What’s a Chamoy Pickle, and How Do You Make Them?

If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or social media lately, you’ve probably seen a chamoy pickle at least once (along with these other viral TikTok recipes). Bright, candy apple red and usually topped with a bizarre array of candies, sweets, and savory snacks, this recipe is the latest food sensation that everyone seems to be making.

While you can buy a chamoy pickle kit online complete with all the fixings, you can also make homemade chamoy pickles. All you need is a trip to your local Mexican grocery store and a little time. Intrigued? Keep reading for the step-by-step recipe.

Can’t get enough pickles? Try these other recipes for pickle lovers.

What is a chamoy pickle?

A chamoy pickle is a dill pickle that has been soaked in a mixture of chamoy, sweet and sour candy powders, and Tajin (a Mexican seasoning made with chili peppers, lime and salt). When soaked in chamoy, dill pickles turn a shockingly vibrant red hue and absorb all the diverse flavors in the sauce. They’re salty, sweet, fruity, spicy and sour all at the same time.

If you enjoy a pickle spear with your spicy bloody mary, then chamoy pickles will be right up your alley. They have a very similar vibe but with a slightly fruity undertone.

And for those unfamiliar with chamoy, it is a traditional Mexican sauce made from dried fruits and chili peppers. It has a unique fruity yet savory flavor with varying amounts of heat. For lack of a better word, it’s “swicy” and is often enjoyed with fresh fruit and vegetables or stirred into drinks.

How to Make a Chamoy Pickle

Before getting started, you’ll want to stock up on your favorite pickle brand. This recipe for chamoy pickles comes from TikTok creator @amarisvee and yields six to eight servings.

@amarisvee

How to make a chamoy pickle #howto #latina #mexican #chamoy #chamoypickle #mexicancandy

♬ Lights – Sped Up Version – Ellie Goulding & Speed Radio

Ingredients

Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home

• 6 to 8 whole dill pickles
• 1 cup dill pickle juice from the jar
• 1/2 cup chamoy sauce (e.g., Chamoy Mega Original)
• 1 teaspoon Tajin seasoning
• 2 to 3 teaspoons sweet candy chamoy powder
• 2 to 3 teaspoons sweet and sour mango powder
• 1 to 2 teaspoons Tapatio hot sauce, optional

Directions

Step 1: Prep the pickles

Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home

Remove the pickles from their jar and pierce them with a fork several times on all sides. Then, add them to a wide-mouth Mason jar with a lid and pour in the pickle juice.

Step 2: Combine

Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home

Add the chamoy sauce to the pickles, and then sprinkle in the Tajin, candy powders and hot sauce.

Editor’s Tip: Make sure the pickles are completely submerged in the liquid (it’s a common pickle mistake). If they’re not fully covered, you can add extra pickle juice and/or chamoy to fill the jar as needed.

Step 3: Shake and chill

Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home

Tightly seal the jar with the lid and then shake to combine the ingredients. Place the pickles in the refrigerator and let them marinate for seven days.

Step 4: Enjoy

Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home

Remove the pickles from the jar and enjoy as desired.

How to Serve Chamoy Pickles

While you can eat a chamoy pickle straight from the jar (like these other vintage pickle recipes), the best and most fun part about these unique red pickles is to add an array of toppings to them. Since chamoy pickles are very salty with subtle hints of fruitiness and spice, they benefit greatly from toppings to balance the flavors and add different textures to every bite.

Here are a few of the most popular toppings for chamoy pickles:

• Flamin’ Hot Cheetos
• Lucas candy powders
• Lucas Salsagheti candy
• Lucas Gusano candy liquid
• Other chewy, sour fruit candies such as Gushers

Can’t get enough pickle recipes? For a boozy homemade pickle, try these moonshine pickles next.