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Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad is one of those easy summer side dishes that belongs on the table anytime fresh garden vegetables are in season. Crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and thinly sliced onion are tossed in a simple creamy dressing made with sour cream, mayonnaise, vinegar, and fresh herbs.

It’s cool, tangy, creamy, and refreshing — exactly what you want alongside grilled chicken, burgers, barbecue, or just about anything coming off the grill.

If your garden is overflowing with cucumbers and tomatoes, this is also a great way to use them up!

Why You'll Love This Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad

This salad is incredibly simple, but it has so much fresh flavor. It's one of my favorite side dishes to make during the warmer months because there is very little prep involved.

You'll love this recipe because:

• It takes about 15 minutes to prepare.
• It's a great way to use garden cucumbers and tomatoes.
• You can make it ahead of time.
• The creamy dressing uses simple pantry and refrigerator staples.
• Fresh dill gives it wonderful summer flavor.
• It pairs well with grilled and barbecue dishes.

And because there is no cooking involved, it's perfect for those hot summer days when you don't want to turn on the oven.

Ingredients for Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad

For the salad, you'll need:

• 2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
• 2 to 3 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges or bite-sized pieces
• 1/2 small red onion or yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and black pepper to taste

A Note About the Cucumbers

You can use just about any cucumber you have available.

English cucumbers are especially good because they have thin skin and fewer seeds, so you don't necessarily have to peel them.

If you're using regular garden cucumbers and the skins are thick or tough, peel them completely or peel them in alternating strips before slicing.

How to Make Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad

Start by washing and preparing your vegetables.

Thinly slice the cucumbers and onion. Cut the tomatoes into wedges or bite-sized chunks.

Place the cucumbers, tomatoes, and onion in a large mixing bowl.

In a separate small bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, fresh dill, and garlic powder. Stir everything together until the dressing is smooth and creamy.

Taste the dressing and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Pour the creamy dressing over the vegetables and gently toss everything together until the cucumbers and tomatoes are evenly coated.

You can serve the salad immediately, but I think it's even better after it has chilled for about 30 minutes.

Don't Skip the Fresh Dill

Fresh dill is one of the ingredients that really makes this cucumber tomato salad taste like summer.

You can adjust the amount depending on how much you love dill. I usually start with about a tablespoon and add more if I want a stronger dill flavor.

If you don't have fresh dill, dried dill will work in a pinch. Because dried herbs are more concentrated, start with about 1 teaspoon of dried dill and adjust from there.

Fresh parsley, chives, or basil can also be added for a slightly different flavor.

How to Keep Cucumber Salad From Getting Watery

Cucumbers and tomatoes naturally release water after they're sliced, so creamy cucumber salads can become watery the longer they sit.

If you plan on serving the salad immediately, you don't have to do anything special.

However, if you're making it ahead, you can salt the cucumber slices first.

Place the sliced cucumbers in a colander and sprinkle them lightly with salt. Let them sit for about 20 to 30 minutes. The salt will pull out some of the excess moisture.

Pat the cucumbers dry with paper towels before adding them to the salad.

You can also wait to add the tomatoes until closer to serving time.

Make It Your Own

One of the great things about a simple cucumber and tomato salad is how easily you can customize it.

Try adding:

• Crumbled feta cheese
• Fresh basil
• Chopped chives
• Sliced green onions
• Avocado
• Fresh parsley
• A pinch of red pepper flakes
• A squeeze of fresh lemon juice

You can also replace some or all of the sour cream with plain Greek yogurt for a slightly tangier dressing.

What to Serve With Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad

This easy salad goes especially well with summer meals and cookouts.

Serve it alongside grilled chicken, pork chops, steak, hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue chicken, pulled pork, or sandwiches.

It's also a great addition to a potluck because it's inexpensive, colorful, and easy to make in a larger batch.

Just remember that the dressing contains dairy and mayonnaise, so keep the salad refrigerated until you're ready to serve it.

Can I Make This Salad Ahead of Time?

Yes, but I recommend making it only a few hours ahead.

You can prepare the vegetables and dressing separately and keep both refrigerated. Toss everything together about 30 minutes before serving.

This gives the flavors time to mingle without allowing the cucumbers and tomatoes to release too much liquid into the dressing.

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftover Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

It's best eaten within 1 to 2 days.

You may notice some liquid collecting in the bottom of the container as it sits. That's completely normal because both cucumbers and tomatoes contain a lot of water.

Give the salad a gentle stir before serving again.

I don't recommend freezing this salad. The cucumbers and tomatoes will lose their crisp texture once frozen and thawed.

Tips for the Best Cucumber Tomato Salad

For the best flavor, use ripe summer tomatoes and fresh, crisp cucumbers. This is one recipe where fresh produce really makes a difference.

Slice the onions very thin so their flavor doesn't overpower the rest of the salad. If your red onion is especially strong, soak the slices in cold water for about 10 minutes, then drain and pat them dry before adding them.

And don't be afraid to taste the dressing before adding it to the vegetables. You can easily adjust the vinegar, sugar, dill, salt, and pepper until it tastes just right.

The Perfect Easy Summer Side Dish

When the garden starts producing more cucumbers and tomatoes than you know what to do with, make a big bowl of this Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad.

It's cool and crunchy, with plenty of juicy tomatoes and a tangy dill dressing that brings everything together.

Serve it at your next summer cookout, make it for a quick weeknight dinner, or bring it along to a family potluck. It's an easy old-fashioned summer salad that you'll want to make again and again.

Love Tomato Recipes? Check These Out

• Tomato Basil Risotto
• Old Fashioned Tomato Pie
• How to Make and Can Tomato Juice