Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad is the ultimate summer side dish. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the secret to the perfect creamy dressing. The crisp cucumbers and tangy red onion in this fresh salad are irresistible. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Brown Butter Coffee Toffee Cookies with Sea Salt Topping and Creamy Chicken Stroganoff with Mushrooms and Egg Noodles.
Why This Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides Is Pure Comfort
- Ready in just 10 minutes
- Creamy dressing with a tangy kick
- Perfect for cookouts and BBQs
- Pairs well with grilled meats and sandwiches
What You'll Need for Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 large cucumber
- 1/2 red onion
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- Optional: Crispy bacon, crumbled
- Optional: Fresh tomatoes, diced
- Optional: Feta cheese, crumbled
📝 Ingredient Notes
- cucumber: Use a mandoline or vegetable peeler to slice thinly.
- sour cream: Substitute with mayonnaise for a lighter version.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Mandoline Slicer — Ensures perfectly thin cucumber slices. → See on Amazon
- Vegetable Peeler — Effortlessly slice cucumbers into ribbons. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
- Prepare cucumbers: Slice cucumbers thinly using a mandoline or vegetable peeler. Place in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Let sit for 10 minutes to draw out moisture.
- Make dressing: In a bowl, combine sour cream, Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, dill, chives, salt, pepper, and sugar. Mix well.
- Assemble salad: Rinse cucumbers and pat dry. Thinly slice red onion. In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, red onion, and dressing. Mix well.
- Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 hour to let flavors meld. Garnish with optional toppings.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
- : For a milder salad, soak red onion in cold water for 10 minutes before using.
- Common mistake and fix: Avoid over-salting the cucumbers. Rinse and pat dry before adding to the salad to prevent a watery dressing.
- : For a larger crowd, double the recipe. The dressing keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Storing & Reheating Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare up to 1 day ahead. Store dressing separately and mix with cucumbers just before serving.
Freezing Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
Not suitable for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not applicable. Microwave: Not applicable.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a tangier salad, add a splash of lemon juice to the dressing.
- Best substitution: Substitute red onion with shallots for a milder flavor.
- Make-ahead: Prepare cucumbers and dressing separately up to 1 day ahead. Mix just before serving.
- Scaling: Easily double or triple the recipe for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If the dressing is too thick, add a splash of water or milk to thin it out.
Want to level up this recipe?
Salad Spinner — Quickly and easily remove excess water from cucumbers. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber
- 1/2 red onion
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Seasonings
- 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp sugar
Optional Toppings
- Crispy bacon, crumbled
- Fresh tomatoes, diced
- Feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Prepare cucumbers: Slice cucumbers thinly using a mandoline or vegetable peeler. Place in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Let sit for 10 minutes to draw out moisture.
- Make dressing: In a bowl, combine sour cream, Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, dill, chives, salt, pepper, and sugar. Mix well.
- Assemble salad: Rinse cucumbers and pat dry. Thinly slice red onion. In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, red onion, and dressing. Mix well.
- Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 hour to let flavors meld. Garnish with optional toppings.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a tangier salad, add a splash of lemon juice to the dressing.
- Best substitution: Substitute red onion with shallots for a milder flavor.
- Make-ahead: Prepare cucumbers and dressing separately up to 1 day ahead. Mix just before serving.
- Scaling: Easily double or triple the recipe for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If the dressing is too thick, add a splash of water or milk to thin it out.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not suitable for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Not applicable.
- Microwave reheat: Not applicable.
- Make ahead: Prepare up to 1 day ahead. Store dressing separately and mix with cucumbers just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 80
- Protein: 2g
- Fat: 4g
- Carbs: 7g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Cholesterol: 15mg
- Sat. Fat: 2.5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides FAQs
Yes, prepare cucumbers and dressing separately up to 1 day ahead. Mix just before serving.
Over-salting the cucumbers can draw out too much moisture. Rinse and pat dry before adding to the salad.
No, freezing will cause the cucumbers to lose their crisp texture.
This recipe is not suitable for the air fryer.
Shallots provide a milder flavor and can be used as a substitute.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
