Give your summer cookouts, picnics, and potlucks a fresh, delicious spin with these cucumber salad recipes. They add crunch and burst of flavors to all meals, especially grilled or baked meats.
All of these recipes use a handful of ingredients - many of which you most likely have in your kitchen. Better yet, they're all ridiculously easy to make.
Beyond the usual bowl of cucumber onion salad, this list has fantastic combinations that will impress your guests. You'll love the combo of lime jello, cottage cheese, and sour cream in our scrumptious cucumber salad.
The Mediterranean salad is also unbelievably good. Its texture and flavor will leave you wanting more.
Every year we grow buckets and buckets of cucumbers in our raised beds, and fresh cucumber salads are at the top of our list. We've even perfected our sweet cucumber relish, homemade dill relish, and zesty bread and butter pickle recipes.
There are classics, gluten-free options, Asian-style salads, fruity salads, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cucumber salads good for you?
Yes, cucumber salads are extremely good for you. Cucumbers are made up of 96% water and loaded with essential nutrients and vitamins. Enjoy a garden fresh cucumber salad and see for yourself.
What does a cucumber salad contain?
A cucumber salad typically contains fresh garden cucumbers combined with a wide array of vegetables, herbs, and rice vinegar. One of my favorite combinations is made with cucumber, sour cream, mayo, fresh dill, white vinegar, and white sugar.
Should you peel cucumbers for salads?
Fresh garden cucumbers are rarely peeled, just wash and prepare your salad. Store-bought cucumbers are typically peeled as the skin of the cucumber often contains wax.
Here are more easy salad recipes you're sure to love:
1. Cucumber Salad
We've been making this cucumber salad for years, and it is always a hit at summer cookouts!
It is made with sour cream, lime jello, and cottage cheese and served on a bed of crispy lettuce, it is wonderfully tangy, crunchy, ultra-creamy, and refreshing.
Add a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of chopped parsley for a special finishing touch. This salad is extremely versatile and goes well with just about any meal, from salad to grilled meats and fish.
2. Fresh Cucumber Salad Dressing
Nothing says summer like a lusciously thick and creamy cucumber dressing. It's packed with umami goodness from Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice, and mayo tanginess.
A little sugar adds balance and flavor, making it an amazingly well-rounded dressing. It's hands down one of the best cucumber salad dressings!
This simple dressing adds fantastic flavor to all kinds of salads meats and is also great as a dip.
3. 10-Minute Korean Spicy Cucumber Salad
This easy cucumber salad recipe calls for just a few ingredients that come together to bring a huge kick of flavor. But the best part is that it's so effortless to put together.
All you have to do is slice fresh cucumbers, then toss it with the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl, and voila! A garlicky, spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet salad done in just 10 minutes. This is sure to become a family favorite quickly.
Serve with grilled beef galbi (Korean-style short ribs) for a delicious Korean-inspired dinner.
4. Pineapple Cucumber Salad
This simple cucumber salad recipe is delicious as it is colorful.
A vibrant, spicy vinaigrette is paired with a bunch of tasty ingredients like jalapeno, avocado, cilantro, and red onions to create a delightful mix of textures and flavors that you'll enjoy all summer long.
This bowl of goodness is an excellent addition to any picnic table, potluck, or bbq party.
5. Apple Cucumber Salad
This is one of my go-to easy salad recipes for summer. It's so simple, yet it has a wonderful contrast of flavor and texture.
The apples and cucumbers provide a crisp bite; mint leaves add freshness and the honey lemon marinade coats everything to perfection. Oh, it's so yummy!
Give it a try, and you'll be adding it to your easy recipes repertoire, too.
6. Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad
Craving Chinese food but looking to keep it light? This easy cucumber salad recipe is too good to pass on. It's packed with tons of flavor you love and crave- spicy, sweet, savory, and smoky.
The chili oil is the star of the show for sure. It's full of savory spices and aromatics, adding a tremendous depth of flavor to the cucumber salad.
The recipe uses Japanese cucumbers, but English or Persian cucumbers work fine.
