Quick Pickled Asparagus - Easy recipe, no canning required! (2024)

With a simple pickling brine and a few spices, Quick Pickled Asparagus has a tangy, robust flavor with just a bit of heat from red pepper flakes. It’s an easy recipe, no canning required. Enjoy these tender-crisp spears on a cheese board, with a salad, in your Bloody Mary, or just as a snack!

Easy Refrigerator Pickled Asparagus

I think we all know by now that if there’s a fresh ingredient that can be pickled, I’m going to do it. Especially when it’s something I love as much as asparagus!

This Quick Pickled Asparagus recipe turns your basic asparagus into a crisp-tender, tangy treat. With a bit of warmth from red pepper flakes, it’s dangerously addictive!

I love to eat pickled asparagus spears straight from the jar as a snack, but there’s actually so much more you can do with them. Serve them as a quick side to a summer lunch, tuck whole or cut spears into a salad, offer them on a cheese board, or take your Bloody Mary co*cktail garnish to a whole new level. So good!

What You’ll Need

This recipe requires just a few seasonings plus a handful of kitchen staples.

• Fresh asparagus – You’ll need 1.5 pounds of asparagus for this recipe, about 40 to 45 medium-sized spears.
• Garlic – Smash it to infuse flavor throughout.
• Seasonings – Black peppercorns, yellow mustard seeds, crushed red pepper flakes, and fresh dill add flavor to the pickling liquid.
• White vinegar – The acidity of the vinegar is what pickles the asparagus.
• Sugar – A typical pickling ingredient, to add some sweetness.
• Salt – Another usual pickling ingredient.

How to Make Pickled Asparagus

Here’s how to quickly and easily make pickled asparagus.

• Trim the asparagus. In addition to snapping off the woody ends, you’ll need to trim the asparagus to fit into your jar, with an additional half-inch of headspace.
• Add to the jar. Place them in the jar, tips up, as tightly as possible. Add the seasonings to the jar as well.
• Make the pickling brine. Bring the vinegar, sugar, and salt to a boil, then whisk vigorously until the sugar and salt dissolve. Immediately pour over the asparagus, being sure to cover it completely.
• Cool. Let the jar cool on the counter, then add the lid and refrigerate. Wait at least 24 hours before diving in.

Tips for Success

Here are a few tips for making the best quick pickled asparagus.

• Use the best asparagus. Always look for the freshest asparagus. If it’s limp, tough and woody, or has mushy tips, don’t bother!
• Adjust the spices to your liking. If you like spicy asparagus, add some extra red pepper flakes. You can add more garlic too, if you wish.
• Leave room at the top of the jar. It’s important when you trim the asparagus, to trim them short enough that 1/2″ is left remaining at the top of the jar, as the pickling brine needs to fully cover the tops.
• Wait a few days before enjoying. While you can eat these after 24 hours, I definitely recommend waiting a few days if you can. The flavor just gets better – more intensely pickled – the longer they’re in the fridge!

Serving Suggestions

I am 100% guilty of sneaking these asparagus spears straight from the jar in the fridge. Morning, noon, or night.

But besides being a perfect snack, there are many other ways to enjoy them…

They make a great garnish to a Bloody Mary or caesar co*cktail, as well as a prize addition to a charcuterie board, cheese plate, or relish tray.

You can serve them up as a side dish to a sandwich or most any casual meal. Or add them to the top of salads for extra crunch and a lovely tangy flavor.

Pickled asparagus is also pretty wonderful with some eggs. Again…morning, noon, or night!!

How Long Will Pickled Asparagus Last?

Because this recipe uses a quick pickling technique instead of canning the asparagus, these jars need to be stored in the refrigerator. They are not shelf-stable. Refrigerated and sealed tightly, with spears always submerged in the pickling brine, quick pickled asparagus will keep well for up to 1 month.

More Quick Pickled Recipes:

• Quick Pickled Beets
• Quick Pickled Carrots
• Refrigerator Pickled Squash
• Pickled Red Onions

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