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    Home > Appetizers and Beverages > How To Make Spicy Pickles From Store Bought Dills

    How To Make Spicy Pickles From Store Bought Dills

    Published: Apr 16, 2018 · Modified: Dec 16, 2022 by Lea Ann Brown · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Quick homemade spicy pickles
    Easy spicy pickles made from store bought dills

    This is not a recipe for pickling cucumbers, but rather a method for how to make spicy pickles from store bought dill pickles. Calling all pickle junkies. This is perhaps the easiest and best recipe for spicy pickles you can make at home. Quick, easy and full of flavor, these unique Homemade Sweet and Spicy Pickles will be a staple in your refrigerator.

    Best spicy pickles. Sweet and spicy pickles in a canning jar and a small Mexican serving bowl.

    My Aunt Lena always said “You can pickle a beet, but you can’t beat a pickle“.

    I wish she was still alive as I’d make this recipe for spicy pickles for her on a regular basis.

    She thought eating a pickle cured any worry, any ache or any pain. And I do believe she’d have loved this recipe.

    Homemade Spicy Pickles

    What a great way to dress up, spice up and sweeten up a big jar of dill pickles.

    And when they’re done you have super delicious, crunchy, spicy pickle chips. With a flavor perfect for snacking, piling onto Kickin’ Chicken Sandwiches, or Buffalo Bill Burgers. Or even chopped up for potato salad or macaroni salads.

    And perfect on a hot dog. Set out a big bowl of these pickles for your next back yard BBQ.

    Most refrigerator pickles ask you to heat a brine with vinegar, water, sugar and salt. And add a complex mixture of pickling spices.

    Do you have sugar? Do you have garlic? Do you have red pepper flakes and Tabasco Sauce? Then let’s learn how to make spicy pickles – the easy way.

    And you have some of the best tasting homemade sweet and spicy pickles ever. And they keep their crunch.

    A semi-homemade pickle recipe, here’s how easy it is to make Best Spicy Pickles.

    Ingredients You’ll Need

    Ingredients to make spicy pickles from jarred dill pickles.
    • Pickles: 2 – 46-ounce jars of whole Dill Pickles. Kosher or Non-Kosher will work.
    • Hot Sauce: Use your favorite brand. For us it’s Tabasco Sauce.
    • Red Pepper Flakes
    • Dehydrated Garlic Flakes, or Dehydrated Onion Flakes: Some brand of Kosher Dills can already have a strong garlic flavor. Whereas, pickles that are not Kosher will not. Use either garlic flakes or onion … or a little bit of both.
    • Granulated Sugar

    Tip: Save That Pickle Brine. I’ve never made them, but use the pickle brine to make chicken wings. Check out my friend Nick’s recipe for Pickle Brined Chicken Wings.

    Step by Step Instructions

    Be sure to see the recipe card below for complete ingredients and instructions.

    Sliced dill pickles covered in sugar to make homemade best spicy pickles.
    • Buy two large jars of Vlassic Original Whole Dill Pickles.
    • Remove them from their brine and slice them about 1/2 inch thick into a large bowl.
    • Simply add sugar, a big splash of Tabasco Sauce, dried garlic or dried onion and red pepper flakes.
      A bowl of sliced dill pickles mixed with sugar and red pepper flakes for homemade sweet spicy pickles.
    • Let them sit at room temperature for two hours, stirring now and then.A bowl of sliced Vlassic dill pickles in a large bowl resting in a sugar mixture to make homemade best spicy pickles.
    • During their rest, they will create their own liquid.
    • After the two hours, and once the sugar is all dissolved, transfer to jars and let them rest in the refrigerator for three  days before eating.

    Tip: The sugar liquid created from these pickles is very sticky. Use a clean damp cloth to wipe the rims of the jars before placing on the lids. This will keep the lids from sticking when ready for use.

    I’ve seen similar recipes that are names Fire and Ice Pickles, Texas Christmas Pickles and Cajun Christmas Pickles.

    They are great for gifts for my pickle loving family and friends, but I love having them in my refrigerator year round.

    How to Make Spicy Pickles from Store Bought Dill Pickles

    A mason jar filled with homemade sweet and spicy pickles made from store bought dills

    I hope you take the time to learn how to make spicy pickles from dills. It’s truly an easy spicy pickle recipe. And if you do, please come back and let me know how you liked it and give the recipe a star rating.

    Your feedback is valuable to me for developing future recipes. And if you have a favorite refrigerator pickle recipe, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.

