Creamy Cucumber Salad – just like Grandma made! This classic recipe is made with fresh cucumbers, red onions, fresh dill, and a handful of other ingredients for a side dish that everyone will love.
It’s light, creamy, and incredibly easy to make. The perfect salad for picnics, pot lucks, or summer grilling.
Whether you grew up on it or are trying it for the first time, you’re sure to LOVE the flavor in this easy cucumber salad!
I partnered with Pick ‘n Save to bring you this recipe. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Lemon Tree Dwelling possible.
What is it about summer that makes me want to eat all. the. salads.? Not just because salads are light and summery and the perfect addition to any meal…but because summer produce is my absolute favorite.
And to me, there’s nothing more summery than fresh cucumbers.
We love sprinkling them with salt and pepper, eating them in salads, and adding them to sandwiches for an extra bit of crunch. And we especially love them in this Creamy Cucumber Salad!
There’s something nostalgic about it – it’s a recipe that’s been around forever and a dish that most of us have probably enjoyed at family get togethers at one point or another.
I love it because it’s such a simple salad, yet it’s packed with so much flavor.
Between the crunchy cucumbers, the creamy sauce, and the fresh dill, this salad truly is no-fuss in every way. It’s easy to make, perfect for prepping in advance, and it stores well in the fridge.
And when you shop at Pick ‘n Save, it’s easy to find exactly what you need to make it. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Pick ‘n Save, and I especially appreciate their produce department.
Their fruits and veggies are guaranteed to be fresh, and I love the fact that they partner with local farmers. There’s something about shopping local that just feels (and tastes) delicious.
And this Creamy Cucumber Salad is the perfect way to take advantage of all that freshness!
WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE IN CUCUMBER SALAD?
- Fresh cucumbers
- Red onion
- Sour cream
- White vinegar
- Fresh dill
- Sugar
- Salt
- Garlic powder
HOW DO YOU MAKE CREAMY CUCUMBER SALAD?
- Combine 1/2 c. sour cream, 1 Tbsp. white vinegar, 1 Tbsp. minced fresh dill, 1 tsp. sugar, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. garlic powder. Stir until combined.
- Add 3 c. thinly sliced peeled cucumbers and 1 c. thinly sliced red onion.
- Stir to combine; cover and chill at least 2 hours.
WHAT KIND OF CUCUMBERS ARE BEST FOR CUCUMBER SALAD?
You can feel free to use whatever kind of cucumbers you’d like in this recipe. Many people prefer English cucumbers in salads, since they tend to be sweeter and have fewer seeds than regular cucumbers. You can also use Persian cucumbers, which are smaller and tend to be sweeter and crunchier than the regular variety.
CAN YOU MAKE CUCUMBER SALAD WITH YOGURT?
Yes, this salad can easily be made with Greek yogurt in place of sour cream. It can also be made with Ranch dressing, half and half, or a combination of Greek yogurt and mayo.
CAN YOU MAKE IT IN ADVANCE?
Yes. This salad tastes best when it’s made at least 2 hours in advance and refrigerated to let the flavors combine. If you’d like to make it even further in advance, just slice and store the vegetables separately, then toss with the dressing just before serving.
HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?
This salad will last up to one week stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER VARIATIONS ON THIS RECIPE?
- Leave the skins on the cucumbers for more color and crunch
- Omit the onion
- Add tomatoes
- Substitute another fresh herb in place of the dill (e.g. fresh mint or basil)
- Substitute a vinaigrette dressing for the creamy dressing
You might also enjoy these cucumber recipes:
- Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad
- Strawberry Cucumber Salad
- Chickpea Cucumber Feta Salad
- Greek Salad
- Easy Gazpacho
And if you’re looking for a main dish to serve this with, check out some of these:
Creamy Cucumber Salad - just like Grandma made! This classic recipe is made with fresh cucumbers, red onions, fresh dill, and a handful of other ingredients for a side dish that everyone will love. It's light, creamy, and incredibly easy to make. The perfect salad for picnics, pot lucks, or summer grilling. Whether you grew up on it or are trying it for the first time, you're sure to LOVE the flavor in this easy summer salad!
