This cucumber red onion salad is a refreshing, perfect side dish that takes only 5 minutes to make. With its homemade Italian dressing, it's a quick and easy salad recipe that only requires 5 ingredients!
It can be difficult to fit healthy, homemade food into our busy schedules, but this easy salad recipe is a great solution.
You can prep it in no time, and it’s a great way to incorporate more fresh vegetables and herbs into your diet. Plus, kids love it too!
If you're in the mood for something a little different, you might want to try my Italian cannellini bean salad or my tortellini salad. Another option is my radicchio salad, which offers a nice, bitter contrast to the sweet and tangy flavors of the cucumber red onion salad.
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Why This Is The Best Cucumber Red Onion Salad Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This cucumber onion salad is super easy to prepare. With just a few simple steps, you'll have a delicious dish ready in minutes.
- Refreshing: The crisp cucumbers and tangy Italian dressing make this salad a refreshing choice on a hot summer day.
- Flavor Packed: The combination of sweet cucumbers, sharp red onions, and savory Italian dressing creates a flavor profile that's hard to resist.
- Family Favorite: This salad is a hit with the whole family. It's a classic dish that never goes out of style.
Key Ingredients
Here's an overview of some key ingredients for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and measurements, please scroll to the recipe card below.
- English Cucumber: The English cucumber, also known as a hothouse cucumber, is perfect for this recipe due to its low seed count and thin skin, which means you don't have to peel it. It adds a crisp, fresh crunch to the salad.
- Red Onion: The red onion provides a sharp, tangy flavor that contrasts beautifully with the sweet, crisp cucumber.
- Italian Dressing: The Italian dressing gives this salad its classic, tangy flavor. You can use store-bought dressing for convenience, or make your own if you prefer.
- Parsley: Fresh parsley adds a pop of color and a fresh, herby flavor to the salad. It's the perfect finishing touch.
How to Make Cucumber Red Onion Salad
Making this incredible cucumber red onion salad recipe at home is super easy and will give you great results every single time. Here's how to make it step by step:
- Slice the cucumber: Using a mandoline or a knife, slice the cucumber thinly. The mandoline will give you a more uniform slice, but a knife works just as well.
- Combine cucumber and onion: Add the sliced cucumber to a bowl and toss in some thinly sliced red onion.
- Add dressing: Drizzle the vegetables with Italian dressing. For a homemade option, you can make a simple vinaigrette using olive oil, vinegar, and some herbs and spices.
- Toss to combine: Mix the vegetables gently to coat them evenly with the dressing.
- Season: Season the salad with salt and pepper to your liking.
- Final touch: Sprinkle the salad with chopped parsley for a fresh, herby flavor.
- Serve: Your cucumber red onion salad is ready to be served.
For a full list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.
Tips For Making the Best Cucumber Red Onion Salad
- Choose the right cucumber: For this red onion and cucumber salad recipe, I recommend using English cucumbers. They are sweeter, have fewer seeds and a thinner skin. However, if you can't find English cucumbers, regular cucumbers or Persian cucumbers will also work.
- Thinly slice the cucumbers: Use a mandoline or a sharp knife to slice the cucumbers thinly. This helps the flavors to meld and makes the salad easier to eat.
- Marinate for best results: If possible, let the salad marinate and chill for about 30 minutes. This will allow the tangy vinegar dressing to infuse the cucumbers and onions, resulting in a more flavorful and refreshing salad. It also softens the onions, making them milder and less spicy.
- Customize your dressing: While Italian dressing is the classic choice for this salad, feel free to switch it up. You can make a homemade vinaigrette with olive oil, vinegar, and your favorite herbs. Or try a creamy dressing for a different twist.
Serving Suggestions
- For a light and refreshing lunch, pair this cucumber red onion salad with a grilled chicken breast. The tangy flavors of the salad perfectly complement the smokiness of the chicken.
- This salad also makes a great side dish for a barbecue. Serve it alongside some grilled steak or kebab for a balanced meal with fresh, crisp flavors.
- Want a vegetarian protein-packed meal? Serve this salad with a side of quinoa or add some feta cheese for a creamy, tangy twist.
- This cucumber red onion salad is also a great addition to your picnic menu or the next potluck you go to. It's easy to make ahead and the flavors only get better as it sits.
Recipe Variation Ideas
- Different Dressing: If you enjoy creamy dressings, this variation is for you. Simply replace the Italian dressing with a creamy dressing made of Greek yogurt or mayo instead for a creamy cucumber salad.
- Greek Flavors: If you're a fan of Mediterranean flavors, you'll love this variation. Add some feta cheese, olives, and tomatoes to the salad. Replace the Italian dressing with a homemade vinaigrette made with olive oil, lemon juice, and oregano.
- Protein-Packed: If you're looking to add more protein to your meal, this variation is a great choice. Simply toss in some chickpeas or grilled chicken to make it a complete meal. This variation makes the salad more filling and satisfying, perfect for a light dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
For this cucumber red onion salad recipe, I recommend using English cucumbers. They are sweeter and have fewer seeds, making them perfect for this dish. However, if you can't find English cucumbers, regular cucumbers will also work.
Absolutely! While Italian dressing is the classic choice for this salad, feel free to substitute it with your favorite dressing. A homemade vinaigrette or a creamy dressing would work well. Just make sure the flavors complement the fresh cucumbers and tangy onions.
Yes, you can customize this salad to your liking. You can add cherry tomatoes, olives, or feta cheese for a Mediterranean twist. If you're looking to add more protein, try tossing in some chickpeas or grilled chicken. Just keep in mind that the more ingredients you add, the more dressing you might need.
Making your own Italian dressing is easy and I have a super easy recipe that you can try for the best homemade salad dressing.
This salad actually gets better with time. If possible, let it marinate for about 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld and the onions to soften, resulting in a milder, less spicy salad. You can also make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Just give it a good toss before serving.
How to Store Leftovers
- Refrigerating: After enjoying this refreshing dish, you might have some leftovers. Don't worry, you can store your cucumber red onion salad in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to 2 days.
- Freezing: Unfortunately, this salad doesn't freeze well due to the high water content in cucumbers. Freezing can change the texture of the cucumbers, making them mushy when thawed.
Similar Recipes
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Recipe
Cucumber Red Onion Salad (5-Minute Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 English cucumber
- ½ red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup Italian dressing
- ¼ cup parsley chopped
- Salt pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice the cucumber thinly using a mandoline or a knife. Add it to a bowl along with red onion.
- Drizzle the vegetables with Italian dressing and mix to combine. Season with salt and pepper if needed.
- Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Iryna Bychkiv is the founder and writer of the culinary website Lavender & Macarons, where she shares clean, European-inspired recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and made with wholesome ingredients. Iryna loves creating meals that are simple yet healthy and unique, including vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Iryna is also a freelance writer for MSN and Associated Press Wire.
T Summers says
I'm thinking of trying Olive Garden's Original Italian Dressing with this mix. Look at the Olive Garden salad. Two of the ingredients are cucumbers and red onions. I don't think I can go wrong. It's either that, or go for an intense flavor and use botted Zesty Italian salad dressing and get bombarded with that lemony zing.