This old-fashioned cucumber salad recipe is made with a simple vinegar dressing poured over sliced cucumbers and onions. A delicious summer classic.
Table of contents
❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s a quick and easy side dish: It only takes 10 minutes to prep!
- Cucumber salad is a great make-ahead dish: The salad will taste even better after the flavors have had a chance to meld, so it’s perfect for making ahead of time for your summer cookouts.
- It’s perfect for summer: This recipe is perfect for those hot summer days when you don’t feel like cooking.
🧂 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You’ll find the full measurements and instructions in the printable recipe at the bottom of the page.
You’ll need the following for this easy and perfect side dish:
- cucumbers
- white onion
- white vinegar
- sugar
- salt (kosher salt or table salt are both fine)
🥣 Equipment
- Large bowl
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
🍴Instructions
Step One: Make the dressing
In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, add the vinegar, salt, and sugar. Mix until the salt and sugar are completely dissolved.
Step Two: prepare the cucumber slices
Prepare the vegetables. Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds using a spoon. The onion slices should be cut as thinly as possible.
Step three: Mix
Serve chilled.
🥫 Storage instructions
If you have any leftover cucumber salad, be sure to store it in the fridge in an airtight container. Leftover salad will last for 3-4 days.
🔍 FAQs
Plain old white! You can try apple cider vinegar, but we prefer white.
It doesn’t really matter. Yellow onions, red onions, or a sweet white like a Vidalia onion will all work well.
You can use English cucumbers (“regular cucumbers”), or Armenian cucumbers, which are a bit easier to get out of season.
👩🏻🍳 Expert tips
- Try using a mandoline slicer to ensure even slices when slicing the cucumbers and onions.
- Chill the salad for at least 2 hours before serving, so the flavors have time to meld.
- You can add black pepper or fresh dill for a bit of color and extra flavor.
🍽 Serve it with:
We tend to just put this on the dinner table for a few nights until it’s gone, no matter what we’re serving.
But it’s a great recipe to serve with hot dogs and burgers.
📘 Related Recipes
📖 Here’s the recipe
Old Fashioned Cucumber & Onion Salad
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
Ingredients
- 2 large cucumbers
- ½ small white onion
- ⅓ cup white vinegar
- 4 teaspoons sugar (1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon)
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Make the dressing. Combine the vinegar, salt, and sugar in a small mixing bowl. Stir until the salt and sugar dissolve.
- Prep the veggies. Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise, then use a spoon to scrape out the seeds. Cut into ¼ inch thin slices. Cut the onion into very thin slices.
- Combine and chill. Put the veggies in a mixing bowl and pour the dressing on top. Stir to combine, then cover and chill for at least 2 hours.
This sounds so good. Anxious to try.