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This simple and inexpensive Cucumber Onion Salad Recipe is simply fabulous. The flavor is amazing but it is just so easy to prepare.
Cucumber Onion Salad Recipe:
This classic cucumber onion salad comes together quickly and easily. It is a light and refreshing and is made with simple ingredients. The vinegar dressing gives a tangy flavor to this easy side dish.
Bring this dish to your next potluck, cookout or family gathering for a side dish everyone will love. The fresh ingredients makes this cucumber onion salad so refreshing.
Serve this cucumber onion salad with your grilled chicken, grilled steak or burgers. It makes the perfect side dish for any grilled meats.
What is Cucumber Onion Salad?
This cucumber onion salad is a classic recipe that is always served for our cookouts. Thinly slice cucumbers are mixed with onions, vinegars and sugar to create a delicious, refreshing salad.
Ingredients:
- Fresh Pickled Cucumbers
- Onion
- White Vinegar
- Sugar
How to Make Cucumber and Onion Salad:
- Step 1 – Slice Cucumbers – Peel and slice the cucumbers really thin. This is when the mandoline slicer comes in handy.
- Step 2 – Cut Onions – Next, slice the onions really thin.
- Step 3 – Mix the Dressing Ingredients = In a container (with a lid) combine the water, vinegar, and sugar. Stir until combined.
- Step 4 – Mix in Vegetables – Add in the cucumbers and onions. Place lid on top and shake.
- Step 5 – Allow salad to chill – Place salad in the refrigerator. Let it cool for at least a few hours before eating.
- Step 6 – Serve and Enjoy – Eat with a fork or fingers.
Cucumber Onion Salad Variations:
- Onions – Feel free to use red onions instead of white sweet onions. Cucumber and red onion is a great combination. Vidalia onion would also be a great option.
- Vinegar – We used white vinegar, but you can also use apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar.
- Seasoning – You can add in fresh herbs such add fresh dill, rosemary or parsley.
- Creamy Dressing – If you prefer more of a creamy cucumber salad, use ranch dressing. You can also add in a tablespoon of sour cream to balance the flavors.
- Add-Ins – Feel free to add in some croutons, chopped bacon, or diced green apples.
Tips for Cucumber Onion Vinegar Salad:
- Slicer – To make your life easy, make sure you buy a mandoline slicer (if you don’t have one yet). We just LOVE ours and it makes slicing cucumbers and onions a breeze. I can slice them all in half the time with my slicer. You definitely want one of these.
- Mixing the Ingredients – I like to use a container with lid to mix the vinegar, sugar and water. It is so easy to just add the cucumbers and onions and then just use it to store the salad in.
- Chill Salad – Put your salad in the fridge and leave it for a few hours before eating.
- Seasoning – Before serving the salad, make sure to season with salt and pepper.
How do you Keep Cucumbers crisp?
If you have trouble keeping your fresh cucumbers or English cucumbers from staying crisp. You can try sprinkle the slice cucumbers with salt. This helps to draw out the moisture keeping them fresh and crisp while serving.
Do I peel Cucumbers before adding to salad?
When we make this salad, we like to peel the cucumber before mixing in the salad. It will depend on the cucumber you use, but we think it looks better in the salad with the cucumber peeled.
What is the Best way to Cut Cucumbers?
This salad is best made with thinly sliced cucumbers. We recommend using a mandoline slicer to choose between how we cut the cucumbers. But you can easily cut them however you prefer.
What to Serve with Cucumber Onion Salad?
This classic cucumber salad recipe is perfect for your summer BBQs. If you have a garden full of cucumbers, this would be the best recipe to make. Here are some of our favorite grilled recipe to try with this light and refreshing salad.
- Grilled Chicken – This recipe has a very simple blend of seasonings but the results are fabulous. The marinade is really yummy and the entire family will love this chicken.
- Grilled Steak – With just a few ingredients, you can make this delicious marinade and have an awesome steak night.
- Grilled Pork Chops – Pork Chops on the grill make such an easy dinner idea and the flavor can’t be beat. The barbecue sauce combined with the grill flavor makes for the best meal.
How long can you Store Cucumber and Onion Recipe?
It will stay good in the refrigerator for at least a week. I know it is really simple, but if you love cucumbers, you will love this easy salad. We have been guilty of eating it directly out of the fridge.
Our salad never lasts that long around here because even my kids go crazy over this salad. We all love it so much that we snack on it all week.
What is the Best Vinegar to Use?
We like the flavor of the white vinegar for this salad recipe. But you can easily use apple cider vinegar as a great substitute. Both give the cucumber onion salad great tangy flavor.
Can I Make ahead of time?
Yes, this salad is great to prepare ahead of time. Simple keep it in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
You can also cut the vegetables and store separately from the prepared dressing. Then on serving day, simply combine the vegetables and dressing together in a bowl.
