Creamy Cucumber Salad - Wholesome Yum (2024)

I have many fresh summer salads here on Wholesome Yum, but not many are as special to me as this creamy cucumber salad. This is one of the few I actually ate growing up — even back when I didn’t even really like salads. My mom made it, both my grandmas made it, my extended family made it. They all had their own versions, but the combination of crisp cucumbers with rich sour cream and bright dill was always there, always the star of the show. And for the last 10-ish years, I’ve made my own version. Make this creamy cucumber salad recipe with me, and find out why we all enjoyed this fresh side dish on repeat!

Why You’ll Love My Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe

• Cool, crunchy, and refreshing – You get such a satisfying contrast of textures and flavors in each bite: the crispness of the cucumbers, the sharp bite of red onions, the herby dill, the creamy dressing. I may be biased because in my Eastern European culture we put sour cream on… pretty much everything (ha!) — but I seriously think the creamy herb dressing makes this salad.
• Fresh, simple ingredients – A couple fresh basics for the salad, a handful of pantry staples for the dressing. That’s it. If you want to get “fancy” (not really), throw in some radishes and turn it into my radish salad.
• Fast and easy – This salad comes together in just around 10 minutes. You can even make it ahead if you like.
• Nostalgic – Yes, it certainly is for me. But the funny thing about this dish is it’s a staple in several different cultures. So many readers have told me they have memories of creamy cucumber salad recipes, whether German, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, or even American. Maybe you grew up eating it, too? (And if you didn’t, try it and see why we all did. 😊)
• Versatile – This is certainly the ultimate summer dish, but my mom made it year round, and so do I. It will work for any of your plans! Grilling steaks or burgers for a cookout? Make this cucumber salad with sour cream. Need an easy holiday side? It was always on our table. Having a picnic or potluck? Bring it along. Regular ol’ weeknight? It’s here for you.

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for my creamy cucumber salad recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

• Fresh Cucumbers – Fresh ones from the farmers’ market are hands down the best (they remind me of the fresh garden cucumbers from my grandma’s “dacha”), but of course store-bought is fine when that’s not an option. I don’t peel them because I like the nutrients in the skin and extra crunch, but you can if you prefer. See my tips below for more notes about the cukes.
• Onion – I like the sharpness (and secretly, the color contrast) of red onions here. Feel free to use a white, yellow, or sweet onion for a milder sweetness.
• Sour Cream – This is the creamy base of my salad dressing. I’ll be honest, it’s the only way I make it. But if you need alternatives, you can substitute mayo (with a splash of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar for tang), or plain Greek yogurt, as I’ve done this in other salads.
• Fresh Dill – There’s nothing quite the same as fresh, aromatic dill in this creamy cucumber salad. If you need a substitute, my closest recommendation would be fresh chives, or maybe parsley if you have to. I really don’t recommend dried herbs here, but if you must, use only a teaspoon because they are more concentrated than fresh herbs.
• Olive Oil – I use this to thin out the dressing just a bit, and add a subtle fruity note. Any neutral oil you’ve got will work.
• Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice adds a refreshing zing to my creamy cucumber and onion salad. If you’re short on fresh lemons, bottled lemon juice works fine but of course the taste is worse.
• Seasonings – Most cucumber salads with sour cream don’t do this, but I like garlic powder in mine. Feel free to skip it if it’s too odd for you. You’ll need sea salt and black pepper for sure, though.

How To Make Creamy Cucumber Salad

This section shows step-by-step photos together with the instructions, to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

1. Make the dressing. In a large bowl, whisk together sour cream, fresh dill, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
2. Toss together. Add the sliced cucumbers and onions, and toss to coat. Serve immediately, or refrigerate the mixture for half an hour to let flavors develop.

Storage Instructions

• Store: Cover and store your creamy cucumber salad in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. It does get watery over time and the cucumbers soften a bit, but in my opinion it’s still delicious.
• Meal prep: Although you can whip up the salad in advance and store it, for meal prep I prefer to keep the sliced cucumbers and onions separately from the dressing. Just toss together right before serving.
• Freeze: Sorry, you can’t freeze cucumber salad with sour cream. Literally none of the main components are freezer friendly!

Serving Suggestions

As I mentioned above, I make this creamy cucumber salad for literally any occasion, from cookouts and potlucks to weeknights and holidays. So, what it goes with has just as much variety:

• Grilled Dishes – This salad goes with virtually any of my healthy grilling recipes! Everyone seems to love it with juicy burgers or simple grilled chicken breast, but my personal faves are chicken kabobs and flaky grilled salmon.
• Chicken – For weeknights, I usually keep it simple with some crispy air fryer chicken wings, baked chicken leg quarters, or quick cast iron chicken thighs. If you want something more interesting, try my spinach stuffed chicken (more creaminess alert!) or garlic butter chicken bites.
• Beef – Even though it’s not a classic side for it, I think my creamy cucumber salad tastes refreshing with a sirloin steak, filet mignon, or New York strip, particularly for a special meal. But when you want comfort food inspired by the same region, try my stuffed cabbage rolls.
• Pork Or Lamb – If my cucumber salad with sour cream brings back nostalgic vibes for you, chances are my kielbasa and sauerkraut might do the same. Otherwise, just throw together some quick seared pork chops or lamb shoulder chops.

More Cucumber Salad Recipes

If you like this cucumber creamy salad, change it up next time with one of my others starring this crisp vegetable: