

Expert Tips

Slice Evenly

Even slices pickle evenly. If some are thick and others are thin, the texture will vary from piece to piece.

Don’t Overheat the Brine

You only need to dissolve the salt and sugar. Boiling the brine aggressively can soften the cucumbers too much.

Use Fresh Cucumbers

Firm, fresh cucumbers give the best crunch. Avoid cucumbers that feel soft or wrinkled.

Chill Before Serving

These pickles taste best cold. Give them enough refrigerator time before using them on sandwiches or burgers.

Easy Variations

Spicy Bread and Butter Pickles

Add extra red pepper flakes or thin jalapeño slices for a sweet-and-spicy version.

Extra Onion Pickles

Add more thinly sliced onion if you love the sweet pickled onion flavor.

Garlic Bread and Butter Pickles

Add 1 or 2 smashed garlic cloves to the jar for a savory twist.

Burger Pickle Chips

Slice the cucumbers slightly thicker so they hold their crunch on burgers and sandwiches.

What to Serve With Bread and Butter Pickles

These Bread and Butter Refrigerator Pickles are perfect anywhere you want sweet crunch and tangy flavor.

Serve them with:

• Burgers
• Hot dogs
• Turkey sandwiches
• Chicken salad
• Tuna salad
• BBQ plates
• Snack boards
• Wraps
• Grilled cheese

If you prefer tangy pickles with fresh dill, try our Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles for the classic garlicky version.

These sweet pickles also taste great tucked into our 15-Minute Chickpea Salad Wraps for crunch, sweetness, and acidity.

For a fresh meal-prep bowl, serve them alongside our Budget Mediterranean Bean Bowl to add a bright pickled bite.

Storage

Store bread and butter refrigerator pickles in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator.

They are best within 2 to 3 weeks. The flavor becomes stronger after the first few days, while the cucumbers stay crisp if they remain fully submerged in the brine.

Always use a clean fork to remove pickles from the jar.

Do not store these pickles at room temperature. This recipe is for refrigerator pickles, not shelf-stable canned pickles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do bread and butter refrigerator pickles need canning?

No. These pickles are stored in the refrigerator and do not require water bath canning.

How soon can I eat them?

You can eat them after 24 hours, but they taste best after 48 hours.

Why are they called bread and butter pickles?

The name is often linked to old-fashioned sweet pickle recipes commonly served with simple bread-and-butter meals.

Can I reduce the sugar?

Yes, but the flavor will be more sharp and less traditional. Bread and butter pickles are meant to be sweet.

Can I use apple cider vinegar only?

Yes. The flavor will be slightly fruitier and darker, but still delicious.

Final Thoughts

These Bread and Butter Refrigerator Pickles are sweet, tangy, crunchy, and incredibly easy to make without canning. They’re perfect for burgers, sandwiches, wraps, snack plates, and summer meals, giving you that classic homemade pickle flavor with very little effort.