18 Best Cucumber Recipes That Aren’t Just Another Salad
Cool and crunchy is perfect on a hot summer day.
If you’re looking for a cool and refreshing bite, cucumbers make a good addition to so many recipes. (They also happen to be very hydrating if you’re looking to increase your water intake naturally!) Whether it's crisp cucumber chunks in a salad or thinly sliced cucumbers atop a rice bowl, the summer vegetable fares well in so many forms.
These best cucumber recipes show you how to use them every which way, not just in summer salads (though there are quite a few lettuce-free salads on this list that let it shine). Cucumber finds its way into a number of Mediterranean-inspired dishes like creamy tzatziki that doubles as a dip for pita chips and a sauce for grilled meats. You can also make quick pickles in just 15 minutes to go with your backyard cookout.
Cucumber plays a supporting role in so many side dishes, adding a family-friendly veggie that even picky eaters will like. Buy the veggie from the grocery store or grow cucumbers at home so you have the ingredient on lock for all your green needs and beyond. Just be sure you know how to drain cucumbers so whatever you’re making stays crunchy and cool. Now keep scrolling for even more cucumber inspiration!
Quick Pickles
Crisp cucumbers and sweet onion slices soak up a tangy brine with just a little bit of sweetness and heat. The best part is there’s no canning equipment required. You can whip these up in just 15 minutes.
Get Ree’s Quick Pickles recipe.
Creamy Cucumber Salad
If you’re looking for a classic summer side that will go with anything you throw on the grill, this is it! The creamy dressing clings to every slice, making it cool, crunchy, and tangy. You can make it in advance, too!
Get Ree’s Creamy Cucumber Salad recipe.
Everything Cucumber–Smoked Salmon Bites
Meet your new favorite elegant appetizer the next time you host a brunch! It’s easy to prep ahead, too. You can even use a store-bought everything seasoning blend rather than making your own to take out a step.
Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad
Get the flavors of Greece right at home with these fresh and flavorful side. All the cool cumbers, sweet tomatoes, and salty feta need is a light dressing and some fresh herbs to flavor them up.
Get Ree’s Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad recipe.
Tzatziki
Serve this traditional Greek side as a sauce with grilled meats, a party dip for veggies or pita, or on Ree's spinach and feta chicken burgers. It is scrumptiously cool and creamy, thanks to a mix of grated cucumber and Greek yogurt.
Get the Tzatziki recipe.
Radish Salad
This may be named after the radishes, but the cucumbers are just as important. They’re both crisp and crunchy, making this salad endlessly craveable. It has a light, zesty dressing that will hold up nicely if you’re eating outside.
Get the Radish Salad recipe.
BBQ Salmon with Cucumber Salad
Get your serving of the cooling veggie alongside a BBQ-glazed salmon filet! The Persian cucumber is tossed with a deliciously tangy, creamy jalapeño-scallion dressing.
Get Ree's BBQ Salmon with Cucumber Salad recipe.
Green Goddess Chicken Salad Dip
Scoop up this vibrant green dip! A spin on the viral salad dip trend, this creamy concoction is full of flavor and texture. Serve with pita chips or tortilla chips for the perfect bite.
Tabbouleh Salad
Finely chopped English cucumber adds a delightful crunch to this Mediterranean staple. This light salad contains tons of different veggies and herbs, including tomato, cucumber, and parsley, for a burst of freshness!
Get the Tabbouleh Salad recipe.
Salmon Rice Bowls
Crunchy mini cucumber slices make for a delicious topping on spicy honey-glazed salmon rice bowls. Top with avocado, too, for even more green!
Get the Salmon Rice Bowl recipe here.
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Thinly sliced cucumbers and celery leaves bathed in homemade ranch dressing make a refreshing, cooling antidote to Ree's hot buffalo chicken meatballs! The salad rounds out the heat for the perfect, easy weeknight meal.
Get Ree's Buffalo Chicken Meatballs recipe.
Tea Sandwiches
Hosting a luncheon or afternoon tea soon? These pretty, petite sandwiches are just what you need! The recipe includes three different options—curried chicken salad, ham and cheese, and a scrumptious smoked salmon and cucumber sandwich.
Get the Tea Sandwiches recipe.
Cucumber Salad
This cool, crunchy side dish comes together in record time! It's a refreshing bite alongside cookout favorites like barbecue and hot dogs. Plus, because there's no mayo involved, it can stand up to the heat of summer!
Get the Cucumber Salad recipe.
Salmon Burgers with Sesame-Soy Glaze
These salmon burgers are glazed in an addictive sauce that's sticky, savory, and a little bit sweet. The perfect topping for the burgers? A zingy cucumber salad that adds a welcomed dose of freshness and crunch.
Get Ree's Salmon Burgers with Sesame-Soy Glaze recipe.
Avocado Salad
Heirloom tomatoes, fresh avocado, and crunchy cucumbers combine in this simple salad dressed in zippy salsa verde. It's summer eating at its best!
Get the Avocado Salad recipe.
Watermelon Feta Salad
If you've never enjoyed the combination of watermelon, feta, and cucumbers, you've been missing out on a true delicacy. Bursting with freshness, it's sweet, a little salty, and oh-so refreshing.
Get Ree's Watermelon Feta Salad.
Greek Salad
This salad is a great side to most any meal. It may be simple, but it lacks no flavor! There's lots of kalamata olives and feta that pair well with the crunchy romaine and cucumber.
Get Ree's Greek Salad recipe.
Cucumber Tomato Salad with Creamy Herb Dressing
This creamy salad is the perfect make-ahead dish that everyone will enjoy. Just prepare both the cucumber mixture and the dressing separately and combine the two just before serving.
Get the Cucumber Tomato Salad with Creamy Herb Dressing recipe.
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