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 refreshing and tangy side salad, and 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!
What’s in this Cucumber Onion Salad Recipe?
If you’re wondering what to do with those cucumbers, you can make this easy, refreshing, healthy, and 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. I 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.
Pro Tip: If the red onion flavor is overpowering, try soaking slices in water before adding them to the salad.
Cucumber Salad with Vinegar Dressing Variations
This healthy cucumber salad recipe is so simple, it’s easy to make a few adjustments without any extra stress.
- 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 & 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.
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 water-y or soggy. You can salt them in a colander to prevent too much salt from accumulating on the slices.
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.
I 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!
I 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.
If you have leftover cucumbers, try making little cucumber sandwiches. You can also add slices to water for a refreshing and healthy beverage.
Can I make this Cucumber Vinegar Salad ahead of time?
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, I 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 Fresh Cucumber Salad
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!
What to Serve with Cucumber and Red Onion Salad
This easy cucumber salad is one of my 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 herb-crusted lamb or brown sugar glazed ham. It really pairs beautifully with some many dishes!
Cucumber Onion Salad Recipe
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.
- Enjoy!
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.
Nutrition Information
Very disappointing I can’t get the ad that covers most of the recipe to disappear 😔
I’m so sorry to hear that, Lee! There are ads, but they shouldn’t cover the recipe!
The recipe in my collection used 1/2 cup sugar. My partner is diabetic so looking for a recipe with less . Your recipe delicious. Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe, Nan!
Thank you! My wife usually makes this for us, but she wasn’t home so I google a recipe. Super simple, easy, and my 3 year old ate a whole cucumber by himself.
I’m so happy to hear it was a hit!
My family loved this as a side dish to hamburgers. Yum!
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it!
Tried this just last week and it has now become a house favorite…simple and satisfying
I’m so happy to hear that!
A simple cucumber and onion salad is one of my favorites in warm weather. But I don’t make it often enough to have it memorized. I’ve always had trouble finding the right proportions for the dressing, but this is the one! I’m kind of laughing at some of the reviews (“it had too much of this, or not enough of that.”) For me, this had the very best balance of vinegar, sugar, and salt. I didn’t measure the black pepper, and I used a yellow onion, it’s what I had on hand. I thought I was going to have lots left over, by my dinner guests all had seconds, and all but licked the plate clean. This one is a “go-to” recipe from now on!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, John!!
It was simple and delicious
That looks wonderful, Dawn!
This is delicious. I used red wine vinegar because that’s what I had on hand. My hubby said it was the best cucumber salad he’s ever tasted.
I love to hear that, Connie!!
I doubled the sauce. 12″ cucumbers are too large. For this recipe, a 6-8″ cucumber should be considered large.
Thanks for sharing, Courtney!
I’m confused at the good ratings for this recipe… I followed it to a T and it was so peppery. Definitely needs less pepper.
I’m sorry this recipe wasn’t to your taste, Jill! Feel free to reduce the amount to better suit your personal tastes!