With just 10 minutes of prep and only 5 ingredients you can transform earthy beets into tangy tender slices of absolute goodness. These Simple Pickled Beets are gluten free, paleo-friendly and vegetarian and one of my absolute favorite summer side dishes!
I originally shared this recipe on August 1, 2014. I have updated the images and some of the text today.
They’re so good, it’s like standing at the counter, eating straight out of the bowl good. Like turn your pee red for a few days good. Wait, is that a degree of goodness? You get what I mean?
But these Simple Pickled Beets are just about as well…. simple as you can make them. Just boil them, peel and slice them and then toss them in a super simple vinaigrette and you’re done! They are delicious in their simplicity. Tangy, earthy and meltingly tender. And they will look absolutely stunning on your Summer table next to all of your gorgeous grilled meat and summer salads.
!I always say, “You can’t beat a beet!” Well, maybe not always, but I do really love beets. There are so many ways you can prepare and eat them. You can boil them and toss them into salads or side dishes like my Green Salad with Beets and Crispy Prosciutto Chips, or the Spinach Salad with Maple Ranch Dressing and Bacon and Beets, Beets with Cranberries and Spiced Nuts or Beets with Tahini. They are also delicious just shredded and eaten raw like in my Layered Salad with Beets, Apple, Cheddar and Bacon. And don’t miss out on roasting them! Check out how to roast beets by oh my veggies.
Nutritional Benefits Of Beets
- They are high in B-9 or folate which is vital for good emotional and mental health
- Chocked full of Vitamin C which helps boost your immune system
- Naturally occurring nitrates in beets may help lower blood pressure
- Beets are a unique source of betaine, which is a nutrient that helps fight inflammation, protects internal organs and improves stamina
These yum-tastic beets are part of a collection of seasonal produce recipes by the Eat Seasonal group. You can see the rest of the Eat Seasonal recipes here…
Berry Frangipane Brioche Toast by Vintage Mixer
Paleo Double Chocolate Zucchini Banana Bread by JoyFoodSunshine
Kale Salad with Blueberries Cherries and Goat Cheese by Flavor the Moments
Pesto Butter Corn on the Cob by Cookin’ Canuck
Triple Berry No-Bake Cheesecake with Amaretti Crust by Floating Kitchen
Sour Cream Panna Cotta with Strawberry Compote by Simple Bites
Blueberry Acai Frozen Yogurt by Kitchen Confidante
Lower Carb Zucchini Noodle Pasta Bake by She Likes Food
Summer Melon Cous Cous Salad with Avocado, Grapes and Mint by Foodie Crush
Golden Beets with Black Beans and Dried Cherries by Letty’s Kitchen
With just 10 minutes of prep and only 5 ingredients you can transform earthy beets into tangy tender slices of absolute goodness. These Simple Pickled Beets are a gluten free, paleo-friendly, vegetarian side dish that will make all of your Summer grilling dishes sing!
Ingredients
- 1 pound beets, about 2 bunches greens removed, and trimmed
- 1 large clove garlic, crushed and peeled
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- ¾ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place beets in a 3-quart saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the beets are tender and a fork inserted into the beets comes out easily, 40 to 55 minutes, depending on the size of the beets. Drain and cool beets until cool enough to handle.
- Whisk garlic, oil, vinegar and salt in a medium bowl. Peel and slice beets. Add to the dressing, and toss to coat. Cool beets completely in the dressing. Refrigerate or serve immediately.
Notes
0 mg Cholesterol, 0 g Added Sugars
Here are the original images associated with this blog post.
Thank you for this recipe. I will be trying it this weekend. The beets are ready in our garden and I don’t have many so want a special recipe to honor them. I think this is it! Thank you so much Katie
That is such a nice compliment Bonda. My family loves this recipe so I am guessing you’ll enjoy it.
P.S. I think your photography is excellent in this photo. You really excel in this.
Ha ha! Thanks again!
What?!?! I was thinking how pretty your beets looked when I first got here! I feel the same way when photographing anything white, ugh! I love pickled beets w asparagus 😉 will have to make my own!
Oh yes white food is so hard too. I have a bread to share, but I can’t bring myself to do it, because I don’t like the photos. I’ve never had beets with asparagus in them.
I think the pictures are great. And I for one am glad that you posted this as I just picked all the beets out of my garden to pickle them and was going to google pickled beet recipes so you saved me a lot of time. Thanks so much!