    Love pickling? Ever tried pickled beets? Take a look at my step by step recipe for Pickled Beets.

    Homemade spicy pickles in a ball canning jar

    How to Make Spicy Pickles from Store Bought

    These are perhaps the easiest and best spicy pickles you can make at home. This is not a recipe for pickling cucumbers, but rather a method for how to make spicy pickles from store bought dill pickles. Quick, easy and full of flavor, these unique Homemade Sweet and Spicy Pickles will be a staple in your refrigerator.
    4.98 from 40 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer Recipes
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Resting time: 2 hours
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 20
    Calories: 157kcal
    Author: Lea Ann Brown

    Ingredients

    • 2 46-oz jars whole dill pickles drained
    • 4 cups sugar
    • 1 1/2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce Tabasco works well here
    • 1 tablespoon dehydrated minced garlic Or onion flakes, see note below.
    • 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Drain and discard the pickling juice from the dill pickles.
    • Slice the pickles in thick, nice size chips, (larger than quarter-inch, less than half-inch) and place in a large bowl.
    • Add remaining ingredients and stir to mix. Allow to rest for about 2 hours. Stir from the bottom several times. The sugar will dissolve and the pickles will produce its own liquid.
    • Once the sugar is dissolved, place the chips in jars distributing the liquid among the jars. Wipe rims with a clean we cloth, seal and refrigerate for 3 or 4 days before enjoying and gift giving.

    Notes

    • Dehydrated Garlic Flakes, or Dehydrated Onion Flakes: Some brand of Kosher Dills can already have a strong garlic flavor. Whereas, pickles that are not Kosher will not. Use either garlic flakes or onion … or a little bit of both.
    Tip: Save That Pickle Brine. I’ve never made them, but use the pickle brine to make chicken wings. Check out my friend Nick’s recipe for Pickle Brined Chicken Wings.
    Tip: The sugar liquid created from these pickles is very sticky. Use a clean damp cloth to wipe the rims of the jars before placing on the lids. This will keep the lids from sticking when ready for use.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 157kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 31mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 59IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @lannisam or tag #CookingOnTheRanch!

    How To Make Spicy Pickles From Store Bought Dills … They’re The Best.

    And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

    If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below. And write a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah says

      August 15, 2022 at 3:10 pm

      I cant find whole non-kosher pickles anywhere here in Michigan. Has anyone been able to find them?

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        August 16, 2022 at 5:41 am

        Hi Sarah, I found a couple of brands over at Amazon. https://amzn.to/3C9vnly And, have you checked Target or Walmart?

        Reply
    2. Rosamond Bennett says

      July 14, 2022 at 8:02 pm

      My mother made these & they are amazing!

      Reply
    3. Cam says

      June 26, 2022 at 1:16 pm

      Can we use fresh or canned minced garlic, or does it need to be dried?

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        July 03, 2022 at 6:17 am

        I can’t think of any reason that fresh garlic or garlic from a jar wouldn’t work. Great question and I’ll add that suggestion to the article.

        Let me know if you have any other questions.

        Reply
    4. Karen says

      May 22, 2022 at 9:27 pm

      I am so excited to try these pickles. What brand of hot sauce do you use?

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        May 23, 2022 at 10:36 am

        Hi Karen. I hope you come back and let me know what you think of the recipe. Tabasco sauce.

        Reply
      • Susan Kurfess says

        October 25, 2022 at 7:16 pm

        5 stars
        I HAVE MADE THESE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. LAST YEAR i MADE THEM FOR A CRAFT SHOW WHERE i SERVED APPROX. 50 PEOPLE. EVERYONE LOVED THEM AND i AM MAKING THEM AGAIN THIS YEAR. . THANKS FOR THE WONDERFUL RECIPE,

        Reply
    5. Judey says

      May 11, 2022 at 10:22 pm

      5 stars
      why cant you use sliced pickles?

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        May 20, 2022 at 11:21 am

        I believe it’s because they’re sliced too thin and the’ll shrink. Better to thick slice them yourself.

        Reply
    6. Sonya says

      February 21, 2022 at 7:35 pm

      5 stars
      Has anyone tried any of the sugar substitutes? I have to look out for sugar and 40g is a lot. These pickles so delish! I really want to try them.

      Reply
    7. Debbi says

      February 09, 2022 at 9:23 pm

      Why are kosher dills not recommended and what is the results if I do?

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        February 18, 2022 at 6:12 am

        I’m not sure about the exact science behind the pickling methods used in the two processes, but the texture of the end result will be compromised if using Kosher.

