🥒 No-Canning Refrigerator Pickles (Dill & Bread & Butter Styles)

Make your own crisp dill pickles, WITHOUT having to dig out the pressure cooker or water bath canner! This easy “No-Canning” recipe is great for serving fresh crisp pickles at your favorite get-togethers with friends and family.

Pickles are cucumbers that have been soaked in a pickling liquid, either vinegar or brine usually with added spices, usually for a minimum of 3 days. They are most often eaten as a sandwich garnish or as the main ingredient of a salad.

🥒 Overnight Refrigerator Pickles – Crisp Dill Pickles

You’ll Need:

• 1 or 2 Cucumbers
• 1 Tablespoon Dried Dill Weed (or 1/4 cup fresh dill sprigs)
• 3 Garlic Cloves – chopped
• 2 teaspoons Kosher Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Black Peppercorns
• 4 Tablespoons White Vinegar
• Bottled Water (Or Filtered Water)
• 1 Quart Canning Jar with a Lid

Wash and slice the cucumbers into spears. If your cucumbers are slightly bitter – here’s a tip for remedying that.

Pack dill, garlic, salt & peppercorns into the jar, then the cucumbers. Add 4 TBS of vinegar, then fill the jar with water. Cap it and shake well to dissolve the salt.

Let it sit overnight. In the morning, shake the jar again and let it sit another 24 hours. Refrigerate. The pickles are perfect after 24 hours and can be stored up to 2 weeks—but don’t worry, they won’t last that long!

🍯 Overnight Bread & Butter Pickles

Sometimes you don’t feel like dragging out the canning supplies and messing up the whole kitchen just to enjoy fresh crisp pickles, that’s why this recipe is one of my favorites. We grab a few fresh cucumbers from the garden and throw together a couple of jars of these easy overnight bread and butter pickles.

They’re really great for bringing to potlucks, on the boat, or to cookouts because everyone absolutely loves them.

A few tricks to get you started: If you like crispier pickles, slice the cucumbers thin. This goes for the sweet Vidalia onion in the recipe as well!

You’ll Need:

• 8–10 medium cucumbers, thinly sliced
• 1 medium sweet onion, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
• 2 cups cider vinegar
• 3 teaspoons mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp celery seed

Salt the cucumber and onion slices with the Kosher salt (don’t substitute this—use KOSHER Salt!) and toss them together until coated. Cover and chill in the fridge for 1 hour. Don’t skip this step—it’s what makes your pickles nice and crisp!

Remove the veggies from the fridge and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Drain well and pack into a quart jar.

In a saucepan combine the remaining ingredients and cook, stirring occasionally until the sugars are completely dissolved. Pour the hot mixture over the veggies, let it cool. Seal the jar and place in the fridge overnight.

They’re best after 24 hours, but seriously, no one will complain if they only get 12 hours. I usually double the recipe because they disappear so fast!

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💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How long do refrigerator pickles last?

Both dill and bread & butter pickles will last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Be sure to keep them chilled in a tightly sealed jar.

Can I use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar in the dill pickles?

Yes! Apple cider vinegar gives a slightly sweeter, fruitier flavor and works great if you’re out of white vinegar.

Why does the recipe say not to skip salting the cucumbers first?

Salting draws out excess moisture, which is key for achieving crispy pickles. Skipping this step will result in soggier pickles.

Can I reuse the pickling brine?

While you can reuse it once for a second batch, the flavor and acidity may be weaker. It’s best to make fresh brine for the best results.

Do I need to peel the cucumbers first?

Nope! Leave the skins on for crunch and nutrition—just make sure to scrub them clean first, especially if they’re garden-fresh.

Can I make these with zucchini or squash?

Yes! Zucchini and summer squash can be used in place of cucumbers in both recipes, though they may soften a bit faster.

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🖨️ Print-Friendly Overnight Bread and Butter Pickles Recipe

Overnight Refrigerator Pickles (Crisp Dill & Bread and Butter Styles)

Article or recipe authorAuthor: Melissa 'Liss' Burnell

approximate calories112kcal

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preparation timePrep 15 minutes mins

cook timeCook 5 minutes mins

custom timeResting Time 1 day d

total timeTotal 1 day d 20 minutes mins

These easy overnight refrigerator pickles—dill or sweet bread & butter—are ready in 24 hours, using simple pantry staples and fresh cucumbers

ServingsServings 16

CourseCourse condiments, Fall Side Dish, Side Dish, Snack

CuisineCuisine American

Budget101 Price BreakdownApprox Cost: 2.75

Ingredients

1/21x2x

🥒 Ingredients (Dill Pickles)