7. Creamy Greek Cucumber Salad
Love tzatziki sauce? You're going to love this Greek yogurt cucumber salad even more. It's made with English cucumbers, garlic, and marinated red onion with fresh dill and lemon hints.
This recipe is also a cinch to make and works with a ton of different flavors - it might just become one of your new faves.
Don't have fresh dill on hand? Fresh tarragon or parsley are excellent substitutes.
8. Classic Fattoush Salad
Bursting with bright, bold and fresh flavors, this classic fattoush salad is always a hit.
It's a little crunchy from romaine leaves & pita crumbs, a little herby from parsley & mint, a little sweet & tangy from pomegranate vinaigrette, and refreshing from radish & thin slices of cucumber.
The result is a flavorful salad that will have your family and friends begging for more!
9. Mediterranean Chickpea and Cucumber Salad
This simple recipe is brimming with color and nutritious goodness. It's a great way to get the kids to eat their veggies.
Loaded with crisp cucumbers, nutty chickpeas, sweet heirloom tomatoes, vibrant red onions, fruity Kalamata olives, fresh herbs, and drizzled with a simple tangy vinaigrette. Every bite will have your taste buds singing.
It's definitely worth a spot in your recipe collection.
10. Chives Radish and Cucumber Salad
This 5-ingredient salad recipe is simple yet big on flavor that you may want to double it. It's one of those easy salads you need in your back pocket for last-minute parties or potlucks.
Feel free to add feta cheese, avocado, or any protein if desired. And you happen to be out of radish, jicama, turnips, or parsnips work well too.
This salad is best served fresh, but you can enjoy it the following day by storing it in the fridge inside an airtight container or wrapping the bowl with plastic wrap.
11. Cucumber Onion Salad
Every BBQ table needs this simple salad recipe. It's extremely easy to make with thinly sliced red onion and regular cucumbers, a sprinkling of fresh dill & red pepper flakes, and a simple dressing of white vinegar and sugar.
This salad recipe is incredibly flexible, too. Add whatever you like or happen to have on hand -nuts, seeds, fresh herbs, veggies, etc.
You can also make a meal out of it by adding cheese and chicken, shrimp, or any other kind of protein.
12. Thai Chicken and Cucumber Salad
This salad combines all the delicious Thai flavors in one small bowl- thinly sliced red onion, fresh cucumbers, and spicy coconut garlic chicken.
A drizzle of vibrant nuac cham dressing made with carrot, fish sauce, and rice vinegar/ white wine vinegar adds a slight sharpness and sweet-savory finish, taking this salad up a notch.
Thai basil vinaigrette also works beautifully in this recipe. So feel free to switch things up!
This hearty full of flavor salad can be served as a side dish or enjoyed on its own as a lighter lunch.
13. Cucumber Avocado Feta Salad
If you're looking for quick cucumber recipes, try this cucumber avocado feta salad. It only takes 15 minutes of hand-on-time and uses a handful of everyday ingredients.
Apple cider vinegar mingles with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, Italian seasoning, a little salt and pepper to create a delectable dressing. Its bright, earthy, zesty flavor pairs wonderfully with the crunch from the cucumbers and creaminess from the avocado.
Garnish with crumbled feta cheese and basil, and enjoy every bite of this mouthwateringly delicious salad.
14. Creamy Cucumber Tomato Onion Salad
This easy cucumber salad is a crowd pleaser and sure to delight your taste buds.
Fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onions combine with rich sour cream and mayonnaise dressing to create a creamy, crunchy, flavorful side dish that complements grilled, smoked, or baked pork chops, chicken, and steak so well.
It's a quick and easy recipe too.
15. Corn and Cucumber Salad with Basil and Chives
Make cucumber salad with corn for your next family picnic or gathering. It's quick, comes together with just 5 ingredients (plus salt and pepper), and is incredibly flavorful.
You'll love the blend of textures, flavor and truckloads of freshness.
Chives, basil, and corn add extra texture and a lot of delicious flavor to the crunch and freshness of the cucumbers. The mayo adds a slight creaminess and brings all the flavors together.
This cucumber salad is one of the ultimate summer-fresh recipes!
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