Name: Recipe "Cucumber Salad"
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 tbsp rice vinegar or white vinegar; 1 tsp honey or sugar; 1 large english cucumber (thinly sliced); 0.25 large red onion (thinly sliced); 1 tbsp fresh dill (chopped); kosher salt and black pepper

Why This Refreshing Cucumber Salad Is a Summer Favorite

This easy cucumber salad recipe has been a go-to in my kitchen for years. With just five ingredients, you get a cool, crisp side that’s tangy from rice vinegar and lightly sweet from a touch of honey. It’s the kind of dish you’ll want to eat with every summer meal.

5 Reasons You’ll Love This Easy Cucumber Salad

You only need 5 ingredients, and most are pantry staples.
It’s ready in 20 minutes and requires no cooking.
The tangy-sweet dressing makes cucumbers irresistible.
It pairs perfectly with grilled meats or sandwiches.
Make it ahead and the flavors get even better.

Key Ingredients for the Best Cucumber Salad

English cucumber: Thin skin means no peeling needed. They’re less watery and have tiny seeds, so the salad stays crisp.
Rice vinegar: Mild and slightly sweet. White wine vinegar works too, but skip balsamic, it’ll overpower the delicate flavor.
Fresh dill: Bright and grassy. Dried dill can substitute, but use about a teaspoon, it’s more concentrated.

Kitchen Tools for Making Cucumber Salad

Mandoline slicer: Makes quick work of thin, even slices (about ⅛-inch). A sharp knife works too.
Medium mixing bowl: Large enough to toss everything without spilling.
Sharp knife: For slicing onion thinly if not using a mandoline.

Tips for the Perfect Cucumber Salad Every Time

Slice the cucumbers and onion as thin as you can, about ⅛-inch thick. Thin slices soak up the dressing faster and give a better texture. After tossing, let the salad sit at least 10 minutes so the flavors meld. If you’re making it ahead, go easy on the salt; the cucumbers will release water as they sit, so you can adjust seasoning just before serving. For the best crunch, serve within a day or two.

Easy Cucumber Salad Variations to Try

This salad is a great base for add-ins. Try halved cherry tomatoes or crumbled feta for extra pop. Green or red bell pepper strips add crunch. If you like heat, toss in some crushed red pepper flakes. For herb swaps, parsley, basil, or even mint work nicely with the dressing. Each twist keeps the simple cucumber salad feeling new.

What to Serve with This Summer Cucumber Salad

This refreshing cucumber salad is a natural side for grilled chicken, steak kabobs, or honey mustard chicken. It also shines alongside Greek chicken kabobs or corn and zucchini enchiladas. For a lighter meal, pile it on a sandwich or wrap, it adds a wonderful crunch. Burgers love it too.

How to Store Leftover Cucumber Salad

Store the salad in an airtight container or a jar with a tight lid, otherwise your fridge will smell like vinegar. It keeps for up to a week, but the cucumbers get softer the longer they marinate. That’s not a bad thing: they’re amazing on burgers or sandwiches the next day.

Cucumber Salad Recipe FAQs

Can I use regular cucumbers instead of English?

Yes, but regular cucumbers often have tough, waxy skin and larger seeds. Peel them first and scrape out the seeds to avoid bitterness. Slice thinner so they soften in the dressing.

Can I make cucumber salad ahead of time?

Absolutely. You can make it a day ahead and let it marinate in the fridge. The flavors get better, but the cucumbers will soften. If you prefer extra crunch, add the dressing just before serving.

Is this cucumber salad vegan?

Yes, if you use sugar instead of honey. The original calls for honey, but sugar dissolves just as well and keeps the salad plant-based.

How can I keep the cucumbers from getting watery?

Salt draws out moisture. If making ahead, add salt sparingly at first, then adjust before serving. You can also drain off excess liquid that accumulates after a few hours.

Recipe

Cucumber Salad

You only need five ingredients to make this simple and refreshing Cucumber Salad. It is the perfect side dish to any summer meal.

easyVegetarian

20 min

Prep Time

20 min

Total Time

Servings

American

Cuisine

34 kcal

Calories

Ingredients

Servings

2 tbsp rice vinegar or white vinegar
1 tsp honey or sugar
1 large english cucumber, thinly sliced

0.25 large red onion, thinly sliced
1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
kosher salt and black pepper

Instructions

1
In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar and honey. Add the cucumber slices, onion slices, and dill. Season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving. You can also chill for a couple of hours before serving to let the cucumbers marinate.

Nutrition (per serving)

34kcal

Calorie breakdown

Protein8%3 kcal

Fat2%1 kcal

Carbohydrates90%30 kcal

How this was calculated — 6 of 6 ingredients matched

rice vinegar or white vinegarRice, white, medium-grain, raw, enriched108 kcal

honey or sugarSugar, turbinado20 kcal

large english cucumberCucumber, peeled, raw0 kcal

large red onionOnions, red, raw0 kcal

fresh dillDill weed, fresh6 kcal

kosher salt and black pepperPepper, banana, raw0 kcal

Serving size ≈ 13 g · 4 servings

Nutrition information is automatically calculated from USDA FoodData Central, so should only be used as an approximation. Actual values may vary depending on the ingredients, brands, and preparation methods used.

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Keyword: dairy-free, dairyFree, gluten-free, glutenFree, No-Cook, nut-free, nutFree, vegetarian

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