This easy Cucumber Onion Salad recipe is a delicious combination of cool cucumber, sweet onion, and tangy marinade that can be made in advance and is perfect for any BBQ or Summer party.

Looking for more salads? You need to try my Burrata Salad, Caprese Salad, or Brussels Sprouts Salad!

Cucumber Onion Salad served in a bowl.

Why I love this recipe:

  • Fresh and Simple – With only a few ingredients and 3 easy steps, this is the salad of summer! The fresh cool cucumbers are perfectly complimented with the sweet onion and simple vinegar dressing.
  • Make Ahead – I love that I can throw this salad together hours before a party. I love to take it to BBQ’s, potlucks, or any summer party.

Ingredients:

  • Cucumbers: Use mini cucumbers or English cucumbers because you don’t need to peel them, they have fewer seeds and are less watery. Any cucumbers will work, but regular, cucumbers have a thicker skin that you may want to peel first.
  • Onion: I recommend using a sweet onion or red onion so that the flavor doesn’t overwhelm the cucumbers. You could also soak the onions in water first, to reduce their “bite”, but it’s not required.
  • Vinegar: I used a combination of white vinegar and red vinegar, but you can use what you have on hand including cider vinegar, or rice wine vinegar.
  • Salt and pepper
  • Sugar
Labeled ingredients needed for Cucumber Onion Salad.

How to make Cucumber Salad:

Chop vegetables: Slice the sweet onion and cucumbers into thin slices and place in a bowl.

Chopped cucumber and onion on a plate.

Mix Dressing: Combine the vinegar, red wine vinegar, sugar, and salt and pepper.

Dressing ingredients for cucumber onion salad added to a bowl.

Toss Together: Toss dressing over veggies and stir to combine. Refrigerate cucumber onion salad until ready to serve.

Vinegar dressing poured over chopped cucumber and onion to make a salad.

Make Ahead Instructions:

To Make Ahead: Prepare salad and store in the fridge for 1-2 days.

Variations:

  • Add tomato, basil and avocado, or try my Tomato Cucumber Salad.
  • Watermelon Cucumber Salad: Add cubed watermelon, feta cheese, and some fresh basil before serving. Or try my favorite Watermelon Salad!

Serve With:

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Recipe

Cucumber Onion Salad served in a bowl.
Prep 10 minutes
Total 10 minutes
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Ingredients
 
 

Instructions
 

  • Cut the cucumbers into thin slices. Slice the wedge of sweet onion into very thin slices. Place in a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl combine the vinegar, sugar, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper. Taste the dressing–it's easy to adapt it if you want it to be a little sweeter or more tangy.
  • Pour dressing over veggies and toss to combine. For best results, allow the mixture to marinate for at least an hour before serving.

Notes

Make Ahead Instructions: Prepare salad and store in the fridge for 1-2 days.
Add tomato, basil and avocado, or try my Tomato Cucumber Salad.
Watermelon Cucumber Salad: Add cubed watermelon, feta cheese, and some fresh basil before serving. Or try my favorite Watermelon Salad!

Nutrition

Calories: 53kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 9mgPotassium: 510mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 259IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 1mg

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I originally shared this recipe July 2017. Updated March 2020 and June 2022.

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Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Comments

  1. The best cucumber and onion recipe – two parts cucumber, not peeled, one part onion – approximately, mix with Heinz vinegar and salt and pepper. That’s all you need takes less than 2 mins. If you have sliced tomatoes on the side, you can put a couple in there and let them soak for a while. but the above slaw recipe I just mentioned, is the best. Plus you can drink the vinegar after the slaw is gone.

  2. I am thinking about making this dish tomorrow for a potluck. “You could also soak the cucumbers in water first, to reduce their “bite”, but it’s not required.” Do you mean to say you can soak the onions to reduce their bite?

    1. Thank you for catching that! Yes, we meant onions: I’ve fixed the wording. We’d love to hear how the salad is enjoyed tomorrow!

  3. 5 stars
    Not only is this a wonderful, delicious recipe, it just makes a small batch which is good for a family of one or two. Thank you so much,

  4. 5 stars
    I made cucumber salad. I love tomatoes and cucumber. Everyone enjoyed the salad. Highly recommend. Delicious.