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Garlic and Dill 24-Hour Refrigerator Pickles

August 24, 2021 by Michelle | 10 Comments

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2 jars of pickles with text overlays that say now cook this, garlic and dill 24-hour refrigerator pickles, and get the recipe

These Garlic and Dill 24-Hour Refrigerator Pickles are quick, easy, crisp, and absolutely packed with flavor. There’s no canning needed, and they’re a perfect way to use up some of those cucumbers from the garden or farmer’s market!

2 jars of garlic and dill 24-hour refrigerator pickles, one that is pickle spears, the other slices, with a cucumber, fresh dill, and garlic in the background this recipe

Homemade pickles are the best pickles, and they’re so simple to make. Enjoy them alongside or on a sandwich, wrap or burger, or just pull a few out of the jar for a yummy snack!

I am still working my way through all of the cucumbers in my garden. In addition to making lots of salads and just enjoying them fresh with a little sea salt, making quick pickles (or “quickles” as we like to call them) is a must.

Now, when it comes to pickles, I’ll admit that I can be a bit persnickety. Most store-bought jarred or canned pickles that are hot-processed just don’t do it for me.

Although there are some that I enjoy (namely, the ones you find in the refrigerated section), more often than not, the taste, texture and color are just not what I’m looking for.

So what kind of pickles do I like? Garlicky, dilly, vinegary, slightly sweet, crunchy pickles that look and taste super fresh, like a really good house-made deli pickle.

These homemade pickles are exactly that, and the best part is they’re incredibly easy to make!

I love these pickles so much that, unless I really need pickles in a hurry and don’t have any on hand, I don’t buy them anymore. It’s too easy to make my own, and the flavor can’t be beat!

To make them, all you need is a few basic ingredients and only about 15 minutes of prep time to slice the cucumbers, put them in the jars, and make and add the brine.

Then just let them cool down, stick them in the fridge, and they’ll be ready to enjoy in just 24 hours!

And although they are very good after 24 hours, that garlicky dill flavor just keeps getting more intense and better every day (they can last up to a month in the refrigerator).

I have been caught many a time with my fingers in the pickle jar. They’re irresistibly delicious!

fingers pulling a pickle spear out of a jar of garlic and dill 24-hour refrigerator pickles

Ingredients you need:

  • Cucumbers
  • Garlic
  • Mustard seeds
  • Black peppercorns
  • Fresh dill (or you can substitute dried)
  • White distilled vinegar
  • Water
  • Sugar
  • Kosher salt

Here’s a look at how to make Garlic and Dill 24-Hour Refrigerator Pickles:

Note: This is just a quick overview of the steps. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe with detailed instructions.

2 images; one of cucumber spears on a cutting board with a knife with text that says wash the cucumbers, cut them into spears; the other of round cucumber slices on a cutting board with a knife with text that says or slices, whichever you prefer
2 images; one of 2 mason jars packed with cucumbers with text that says place the cucumbers in the jars, pack them tightly; the other of the 2 mason jars packed with cucumbers, garlic, dill, and spices with text that says add the garlic, mustard seed, peppercorns and dill
2 images; one of brine in a pot with a spoon on the stove with text that says bring vinegar, water, sugar, and salt to a boil, stir frequently until salt and sugar are dissolved; the other of the brine being poured into the jars with text that says pour brine into jars, cover cucumbers completely, cool
2 images; one of two jars of pickles with lids with text that says put the lids on the jars; the other of a refrigerator with text that says refrigerate for at least 24 hours before serving, enjoy

Tips & Tidbits:

  • If you can get pickling cucumbers, they are the best to use (Kirby is a popular pickling cucumber) because they have thinner skins, less seeds, and a very crunchy texture. Since they are often smaller in size, you may need more of them.
  • That being said, more often than not, I can’t get pickling cucumbers, and so I wrote this recipe to use regular medium-sized slicing cucumbers (try to pick smaller ones that don’t have a lot of big seeds).
    • When I use grocery store cucumbers, I prefer English cucumbers – the long, thin ones individually wrapped in plastic. They have a thinner skin without the waxy coating and very few seeds.
  • If you can’t get fresh dill, you can use about 1 teaspoon of dried dill (1/2 teaspoon per jar). The freeze-dried dill you can find in the produce section is my favorite.
  • Make sure the cucumbers are completely covered in the brine; uncovered cucumbers can spoil faster. You can fill the jars right to the top.
    • If, once you start eating the pickles, there is no longer enough brine to cover the remaining pickles (I find this happens more often with the long spears), to help them last longer, you can add equal amounts of vinegar and water until you have enough to cover them.
  • Sometimes garlic will turn a turquoise or bluish color when pickled, but don’t worry…it is still perfectly fine to eat. This color is the result of a normal chemical reaction between the allicin in the garlic and the acid in the vinegar.
  • Since these pickles are not canned, they are not shelf-stable and must be kept stored in the refrigerator. They will last for up to a month (and will get a bit softer the longer they sit). In our house, we eat them way faster than that!
2 jars of garlic and dill 24-hour refrigerator pickles with a jar lid and fork on the side

And, hey, if you still have some zucchini to use up, guess what? You can totally use zucchini instead of cucumbers. They make excellent pickles as well!