• ▢ 1-2 large cucumbers cut into spears
• ▢ 1 tbsp dried dill weed or 1/4 cup fresh dill sprigs
• ▢ 3 garlic cloves chopped
• ▢ 2 tsp kosher salt
• ▢ ¼ tsp whole black peppercorns
• ▢ 4 tbsp white vinegar
• ▢ Bottled or filtered water to fill jar
• ▢ 1 quart-size glass jar with lid

🍯 Ingredients (Bread & Butter Pickles)

• ▢ 8-10 medium cucumbers thinly sliced
• ▢ 1 medium sweet onion thinly sliced
• ▢ 3 tbsp kosher salt
• ▢ 1½ cups white sugar
• ▢ ¼ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
• ▢ 2 cups apple cider vinegar
• ▢ 3 tsp mustard seeds
• ▢ ½ tsp celery seed
• ▢ 1 quart-size glass jar with lid

Equipment

Quart-size glass jars with lids (2)

Knife & Cutting Board

Saucepan (for bread & butter version)

Spoon for stirring

Instructions

Prevent Sleep Mode Prevent Sleep Mode

👩‍🍳 Instructions (Dill Pickles)

1. Wash and slice cucumbers into spears.
   1-2 large cucumbers
2. Add dill, garlic, salt, and peppercorns to a clean jar.
   1 tbsp dried dill weed or 1/4 cup fresh dill sprigs

   3 garlic cloves

   2 tsp kosher salt

   1/4 tsp whole black peppercorns
3. Pack cucumber spears into the jar.
   1 quart-size glass jar with lid
4. Pour in vinegar, then fill the rest of the jar with bottled water.
   4 tbsp white vinegar

   Bottled or filtered water
5. Seal and shake well to dissolve salt.
6. Let sit overnight at room temperature.
7. Shake again the next morning and refrigerate.
8. Enjoy after 24 hours. Keeps well for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

👩‍🍳 Instructions (Bread & Butter Pickles)

1. Toss sliced cucumbers and onions with kosher salt in a large bowl.
   8-10 medium cucumbers

   1 medium sweet onion

   3 tbsp kosher salt
2. Cover and chill in fridge for 1 hour.
3. Rinse well with cold water, drain, and pack into a clean jar.
   1 quart-size glass jar with lid
4. In a saucepan, combine sugars, vinegar, mustard seeds, and celery seed.
   1½ cups white sugar

   1/4 cup coconut sugar

   2 cups apple cider vinegar

   3 tsp mustard seeds

   1/2 tsp celery seed
5. Heat until sugars are fully dissolved (do not boil).
6. Pour hot mixture over cucumbers and onions.
7. Let cool completely, seal, and refrigerate overnight.
8. Best after 24 hours. Stores up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

Recipe Size Alteration

💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.

Nutrition

Serving 1g | Calories 112kcal | Carbohydrates 26g | Protein 1g | Fat 0.5g | Saturated Fat 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g | Sodium 1610mg | Potassium 216mg | Fiber 1g | Sugar 23g | Vitamin A 86IU | Vitamin C 5mg | Calcium 28mg | Iron 0.5mg | Net Carbs 25g

Notes

💡 Recipe Notes & Bonus Tips:

Crispy Trick: For extra crispiness, soak cucumbers in ice water for 20–30 minutes before slicing.
Flavor Boost: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for spicy pickles.

Sweet Swaps: Try agave nectar or maple syrup in place of coconut sugar.

Pickle Chips Option: Slice into rounds instead of spears for a snacking favorite.

Garden Fresh Tip: Don’t peel cucumbers—just scrub well, especially if homegrown.

Make It a Gift: Tie a ribbon around the jar for an adorable homemade gift.

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🥒 More Pickle Recipes to Try

If you’re loving the no-fuss flavor of these overnight pickles, you might also enjoy these unique homemade pickle recipes from Budget101®:

• 🍉 Watermelon Rind Pickles
  Don’t toss those rinds! Transform them into a sweet and tangy old-fashioned treat that’s perfect with grilled meats or cheese platters.
• 🌿 Mustard Pickles
  A creamy, zesty classic made with cauliflower, cucumbers, and onions in a mustard-spiced sauce. A favorite for cold plates and sandwiches.

These recipes are perfect for gardeners, homesteaders, and anyone who loves a good homemade condiment. Try them all and discover your favorite!