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    Popular » Recipes » Salads

    Creamy Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: May 23, 2022 by Dee

    Creamy Cucumber Salad with sour cream is cool, crisp and takes minutes to make. This quick and easy summer salad recipe is a simple side dish  via @meamel

    Grandma's Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe with Sour Cream made with sliced cucumbers in a simple creamy dressing is the perfect side dish for summer. Serve this delicious side salad with beef, pork, chicken or seafood for the perfect complement to any meal.

    Jump to Recipe -
    cucumber salad with sour cream in a white bowl
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe with Sour Cream
    • How to Store
    • Variations
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    When I was growing up, this sour cream cucumber salad was on the table very frequently during the summer months. Sometimes, my mom would make it and sometimes my grandmother would, but either way, it was always cool, creamy and completely delicious.

    We had cucumber sour cream salad, or Mizeria, as Grandma called it, with ribs, steaks, onion soup burgers, grilled Italian Dressing Chicken and Polish breaded pork chops. That's the great thing about this easy side salad -- it goes well with pretty much anything. And, you can make it in just a few minutes.

    Now personally, I like the taste of cucumbers, and it doesn't matter how they're prepared. I can eat them plain -- well, with a little bit of sea salt. I also think the cukes add some awesome crunch to tossed salads, and I love them with a bit of vinegar and olive oil. And pickles? Wonderful! 

    Ingredients

    You only need 6 ingredients for this old fashioned creamy sour cream cucumber salad.  It's made with sour cream, no mayo -- and without dill. I love cucumber dill dip, and dill dip but I don't like dill in cucumber salad!

    • Cucumbers -- use regular cucumbers or English cucumbers
    • Sour cream -- I use Daisy brand
    • Vinegar -- use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
    • Sugar
    • Sea salt and black pepper

    What you don't already have at home should be easy to find online or at your local grocery store.

    How to Make Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe with Sour Cream

    First, you peel the cucumbers and slice them nice and thin. If you're using English cucumbers, hot house cucumbers or Persian cucumbers, you don't need to peel them.

    I usually peel the cucumbers anyway, no matter what kind I have.

    You can use a mandolin slicer if you prefer. I don't, since I personally don't like super thin cucumbers in this salad.

    sliced cucumber on cutting board

    Then, you sprinkle a little bit of sea salt and pepper over the cukes. You can use regular salt if you want, but I love sea salt, especially pink Himalayan salt, so that's what I use. My kids love helping out with the seasoning, so I usually let them do this part.

    Note -- Cucumbers have a high water content. Many recipes call for salting the cucumbers to remove extra water before adding the sour cream. If you're eating the salad right away, you don't have to do this. My mom and grandma never did, so I skip this part.

    However, if you want to make the salad ahead of time this step prevents the salad from becoming too watery as it sits. Just salt the cucumbers, allow them to drain in a colander, then rinse, and stir in the dressing.

    sprinkle sea salt over sliced cucumbers

    Then, mix the sour cream, vinegar and sugar in a separate bowl until creamy.

    After that, you just stir the tangy sour cream dressing with the cucumbers, and you're done!

    We never add onions to our cucumber salad, but you can add thinly sliced red or yellow onions if you like.

    cucumber salad with sour cream and pepper on the table

    This quick and easy cucumber salad has been around forever, but you all know by now that I have a huge soft spot for classic retro recipes. 

    I like to serve them every now and then just so that my kids can taste the dishes that their parents and grandparents grew up with, and in this case, I also just love how it tastes.

    close up of sour cream cucumbers in a white bowl

    How easy is this?! Anyone else grow up with this creamy cucumber salad? I've seen some recipes that call for dill, which sounds good too, but that's not how my mom and grandma made it.

    How to Store

    Store leftovers in an airtight container or tightly covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator. Cucumbers release a lot of excess water, so leftover salad may get runny even if you salt the cucumbers, as I mentioned above.

    Just drain the excess liquid before serving.

    Variations

    There are a couple ways to customize this creamy cucumber recipe.

    Add your favorite seasonings to the salad. Besides, black pepper and sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika are all great options.

    You can sub Greek yogurt for the sour cream.

    Another great way to get some variety is to use a combination of cucumbers. Mix large cucumbers and smaller cucumbers for some texture difference, or use different cucumber types.

    Add thin slices of red onion, green onions, and yellow onions for a delicious cucumber onion salad. Fresh dill weed also pairs well with fresh cucumbers -- if you like dill.

