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Home » Recipes » Side Salads

Southern Cucumber Salad

Published: Aug 11, 2022 · Updated: Jan 17, 2024 by Marye

This southern cucumber salad is easily made with a few simple ingredients that lets the fresh, summer flavors shine through!
Total time for the recipe to be finished.Total Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
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Overhead view of southern cucumber salad for the feature image.
Cucumber salad with text overlay for Pinterest.

This simple recipe makes the most of fresh summer produce!

Overhead view of finished cucumber salad in a glass bowl.
Table of Contents
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 📖 Variations
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • 📞 The last word
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

  • Fresh cucumbers are so refreshing on a hot summer day
  • A versatile side dish that goes with almost anything
  • Made with simple ingredients you already have in your pantry—or in the garden!

Lightly marinated cucumbers combine with zesty red onion and a tangy vinegar dressing to make a crave-worthy summer salad.

It's a great way to tempt pickier diners into eating some veggies—who knew healthy recipes could be so satisfying?

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

Labeled ingredients for cucumber salad.

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Step by step images showing how this salad is made.
  1. Cut the cucumber into thin slices. Salt and let the slices drain.
  2. Rinse then mix the drained cucumber and red onion together in a large bowl.
  3. Whisk together the remaining ingredients.
  4. Combine the marinade with the fresh veggies. Let sit for an hour.

🥫 Storage

Southern cucumber salad keeps well in the fridge. Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container—a mason jar works well!

You can make Southern cucumber salad ahead of time—just store it in the fridge until you're ready to eat it. In fact, the longer the cucumbers sit in the marinade, the more flavorful they will be!

However, for best results, enjoy the simple salad within three days. You can eat it cold out of the fridge, or let it come to room temperature, first.

A bowl of southern cucumber salad on a table.

📖 Variations

Simple recipes are so good because they let the best flavors shine. However, there are a few different ways you can personalize this great side dish.

  • Cool as a Cucumber: I like English cucumbers, but it's up to personal preference which kind of cucumber you use. Any will work—if you have some growing in your garden during the summer months, use 'em up!
  • Other Onions: If you prefer the taste of sweet Vidalia onions, white onions, or some other kind of onion, go ahead and swap them in place of the red.
  • More Veggies: Cherry tomatoes, fresh corn, and diced green pepper perfectly enhance the flavors of this refreshing cucumber salad.
  • Vary the Vinegar: Though apple cider vinegar imparts the perfect flavor to this cucumber vinegar salad, you could also use white, red wine, or rice vinegar. They all have subtle flavor differences, so the best way to decide which is tastiest is to try them all—but not all at once, of course!
  • Finish with Herbs: The fresh flavors of herbs are a great accompaniment to the crisp produce and tart vinegar. Consider adding some fresh dill weed, basil, parsley, or another one of your favorite fresh herbs.

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: You don't have to peel the cucumbers, especially if they have thinner skin. In fact, I like to leave it on! However, if you prefer the peel off, go right ahead and remove it! I'd recommend using a vegetable peeler to make it easier than a knife, though.

  • If the cucumbers have a waxed outer skin be sure to peel them.
  • Thin cucumber slices marinate more quickly, so for the best flavor, make even, narrow cuts using a mandoline slicer.
  • For the best taste in simple salad recipes, make sure all of your ingredients are high quality. That even goes for the salt, too! I like to use kosher salt, but good sea salt will work.
  • If you can, use fresh cracked black peppercorns, rather than plain ground black pepper. The taste is fresher, and fresher is better!
  • The longer you let the salad marinate, the more the cucumbers will soak up the tangy, vinegar dressing. My family loves it tangy, and the sugar balances it out well, but if you prefer a very mild flavor, cut the dressing with a splash of olive oil to taste.

This crunchy salad is perfect with Mexican Lasagna!

👩‍🍳 FAQs

How are English cucumbers different from other cucumbers?

English cucumbers are typically sweeter and have smaller seeds than some of the other varieties sold in local grocery stores. Also, the skin is thinner which makes it more enjoyable to eat.

Is this recipe similar to creamy cucumber salad?

They are similar salads, but this light and fresh version doesn't include sour cream—the single ingredient that puts the "cream" in "creamy cucumber salad."

My family goes back and forth between which version we like better—I say, there's an occasion for every dish! If it's especially hot or the salad will be sitting out for a while, I use this no-cream version so it doesn't spoil!

Next time, try my easy creamy cucumber salad and compare them for yourself! Sour cream or not, it's pretty much the perfect side dish.

Does it matter if I dice or slice the red onion?

Nope! Totally up to personal preference. If you're buying pre-cut onion and they only have one cut over the other, don't worry—it'll taste the same either way.

My grandma's recipe used lemon juice—can I swap that for the vinegar?

I wouldn't replace the vinegar fully, but feel free to swap some of the measured vinegar out in order to add a little lemon juice if you please.

Closeup of the cucumbers and purple onions in a bowl.

📚 Related recipes

  • Sweet peas are perfectly paired with red onion, cheddar, and a creamy salad dressing in the summertime classic: English Pea Salad.
  • If Creamy Cucumber Salad was always your fave at cookouts and church picnics, save this ASAP—it's nostalgic, easy, and so refreshing.
  • From burgers to salads and everything in between, Panera Pickled Onions add crazy levels of flavor and crunch to a simple summer meal.
  • Closeup of pickled onions in a jar for featured image.
    Panera Pickled Onions
  • Overhead view of salad for feature image.
    Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
  • Over head view of macaroni salad with a spoon in it for the feature image.
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  • Feature image - Overhead view of this recipe in a serving dish.
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🍽️ Serve with...

  • Lipton Onion Soup Burgers
  • Crockpot Ranch Chicken
  • Dr Pepper Baked Beans
  • Southern Mac and Cheese with Beer
  • No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake

📞 The last word

When you find a great deal on cucumbers at the farmer's market grab 'em and then make this refreshing side dish!

I love this as a cooling side dish for my creamy Rotel Chicken Spaghetti. Try it!

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Overhead view of southern cucumber salad for the feature image.

Southern Cucumber Salad with Onions

5 from 1 vote
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This southern cucumber salad is easily made with a few simple ingredients that lets the fresh, summer flavors shine through!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American - Southern
Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Chill: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
Servings:6
Calories:41
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds cucumbers, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • ¼ pound red onion, sliced
  • ½ cup cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar, or to taste
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste

Instructions

  • Place sliced cucumbers in a colander over a bowl.
  • Sprinkle kosher salt over the top and stir to coat all sides of the cucumber slices.
  • Let stand for 30 minutes to allow the liquid to drip off.
  • Rinse the cucumbers.
  • Pat dry with a paper towel.
  • Place cucumber and onion slices in a large bowl.
  • Mix the remaining ingredients and pour over the top.
  • Stir gently.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Notes

Storage:
These will stay good in the fridge in a glass container for at least a week.
Tips:
  • Thin cucumber slices marinate more quickly, so for the best flavor, make even, narrow cuts using a mandoline slicer.
  • If you can, use fresh cracked black peppercorns, rather than plain ground black pepper.
  • The longer you let the salad marinate, the more the cucumbers will soak up the tangy, vinegar dressing. 

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 41kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 1167mg | Potassium: 197mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 82IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them.

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Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Hey Y'all, I'm Marye

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NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies. Collector of old cookbooks.

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