That is so funny Sage! You’ll love these:)
Ohh definitely making these!!
With such an easy ingredient list and only 10 minutes of effort, what is not to love. That’s probably why I have been making this same recipe for so long.
I love beet, but usually raw or roasted. Never thought of pickling them. This is a fuss free and delicious recipe, Katie.
Thank you Angie. I love them this way. I hope you enjoy them.
You don’t give yourself enough credit on the photography, Katie! Kudos to you for trying something out of your element. My wife loves pickled beets, but I’ve yet to try making them at home. Perhaps I should fix that!
Thank you David. It is a little clunky, but that is where I get better and learn new things I guess. Thank you for the compliment. Yes Jase loves pickled beets too. He loves this recipe.
Love the dark mood of your photos! I love beets and this is such an easy recipe to pickle ’em – thank you!
You do? At least you like them. I am still needing some convincing on them. But at least the beets we can agree on. Ha ha.
Love pickled beets and I love your photos. How long can the beets stay in fridge?
I would say about three or four days Jenny. Just be sure to toss them with the dressing every so often so they are evenly pickled. The garlic will get more and more intense as they sit.
My grandparents grew beets in their huge garden and she made pickled beets every summer. She made them sweeter than your recipe but I think beets are sweet enough on their own. This recipe brings back so many memories! Thanks, Katie!
Yes, I have seen recipes with sugar added, and I never understood why. Beets are like natures candy. Oh wait that’s dates. Ha ha. Glad this struck such a nostalgic chord for you.
Hi I was wondering if you can use this recipe for canning? If you can what kind of life shelf can you expect if you use this recipe?
Thanks so much!
Thanks for asking Amanda. This beet recipe doesn’t have enough liquid to cover them in the jar. Good luck in your quest for a good pickled beets recipe.
Love the beet greens cooked, been a long time since having them.
Thank you so much for stopping by Joni. I have grown to like beet greens myself, though it took some getting used to. Pickled beets however have been a love of mine since childhood. Have a great day!
I MUST do this this year! I love pickled beets but haven’t made them before! I would totally eat these right up from the jar.
Oh, you have to. They are so easy!
Pickled beets are my FAVORITE! With a recipe this easy I have no excuse not to make them at home!
They really are so easy to make. That’s probably why they are a go-to in the summer when most days I would rather be out playing than cooking.
I’ve never pickled beets and I’m dying to try these. Your photos are just gorgeous too!
Hope you like them. Thank you so much about the photos Marcie! I really needed to update the old shots. Ha ha.
I’m still trying to convince my hubby that pickled beets can be incredible (I’m afraid he was scarred with a bad batch when he was a kid), but secretly, I don’t mind because that means I don’t have to share! LOL. No one can deny how beautiful beets are, and I just love this! Gorgeous!
My husband didn’t like beets when I met him so there is hope! They are so pretty aren’t they! I especially love chioggia.
I love beets too–anyway they come! Love this simple recipe that shows them off soooo nicely. Pinned!
Thank you so much friend!
These look great, Katie! So vibrant. I want to pile them on top of a big veggie burger!
Oh that’s a great idea. I wouldn’t have thought of that, but the flavors would be awesome!
I need to make some pickled beets asap!! I love beets but have never had them prepared this way before. I could eat these plain or I bet they would be so good on everything!
They are a great side because they’re sweet and sour.
A simple pleasure and SO fabulous! No canning needed, as they’d disappear fast…. and beetitis? Worth that change in color… delicious work Katie (and that steam capture… incredible!).
Look is so great & yummy. I want to try to make it. So nice post
My mother-in-law turned me on to fresh beets. And have never gone back. Am looking forward to doing this recipe.
When I met my husband he was not really a beet fan- I just don’t think he had had them very many times. Now he loves them! I love hearing about when people discover new (healthy) ingredients! Thanks for stopping by Nancy. Happy cooking!
How long will they keep in the fridge
Should I use a hot water bath to keep longer
Do they have to be refrigerated
They will keep in the fridge for 4 days. It is not a huge batch. There is not enough brine to cover them in jars safely. Yes they have to be refrigerated. If you are looking for canning recipes, I highly recommend either “Brown Eggs and Jam Jars” or “Not Your Mama’s Canning Book.”