    Recipe

    creamy cucumber salad with sour cream in a white serving bowl

    Creamy Cucumber Salad

    Published by Dee
    Creamy Cucumber Salad with sour cream is cool, crisp and takes minutes to make. This quick and easy summer salad recipe is a classic side dish that goes well with just about anything.
    4.88 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Salad, side
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 46 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 large cucumbers washed, peeled and thinly sliced
    • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • ½ tablespoon vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon sugar

    Instructions
     

    • Place the cucumber slices in a medium bowl, and season with salt and pepper
    • In another bowl, mix the vinegar, sugar and sour cream together
    • Stir sour cream mixture into cucumbers until well coated
    • Refrigerate until ready to serve

    Notes

    Best when served right after making. To make ahead of time, you can remove excess water by salting sliced cucumbers and draining liquid in colander for 30 minutes. Then, rinse, and add sour cream mixture.
    Add thinly sliced yellow or red onions if desired.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 46kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 1gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 304mgPotassium: 187mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 208IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    If you're looking for more summer side salads, try Easy Three Bean Salad, Instant Pot Potato Salad, Cucumber Tomato Salad or visit my salad recipes for more inspiration!

    For more easy recipes, classic recipes, and dishes perfect for family gatherings and summer parties, subscribe to the newsletter and follow me on social media!

    Recipe first published in 2016 and updated in 2022

    cucumber salad in bowl
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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Stacey Mueller says

      April 20, 2019 at 10:50 am

      After I slice my cucs, I put garlic salt and black pepper on. I put mine in a strainer with some chopped green onion mixed in, with bowl underneath overnight. In the morning, I mix my vinegar still in strainer for a few hours. Hour before serving, I chop a few more green onions to add with sourcream, and additional vinegar or salt to taste. This has been a staple in my Polish family for over 40yrs. Agreed, NO DILL!!!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 21, 2019 at 7:19 pm

        Thanks for the tips, Stacey!

      • Ed Mockapetris says

        July 04, 2022 at 12:35 pm

        Dear Stacey you have a great creamy cucumber salad recipe. Our Polish family here in PA add some chopped dill to the topping instead of all the onion, alternately, we top with chives, about 1or 2 tablespoonsful..

        Sincerely,

        Ed Mockapetris, Mt. Carmel (Atlas) and Kulpmont, PA

      • jill says

        July 30, 2022 at 10:05 am

        Agree with straining! My polish grannies and mom always strained and always added sliced onion. What I would give to have 1 more TRADITIONAL meal from my grandma may she RIP.

    2. Katee says

      April 16, 2018 at 7:21 am

      Is this a tangy cucumber salad? It looks so good!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 17, 2018 at 7:05 am

        It's definitely more tangy than sweet. 🙂

    3. Jeanette says

      June 18, 2016 at 12:00 am

      Never tried cucumber salad before, but I must cause it look very tasty.4 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 18, 2016 at 12:17 am

        It really is tasty! If you try it, let me know what you think. 🙂

    4. Miz Helen says

      June 17, 2016 at 7:02 am

      I love a cucumber salad and this looks delicious! Hope you have a very special Fathers Day Weekend and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
      Come Back Soon!
      Miz Helen5 stars

      Reply
    5. Matthew Feom Nomageddon says

      June 16, 2016 at 5:14 am

      I love cucumber salad. I make something very similar to this but with cider vinegar.

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 16, 2016 at 10:37 am

        That's another version that I like too. 🙂

    6. Kim~madeinaday says

      June 14, 2016 at 8:02 am

      Great light and cool side! Yum!Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Sharing on Twitter! Have a great week!
      Kim5 stars

      Reply
    7. michelle @ blackberry babe says

      June 13, 2016 at 8:20 pm

      I love how simple this salad is!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 14, 2016 at 1:27 am

        That's one of the things I love most about it! 🙂

    8. Nutmeg Nanny says

      June 13, 2016 at 8:02 pm

      I LOVE cucumber salad in the summer. Love this super creamy version.

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 14, 2016 at 1:31 am

        Thanks so much! Even my picky eaters liked this. 🙂

    9. Angie | Big Bear's Wife says

      June 13, 2016 at 7:34 am

      This is totally the perfect summer food!

      Reply
    10. Carol, The Red Painted Cottage says

      June 13, 2016 at 7:30 am

      Dee, this is almost the way my mother and I have made this salad. The only difference is we heavily salt the sliced cucumbers and let it set for a few hours in the refrigerator. Then we rinse it really well, and squeeze out all the water from rinsing. Everything else, but additional salt, goes into making it, plus we add some paprika. Hungarians use paprika in most everything...LOL.

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 13, 2016 at 10:56 am

        That sounds good! I love paprika, and I'll have to try it your way next time. 🙂

    11. Kacey @ The Cookie Writer says

      June 10, 2016 at 5:33 pm

      This is my kind of salad (probably because it has some good ole fats in it!) And totally agree, sour cream is always on our dinner table, especially during the summer with baked potatoes!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 10, 2016 at 8:58 pm

        Now, I'm totally craving a baked potato with sour cream! 😉

    12. Annie says

      June 10, 2016 at 2:27 pm

      Oh I love cucumber salad but I haven't had it in ages!! This is such a great dish for a Summer pot luck!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 10, 2016 at 9:01 pm

        You're right -- It would be wonderful for a potluck. 🙂

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