Did you know that grocery store-bought pickles are often packed with tons of added sugar and other hidden crap? It’s true – which is why this homemade EASY PICKLE RECIPE is absolutely perfect for helping you reach your health and weight loss goals.
I’m certain that these homemade dill pickles will become your new favorite “clean eating” snack. That’s because they’re not just the crunchiest pickles packed with unbelievable flavor, but they’re also sugar-free, low-carb, and almost calorie-free.
I started making these pickles back in January of 2021 when, at 45 years old, I finally got serious about losing weight and getting healthy. I quickly fell in love with their yumminess and over the course of the next few months, I made several batches.
I’m also certain that they have definitely contributed to my 46 pound weight loss success! Let’s just say, I am now completely hooked on these amazing baby dills and will surely be making them for many, many, years to come.
*Hey Jen – I’m ready to GO TO THE AWESOME RECIPE RIGHT NOW, PRETTY PLEASE! I’ll read about the incredible pickle benefits later.
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Whether you do intermittent fasting like I do, or you’re just looking for the perfect weight loss snack – this recipe has it all, including some pretty exciting health and weight loss benefits too.
So let’s dive in and scoop out all of the “DILL”-Lightful reasons you should be making these yummy snacks a regular part of your daily routine!
15 Best BENEFITS of Pickles
- Since pickles are only about 5 calories per spear, they are an incredible weight loss food. In fact, they are also great for those following an intermittent fasting health and weight loss diet. Pickles are FANTASTIC for breaking your fast because of the much needed salt/electrolytes.
- Pickles can help to CONTROL BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS. This is very important for both your health and for reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.
- Pickles are also very RICH IN PROBIOTICS which are very important for GUT HEALTH! Fermented foods, like pickles, are known to support gut health and help to strengthen your gut microbiome. They help to boost friendly bacteria in the gut to treat problems like diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and constipation (SORRY – TMI – just trying to help).
- When you eat pickles alongside other foods/meals, it helps your body to absorb more nutrients.
- Pickles and pickle juice can also help with HEARTBURN.
- Consuming pickles can help to relieve and FIGHT MUSCLE CRAMPS and SPASMS.
- This benefit is so interesting. Did you know that pickles are also great for RELIEVING MENSTRUAL CRAMPS for women who suffer with heavy periods or PMS? Pretty cool, huh?
- Pickle juice is fantastic for HELPING TO PREVENT DEHYDRATION. Did you know that many athletes find that pickle juice works better than electrolyte sports drinks when exercising? I have also “heard” (lol) that pickle juice may also help if you drink a bit too much alcohol and end up with a hangover!
- Pickles are very rich in ANTIOXIDANTS which help to fight the effects of free radicals in the body. This can help to protect against cancer, inflammation and heart disease.
- Pickles are an awesome source of VITAMIN K which can help to prevent blood clots and strengthen bones!
- Studies have shown that eating pickles and other fermented foods have been shown to RELIEVE SOCIAL ANXIETY, STRESS, and TENSION because the Probiotics help your brain to make neurotransmitters!
- Pickle juice can also really help to relieve BLOATING!
- Studies have also shown that pickles even have the ability to strengthen the IMMUNE SYSTEM!
- They help with your SKIN HEALTH as many skin conditions are linked to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the gut. And, eating pickles helps to fight off these harmful microbes!
AND LAST BUT ABSOLUTELY NOT LEAST – MY PERSONAL FAVORITE REASON FOR EATING PICKLES!
BONUS BENEFIT #15 Drinking 1-2 ounces of pickle juice helps GET RID OF HICCUPS! It TOTALLY WORKS! Sometimes I get hiccups in the middle of the night (so annoying) and I can’t get rid of them! Luckily, I make these homemade pickles so often that I usually have a jar prepared in my fridge. I creep out of bed and take a giant gulp of my pickle juice and I kid you not – every time so far it has cured my hiccups! It works like a charm – even though I am technically breaking my fast in the middle of the night – oh well, you can’t win them all!
I believe your search for the perfect homemade pickle recipe ends right here, right now! I have no doubt that after that first crunch you will be completely hooked!
EASY PICKLE RECIPE
Simple Ingredients Needed
- Bag of SHORT BABY CUCUMBERS ( I like to buy mine at ALDI)
- 1 Cup FILTERED COLD WATER
- 1 Cup Distilled WHITE VINEGAR + 1-2 Tablespoons APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (The ACV is optional but highly recommended)
- 4 MINCED GARLIC CLOVES
- 2 Tablespoons of KOSHER SALT (no table salt)
- 2 Tablespoons of FRESH DILL or DRIED DILL WEED
- 2 Teaspoons WHOLE BLACK PEPPERCORNS
- 1 Wide Mouth 32 oz. MASON JAR with Lid
Easy Recipe Directions
- FIRST, cut the ends off of the fresh cucumbers and then cut them in half lengthwise. It’s also fun to cut regular cucumbers into round slices making pickle chips instead of spears.
- NEXT, in the jar, combine WATER, VINEGAR, SALT, DILL, GARLIC and WHOLE PEPPERCORNS.
- FINALLY, add the pickle spears to the clean jar. COVER, SHAKE, and then REFRIGERATE the jar of pickles for at least 24 hours before eating and enjoying!
Here are a few quick tips when making this awesome refrigerator pickle recipe.
Dill Pickle Recipe Tips!
- It is very important that you use the 32 oz. (Wide Mouth) Mason Jars with a sturdy lid when you make these quick pickles. These are the PICKLE JARS THAT I USE [Amazon Affiliate Link] and absolutely love!
- Once you have added all of the ingredients, be sure to secure the lid and shake for at least 15-20 seconds until all of the ingredients are evenly distributed.
- As noted above, the Apple Cider Vinegar is an optional ingredient but highly recommended due to its incredible added health and weight loss benefits.
- If your taste buds prefer extra hot and spicy pickles, consider adding a few hot peppers or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to your pickle jar. Additionally, feel free to add in any desired fun extra ingredients to make it your own including: fresh herbs, celery seed, yellow mustard seeds or any variety of spices.
- You will want to refrigerate your pickles for at least 24 hours before eating the first one. This will ensure that the pickle flavor is top notch. It will also give the pickles more time to ferment and deliver optimum health benefits.
- The easiest way to keep your crisp pickles fresh and crunchy, is by storing them in the refrigerator. This will help them to stay nice and tasty for about 2-3 weeks.
- BONUS: If you’ve eaten up all of your pickles, don’t throw away the delicious pickle juice. Instead, use 1/4 cup leftover pickle juice to make this incredible HOMEMADE RANCH DRESSING. You can thank me later.
The Perfect Pickle
So what are you waiting for? Are you ready to make the perfect pickle?
I know you are gonna love these pickles as much as I do. Please drop me a comment below and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Be sure to jump on over to my So What IF? with Jen Website and Blog for more healthy and effective WEIGHT LOSS RECIPES.
Thanks so much for choosing to spend part of your day with me today. Have a truly BLESSED and BEAUTIFUL day!
Jen
Ready to JUMPSTART YOUR WEIGHT LOSS? I’m READY TO HELP!
BE KIND & BE WELL! I hope you spend your day LOVING WITHOUT FEAR and LAUGHING UNTIL YOUR CHEEKS HURT!
