Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad is the perfect summer side dish. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping it crispy and creamy. The creamy dressing coats each cucumber slice, making every bite fresh and satisfying. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Peach Cobbler Cheesecake Bars Recipe for Summer Dessert and Crispy Za’atar Roasted Chickpeas with Lemon Zest.
Why This Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy cucumber slices in every bite
- Creamy dressing that's not too heavy
- Easy to make ahead for summer cookouts
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 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Salt and pepper
- Apple cider vinegar
- Fresh dill
- Optional: Crispy fried onions
- Optional: Feta cheese
- Optional: Lemon wedges
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Cucumber: Use a mandoline slicer for even, thin slices.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Mandoline Slicer — Gets perfectly even cucumber slices for this salad → See on Amazon
- High-quality Sour Cream — Makes the dressing rich and creamy → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
- Prepare the cucumber: Slice the cucumber thinly using a mandoline slicer. Place the slices in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Let it sit for 10 minutes to draw out excess water.
- Make the dressing: In a bowl, combine sour cream, Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, red onion, dill, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Assemble the salad: Rinse the cucumber slices and pat them dry. Toss them in the dressing until evenly coated. Garnish with crispy fried onions and fresh dill.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
- : For a tangier salad, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the dressing.
- Common mistake and fix: Don't skip salting the cucumber slices. This prevents the salad from becoming watery.
- : Make ahead and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. The salad may release some water, so drain before serving.
- : For a spicy kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the dressing.
Storing & Reheating Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days Make-ahead tip: Yes, make up to 2 days ahead
Freezing Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
Not recommended
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not applicable Microwave: Not applicable
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: Use a mandoline slicer for even, thin cucumber slices.
- Best substitution: Substitute Greek yogurt with sour cream for a richer dressing.
- Make-ahead: Make up to 2 days ahead. The salad may release some water, so drain before serving.
- Scaling: Easily doubles or triples for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If the salad becomes watery, drain and pat dry the cucumber slices before serving.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality Olive Oil — Makes crispy fried onions for garnish → Check price on Amazon
Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Seasonings
- Salt and pepper
- Apple cider vinegar
- Fresh dill
Optional Toppings
- Crispy fried onions
- Feta cheese
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Prepare the cucumber: Slice the cucumber thinly using a mandoline slicer. Place the slices in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Let it sit for 10 minutes to draw out excess water.
- Make the dressing: In a bowl, combine sour cream, Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, red onion, dill, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Assemble the salad: Rinse the cucumber slices and pat them dry. Toss them in the dressing until evenly coated. Garnish with crispy fried onions and fresh dill.
Notes
- Chef tip: Use a mandoline slicer for even, thin cucumber slices.
- Best substitution: Substitute Greek yogurt with sour cream for a richer dressing.
- Make-ahead: Make up to 2 days ahead. The salad may release some water, so drain before serving.
- Scaling: Easily doubles or triples for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If the salad becomes watery, drain and pat dry the cucumber slices before serving.
Storage
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days
- Freezer: Not recommended
- Oven reheat: Not applicable
- Microwave reheat: Not applicable
- Make ahead: Yes, make up to 2 days ahead
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 120
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 9g
- Carbs: 7g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Cholesterol: 25mg
- Sat. Fat: 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, make up to 2 days ahead. The salad may release some water, so drain before serving.
You may have skipped salting the cucumber slices. Always salt and drain the slices before adding the dressing.
Not recommended. The salad will become mushy when thawed.
Not applicable. This is a no-cook salad.
Substitute with sour cream for a richer dressing.
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!
