If you want a cool and simple side dish, this is the one. This is an english cucumber salad recipe easy enough for any night of the week, and it comes together fast and tastes fresh every single time.
This creamy cucumber dill salad with sour cream has that classic mix of cool cucumber, tangy sour cream, and bright fresh dill that makes it a hit at any summer meal. Some people also like to stir in a little extra red onion, which turns it into a cucumber dill salad with red onion that has even more crunch.
I make this salad when I want something light but full of flavor. It goes great next to grilled chicken, burgers, or just about anything off the grill.
Looking for more cucumber ideas? Try this Korean cucumber salad, greek salad, or this Indonesian acar timun recipe.
Jump to:
- Why This Easy Cucumber Dill Salad Recipe Works So Well
- Ingredients for This Creamy Cucumber Dill Salad with Sour Cream
- How to Make This Quick Summer Cucumber Salad Recipe
- Tips for the Best Cucumber Dill Salad Recipe
- Frequently Asked Questions
- A Simple Cucumber Salad for Summer Picnics and Get Togethers
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why This Easy Cucumber Dill Salad Recipe Works So Well
This is one of the best cucumber dill salad recipes because it is so easy to make. You do not need any fancy tools or hard steps. Just mix, chill, and enjoy. It is a quick summer cucumber salad recipe that even beginners can make with no trouble at all.
Since the dressing is basically a simple sour cream cucumber salad recipe, you can have it ready in about ten minutes.
For the best flavor, this works best as a fresh dill cucumber salad recipe, since fresh dill gives it a brighter taste than the dried kind. And if you love a little more bite, this also works great as a cucumber salad with garlic and dill, just add an extra clove or two.
Ingredients for This Creamy Cucumber Dill Salad with Sour Cream
Here is what goes into this simple cucumber salad for summer picnics, along with why each one matters:
- English cucumber. This is what makes this an english cucumber salad recipe that is easy to make. The skin is thin and the seeds are small, so you do not need to peel or seed it. No English cucumber on hand? Regular cucumbers work too, just peel the skin and scoop out the seeds first.
- Sour cream. This is the base of the creamy dressing. It gives the salad that rich and tangy taste. If you want something lighter, plain Greek yogurt is a good swap.
- Fresh dill. This brings the classic flavor that makes it a dill salad. Fresh dill has a brighter taste than dried, but if that is all you have, use about a third of the amount since dried herbs are more concentrated.
- White wine vinegar. This adds a little tang and helps balance the richness of the sour cream. Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice both work as an easy swap.
- White sugar. Just a touch to round out the tang from the vinegar. Honey works too if you want a more natural option.
- Garlic. This adds a little kick to the dressing. If you want a milder taste, garlic powder is an easy stand in.
- Red onion. This adds a mild crunch along with a little color and sharpness. Sweet onion is a good alternative if you want a milder taste.
- Salt and black pepper. These simply bring out all the other flavors. Adjust to your own taste.
How to Make This Quick Summer Cucumber Salad Recipe
This sour cream cucumber salad recipe comes together in three easy parts.
Make the Dressing
Mix your dressing first. In a bowl, stir together the sour cream, white wine vinegar, white sugar, garlic, salt, and black pepper. Stir until it is smooth and well blended.
Add the Vegetables and Toss
Add the cucumber, fresh dill, and red onion to the bowl. Toss everything together so the dressing coats every piece.
Chill
Let it sit in the fridge for a bit before you serve it. This helps the flavors mix together and makes the salad even better.
Tips for the Best Cucumber Dill Salad Recipe
- Slice your cucumber thin so it soaks up more of the creamy dressing.
- Use fresh dill instead of dried dill for the best flavor. This fresh dill cucumber salad recipe really shines when the dill is fresh and fragrant.
- A red onion adds a bit of color and a little bite. This cucumber dill salad with red onion has just the right amount of crunch.
- Chill the salad for at least twenty minutes before serving. Cold salad tastes better and the flavors blend more.
- If you like a little more zing, add extra garlic. This cucumber salad with garlic and dill is easy to adjust to your taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can make it a few hours before you serve it. It actually tastes better after it sits in the fridge for a bit, since the flavors have time to blend. Just keep in mind that cucumbers let out water over time, so the salad may get a bit more watery if it sits overnight
It stays good for about two days when kept in a sealed container in the fridge. After that, the cucumbers start to lose their crunch and the salad gets watery. For additional food safety guidance, please visit this website.
Yes, but use less of it. Dried dill is more concentrated, so about a third of the amount you would use for fresh dill works well.
You do not have to, but it can help. Salting the cucumber slices and letting them sit for ten minutes draws out extra water, which keeps your salad from getting watery. Just pat them dry before you mix everything together.
It goes great with grilled meats like chicken or steak, burgers, sandwiches, or even as a light side with fish. It is also a nice cool addition to any picnic or barbecue spread.
Yes. Just peel the skin and scoop out the seeds first, since regular cucumbers have thicker skin and bigger seeds than English cucumbers.
A Simple Cucumber Salad for Summer Picnics and Get Togethers
Whether it is a picnic, a barbecue, or just a weeknight dinner, this creamy cucumber dill salad with sour cream is always a good choice. It is light, it is fresh, and everyone seems to ask for the recipe.
This easy cucumber dill salad recipe proves that simple food can still taste amazing. Give it a try this week and see why it might become your new go to side dish.
📖 Recipe
Easy Cucumber Dill Salad Recipe with Sour Cream
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large English cucumber thinly sliced (about 24 oz)
- ½ red onion thinly sliced (about 2 oz)
- 3 tablespoons freshly chopped dill leaves
- ½ cup (4 oz) sour cream
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- ¾ teaspoon white sugar
- ½ teaspoon freshly minced garlic
- ¼ teaspoon coarse kosher salt (or more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Method
- Make the dressing: In a bowl, mix the sour cream, white wine vinegar, white sugar, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth.
- Add the vegetables: Add the cucumber, fresh dill, and red onion to the bowl.
- Toss it together: Mix everything so the dressing coats each piece evenly.
- Chill: Put the bowl in the fridge for at least 20 minutes before serving.
- Serve and Enjoy: Give it a quick stir, then serve it cold.
Nutrition
Notes
- Best eaten within 2 days, since the cucumbers lose their crunch and the salad gets more watery the longer it sits.
- Regular cucumber works too if you cannot find English cucumber. Just peel it and scoop out the seeds first.
Rika says
I make this cucumber dill salad almost every week in the summer. It is so easy to throw together, and the sour cream dressing with fresh dill always tastes just right, not too heavy and not too tangy. The red onion adds a nice little bite. I love that I can make it ahead of time too, since it only gets better after sitting in the fridge for a bit. This one is a staple in my house.