Creamy Cucumber Salad

Creamy Cucumber Salad is a true summertime staple! Fresh, crisp cucumbers are thinly sliced and served with red onions in a tangy creamy sauce. This simple, inexpensive, and refreshing salad comes together with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen in just about 15 minutes.

Creamy Cucumber Salad

If you love classic cucumber salad that features cucumbers in vinegar, you’ll love this elevated version! As much as I enjoy cucumbers in just about any form, they’re really at their very best when they’re served alongside bold red onions in this creamy sauce. Mayonnaise and sour cream serve as the base of the sauce and it’s all dressed up with Italian seasoning, vinegar, and more! I think my favorite thing about this simple summery salad is that it only takes about 15 minutes to whip up. Make this low-stress recipe for potlucks, picnics, or any other time you need a light and refreshing bite to eat this summer!

Keep things fresh all sunny season long with more of the BEST salad recipes! Cherry Tomato Salad, Summer Fruit Salad and Easy Chopped Greek Salad are just a few of my favorites. They’re all so easy to make and keep me cool as a cucumber no matter how hot it is outside!

How can I thicken my cucumber salad?

If your creamy salad dressing isn’t quite as thick as you’d like it to be, you can mix in some more sour cream or mayonnaise. Also, it helps to not use low-fat ingredients! Mayo and sour cream with their full fat content are what helps create the most thick and creamy dressing. With that being said, you can always feel free to use low-fat ingredients if preferred.

How to Make Creamy Cucumber Salad

Make the dressing. Whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, Italian seasoning, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and sugar until smooth and combined.
Chill. While you can serve your salad right away, it’s best to cover and chill the dressing for at least 1 hour! I like to let it sit in the fridge for a full day to really let the flavors settle.
Prep the veggies. Thinly slice the cucumbers and red onions.
Toss and serve. Toss the dressing with the sliced veggies. Serve immediately or store for later, and enjoy!

Storing Creamy Cucumber Salad

This cucumber salad tastes best when the dressing is made ahead and chilled for at least one hour and up to 24 hours before serving. Once the veggies are tossed with the dressing, it can be chilled for another 1-2 days in an airtight container in the fridge. I don’t recommend freezing this salad – both the veggies and dressing won’t hold up well in the freezer.

Ingredient Notes for Creamy Cucumber Salad

Cucumbers – I don’t peel my cucumbers, but you can if you prefer them without the skin. Do keep in mind that the skin is where a lot of nutrients are hidden!
Vinegar – You can use red or white wine vinegar. Either option will work just fine.
Seasonings – A simple mix of Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper are all you need! If you’d like to sprinkle in something extra like garlic or onion powder, go for it. There’s room for creativity with this easy recipe.
Sugar – No, this won’t make the salad sweet. When you add just a pinch of sugar to the dressing, it helps to balance out all of the other bold ingredients at play.
Red Onion – The way that the boldness of a red onion pairs with fresh cucumbers is pretty legendary. I don’t recommend swapping these onions out with any others!

Enjoy!

~Nichole

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4.99 from 58 votes

Creamy Italian Cucumber Salad

By Nichole

Creamy Cucumber Salad is a true summertime staple! Fresh, crisp cucumbers are thinly sliced and served with red onions in a tangy creamy sauce. This simple, inexpensive, and refreshing salad comes together with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen in just about 15 minutes.

Prep 15 minutes mins

Chill Time 8 hours hrs

Total 15 minutes mins

Servings 8

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 3/4 Cup Mayonnaise
• ▢ 1/4 Cup Sour Cream
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon Red or White Wine Vinegar
• ▢ 2 Teaspoons Italian Seasoning
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Olive Oil
• ▢ 2 Cloves Garlic, Minced
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
• ▢ 1 Pinch Granulated Sugar, About 1/8 teaspoon
• ▢ 3 Large Cucumbers
• ▢ 1 Medium Red Onion

Instructions 

• In a medium bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, red or white wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and sugar.
• For best results, cover and chill the dressing for at least one hour, and up to a full day before making the salad.
• Thinly slice the cucumbers and red onions about 1/8-1/4 inch thick.
• Mix the dressing together with the onion and cucumber. Serve immediately, or chill until ready to serve.

Video

Notes

NOTE:  This salad tastes best when the dressing is made ahead and chilled for at least one hour and up to 24 hours before serving.  Once the salad is assembled, it can be chilled for another 1-2 days before serving if desired.

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

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