summer

10 Crunch-tastic Cucumber Salads That Take No Time at All

Sheela Prakash
Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor
Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.
updated Jun 16, 2022
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close up of cucumber avocado salad
Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Anna Stockwell

There’s a lot of refreshing cucumbers recipes perfect for hot summer days, but this time of year, I cannot seem to get enough cucumber salads in my life. Their cool crunch is always the refreshing bite I need with a summer meal, whether I am grilling, making a simple summer pasta, or even just ordering in a pizza. With such a mild flavor, cucumbers are a chameleon of a vegetable. They can be kept simple with nothing but oil and vinegar, dressed up with sour cream and herbs, or even paired with unexpected matches like pineapple.

If you’re a fan of cucumber salads as much as I am, it’s worth keeping this collection within close reach. No matter what you’re making for dinner right now, one of these 15 recipes is sure to complement it nicely.

1 / 15
Salt and Pepper Smashed Cucumber Salad
Made with just salt, pepper, and a homemade vinaigrette, this just might be the easiest cucumber salad you'll make this summer.
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2 / 15
Tangy Cucumber Salad
This light, fresh salad of quick-pickled cucumbers and chopped fresh chives is perfect any night of the week.
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3 / 15
Japanese-Inspired Cucumber Salad
Inspired by sunomono, this summery cucumber salad is crunchy, refreshing, and swimming in delicate umami notes.
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4 / 15
Buttermilk Cucumber Salad
This tangy spin on the classic creamy cucumber salad still has all the zip and crunch, but incorporates elements from raita and tzatziki, other cooling cucumber-and-dairy dishes.
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5 / 15
Cucumber Caprese Salad
This simple variation of classic Italian caprese salad adds cool, crisp cucumbers to the equation.
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6 / 15
Sour Cream and Dill Cucumber Salad
This classic cucumber and fresh dill salad is tossed in a tangy sour cream dressing.
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7 / 15
Shaved Cucumber and Fennel Salad with Olives and Feta
Cucumber salad gets a Mediterranean-style twist for a simple salad that's bright, fresh, salty, rich, briny, and crunchy.
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8 / 15
Pineapple-Cucumber Salad
This quick and refreshing salad features chunks of juicy pineapple and crunchy cucumber, all tossed in a chili-lime dressing.
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9 / 15
Herbed Smashed Cucumbers
This Greek-inspired salad takes crisp cucumbers and tosses them in a creamy, herb-packed yogurt dressing.
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10 / 15
Salt and Vinegar Cucumbers
What's great about this tangy cucumber salad is not only can it be made ahead of time, but it's also better that way.
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11 / 15
Avocado and Cucumber Arugula Salad Recipe
Feel free to turn this vibrant salad into a meal by topping it with grilled chicken, shrimp, or salmon.
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12 / 15
Smashed Cucumbers with Turmeric, Coconut, and Peanuts
Turmeric-spiked coconut oil travels into the nooks and crannies of smashed cucumbers, while toasted coconut flakes and peanuts add a welcome crunch to the mix.
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13 / 15
Taiwanese Cucumber Salad Recipe
Rice vinegar and mirin are flavor stand-outs in this crunchy, cold salad.
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14 / 15
Mizeria Recipe (Polish Cucumber Salad)
This twist on mizeria swaps in creamy, tangy labneh for the sour cream, resulting in a flavorful, refreshing side dish.
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15 / 15
Tangy Cucumber Avocado Salad
Crisp, refreshing cucumbers and creamy, buttery avocado are tossed with cilantro vinaigrette and quick-picked red onion in this vibrant salad.
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