Old Fashioned Creamy Cucumber and Onion Salad
Old Fashioned Creamy Cucumber and Onion Salad is a classic side dish made with fresh cucumbers, zesty onions, and flavorful dill dressing. It is full of flavor, pairing perfectly with any main meal or enjoy at a cookout.

Easiest Cucumber Salad
Crunchy, cool, and oh-so-refreshing – that’s how I would describe this Old Fashioned Creamy Cucumber and Onion Salad. It reminds me of snacking in Grandma’s kitchen, where we would munch on the fresh cucumbers from the garden. The creaminess of the sour cream pairs so well with dill, covering the crispy cucumbers and onions to bring out the best flavors and texture. This salad is a true comfort side dish, bringing back memories of picnics and family gatherings. A perfect compliment to any dinner.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
So creamy, crispy, and delicious!
Easy to make using only a few ingredients.
Make ahead in only 5 minutes.
Always a hit at any cookout or get-together.
Ingredients
- Cucumbers– Fresh garden cucumbers or English cucumbers taste great in this recipe. The garden cucumber will typically be shorter, more round, and have seeds in the center. English cucumbers are longer, slightly sweeter, firmer, and have fewer seeds.
- Sweet Onion– This recipe uses a sweet onion to help balance the zippy flavor of the vinegar. Swap it out for a red or white onion for a little more punch.
- Sour Cream– This is the main ingredient that makes the dressing so creamy.
- White Vinegar– White or Apple Cider Vinegar tastes good in this recipe.
- White Sugar– A little bit of sugar cuts out some of the tanginess from the vinegar and onion flavors.
- Salt
Step-by-Step Instructions
This cucumber salad is easy to make. All you have to do is:
- Prepare the cucumbers and onions: Thinly slice the cucumbers and onions. It tastes the best when they aren’t too big and the sauce can easily cover all the pieces.
- Make the dressing: Whisk together sour cream, vinegar, sugar, dill, and salt together until creamy.
- Assemble together: Add the cucumbers and onions to the dressing and stir it all together until it is all covered. Serve immediately for crispy cucumbers or chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the vegetables to soften. Enjoy!
Storage Options
Cover leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Keep in mind that cucumbers tend to “sweat”- meaning they will lose water once they are cut. This will make the dressing start to thin down and have more liquid. It will still taste very delicious!
Frequently Asked Questions
For best results, cucumber salad will need to be consumed within 5 days of being made.
Yes! Fresh American cucumbers or English cucumbers both taste delicious in this recipe. An American cucumber will be rounder, slightly less sweet, and have more seeds than an English cucumber.
Helpful Tips
* Add a little more sour cream or mayo to make it creamier.
* Salt and drain the cucumber slices if you want a thicker dressing.
* When in doubt- throw it out. Do not leave it in the heat or unopened for an extended period of time to prevent spoiling.
More Delicious Side Dishes
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a ⭐ review below and tag me @whiskfulcooking on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Old Fashioned Creamy Cucumber and Onion Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cucumbers* (see note below) thinly sliced
- 1/2 sweet onion thinly sliced
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1-2 teaspoons white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together sour cream, vinegar, sugar, dill, and salt.
- Add in cucumbers and onions and stir until everything is well coated. Serve immediately for crispy cucumbers or refrigerate for 2-3 hours to allow cucumbers to soften. Enjoy!
Notes
- Storage- Refrigerate leftovers in an air-tight container for up to 5 days.
My mom used to make the cucumber salad when I was a kid. Thank you for sharing this. I now know how to make it. I remember that the cucs had to sit due their water content but wasn’t sure about the sauce. Thanks!!!
What exactly do you mean when you say the cucumbers had to sit?
Allow the cucumbers to rest for 30 minutes for the salt to draw out the extra liquid. Hope that helps!
Great recipes for low carb eaters.
Great know try instead of cucumber use potatoes and cut into squares and boil when you’re done add everything but the cucumber and know u have dill potatoes & 😋 lol enjoy !
I just made this and I am not a cucumber eater. But I love this so I be making it again but this it will have bacon bits added.
Pretty good and better the second day for me. My mom always made it less thick by adding milk. I might try that next time and just a little more vinegar and for me 1 teaspoon of sugar is plenty. Note the dressing does thin as it sits so if you like it thick eat it the first day.
I needed to double the vinegar to make more like my family’s danish recipe. I couldn’t really taste it in this one. Everything else was very good. We also always soaked the cucumbers in water with some salt to draw out the liquid so the salad isn’t too runny. After 20 minutes rinse and squeeze the cucumbers to get as much water out as possible. Always let it sit a few hours before serving.