Creamy Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
Instructions
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 47Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 151mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 1g
Creamy Cucumber Salad – just like Grandma made! This classic recipe is made with fresh cucumbers, red onions, fresh dill, and a handful of other ingredients for a side dish that everyone will love. It’s light, creamy, and incredibly easy to make. The perfect salad for picnics, pot lucks, or summer grilling.
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says
This salad looks amazing! I can’t wait to make it!
Nelson Gesnalie says
I tried it, so good 😊
Kelli Cotey says
Made the Cucumber and onion salad tonight, really good 👍 but Cucumbers have a lot of water 💧 in them. I should have salted them and drained before making like I usually do! 4 stars anyway…😉😊
Delaney | Melanie Makes says
Cucumber salad is my favorite!!
Christy says
Made this tonight as a side dish with dinner. We have so many pickling cucumbers right now out of our garden (but not enough to can pickles) and I’ve been trying to find recipes for salads to use them all. This was perfect! It was a huge hit!! A new GO TO recipe for our family! Thank you! So easy to make too!
P.S. I subsituted green onions right out of our garden as well! SUPER YUMMY!
Cathy Trochelman says
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it! I bet it would be delicious with green onions 🙂
Shelly says
Very good. Followed the recipe except I used a tsp of dried dill as I didn’t have fresh dill..
Jessica Preski says
Delicious! Had to use up a bag of mini cucs I had forgotten about. I didn’t have onions but followed everything else. Cannot believe how easy this was. Thank you for sharing ❤️
Cathy Trochelman says
Thanks for the feedback! Glad you enjoyed it!
Dee says
This looks so good! A perfect cool, fresh dish for hot summer days!
Robert Briere says
A delicious cucumber salad
Anna says
Seriously craving this salad right now! Looks so tasty!
Abeer says
My type of salad for the next bbq summer party!
Allyson Zea says
Oh this looks so refreshing for summer BBQs!
Peggy Frye says
I love this recipe and now I’m going to make it using the variations. Thank you for reminding how much I love this recipe.
Eileen says
Do you think you could substitute plan Greek Yogurt for the sour cream? I’m discovering it because it is a free food on Weight Watchers.
SNH says
Yes. I made it tonight with fat free green and it was delicious.
sanchez says
My brother hates cucumber, but this sounds pretty good. I think he will love this dish when i make cucumber salad follow your recipe. Thank you!
Lisa@eatfrysmith says
It looks so yummy! cant wait to try it. awesome recipe thanks all about it
Olga says
Cathy, this looks so good! I love cucumbersalad. I’ll have to try this out sometime soon. Thanks for sharing!
Cathy Trochelman says
Thanks, Olga! Hope you enjoy!
Anna says
Сathy, this looks amazing! Thank you, I will try this right away)
Ellery says
Cathy, this looks wonderful! I’ll try it today. Thank you for sharing!
Nataly says
Сathy, thanks a lot for sharing! Very tasty salad . My son will love it!
Kimberley Pereda | Toilet Guides says
Wow Cathy you make an awesome recipe! This is very healthy that fits to my diet plan. You are right it is very classic and new dish. I am sure that our appetizer will enhance with this salad on a side dish.
Eve says
I made it and it was creamy and delicious! It went well with instant pot spaghetti . My family loved it. I didn’t have fresh dill so I put the dry one and it was perfect. I printed it out and put in my recipe binder to message again and again.
This one is a keeper.
Pati says
Made this today using half yogurt half mayo, it is delish..thank you
Bebe Barook says
Has anyone in this comment section actually TRIED this cucumber salad? Just wondering if anyone likes it and if there are any tweaks to make it even better! All comment say they WILL try it, but none say they did make it. Odd.
Garry says
I literally made it four hours ago and just tasted it. The verdict? Don’t waste your time. Sour cream and dill did not create the favor I was expecting. It’s actually pretty gross.
Angela says
I was thinking the same thing! Everyone is saying how it looks good and they want to try it…..but hardly any people who have made it. I like to know beforehand if there’s any tweaks that’ll make it better before I make it
Sara says
I made it and I love this salad! I use more dill and I add lemon zest. Yums.