Print this Cucumber Onion Salad Recipe below:
Cucumber Onion Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 Cucumbers
- 1 Onion
- 1 cup Vinegar (white or apple cider)
- 1 cup Water
- 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
Instructions
- Peel and slice the cucumbers into thin strips.
- Slice the onions.
- In a container (with a lid) combine the water, vinegar, and sugar.
- Stir until combined.
- Add in the cucumbers and onions. Place lid on top and shake.
- Place in the refrigerator and let it cool for at least a few hours before eating.
- Eat with a fork… or your fingers!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
More Easy Salad Recipes:
- Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe
- Easy Creamy Greek Salad Recipe
- Easy Pasta Salad Recipe
- Easy Creamy Greek Salad Recipe
I have eaten this salad for at least 75 years, and love it but I prefer to skip the sugar and just add a little salt.
Oh that sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve been doing a similar recipe… the only difference is thinly sliced banana peppers and course ground pepper are added….. oh so spicy and sweet !!
Reminds me exactly what my mom used t make. Love this salad! I make it all the time!
It’s so yummy!
My Mom made this and another variety where she also added a little milk. It was delicious but I don’t know amounts of ingredients.
You’re welcome Michelle! Thank you so much for sharing.
My grandma was making this as long back as I can remember the recipe with sugar love it!!! She’s been gone for several years & I haven’t even thought about making it!!! Thanks for the memory making recipe soon!!!
Great idea. Thanks for sharing Randy!
If you add tomatoes and use cucumber ranch dressing it makes it better I been making it for my kids and they love it
I have made this most of my life. I don’t use any sugar because the sugar doesn’t taste good to me. Once got a hold of some with sugar and it was gross. Just vinegar salt and a little pepper is all you need.
This has been a family summer staple of ours since I was a child. We always included tomatoes cut in wedges and some salt & pepper.
Have made this recipe three times since I read it two weeks ago. This stuff is great! I added a little celery seed (following the advice of a friend whose mother made it that way) but do not really notice any added flavor. Perhaps I did not use enough. I will probably experiment (add tomatoes) but it is delicious just as listed in the recipe. I have used the same water/vinegar, sugar mixture three times — when I’m starting to run out, I just add more cukes and onion.
I`ve been growing Cucumbers for years,point is,I get too many,I give a hell of a lot of them away,the rest go to waste.
My grandma used to make something similar to these and freezed them in cool whip containers. They would last a pretty long time. Well until we ate them all, just take out and let them thaw for a while if needed.
Mother’s family used to make this without the sugar & added tomatoes. DELICIOUS !!!! She & my aunts also made it this way too. Haven’t made this is a long time since she died over 7 years ago & no one eats it but me now but made some yesterday & had to make more today. 🙂 Thanks for such sweet memories.
I have made this for many years but being a Type 1 diabetic, I learned to mix several packets of sweetener with the water and vinegar and let cukes sit in that. Love this and you can always top it with a bit of italian or ranch dressing too.
I use to make the cucumber and onion salad only just cut the onions and cucumbers salt and pepper with Hellman’s mayonnaise delicious
I have been making this for years i put italian dressing on it so good !!
THE CUCUMBER AND ONIONS WAS AWESOME MY FAMILY REALLY ENJOYED THEM YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Just had this at my moms last Sunday. She used basaltic vinigar and it was delish- no sugar
My mother was from Berlin, we made this all the time but no water added. Skip adding water, you will get that from the cuc’s already. She and my G-Aunt Freda would Add a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt & sprinkle of dill. Cut back on the vinegar to 1/4-1/2 cup and 1Tsp sugar. Pinch Salt & fresh cracked pepper.
Can’t wait to try this
I love Aldis and I love Cucumbers
How long will the cucumber/onion salad keep in the refrigerator?
Can you use sugar substitut?
My Grandma always made these by the gallon, because it wouldn’t last long with our family 🙂 She also salted cukes and let sit a bit and then rinsed and drained. Added onions, and sometimes gr. peppers and celery seed. Brought liquid to a beginning roll after sugar is dissolved and then poured over the veggies and then the fridge to cool. The longer they sat the better they were 🙂
how much sugar and vinegar do you use
I make this using red onions. Like their taste better and it’s pretty
Try microwaving the liquid first to a boil, gives it a different texture
my husbands family makes these around the holidays every year. Love them! I’m just the only one that would eat it at my house lol so I’ve never made it!
I was introduced to this through my husband’s family as well. Adding roughly diced green peppers is also yummy!
This looks so awesom, I am sure even I am going to turn addict hahaha. Fabulous share!!!!
If you put the cucumbers and onions slightly ed in a bowl and salt them for a few hours first then rinse and drain. It seems to keep them crisp longer.