Pickled prickeye is a food item in Fallout 76, added with the Burning Springs update. It's a preserved version of prickeye that most players use as a light utility food rather than a main source of healing or buffs.
In general, players treat it as a small, steady AP support item that's easy to carry and simple to craft once unlocked.

Pickled prickeye provides a modest Action Point regeneration bonus and a small amount of food satisfaction, with a minor radiation downside.
Basic stats:
In practice, most players don't rely on this for survival or healing. It's usually eaten before or during exploration, light combat, or VATS-heavy play where a small AP boost helps over time.
Usually, it depends on your build and playstyle.
Most players see it as a “nice to have” food, not a must-have.
Pickled prickeye is not found as loot. It must be crafted after learning the recipe.
Crafting requirements:
It is crafted at any cooking station once the recipe is unlocked.
The recipe is learned by completing the Burning Springs challenge that requires you to cook 3 meals using prickeye.
Most players complete this quickly by repeatedly cooking prickeye salad, since it uses simple ingredients and counts toward the challenge. Once the challenge is complete, the pickled prickeye recipe is permanently unlocked for that character.
In general, players use it:
It's rarely used in high-end combat situations, but it fits well into casual or exploratory gameplay.