Easy creamy cucumber salad recipe made with cucumber, sour cream, red onion, lemon juice, dill, and sugar.
Table of Contents
This Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe is one of those dishes that feels stitched into summer itself. I donโt remember learning how to make it. I remember it justโฆ existing. Showing up at cookouts. Sitting quietly next to grilled chicken or burgers. Always cold. Always gone first. And honestly, thatโs probably why it stuck with me.
The version I make now came together during one of those heatwave weeks when everyoneโs cranky and nobody wants to cook. I had cucumbers that needed attention now, sour cream in the fridge, and zero patience. I mixed everything in a bowl, tasted it, added a little more lemon (maybe too much, but it worked), and stood there eating a few bites straight from the bowl. It was cool. Creamy. Calming, almost. That moment sealed it. This easy creamy cucumber salad recipe became my default summer sideโthe one I make without thinking when I want something that feels familiar and comforting but still fresh. Ever have a recipe like that? The one that quietly shows up when you need it?
Why youโll Love this Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad?
Thereโs a reason the easy creamy cucumber salad recipe has been around forever. It doesnโt chase trends. It doesnโt try to be clever. It just works. The cucumbers are crisp and cooling, the dressing is creamy but not heavy, and everything balances in a way that feelsโฆ right. Especially when itโs hot out and even chewing feels like effort.
I also love how low-pressure it is. Fifteen minutes. One bowl. No cooking. You can make it while someone else grills, while kids run in and out of the house, or while youโre half-paying attention to the news playing in the background. It tastes like summer evenings and screen doors and weโll eat outside tonight. And honestly, those are the flavors I trust most.
Ingredient Notes
Letโs talk ingredients for this easy creamy cucumber salad recipe, because when a recipe is this simple, each piece actually mattersโjust not in a stressful way.
- Sour cream gives you that classic creamy base. Tangy, smooth, familiar. Itโs doing most of the heavy lifting here.
- Lemon juice wakes everything up. Without it, the salad can feel a little flat. With it, everything pops.
- Sugar is subtle. You shouldnโt really taste sweetnessโitโs there to balance the tang.
- Dried dill brings that unmistakable cucumber-salad flavor. Fresh dill is great too, but dried works surprisingly well and feels very old-school in the best way.
- Salt pulls everything together. A little goes a long way, but skipping it would be a mistake.
- Cucumber is obviously the star. Cool, crisp, refreshing. Exactly what you want on a warm day.
- Red onion adds bite and contrast. Thin slices are key so it doesnโt overpower the salad.
How to Make Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe?
- Making this easy creamy cucumber salad recipe feels more like assembling than cooking, which is kind of the whole point. Start by mixing the sour cream, lemon juice, sugar, dill, and salt in a bowl. Stir it well and taste it. This part matters. Maybe you want a little more lemon. Maybe a pinch more salt. Thereโs room to adjust, and thatโs a good thing.
- Next, prep the vegetables. Peel the cucumber if you wantโI usually do, but sometimes I donโt. Slice the cucumber and thinly slice the red onion. Thin really is the goal here. You want everything to blend, not fight for attention.
- Add the cucumber and onion to the dressing and gently stir until everythingโs coated. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. That short rest lets the flavors relax and mingle. Give it one more stir and serve. Thatโs it. No drama. No extra steps. Just a bowl of something cool and comforting.
Storage Options
This salad is at its best the day itโs made, when the cucumbers are still crisp and the dressing hasnโt loosened too much. If you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. After that, the cucumbers release more liquid and things get a bit softer. Still edible. Just not at peak cucumber-salad perfection. Kind of like day-two leftovers in general.
Variations and Substitutions
One of the reasons this easy creamy cucumber salad recipe sticks around is how forgiving it is. You can swap sour cream for Greek yogurt if you want something lighter. Fresh dill instead of dried gives a brighter flavor. A splash of vinegar instead of lemon juice works if thatโs what you have.
If you want more crunch, add thinly sliced radishes. If red onion feels too sharp, try sweet onion. Iโve even added a pinch of black pepper beforeโno regrets. This recipe doesnโt punish improvisation. It kind of expects it.
What to Serve With Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad?
This salad plays well with almost anything. Grilled chicken, burgers, fish, sandwichesโit all works. Itโs especially good next to rich or smoky foods because it cools everything down. And yes, itโs also perfectly acceptable to eat it straight from the bowl while deciding what else to make. I wonโt tell.
FAQ:
Do I need to peel the cucumber?
Nope. Totally personal preference. Peel it if the skin is thick or waxy.
Can I make this ahead of time?
A few hours ahead is fine. Same day is best.
Is this salad sweet?
Not really. The sugar just balances the tang.
Can I use fresh dill instead of dried?
Absolutely. Just use a bit more since fresh is milder.
If you give this Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe a try, Iโd genuinely love to hear how it turned out. Did you keep it classic or tweak it a little? Either way, donโt be surprised if it quietly becomes one of those recipes you make again without even thinking about it.
Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- ยฝ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ยฝ teaspoon dried dill
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
- 1 large cucumber
- ยผ red onion thinly sliced
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, lemon juice, granulated sugar, dried dill, and salt. Stir until the dressing is smooth and well blended. Set aside.
- Peel the cucumber if desired. Slice the cucumber into thin rounds or half-moons. Thinly slice the red onion.
- Add the sliced cucumber and red onion to the bowl with the prepared dressing. Stir gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Allow the salad to rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Stir once more before serving to redistribute the dressing and flavors.
- Serve chilled or at cool room temperature.
Notes
