Creamy Cucumber Salad
Creamy Cucumber Salad is the PERFECT summer salad made with fresh cucumbers in a creamy sauce of sour cream and mayo, tossed with thinly sliced red onion and dill, ready in under 10 minutes!
This Creamy Cucumber Salad recipe is the perfect side dish for hot summer days, because it’s quick and easy to make with simple ingredients, and perfect for a BBQ or a potluck! It’s both tangy and savory with a refreshing creamy dressing, and you can make it ahead of time. It’s also really cost-effective, with ingredients you may already have on hand. This will be one of your new favorite summer side dishes!
If you liked this recipe, you may also like my Amish Broccoli Salad, or my Mediterranean Quinoa Salad!
Table of contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Budget Friendly – The ingredients for this creamy cucumber dill salad are really inexpensive, and will stretch easily to make a large batch.
Naturally Gluten-Free – This simple side dish is great for those of us with dietary restrictions, and no one will even notice!
Cool & Refreshing – Perfect for hot summer days, this salad is crisp, creamy, and ultra-refreshing. It’s one of my favorite fresh summer salads!
Nostalgic – This simple salad is a favorite family recipe, and something that immediately brings me back to my great-grandmother’s house!
Ingredients You’ll Need
English Cucumbers. I like to use english cucumbers (my favorite type of cucumber) for this recipe because they have smaller seeds, thinner skins, and a sweeter flavor. But this recipe will also work with Persian cucumbers or regular cucumbers.
Red Onion. These add a nice bite to the salad, but if you want less intense flavor you can soak the red onion pieces for 10-20 minutes in cold water beforehand.
This recipe would also work with a sweet onion like Vidalia or yellow onion.
Sour Cream. This adds a nice tangy flavor to the salad along with a creamy texture. It also helps make the dressing light without becoming too heavy, turning it into a really refreshing side dish.
Mayonnaise. This gives the salad its creamy richness and smooth texture, and helps the dressing cling to the cucumbers.
White Vinegar. This helps add brightness and a tangy flavor, and balances out the mayo and sour cream. It also pairs well with the cucumbers and helps bring out their natural flavor.
You can also use apple cider vinegar for this recipe.
Fresh Dill. This is added for brightness and flavor in the dish.
Granulated Sugar. This adds some sweetness which balances out the tangy flavors of the rest of the salad. We’re using a very small amount of white sugar just to help bring all of the flavors together.
Spices. All you really need is some kosher salt and black pepper to finish off this dish. I also like to add some garlic powder for a little something extra!
Kitchen Tools
For this summertime staple you’ll need a medium sized mixing bowl and a sharp knife or mandolin to slice the cucumbers.
How to Make Creamy Cucumber Salad
Time needed: 10 minutes
- Mix the dressing.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and spices. Whisk well so the sugar has a chance to dissolve. Add the fresh dill and whisk again until just combined.
- Add the cucumber.
Add the cucumber slices to the bowl and stir everything together until the cucumbers are completely coated in the dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, or refrigerate and serve cold.
Recipe Variations
- Make this spicy by adding some red pepper flakes, or a dash of hot sauce to the cucumber mixture.
- Try adding other fresh herbs like parsley, chives, green onion, or mint for more fresh flavor.
- Try adding other veggies like halved cherry tomatoes, shallots, chopped peppers, or chopped kale.
- Make this crunchy with chopped nuts, sunflower seeds, or crispy bacon!
- Try adding some sweetness with dried cranberries or some honey.
Recipe Tip! This gets even better the earlier you make it! I like to make this in the morning and refrigerate immediately if I’m going to serve it with dinner later. This helps the flavors meld together and makes it extra refreshing!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to make this lighter and add some protein, swap out the sour cream for plain nonfat greek yogurt. You can also use light mayo or light sour cream, and add more vinegar or a dash of lemon juice to thin out the dressing to use less of the heavier ingredients. Adding extra herbs can also help add a ton of flavor!
Recipe Tip! If you’re having issues with your salad turning out watery, sprinkle the cucumbers with salt right after slicing them and let them rest for about 15-30 minutes. This will help draw some of the water out. Rinse the cucumbers and pat them dry with a paper towel, then continue the recipe.
More Summer Salad Recipes
Storage
Refrigerate leftover cucumber salad for 2-3 days in an airtight container. Stir before serving, because the cucumbers may release some water while in the refrigerator.
I don’t recommend freezing this recipe, because the texture of the cucumbers will be mushy when defrosted, and the creamy sauce can separate.
Cooking Tips
- I don’t peel the cucumbers because I don’t mind the skin, but if you don’t like it you can peel them before slicing.
- Slice the cucumbers evenly and thin, which will help them soak up the dressing better. I find a mandolin is the best tool to make sure they’re sliced uniformly.
- Always taste your dressing before adding in the cucumbers. If it’s too tangy, add a touch more sugar. If it’s too sweet, add a splash of vinegar or additional spices.
- Use fresh ingredients for this delicious salad to give it the best flavor and texture, really crisp cucumbers will make all the difference!
If you loved this recipe, be sure to leave a 5 Star review below, and tag me with a photo of your finished recipe on Instagram @Jacqui_DishingDelish!
Creamy Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 2 large English cucumbers, cut into thin, even slices
- 1 small red onion, finely sliced
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Equipment
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 knife or mandolin
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and spices. Whisk well so the sugar has a chance to dissolve. Add the fresh dill and whisk again until just combined.
- Add the cucumber slices to the bowl and stir everything together until the cucumbers are completely coated in the dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, or refrigerate and serve cold.
Notes
- I don’t peel the cucumbers because I don’t mind the skin, but if you don’t like it you can peel them before slicing.
- Slice the cucumbers evenly and thin, which will help them soak up the dressing better. I find a mandolin is the best tool to make sure they’re sliced uniformly.
- Always taste your dressing before adding in the cucumbers. If it’s too tangy, add a touch more sugar. If it’s too sweet, add a splash of vinegar or additional spices.
- Use fresh ingredients for this to give it the best flavor and texture, really crisp cucumbers will make all the difference!
Nutrition
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