I hope you try this Garlic and Dill 24-Hour Refrigerator Pickles recipe and love it as much as I do. Thanks for visiting today!

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image with text that says more recipes you might like
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2 jars of garlic and dill 24-hour refrigerator pickles

Garlic and Dill 24-Hour Refrigerator Pickles

These Garlic and Dill 24-Hour Refrigerator Pickles are quick, easy, crisp, and absolutely packed with flavor. There's no canning needed, and they're a perfect way to use up some of those cucumbers from the garden or farmer's market!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Rate/Comment Pin Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Cooling & Chilling Time: 1 day 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 day 50 minutes
Servings: 2 pints (about 32 spears or 32 round slices)
Calories: 11
Author: Michelle / Now Cook This!

Ingredients

  • 2 medium cucumbers, about 8 to 9 inches long each, washed and ends trimmed off
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and lightly crushed
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds, divided
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns, divided
  • 2 heaping teaspoons fresh chopped dill, divided
  • 1 cup white distilled vinegar
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

Special Equipment

  • 2 pint-sized mason jars with lids

Instructions

  • Slice the cucumbers.
    To make spears, cut each cucumber in half crosswise and then cut each half into 8 spears that are about 3 to 4 inches long (for a total of 32 spears; 16 per jar)
    If making round slices, cut each cucumber into 16 slices, each about ¼ inch thick (for a total of 32 rounds; 16 per jar).
  • Tightly pack the cucumbers into the jars.
  • Add one clove of garlic to each jar, tucking it down into the cucumbers.
  • Add ½ teaspoon of the mustard seeds, ½ teaspoon of the peppercorns, and 1 teaspoon of the dill to each jar.
  • Place the vinegar, water, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently until the sugar and salt have completely dissolved.
  • Pour the hot brine into the jars, making sure to cover the cucumbers completely (uncovered cucumbers can spoil faster; since we are not canning, you can fill the jars right to the top).
  • Set aside and allow to cool to room temperature (this will take about 30 minutes).
  • Place the lids on the jars and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before serving (the flavor will intensify the longer the sit in the fridge).

Notes

  • These pickles are not shelf-stable, and so they must be kept stored in the refrigerator; they will last up to a month (note that they will get a bit softer the longer they sit).
  • If you can’t get fresh dill, you can substitute 1 teaspoon of dried dill (1/2 teaspoon in each jar). Freeze-dried dill from the produce section is my favorite.
  • Estimated calories shown are for one spear or slice.
  • If, once you start eating the pickles, there is no longer enough brine to cover the remaining pickles (I find this happens more often with the long spears), to make them last longer, you can add equal amounts of vinegar and water until there is enough to cover them (pickles that are not covered in brine can spoil faster).
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Maria

    May 25, 2022 at 7:35 pm

    Can I omit the mustard seed or replace it with anything ?:)

    Reply
    • Michelle

      May 25, 2022 at 8:03 pm

      Hi, Maria! Sure, you can omit the mustard seeds. The flavor will just be a little bit different. As far as replacing them, if it’s that you’re out of them, maybe some pickling spice would work (which usually has some in there). If it’s that you’d rather not use them, I’m honestly not sure what I would replace them with, so I would probably just leave them out.

      Reply
  2. Cheryl

    July 27, 2022 at 6:24 pm

    I made them.

    Reply
    • Michelle

      July 27, 2022 at 6:36 pm

      Thank you, Cheryl!

      Reply
  3. Chrissy

    August 15, 2022 at 9:50 am

    Can I omit the sugar for no sweetness or do they not even taste sweet? I like a sour dill pickle.

    Reply
    • Michelle

      August 15, 2022 at 11:56 am

      Hi, Chrissy! To me, they are just very slightly sweet, and they are still quite sour. The sugar just balances out that sharpness of the vinegar a bit. That being said, although I have never done it, you could make them without the sugar and see how you like the flavor. If you try it, let me know how it goes!

      Reply
  4. Catherine

    September 4, 2022 at 9:16 pm

    We love this recipe! My sister is a foodie and just told me that these are the best pickles she ever tasted 🥰

    Reply
    • Michelle

      September 4, 2022 at 9:26 pm

      Thank you so much, Catherine…what an awesome compliment! I’m thrilled that both you and your sister loved the pickles!

      Reply
  5. Fraser

    September 5, 2022 at 12:21 am

    I’m making all different kinds using your recipe.
    Have some hot ones some with ginger and zucchini and onions.
    Hoping their going to go good aside dish with meals.
    I’ll let you know how they turn out.

    Reply
    • Michelle

      September 5, 2022 at 9:19 am

      Thanks, Fraser! I like making different variations of these pickles too and would love to hear how yours turn out!

      Reply

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