You won’t believe how simple and delicious this Easiest Creamy Cucumber Salad recipe is! It’s a wonderfully refreshing side dish featuring crisp, thinly sliced cucumbers and red onion tossed in a tangy, creamy sour cream dressing with fresh chives. I absolutely love making this Creamy Cucumber Salad during warmer months – it’s so cool and refreshing, perfect for pairing with grilled foods or as a light side for any meal. It comes together in just 10 minutes, making it ideal for weeknight dinners or last-minute potluck contributions, especially now as we enjoy these lovely spring days here on April 13, 2025!
Why You’ll Love This Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Incredibly Easy: Seriously, it takes just minutes to throw together!
- Refreshing and Cool: Crisp cucumbers and a creamy, tangy dressing make this salad super refreshing.
- Simple Ingredients: Uses basic, readily available ingredients.
- Perfect Side Dish: Complements grilled chicken, fish, burgers, BBQ, and more.
- Quick: Ready in about 10 minutes flat.
Ingredients for The Easiest Creamy Cucumber Salad
Here’s what you’ll need to make this simple and refreshing salad. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Salad
- Cucumbers, thinly sliced (peeling is optional) (Vegetable)
- Small red onion, sliced (Vegetable)
Dressing
- Sour cream (Dairy)
- Mayonnaise (optional) (Condiment)
- Fresh chopped chives (Herb)
- Salt (Seasoning)
- Fresh cracked black pepper (Spice)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love the classic simplicity of this Creamy Cucumber Salad, but here are some easy variations:
- Add Dill: Stir in some fresh chopped dill for a classic cucumber-dill flavor.
- Use Greek Yogurt: Substitute plain Greek yogurt for some or all of the sour cream for a tangier, higher-protein dressing.
- Add Vinegar or Lemon: Whisk a teaspoon of white vinegar or lemon juice into the dressing for extra tang.
- Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
- Add Other Veggies: Thinly sliced radishes or celery would add extra crunch.
How to Make The Easiest Creamy Cucumber Salad
Let me show you just how quick and easy it is to make this Creamy Cucumber Salad:
Prep Veggies
- First, I combine the thinly sliced cucumber and sliced red onion in a medium bowl. Peeling the cucumber is optional – I sometimes leave stripes of peel on for color, or peel it completely depending on my mood!
Make Dressing
- In a separate small bowl, I combine the sour cream, mayonnaise (if I’m using it), chopped fresh chives, and pepper.
- I mix these dressing ingredients well until combined.
Combine and Serve
- I stir the prepared dressing into the cucumber and red onion mixture, tossing gently to coat everything evenly.
- I add salt to taste just before serving. (Salting cucumbers draws out water, so adding it at the end helps prevent the salad from becoming too watery if serving immediately).
- Serve!
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Cucumber Salad
Here are my secrets for making this simple Creamy Cucumber Salad truly exceptional:
- Thinly Slice: Slicing the cucumbers and red onions thinly provides the best texture and allows the dressing to coat everything well. A mandoline slicer works great for cucumbers if you have one.
- Salt Cucumbers (Optional, for Advance Prep): If making ahead or if you prefer less watery salad, you can salt the sliced cucumbers in a colander for 30 minutes before making the salad. Rinse them briefly and pat very dry before adding the dressing. For this quick version, salting just before serving is fine.
- Fresh Chives: Fresh chives add a delicate oniony flavor that’s perfect here.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the finished salad and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
- Chill (Optional): While delicious immediately, chilling for even 15-20 minutes allows the flavors to meld nicely.
How to Serve
This Easiest Creamy Cucumber Salad is a perfect side dish for:
- Grilling and BBQ: Pairs wonderfully with burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, ribs, or pulled pork.
- Potlucks and Picnics: A classic, easy-to-transport salad.
- Weeknight Dinners: A quick and refreshing side for fish, pork chops, or chicken.
- Light Lunch: Enjoy a larger portion on its own or with some added protein like chickpeas.
Serve chilled or at room temperature (if recently made).
Make Ahead and Storage
This salad is best enjoyed the day it’s made, as cucumbers release water over time. However, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days. The salad may become more watery upon storage. You can also prepare the dressing and slice the vegetables ahead of time, storing them separately in the refrigerator, and combine just before serving.
FAQs about The Easiest Creamy Cucumber Salad
- What type of cucumber is best?
- English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers are great choices because they have thin skin and fewer seeds. Regular slicing cucumbers work too, but you might want to peel them and scoop out the seeds if they are large.
- Can I make this dairy-free?
- Yes! Use a dairy-free sour cream alternative and ensure your optional mayonnaise is also dairy-free/vegan.
- Is the mayonnaise necessary?
- No, the mayonnaise is optional. It adds a bit more richness and depth to the dressing, but the salad is delicious with just sour cream as the base.
Enjoy this incredibly simple, cool, and refreshing Easiest Creamy Cucumber Salad! It’s a perfect quick side dish for any occasion.
Print
Easiest Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Description
This creamy cucumber salad recipe is delicious and refreshing — Great for grilling or a light dinner! Thinly sliced cucumbers and red onion are tossed in a simple, creamy sour cream dressing with fresh chives.
Ingredients
- 3 cucumbers (English or regular), thinly sliced (peeling is optional)
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup sour cream (full-fat recommended)
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Vegetables: Thinly slice the cucumbers (peel or leave unpeeled based on preference). Thinly slice the red onion. Place the sliced cucumber and red onion in a medium bowl.
- Make Dressing: In a separate small bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise (if using), and chopped chives. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
- Combine and Season: Pour the dressing over the cucumber and red onion mixture. Stir gently to coat the vegetables evenly. Season with black pepper to taste.
- Add Salt & Serve: Add salt just before serving to prevent the cucumbers from releasing too much water. Toss again gently. Serve immediately or chilled.
Notes
- Cucumbers: English cucumbers have thinner skin and fewer seeds, making them ideal. If using regular cucumbers, you may prefer to peel them and scoop out the seeds.
- Red Onion: For a milder onion flavor, you can soak the sliced red onion in cold water for 10-15 minutes before adding it to the salad. Drain well.
- Sour Cream: Full-fat sour cream provides the best texture. Plain Greek yogurt can be substituted for a tangier flavor.
- Mayonnaise (Optional): Mayonnaise adds extra richness but can be omitted if preferred.
- Herbs: Fresh chives are used here, but fresh dill is also a classic addition to creamy cucumber salads.
- Salting: Adding salt too early will draw water out of the cucumbers, making the salad watery. Add it just before serving.
- Chilling (Optional): While it can be served immediately, chilling the salad for about 30 minutes allows the flavors to meld.
- Storage: This salad is best enjoyed fresh, as the cucumbers will release water over time. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days.