When I want to make a quick and easy side dish, especially in the Summer, I always turn to this zesty cucumber 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.
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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.
What’s in this Cucumber Onion Salad Recipe?
- Cucumbers: Start with fresh, juicy cucumbers, cut into slices. 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!
- 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 my 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!
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Tips for Success
- Most varieties of cucumbers 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.
- 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.
- 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!
How to Make Ahead and Store
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, 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.
Serving Suggestions
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 lamb or ham. It really pairs beautifully with so many dishes!
5-Star Review
“Easy to make crunchy Cucumber cold salad. Taste gets better with each day it marinates. Thank you for posting.” -Wendy
Cucumber Onion Salad Recipe
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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.
- If you have leftover cucumbers, try making little cucumber sandwiches. You can also add slices to water for a refreshing and healthy beverage.
Nutrition Information
How to Make Cucumber Onion 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.
Can you mix the ingredients in the mason jar the day before?
Yes, you can!
So good. So easy.
Thanks for stopping by, Mary!
I take the seeds ouscalloped or au gratin go well but you could do tato patties from leftover mashed. Really lends to southern midwest style – think Kansas, Oklahoma.t of the cucumber so it is not mushy, it leaves the salad nice and crisp – of course you must have a fir cuke and oion. This recipe without seeds it BEST after being refrigerated for at least an hour. My mo used to make it in the summer as a side to fresh sliced tomatoes and either fried chicken, chicken fried steak or seasoned pork chops. The main dishes here in are rather heavy so the salad refreshes the palet – do not forget a tato to go with for the lil ones. Here the
Thanks for sharing, Diane
Made this salad today after not making it for 20 years! Shame on me! I basically followed the recipe but added tiny halved tomatoes. My daughter lived in Turkey for 2 yrs and they serve this type of salad with every meal. Of course they get their ingredients fresh from the market every day so it is very refreshing. Add bread, fruit, cheese, all fresh + braised meat and you have a banquet!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Carl!
I lived in turkey for a year and I brought this salad back–but it has to be market or garden tomatoes! I do like that this version is a little mid westernized:)
I love this recipe but for us it needs a little more vinegar. The salt pulls H2O from the cukes and onions so it dilutes the marinade. Next time I’ll try with straight vinegar and skip the H2O. Other than that the flavors; salt, pepper, stevia, were perfect! I grew up with this recipe but never knew how mom made it! THANK YOU for sharing!!
Thanks for stopping by, Susan!
I agree, next time I’ll use white vinegar.
Made exactly as the recipe! Outstanding!! 5 stars!!
Thanks for sharing, Jack!
This was so delicious. I didn’t have any fresh, or dried for that matter, herbs but it was still so refreshing and delicious. Next time I’ll add the fresh dill and see. I can see why southerners have this simple salad on the ta le at every meal.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing!
I love cucumber salad and have been making this for some time. I will suggest using white rice vinegar. It has a sweet/sour tang which is so good in this recipe.
Thanks for sharing, Carrie!
This is so good that my husband even LOVED it! Taste is awesome! tytyty :)
You’re so welcome!! I’m glad that everyone loved it!
Easy to make crunchy
Cucumber cold salad. Taste gets better with each day it marinates.
Thank you for posting.
I’m so glad you love it so much!!