Cortney S says
Absolutely love it! The creamy sauce taste like what you’d put on a gyro lol. Next time I’m adding tomatoes too 🙂
Deana Marr says
I’ve made it several times and it is really good. I leave the skin on. My only suggestion is to add a little more vinegar
Bebe Barook says
OK..I just made it for dinner and the vote is TEN STARS!!! Fantastic..the only thing I did different was used real maple syrup instead of sugar. mmmmmm
Lori says
Made this for Easter potluck this year. Everyone loved it!! From now on I won’t make cucumber salad any other way.
Renee says
Wondering if English cucumbers (unpeeled) will look and taste as well.
JODY says
Made this for a bbq the exact recipe and it was delicious..i used a salad spinner just to get rid of a bit of excess water from cukes just cuz i made quite a few hours i advance. Was SO GOOD!!
Debbra says
Just made it. Awesome ! I left out the garlic powder. Next time I will use Greek Yogurt. Thanks for a tasty simple recipe.
rook brand shirts says
It’s easy to make this, just 15 minutes, looks so creamy , great salad for summer.
site@lasesana says
This looks fresh and yummy, cucumber is my favorite, will give it a try. thanks.
Linda Hansen says
As a diabetic, it frustrates me to no end to see sugar being added to these “easy” recipes. Sugar is highly overrated in my opinion, and eating so much of it is why our rate of Type 2 Diabetes is skyrocketing, along with not being as active as we used to be. (When you purchase store bought items, such as peanut butter or spaghetti/pizza sauce, look at the ingredients. They all contain things like: fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, sugar, high fructose corn syrup. Our bodies were not designed to handle this much sugar, and it’s in EVERYTHING that is prepared ahead of time, even deli items like potato salad,).
Dee says
Linda, I have diabetics in my family too so I just made it with Swerve (an erythritol based sugar alcohol) that is not supposed to affect blood glucose. Try it with the Swerve, it’s very light and refreshing. But of course you are right, too many of our recipes and foods have added sugars and our health is suffering as a result.
Lenora says
Then don’t put sugar in it.
MJ says
I made it and it was delicious. If anyone is worried about the sugar content, please understand there is only 1 teaspoon of sugar in the entire recipe. If sugar is a concern and you’re planning on eating the whole thing in one sitting, just adjust the recipe.
Kim says
Eh, no one in my house liked this cucumber salad.
Naana says
Linda Hansen, while I realize managing a diabetic diet is frustrating and analyzing labels for added sugars is wise, chastizing the author for 1 tsp of sugar in a recipie filled with garden goodness (and proteins which partner well to help in the digestion of carbs) and that represents exactly the sort of diet Americans should be consuming to avoid Type 2 is a bit thoughtless.
To the author and audience, the recipie was great. I substituted 1/2 the sour cream with greek yogurt and it tasted wonderful. A nice change from the Asian cucumber salad I usually make… With the bumper crop I have coming, this will be a “go to” recipie for the summer.
Loretta says
I just use salad dressing, sugar, vinegar, salt/pepper and add onions. Couldn’t tell you how much, as I’m a taste the flavor and throw in more or less type of cook. Lol I love it, but not crazy over sour cream. Idk if I’ll like it. The yogurt idea sounds interesting.
Cathy Trochelman says
I hear you…there are different ways to make the dressing. If you try the creamy version, let me know how you like it 🙂
Anthony Allen says
Love the simplicity of this. Made it as written but also like how I can adapt it and substitute herbs I have on hand and it is still refreshing. I like how the dressing has very little sugar. I usually make with salmon as an accompaniment. Thanks!
Anthony Allen says
Yum! I am such a cucumber salad fan. Thanks for the shout-out for my Green Bean Summer Salad too!
Lizzie says
Thank you!
Why do some people make negative comments when someone post a recipe on line?
If you have health issues, or other problems, then son’t add the sugar, or whatever ingredient is listed?
Not everyone is diabetic, and I’m sorry for those who do, but why punish the OP by negative comments.
If the recipe does not suit you then simply move on!
