20 Cool Cucumber Recipes

Here’s one of our favorite side dishes that’s packed with flavor and fits almost any diet: Cucumber Salad! It’s simple and punchy, with a vinegar-based dressing that packs in tangy, sweet and salty flavor. It’s ideal for just about anytime: summer cookouts or pitch-ins, lunches, or an easy make-ahead side dish you can keep in the fridge for dinners all week. 

Tzatziki, that famously creamy and garlicky Greek cucumber sauce, made with Greek yogurt, olive oil, and cucumbers. It’s commonly eaten as a dip on pita or veggies, or as a gyros sauce. And it tastes like pure gold! Here you'll grate the cucumber to infuse a subtle crunch into each bite.

Here’s a unique cucumber recipe everyone should try: Cucumber Salsa! Turns out, cucumber is just the veggie for pairing with jalapeño, cilantro and lime! It adds a cooling essence and a hydrating crunch to each bite. Zingy and zesty, it’s ideal for dipping chips or showering over tacos. Or, sprinkle it over grilled salmon for a summery meal.

What’s better than that classic combination of cucumber and dill? These sandwiches are a bit of a retro snack, served on those little cocktail rye breads slathered with cream cheese. But they go back even further than that: cucumber sandwiches come from Britain and were served as tea sandwiches! And for good reason: they’re simple to make and seriously refreshing.

Here's a cool cucumber sauce recipe you’ll want to slather on just about everything! Stir together shredded cucumber with Greek yogurt, lemon, garlic, and dill, and it’s nothing short of a revelation. Works on falafel, sandwiches, burgers, or even grilled veggie platter. The best part: it’s actually quick and takes just minutes to put together.

What's better than a classic Greek salad? There’s not much that tastes more refreshing than the combination of juicy tomatoes, cool cucumbers, red onion, Kalamata olives, and salty feta. This salad is the traditional Greek way (no lettuce!) and relies on juicy cucumber for its hydrating crunch.

This creamy cucumber salad is so refreshing, it’s hard to stop eating! Adding a bit of sour cream to a tangy cucumber salad makes an irresistibly creamy sauce. The silky sauce also features dill and shallots. While it has a summery vibe, this tasty salad works any time of the year.

Also try: Cucumber Feta Salad

Got cucumbers? Here’s a great way to use them: cooling cucumber juice! This tasty vegetable juice is hydrating and full of spa-like flavor. Combine it with green apple for a tasty natural juice that’s ultra refreshing. Here’s how to make this tasty bright green juice: no juicer required!

Arguably the most classic cucumber recipe! These refrigerator dill pickles require just 10 minutes of hands on prep work and are great on sandwiches or eaten straight from the jar! If you’ve never made a refrigerator pickle recipe before, this is the one to try. This recipe uses pickling cucumbers: you can find them in most grocery stores or in farmers markets.

We all know we’re supposed to drink a lot of water. But do you ever get kind of…bored? Here’s a solution: cucumber water! Making an infused water brings big flavor to boring old water: and it takes only 5 minutes. This so called "spa water" is also a perfect drink for entertaining.

This easy lentil salad recipe takes everything that’s good about this protein-packed legume and makes it sing. The flavor pops with tangy and savory notes, pairing tender lentils with a zippy white wine vinegar Dijon dressing, crunchy cucumber, fresh tomatoes, and salty feta. 

Something about cucumber in drinks is a little spa like, beautifully cool and vegetal. Try this Cucumber Margarita! It’s got a delightfully crisp, cool flavor and the way it melds with lime and tequila is pretty darn perfect.

More cucumber cocktails? Try cucumber vodka drinks like a Sparkling Cucumber Cocktail.

Here’s a deliciously refreshing veggie smoothie for you: a Cucumber Smoothie! Cucumber isn’t the most likely ingredient in a smoothie. But it adds an intriguing, spa-like flavor to the puree! This tasty ingredient is full of nutrients and water to make your smoothie taste even better. It’s perfectly creamy and a great way to load up on nutrients as a healthy snack or breakfast.

Here's a cucumber recipe that’s absolutely perfect for summer: Cucumber Lemonade! The vegetable adds a cooling, vegetal finish to any drink that’s reminiscent of spa water. Combine that with the zing of the lemon, and it’s the ideal drink for sipping on the patio for a summer barbecue. 

Try this Falafel Salad! Make a batch of this easy baked falafel, then layer them with cucumbers and other crunchy veggies and top with a creamy, zingy tahini sauce. Or, use purchased frozen falafel or even repurpose take-out leftovers!

Here’s an easy appetizer that looks stunning and relies on simple, spot-on flavors: Smoked Salmon Appetizer Bites! The classic combination of smoked salmon, dill, cucumber and cream cheese is a hit every time. Mix the cream cheese with fresh dill, green onion and Dijon for a rich, zingy pop.

This drink is as refreshing as it is sophisticated: the Cucumber Martini! It’s a cool, crisp take on the classic martini starring cucumber, gin, and the floral notes of St Germain. Take one sip and your palate will be amazed: it’s fresh, floral, botanical, with just the right scent of cucumber. 

What's more refreshing than a watermelon salad? This one features sweet melon and salty feta with crunchy cucumber, fresh basil, and lemon zest. And it's truly easy to make! Just chop a few ingredients and throw them together on a platter. Side dish done!

This cucumber tomato avocado salad recipe is all about the ingredients: ripe and juicy tomatoes, cool cucumbers, and creamy avocado. They’re mixed with lime juice and cilantro for a tangy pop that perfectly accentuates their flavors. This one is great as a side dish for any meal; it specifically jives well with Mexican flavors with the lime and cilantro. 

Looking for fresh and healthy dinner ideas? Try this Mediterranean Bowl, bursting with colorful veggies! It’s a simple “meal in a bowl” that stars spiced roasted vegetables, seasoned with an irresistible mix of cumin, coriander, garlic and a hint of cinnamon. Add to that quinoa or couscous, fresh cucumber and tomato, and top it all off with a creamy lemon tahini sauce.