        Reply
    8. Gail says

      August 19, 2021 at 7:42 pm

      Can u can these pickles?

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        August 20, 2021 at 6:42 am

        I’m not a canning expert, but I’d say not. I’m afraid the texture of the end product would be severely compromised. You’d have to water bath the pickles. These pickles have already been cooked and sealed in the pickle jars for purchase at the grocery store.

        Reply
    9. Stef says

      June 19, 2021 at 9:52 pm

      About how long do the pickles last? I just made two jars full and they are wonderful!

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        June 22, 2021 at 6:22 am

        Hi Stef. I’ve kept these in the refrigerator for a couple of months.

        Reply
    10. centuryfoods says

      May 05, 2021 at 2:15 am

      5 stars
      Hi, Just found your article when I was looking at making pickle at home. Very well written and worth reading this article. I am planning to make this with my sister.
      Wish to see more in coming days

      Reply
    11. Marlee says

      April 20, 2021 at 4:18 am

      I have sweet pickles, can I just add hot pepper flakes to the brine?

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        April 26, 2021 at 8:26 am

        You can most certainly do that. I’m not sure they’d end up with similar flavor to these spicy dills. Let me know. And thanks for your note. Let me know if you have any other questions.
        Lea Ann

        Reply
    12. SF says

      April 03, 2021 at 8:48 pm

      Looks great. Will everything work if I half the recipe?

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        April 05, 2021 at 7:04 am

        Great question. Absolutely yes. Let me know if you have any more questions and enjoy those pickles.

        Reply
    13. Cindi Alkire says

      February 27, 2021 at 7:19 pm

      Hi, I love this recipe and these pickles are amazing. I own a bbq restaurant and make these to serve with my food. I use pickle spears but the problem I have is that my pickles wilt and shrivel up then people won’t eat them because they thing they are ok and no good. What can I do to stop this from happening?

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        March 01, 2021 at 1:27 pm

        Quick question. Are you using non-kosher dill pickles?

        Reply
    14. Shiela says

      November 01, 2020 at 11:31 am

      5 stars
      These are amazing!! Thank you for the recipe. Can you process these to preserve them for shipping?

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        November 01, 2020 at 2:28 pm

        Hi Sheila. And thank you. Since the pickles in the jar are already cooked, cooking them again to process might make them mushy. I’m just not sure it would work. Let me know if you try it.

        Reply
    15. Eric says

      October 20, 2020 at 1:02 pm

      4 stars
      These are amazing. After three days they were way to sweet for me, so I added MUCH more heat and let them sit for another week. Then, wow, we could not stop eating them. If I reduce the amount of sugar do you think I would still get enough liquid?

      Reply
    16. Paula Pharo says

      May 13, 2020 at 12:19 pm

      5 stars
      I made these for myself and my family tried them. WOW! Now I’m making 4 batches a week. They are That Good!

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        May 13, 2020 at 2:54 pm

        Thanks so much for taking the time to write a note about these pickles.

        We happen to think they’re amazing, so glad you like them. And if there were enough people around our house to eat them, I’d probably make 4 batches a week also.

        Make it a delicious day. 🙂

        Reply
    17. Blackeyke says

      April 07, 2020 at 3:40 pm

      5 stars
      I made these pickles and ate them up real fast… They are so good I followed the exact recipe

      Reply
    18. Phyllis Chittum says

      March 31, 2020 at 4:43 am

      5 stars
      THIS is absolutely the BEST recipe ever found for pickles. I ALWAYS have one jar in refrigerator that I am munching on………….and a second jar in the works. At least once per day…..I do just open the jar and munch 1-2 pieces.
      I have been using this recipe now for a long time…………This is simply a quick go to snack. They are great on sandwiches, salads, absolutely anything……but mostly used for a quick bite………Thanks for sharing. Do you have other recipes to share? Anyone that could create this – must have additional fantastic recipes.

      Reply
    19. janet says

      August 30, 2019 at 12:19 pm

      5 stars
      just made these…my husband is in heaven!!!!! they are so good….will keep this recipe and use over and over…thank you so much!!!!

      Reply
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    I'm Lea Ann, A Culinary School Grad bringing you Wild West Colorado inspired recipes. You'll find lots of Southwestern, and Mexican food recipes, and some favorites from Culinary School along with pro cooking tips. If you're an adventurous home cook looking to spice up your meal plans, you'll find plenty of inspiration and reliable, approachable, easy to follow recipes.

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