When I was a kid, my mom’s garden overflowed with cucumbers, and so creamy cucumber salads like this were on the menu most nights. As an adult, I crave cucumber salad as soon as the weather gets warm.
With a creamy-tangy vinegar dressing, fresh onion and a little dill, this is one of the simplest cucumber salad recipes I’ve made! Straightforward, cool and refreshing, it is ideal for summer gatherings because it stays crunchy and crisp!
Craving even more cucumber salad ideas? Try my smashed cucumber salad, or a yummy Asian-inspired version, or even a creamy cuke salad recipe that's very similar to this one but dressed up with za'atar and mint.
Easy Cucumber Salad Ingredients & Substitutions
- Cucumbers: You don’t need to peel English or Persian cucumbers, which is why I love them. However, it’s fine to use regular cucumbers if that’s what you have. Be sure to peel them and scoop out the seeds so that the cucumber salad isn’t watery.
- Onion: I love the hint of sharpness that onion adds, but I usually reach for a yellow or sweet onion so that the sharpness isn’t overpowering.
- Mayonnaise: I tend to go brand-name on mayonnaise. The variance in flavor between brands is weirdly high! I like Best Foods (Hellman’s to our friends on the East Coast!) or Duke’s.
- Sour cream: Full fat sour cream is what I use for the richest, creamiest salad, but Greek yogurt is a fine substitute if you’d like to keep it healthier and a bit lighter.
- Vinegar + lemon juice: I use both for a really nice tangy brightness!
- Herbs and seasonings: Fresh dill, fresh parsley, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
Serving Suggestions
I think this salad goes with almost any summer meal, but I think it goes really well with simple protein-y mains, like:
- Salmon: Blackened salmon or simple baked salmon
- Grilled steak: Ribeye or flank steak would be delicious
- Classic burgers: Turkey burgers or regular beef burgers.
- Shrimp: Shrimp kabobs with this cucumber salad on the side would be so nice!
- Grilled chicken: Any grilled chicken goes great with this! Spicy harissa chicken might be an extra nice pairing, because the cucumber salad is so creamy and cooling.
How To Store Leftovers
Leftovers will keep fine for at least a few days, however, cucumbers release water as they sit so it will be best fresh. If you still want to try to make the salad ahead of time, I wouldn’t work more than a few hours ahead of time and I’d be sure to keep the dressing separate from the cucumbers and onions as long as you can and (ideally) dress the salad right before you serve it.
More Salad Recipes For Summer Cookouts, Potlucks & Picnics
For Even More Summer Recipes ….
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