Very simple.
BTW, this recipe is DELISH! Thank you for sharing with us 🙂
Lauren says
I made this last week to go with some pierogies. My family really enjoyed it. I had been looking for a salad recipe that wouldn’t be out of place next to something like pierogies, while at the same time using up some dill I had in the fridge, and this seemed like that sort of salad to me.
I didn’t change anything significant about it, but the vinegar I used was apple cider vinegar, I used a couple scallions instead of onions, and I added some diced tomato. It seems like a pretty forgiving recipe where amounts needed are not exact. It tasted really good with lunch the next day, too. I liked it so much I’m making it again to go with tonight’s dinner of, well, pierogies.
Amy says
You just brought back a lot of memories for me here. My grandmother used to make a very similar salad to this. I can’t wait to try your version.
Linda says
Made this and loved it, but the next day it was foamy and frothy. Is that normal?
Cathy Trochelman says
That can happen with cucumber salads, yes. Mix it up and it tastes the same 🙂
CToth says
A+++ This was Excellent. We both loved it. Soo refreshing and crisp and delicious. A perfect summer salad on a hot day. It will be a regular at our table.
Thank you soo much for sharing your recipe.
Much Gratitude
Cathy Trochelman says
So glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Amanda says
I grew up making this. The recipe is pretty straight on to our Czech version. The trick is tasting the final product and either adding more vinegar or sugar to balance until it’s to your taste. I use apple cider vinegar in mine because I always have it around. I wouldn’t add the salt next time. Pretty good!
Amanda says
We loved this! Made it with buffalo grilled chicken, it was the perfect compliment. My favorite part is where you listed Kroger sour cream in the ingredients list. We recently moved to northeast Ohio from Kentucky and I miss Kroger terribly lol
Cathy Trochelman says
aww, yes Kroger is a staple in WI. 🙂
STEPHANIE says
This recipe tastes exactly how my Mom use to make this. She has passed away and I never could get it to come close to her recipe, this one does. The first time I made it I followed the recipe to a T, it was very good, even better the next day. This time I halved the sugar and made it the night before, DELICIOUS! Love this, Thank You so Very Much!!
Cathy Trochelman says
This makes me so happy to be able to bring back those memories 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Mary P. says
I just made this and it’s hanging in the fridge and I have all I can do not to devour the bowl after trying a bite. It’s so pretty with the red onions too!
Sandi Jones says
Super tasty! I did salt & drain the sliced cukes for half an hour. They were fresh from my garden, and super juicy. Next time, if they’re fresh, I think I’ll drain them a little longer. Used yogurt, worked well.
janice says
Well said Lizzy!!!
Julianne says
My Polish grandmother used to make a salad like this. Not surprising that it would go well with pierogi! One thing she did that wasn’t mentioned in this recipe is to dehydrate the cucumbers for a little while (put them in a colander with salt for an hour and then pat dry), but that step isn’t necessary for a good salad! I was looking to this recipe to remember proportions for the sauce, and it did not disappoint!
bistro says
Wow,it looks delicious. Thank you for sharing. I will try to make this salad for my family. I believe my family will like this very much. Love so much.
ATX says
Wow, your recipe is so amazing. I have never known this recipe. Thank for sharing. I will share this recipe for my friends and my family. I think they love it too.
brooklyn grill says
That’s so great!!! Your share is very awesome. I love cooking too. Thank you.
Annie says
Made this today, and it was great. The onions added a extra subtle flavor to the salad. I have made this salad for years, but without the onions.
Melissa Adams says
I made this with English cucumbers and dried dill (twice what’s called for because we love dill) and it turned out incredible! Will definitely be making again.
Cathy Trochelman says
Happy to hear it!
Dianne says
I’m thinking of making this but without the sugar & onions & use fat free miracle whip.
kim says
Then don’t use the sugar and quit harping on everyone else.
Marianne says
Salting the cucumbers allows them to sweat their liquid which can make the salad watery. Place cucs in a colander, sprinkle with salt and let sit for 30 minutes. Rinse with cool water and dry on a clean kitchen towel. Proceed with recipe.