TikTok Spicy Pickled Garlic
Hot, tangy, garlicky, and dangerously addictive, this TikTok spicy pickled garlic is the viral condiment that earns permanent fridge space the moment you make it. Just 5 minutes of hands-on prep is all you need to make this punchy, versatile snack.
Feature it on a charcuterie board with an assortment of cheeses and cured meats or top it onto your bowl of Ramen- like I did, with a sprinkle of my homemade Ramen seasoning.
My love for pickled and preserved foods has been well documented- my curry pickled cauliflower and Russian pickled mushrooms are always on repeat.
But when I came across this TikTok trend of coating garlic in a spiced Sriracha and honey mixture and letting it marinate for days, I was immediately curious- it's not a traditional pickle in the vinegar (like my pickled Brussels sprouts), but the result is just as addictive and far quicker to put together. So of course I had to try it out!
Quick Look
- 🔪 Prep time: 5 minutes.
- ⏲️ Marinating time: 1–3 days (minimum 24 hours).
- 👪 Servings: 8.
- 📋 Main ingredients: Fresh garlic, Sriracha, chili flakes, cayenne, honey, dried thyme.
- ♨️ Cooking method: Peel garlic 🡢 combine with all spices and Sriracha 🡢 pour honey over 🡢 toss to coat 🡢 jar and refrigerate minimum 1 day before serving.
- ⭐ Difficulty: Extremely easy.
- 🥣 Serving ideas: Use as a condiment on rice or add to sandwiches and wraps, like refrigerator pickled red cabbage.
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What's So Great About the Recipe?
- The versatility of this TikTok spicy pickled garlic is what I love most about it- the spicy, pungent, and tangy flavors work wonderfully with almost anything.
- It's a condiment in the same spirit as my sriracha salt- both use Sriracha as the backbone and both make simple food taste significantly more interesting.
- You can batch-make this and refrigerate it for up to 2 weeks- like I do with my carrot ginger pickle.
Recipe Ingredients
- Garlic: The original TikTok recipe calls for pickled garlic, but I used fresh garlic for this one. You can use either of the two.
- Sriracha: Sriracha is the OG hot sauce I love and use, and I would highly recommend it for this recipe. Sometimes, I end up using my habanero garlic hot sauce when I have it at hand.
- Red chili flakes + cayenne: For a bit of texture and extra heat. You can skip these if you want to keep it less spicy.
- Honey: To balance the pungent and spicy flavors, I used a bit of honey. You can also try using an infused honey like habanero hot honey or jalapeno hot honey for a deeper flavor.
- Thyme: Dried thyme makes for a nice addition to the pickled garlic and brings a nice bit of texture and deliciousness to it.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Use Korean chili flakes (Gochugaru) in place of regular crushed red pepper flakes give a slightly sweeter, less harsh heat with a beautiful deep red color, which is closer to the original TikTok viral version.
- Swap the honey for agave, brown rice syrup, date syrup or simply omit it to make a vegan version of the TikTok pickled garlic.
- Add balsamic vinegar (1 teaspoon) or lime juice for an extra layer of tanginess.
- Use other vegetables- the same spice mixture works brilliantly on other vegetables. You can toss it with pickled shallots from my quick pickled shallots for a multi-vegetable spicy condiment.
How to Make Spicy Pickled Garlic
Step 1: In a bowl, combine the garlic cloves with the thyme, cayenne, Sriracha, and chili flakes.
Step 2: Pour in the honey.
Step 3: Mix well.
Step 4: Cover and refrigerate until you're ready to serve.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- If you're using fresh raw garlic, don't rush to eat it at the 24-hour mark- give it the full 2–3 days. Raw garlic has a sharp, almost harsh pungency that mellows after 48–72 hours. I do this whenever I make my pickled green chilies and turmeric pickle too.
- If you're starting with pickled garlic from a jar, drain it and pat completely dry before using- any residual pickling liquid will thin the Sriracha and honey mixture and dilute the flavor.
- If assembling in a jar rather than a bowl, add all ingredients to the jar, seal, and shake vigorously to coat. This is much faster and easier than stirring in a bowl.
- I kept the garlic cloves whole here, but you can also thinly slice them if you want them to pickle faster. I do this every time I make my jalapeno pickled eggs.
How to Serve the Spicy Pickled Garlic
This TikTok spicy pickled garlic is one of those condiments that finds its way into everything once you have a jar in the fridge. The easiest way to put it to use is to use it to top your Asian rice bowl, along with a sprinkle of Japanese rice seasoning or Gomasio. You can also add it to sandwiches and wraps anywhere you'd reach for pickled jalapeños or a spicy condiment.
For a full condiment spread, set the jar alongside some pickled sliced carrots or pickled sliced radish. You can also mash individual cloves into salad dressings for an instant garlic-heat-honey base, or stir them into marinades for grilled meats and tofu. It's also genuinely excellent alongside a simple cheese board- the sweet-spicy garlic cuts through rich, creamy cheeses beautifully.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
The beauty of TikTok’s spicy pickled garlic is the fact that it can stay fresh for weeks, if not longer. Simply transfer it to a clean glass jar or an airtight container, and refrigerate it.
If stored correctly, the pickled garlic can stay fresh for weeks. However, if you want it to last longer, you can add some salt to the mixture, and fill up the container or jar with olive oil to naturally preserve the spicy garlic.
More Pickled Foods
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these
If you tried this spicy pickled garlic or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
TikTok Spicy Pickled Garlic
Ingredients
- 1 cup garlic peeled
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon thyme
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the garlic cloves with the thyme, cayenne, Sriracha, and chili flakes.
- Pour in the honey and give it all a good mix.
- Refrigerate and let the garlic absorb all the delicious flavors for at least a day before you serve.
