Serve pickled eggs as an appetizer, side dish, or a spicy snack.

My first experience with pickled eggs came in fourth grade.

The pungent odor quickly filled the small space of the nearby seats, zipping our noses to attention.

Southern Living Pickled Eggs in the jar after pickling

Credit:Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Curious, I asked if he’d share one with meand kindly, he did.

The first bite was an instant, nearly overwhelming, surge of sour and tangy flavors.

Couple that with the bouncy, chewy texture of a hard-boiled egg.

Southern Living Pickled Eggs boiling the eggs in a saucepan

Credit:Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

But my nostalgic, romantic side yearns for another bite still.

Peppers give the pickled eggs a nice heat and bite.

Plus, they make for an excellent garnish on the egg halves.

Southern Living Pickled Eggs peeling the hard boiled eggs

Credit:Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Bring to a boil over medium-high.

Remove from heat, and let stand 10 minutes.

Drain, and run cool water over eggs.

Southern Living Pickled eggs making the brine

Credit:Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Let stand until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.

Peel eggs, and set aside.

Remove from heat, and let cool until about room temperature, about 30 minutes.

Southern Living pickled eggs packing the jar with the eggs and vegetables

Credit:Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Pour vinegar mixture over egg mixture to cover.

Seal jar with lid, and let stand at room temperature 20 minutes.

Store in refrigerator at least 24 hours or up to 1 week.

Southern Living Pickled Eggs adding the brine to the jar

Credit:Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

What Do Pickled Eggs Taste Like?

Pickled eggs are tart and tangy.

They have a bite to them that’s reminiscent ofpicklesor sauerkraut.

Southern Living Pickled Eggs ingredients

Credit:Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

These pickled eggs have the added layer of spicy chiles, too.

Fresno chiles provide heat and a bit of peppery sweetness.

The egg helps balance each bite with its creamy yolk, bouncy white, and just-right hint of sweetness.

Southern Living Pickled Eggs halved on a plate to serve

Credit:Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Absolutely you’re free to leave out the chiles.

But know that the final product may not be as spectacular as you’d want.

Here’s what aSouthern LivingTest Kitchen pro said about making these without the chiles.

“I tested a version with the chiles and 6 eggs and a half recipe without the chiles.

The flavor of them goes so well with the lightly pickled egg.”

How Long Before you could Eat Pickled Eggs?

Give the eggs at least 24 hours in the pickling brine before you eat one.

That way, the flavors have time to penetrate the egg.

A few days is even better.

Frequently Asked Questions

You should aim to eat these eggs within 1 week.

Yes, you should absolutely refrigerate pickled eggs.

This can help prevent dangerous food borne illness.