By: Becky Hardin
This post may include affiliate links that earn us a small commission from your purchases at no extra cost to you.
When I want to make a quick and easy side dish, especially in the Summer, I always turn to this zesty Cucumber and Onion Salad. This Cucumber Salad recipe comes together quickly and easily with just a few ingredients. Fresh cucumber and red onion slices are dressed simply in a homemade vinegar salad dressing. It’s a flavor combination that makes me think of beautiful weather, family get togethers, and fun around the table.
This dish a refreshing and tangy side salad, and I find that it’s a great accompaniment to chicken, grilled meat, seafood and so much more. This easy Cucumber Onion Salad is a must-make for any Spring or Summer get-together!
Table of Contents
What’s in this Cucumber Onion Salad Recipe?
I have a neighbor that always brings over home grown cucumbers, and that leads to us sharing a plate of this delicious salad! All you need are fresh veggies and some pantry staples to make a simple vinegar dressing.
- Cucumbers: Start with fresh, juicy cucumbers, cut into slices.
- Red Onion: Red onion has a nice bite that “spices” this salad up. We like cutting them into half moons, but you can chop or dice onions if you prefer.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: This is the base of our vinegar salad dressing. It’s tangy and slightly sweet, and less acidic than some other vinegars, which is perfect for a light salad.
- Sugar: Add just a little bit of granulated sugar into the dressing for sweetness.
- Water: Water fills out the dressing. No oil needed here!
- Salt + Pepper: Some salt and pepper to gently season the dressing.
Variations
This healthy cucumber salad recipe is so simple, it’s easy to make a few adjustments without any extra stress. Here are some things I do to change up the flavor combination from time to time.
- Finish the salad with some fresh herbs, like dill, rosemary, or parsley.
- Use a different salad dressing. Ranch dressing would make it much creamier; dress it simply with extra virgin olive oil and salt and pepper; or use your favorite vinaigrette.
- Toss in some crumbled feta, homemade croutons, bacon crumbles, or diced green apples.
- Start with pickled cucumbers for an extra tangy salad, or add pickled beets or onions.
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Cookie Rookie.
How to Make Ahead
I love that this quick and easy cucumber salad with vinegar dressing can be prepped and/or made ahead of time.
Veggies: Slice cucumbers and onions ahead of time, and store them in airtight containers (separately) until ready to use. If you do this, we recommend salting the cucumbers so they don’t accumulate moisture. You can also go ahead and soak the onions if you want to cut their intensity.
Dressing: Combine the vinegar dressing ingredients in a jar as instructed in the recipe card. This can be kept in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Just shake or stir before tossing into the salad.
Toss everything together when you’re ready to serve it.
How to Store
If you prefer to make the full salad, or if you just need to keep leftovers, that works too. Store the cucumber and onion salad (in the vinaigrette is fine) in an airtight container, and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also cover the entire salad bowl with plastic wrap to store until you’re ready to serve. This is perfect if you’re planning to bring it to a potluck!
Serving Suggestions
This easy cucumber salad is one of our all-time favorite spring and summer salad recipes. I love to serve it for light lunches outside along with grilled chicken breast, garlic butter salmon, or grilled pork chops. It’s also a great side salad for Easter dinner, along with lamb or ham. It really pairs beautifully with so many dishes!
Notes from the Test Kitchen
If the red onion flavor is overpowering, try soaking slices in water before adding them to the salad. I personally love a strong onion taste, but if my husband is eating it too, that’s my favorite trick!
5-Star Review
“Easy to make crunchy Cucumber cold salad. Taste gets better with each day it marinates. Thank you for posting.” -Wendy
Recipe
Cucumber Salad Recipe
4.62 from 972 votes
Author: Becky Hardin
Prep: 10 minutes minutes
Total: 10 minutes minutes
Serves8 people
Print Rate
Save Shop our store
Crisp cucumbers, red onions, and a homemade vinegar dressing make for a simple yet delicious salad! This Cucumber Salad Recipe is on repeat all Summer long.
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Cookie Rookie.
Ingredients
- 2 cucumbers
- 1 red onion sliced
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
Slice each cucumber in ¼-inch slices and add to a large bowl.
2 cucumbers
Add in the sliced red onion (sliced into half moons) and toss to combine.
1 red onion
In a mason jar or small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and pepper.
⅓ cup apple cider vinegar, ¼ cup water, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Pour the dressing mixture over the cucumber and onion and toss to fully coat/combine.
Keep in the fridge until ready to serve.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- If you like, finish the salad with fresh dill or parsley.
Storage: Store leftover salad covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can make and store the dressing separately up to 5 days.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 23kcal (1%) Carbohydrates: 5g (2%) Protein: 1g (2%) Fat: 1g (2%) Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) Sodium: 294mg (13%) Potassium: 129mg (4%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 3g (3%) Vitamin A: 54IU (1%) Vitamin C: 3mg (4%) Calcium: 14mg (1%) Iron: 1mg (6%)
Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!
Upload A PhotoTag on
InstaLeave A Rating
How to Make Cucumber Salad Step by Step
Slice the Cucumbers: Slice 2 cucumbers into ¼-inch slices and add to a large bowl.
Add the Onions: Add in 1 red onion sliced into half moons and toss to combine.
Make the Dressing: In a mason jar or small bowl, whisk together ⅓ cup of apple cider vinegar, ¼ cup of water, 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon of fine sea salt, and 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper.
Toss the Salad: Pour the dressing mixture over the cucumber and onion and toss to fully coat/combine. Keep in the fridge until ready to serve.
How do you keep cucumbers crisp in cucumber salad?
Generously sprinkle salt over the cucumber slices before tossing them into the salad. The salt will draw out extra water and moisture so that they don’t get watery or soggy. You can salt them in a colander to prevent too much salt from accumulating on the slices.
Do I need to peel cucumbers before making a salad?
It depends on the type of cucumbers you use. Most varieties at the grocery store here in North America (English cucumbers and “garden cucumbers” are common) will be fine without peeling. But if you use a variety with thick or bumpy skin, feel free to gently peel them.
How should I cut cucumbers for salad?
We cut them into ¾ inch slices for this salad recipe, but you can really slice them however you like. A mandolin works really well for quick slicing. Thinner or thicker slices work, as do diced or cubed cucumbers. A chopped cucumber and onion salad is great too!
What’s the best vinegar for salad dressing?
We highly recommend using apple cider vinegar for this cucumber salad dressing. Other vinegars can be overwhelming on such a simple and light salad, but white wine vinegar is one of the better substitutes.
What can I do with extra cucumbers?
If you have leftover cucumbers, try making little cucumber sandwiches. You can also add slices to water for a refreshing and healthy beverage.
More Salad Recipes We Love
- Esquites
- Tricolor Pasta Salad
- Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Peruvian Chopped Salad
- Marshmallow Salad
- Chopped Caprese Salad
Claim your free ebook!
Subscribe to have posts delivered straight to your inbox!! PLUS get our FREE ebook!
