Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad is your quick, refreshing side dish this summer. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to keeping cucumbers crisp: salting them first. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Crispy Baked Chickpea Patties and Easy Aloo Keema Recipe.
Why This Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy cucumbers in every bite
- Creamy dill dressing that's better than store-bought
- Ready in just 15 minutes, perfect 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 English cucumber
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp sugar (optional)
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- Optional: 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- Optional: 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- English cucumber: Regular cucumbers can be used, but they may have more seeds and water content.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Food Processor — Saves time and ensures even slicing → See on Amazon
- Mixing Bowls Set — Perfect for prep and serving → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
- Prepare cucumbers: Slice cucumber thinly, salt, and let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
- Make dressing: Combine sour cream, vinegar, dill, salt, pepper, sugar, and garlic powder. Mix well.
- Combine: Toss cucumbers with dressing and red onion. Garnish with chives.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
- Common mistake and fix: Over-salting can make cucumbers soggy. Rinse and pat dry to fix.
- Pro tip: For a spicy kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the dressing.
- Pro tip: Make ahead and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
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 in the fridge for up to 2 days. Make-ahead tip: Yes, make ahead and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Freezing Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
Not suitable for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not applicable. Microwave: Not applicable.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a lower-calorie version, substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream.
- Best substitution: Substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream for a lower-calorie version.
- Make-ahead: Make ahead and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Scaling: Easily double or triple the recipe for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If cucumbers are too watery, add more salt and let them sit for a few more minutes before rinsing.
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Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe for Quick Summer Sides
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 large English cucumber
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
Seasonings
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp sugar (optional)
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
Optional Toppings
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare cucumbers: Slice cucumber thinly, salt, and let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
- Make dressing: Combine sour cream, vinegar, dill, salt, pepper, sugar, and garlic powder. Mix well.
- Combine: Toss cucumbers with dressing and red onion. Garnish with chives.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a lower-calorie version, substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream.
- Best substitution: Substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream for a lower-calorie version.
- Make-ahead: Make ahead and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Scaling: Easily double or triple the recipe for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If cucumbers are too watery, add more salt and let them sit for a few more minutes before rinsing.
Storage
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Freezer: Not suitable for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Not applicable.
- Microwave reheat: Not applicable.
- Make ahead: Yes, make ahead and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 70
- Protein: 2g
- Fat: 6g
- Carbs: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Cholesterol: 15mg
- Sat. Fat: 3g
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 ahead and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Over-salting can make cucumbers soggy. Rinse and pat dry to fix.
Not suitable for freezing.
Greek yogurt is a good substitute for sour cream.
Add more salt and let them sit for a few more minutes before rinsing.
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!
