Our Best Cucumber Salad Recipes

If you have a cucumber and a mandoline, you are well on your way to a refreshing no-cook side that’s perfect for cookouts or summer nights. A little vinegar, salt, and sugar are enough to transform peak-season cucumbers, but you can easily upgrade your cucumber salad with flavor-packed ingredients like fish sauce, fresh herbs, and Thai chiles.

Here are 11 cucumber salads to have in your back pocket when it’s too hot to cook.

Love any of these recipes? Tap “Save” to add them to MyRecipes, your new, free recipe box for Food & Wine.

Cucumber Salad

Julia Hartbeck

Chances are you already have everything you need for this quick side from former F&W food editor Marcia Kiesel. It comes together in minutes with cucumbers, sugar, kosher salt, red wine vinegar, and sliced onion.

Sour Cream Cucumber Salad

Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

This sumac-dusted cucumber salad from F&W food editor Paige Grandjean gets its irresistible tang from sour cream, Champagne vinegar, onions, and dill.

Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Fish Sauce Vinaigrette

Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

This punchy salad from Red Boat Fish Sauce founder Cường Phạm ties together peak-season produce like cucumbers, tomatoes, and sweet corn with a gingery fish sauce vinaigrette.

Sunomono with Shrimp

Food & Wine / Photo by Brie Goldman / Food Styling by Holly Dreesman / Prop Styling by Alexandria Juhl

This umami-rich Japanese salad from 2000 F&W Best New Chef Takashi Yagihashi consists of salted cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and plump shrimp that are dressed in mirin, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.

Watermelon-Cucumber Salad

Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless

This sweet and salty salad from 2022 F&W Best New Chef Damarr Brown brings together watermelon, cucumbers, aged goat cheese, and roasted pepitas.

Thai Cucumber Salad

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Amelia Rampe

Spicy ginger and Thai chiles give this simple cucumber salad from former F&W intern Alexandra Domrongchai a vibrant kick.

Mango Cucumber Salad

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Stylist Barrett Washburne

This sweet, tart, and tangy cucumber salad from former associate editorial director Chandra Ram features layers of flavor from mango, feta, white wine vinegar, and chile-lime seasoning.

Crushed Cucumber Salad with Tomatillo Dressing

Greg DuPree / FOOD STYLING by MARGARET MONROE DICKEY / PROP STYLING by CLAIRE SPOLLEN

The craggy edges of smashed cucumbers capture a spicy jalapeño-tomatillo dressing in this lively side dish from chef Yara Herrera, which is topped with roasted pepitas and queso fresco.

Grilled Chicken Thigh and Cucumber Salad

1998 F&W Best New Chef Michael Symon turns cucumber salad into dinner with the addition of juicy grilled chicken thighs, roasted almonds, chopped mint, red onion, and chiles.