Mom’s Pickled Eggs
Mom’s Pickled Eggs is an easy recipe for making traditional pickled eggs. Tangy, salty with a bit of spice make these eggs an old-fashioned snack that is sure to please.
This pickled egg recipe is a treasured family recipe from my husband’s Mom. Hard boiled eggs marinated in a homemade pickling brine of vinegar, pickling spice, ground mustard, salt and pepper. There is no sugar added to this pickled egg recipe, making it a perfect, healthy snack. You will want to keep a jar of these protein-packed and low-calorie eggs in the refrigerator at all times!
Years ago picked eggs were often found in big glass jars in the pub. They were popular bar food items and tasted great with a pint of beer. I think they make a delicious appetizer to add to a charcuterie board or even make into tangy deviled eggs or egg salad sandwiches. Don’t let your leftover Easter Eggs go to waste, make some pickled eggs with them!
Ingredients
- Eggs – fresh eggs tend to be difficult to peel, so choose eggs that are at least a week or two old. You want your hard boiled eggs to look perfectly peeled.
- Vinegar – plain white vinegar.
- Pickling spice – found in the spice section of your grocery store. It is usually a combination of mustard seed, bay leaves, coriander, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and chili peppers.
- Ground mustard – use only ground mustard, do not substitute for any other kind of mustard.
- Water
- Salt and pepper
How to make perfect hard boiled eggs.
- Place the eggs in a single layer in a large saucepan.
- Cover the eggs completely with water. The water should be about an inch higher than the eggs.
- Bring to a boil, then turn the stove heat off.
- Cover the pot with the lid and let stand for 11-12 minutes.
- Drain and immediately run cold water over the eggs.
- Peel using the side of of your thumb.
My recipes for Egg Salad Stuffed Pea Pods and Crab Stuffed Snow Peas include hard boiled eggs. Give these appetizer recipes a try as well.
Instructions
Prepare the pickle brine. Combine the vinegar, water, salt, pepper, ground mustard and pickling spice in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for 5 minutes.
Place the peeled hard boiled eggs into a clean glass jar.
Pour the hot pickling liquid over the eggs. Make sure the eggs are completely covered with brine.
Seal the jar with a lid and refrigerate. You can eat the eggs after 2-3 days, but I find letting them marinate in the brine for 5-7 days really enhances the flavor.
Storage
This pickled egg recipe is not canned and therefore must be kept refrigerated. They will keep sealed in a jar and stored in the fridge for 1-2 months.
Variations
My family thinks this classic pickled egg recipe is the best, but here are some tasty options.
- Add fresh sliced regular onions, red onions, or, some fresh garlic cloves.
- If you like a little heat add fresh sliced jalapeño peppers.
- A few fresh dill sprigs with enhance the pickle favor.
- To make pretty pink Beet Pickled Eggs, simply substitute the water with canned beet juice. You can even add several beets with the hard boiled eggs for a tasty option.
Recipes that use hard boiled eggs
Hard boiled eggs make a perfect snack, added to a simple salad or tasty appetizer.
This post was originally published March 2, 2014. Occasionally I update with fresh tips, content, and photos. Current update March 27, 2023.
Mom’s Pickled Eggs
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 2 tablespoons pickling spice
- 1 dozen hard boiled eggs
Instructions
- Prepare the hard boiled eggs, peel and set aside.
- Make the pickle brine by combining the vinegar, water, salt, pepper, ground mustard and pickling spice in a medium saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for 5 minutes.
- Place the peeled hard boiled eggs into a clean glass jar.
- Pour the hot pickling liquid over the eggs. Make sure the eggs are completely covered with brine.
- Seal the jar with a lid and refrigerate. You can eat the eggs after 2-3 days, but I find letting them marinated in the brine for 5-7 days really enhances the flavor.
Nutrition
Love this recipe! I put my pickling spice and dry mustard and a dash of dill and celery seed tied up in a small piece of cheese cloth. And let the bay leaf float.
DELISH!!!
Thank you Lynn, you can’t beat a great pickled egg for snacking on!
What do you mean by regular vinegar? Apple cedar or white vinegar? Thanks!
Yes Connie, it is white vinegar.
How long are these good for in the refridgerator?
I’ve kept mine in a sealed jar for up to a month.
Where did you get the cute gallon glass jar?
Hi Marcy, I can’t remember. I saved it from something I had bought at the grocery store.
Can beet juice be used in place of the water in this recipe? I know it doesn’t affect taste but I always did like the color of the red / pink pickled eggs.
If you like pink eggs I see no problem with using the beet juice.
Do you sterilize you jars or no?
Hi C, I always sterilize jars I use, not just when canning.
Add 1 tsp baking soda or a splash of vinegar to the boiling water to make the pealing easier.
I make mine and put in gallon glass jar. Keep in refrigerator. The longer they sit, the better the flavor. 3/4 days -great flavor, however mine will keep several months as long as refrigerated and tastes awesome.
Agreed Stormy, it takes a few days to get great flavour throughout the egg. Gallon jar, oh yeah!
If you peel the eggs under running cold water they peel easily even tough to peel ones 😀
I do mine a little different but they last unopened for 16 months they unfortunately only last a couple of days once opened because they are eaten
Whats your recipe Phill?
Phil, what do you do differently? Need your recipe, please. Do you leave them in the refrigerator or are they sealed like for shelflike?
Sandra Cummings
lol