No Summer picnic would be complete without this Creamy Cucumber Dill Salad as a side dish! Thinly sliced cucumbers, red onion, and fresh dill are mixed with a creamy yogurt and vinegar sauce for a refreshing and easy recipe. Make this healthy low-carb salad to go with grilled meat, or bring it along to a potluck.
Creamy Cucumber Dill Salad Recipe
When it comes to the hotter summer months, you want something light and refreshing.
Creamy cucumber salads have the perfect fresh feel and taste. This version is healthier for you than the classic recipe since it uses yogurt instead of sour cream!
Fresh dill packs in a ton of flavor, and it’s so simple to make.
Plus, it’s great for meal prepping ahead of time which is always a bonus!
This healthy low-carb recipe is the perfect side to bring to a summer picnic. Or, serve it with another low-carb main dish for lunch or dinner!
Ingredients
The ingredients you need to make this Creamy Cucumber Dill Salad include:
- Cucumbers – Seedless cucumbers are best. You can use either mini or regular-sized. The most flavorful cucumbers are fresh from the garden or from the farmer’s market.
- Greek yogurt – This makes it creamy and gives it a tangy kick. Make sure to use plain, unflavored yogurt. Dairy-free yogurt may also be used.
- Onion – Red onion really gives the best pop of flavor. Sweet onions or white onions may be used instead for less of a bite.
- White vinegar – This adds even more tasty tanginess. Apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar may also be used.
- Honey – The sweetness helps to balance out the vinegar, but is not necessary and can be left out.
- Lemon – For a fresh citrusy zest, add some lemon juice. Fresh squeezed lemon juice will give you the best flavor.
- Dill – Because cucumbers and dill are a match made in heaven! Not to mention they both grow like CRAZY in the summer!
Is Cucumber a Fruit or Vegetable?
Technically, a cucumber is a fruit if you are considering the way they grow.
Cucumbers grow from the flower of the plant and contain seeds.
If this was our only definition of what a fruit is, then many other “vegetables” would also be considered “fruits.” (i.e. squash, green beans, pumpkins, etc.)
But these don’t normally come to mind when you think of your traditional “fruit.”
So for our purposes, I’ll just refer to it as a rather fruity vegetable.
How to Slice Cucumbers
The key for the best texture in this salad is to thinly slice the cucumbers. There are a few different ways you can do this:
- Mandoline – This is the best way. It’s efficient and will give you uniform slices. Just make sure to be careful with your fingers!
- Food Processor – Another quick and easy method. However, this will only work if you have smaller cucumbers that fit through the hole of the lid.
- Knife – This takes a long time but will work just as well. Be careful with your fingers on this one too!
How to Make
These are the simple steps for making Creamy Cucumber Salad:
- Make the yogurt sauce. In a large bowl combine yogurt, vinegar, honey, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and garlic powder with a whisk.
- Mix in the cucumbers, onions, and dill. Toss to coat everything evenly with the sauce.
- Refrigerate the salad. Chill for a minimum of 2 hours, or overnight.
Meal Prep and Storage
- To Prep-Ahead: This easy cucumber salad can be made completely ahead of time! The longer it chills the more tender the cucumbers will get and the less pungent the red onion will be. Just note, Greek yogurt will begin to separate after about 48 hours. Simply drain the extra liquid and stir before serving.
- To Store: This salad will keep well for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- To Freeze: This is not recommended as the texture of the cucumber will change.
Dietary Modifications
The recipe you’ll find below is already vegetarian, low-carb, and gluten-free as written. Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:
Paleo and Whole30 – Use a nut-based yogurt alternative.
Vegan and Dairy-Free – Substitute for a dairy-free Greek yogurt.
Keto – Swap out the honey for liquid stevia extract.
FAQs
Why is my cucumber salad watery?
Cucumber salads can become watery if the seeds aren’t removed.
Should you peel cucumbers for salad?
Peeling cucumbers is not necessary. In fact, leaving the peel on adds a good crunch.
What’s the best way to slice cucumbers for salad?
The easiest way to slice cucumbers for a salad is to use a mandoline. A food processor will work as well, or you can cut them up with a knife.
How can I make my cucumber salad creamy?
This recipes uses Greek yogurt for a healthy and creamy sauce. Sour cream can also be used.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Use a mandoline. This is the quickest and easiest way to uniformly slice cucumbers to use in a salad recipe. Just watch your fingers!
- Seedless is best. Using cucumbers with seeds will inevitably end up in a watery salad. Use seedless cucumbers or deseed them.
- Prep ahead of time. This salad tastes best when it has time to refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
- Grow your own. Homegrown cucumbers and dill have the most flavor and will make this simple salad super delicious! If you can’t grow your own, find them at your local farmer’s market.
Other Cucumber Recipes
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with Cucumber
Easy Greek Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
Make it a Meal
This cucumber onion salad tastes incredible when paired with:
Sweet Potato Black Bean Burger
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Creamy Cucumber Dill Salad with Onion
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Ingredients
- 2 lbs. cucumbers seedless, cut into ¼-inch slices
- ½ cup Greek yogurt*
- 2 Tbsp. distilled white vinegar***
- 1 Tbsp. honey**
- 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. black pepper
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- 1 small red onion thinly slices
- 2-3 Tbsp. dill fresh, finely chopped
Instructions
- Using a mandoline or knife, thinly slice seedless cucumbers to ¼-inch thick.
- In a large bowl whisk together yogurt, vinegar, honey, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Add cucumbers, red onion, and 2 tablespoons dill. Toss to combine.
- Refrigerate cucumber dill salad for at least 2 hours or overnight.*
- Serve salad with additional dill and enjoy!
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Notes
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Use a mandoline. This is the quickest and easiest way to uniformly slice cucumbers to use in a salad recipe. Just watch your fingers!
- Seedless is best. Using cucumbers with seeds will inevitably end up in a watery salad. Use seedless cucumbers or deseed them.
- Prep ahead of time. This salad tastes best when it has time to refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
- Grow your own. Homegrown cucumbers and dill have the most flavor and will make this simple salad super delicious! If you can't grow your own, find them at your local farmer's market.
Meal Prep and Storage
- To Prep-Ahead: This easy cucumber salad can be made completely ahead of time! The longer it chills the more tender the cucumbers will get and the less pungent the red onion will be. Just note, Greek yogurt will begin to separate after about 48 hours. Simply drain the extra liquid and stir before serving.
- To Store: This salad will keep well for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- To Freeze: This is not recommended as the texture of the cucumber will change.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
You mention lemons in the article, but they’re not in the ingredients list. How much lemon juice would you add?
So sorry for any confusion! You only need a little bit of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon. I have updated the recipe to reflect this. Thanks for your question!
One of my favorite recipes…cucumbers are an obsession for me! The entire family adores this salad!
So happy to hear that, Jules!! Aren’t cucumbers the best?!
Thanks for the recipe! I’m going to make this for July 4th.
Yay, Monica! I can’t wait to hear what you think 🙂