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Chilled cucumber tomato salad is a refreshing salad made with fresh ingredients that everyone can enjoy all year round. It’s fast, easy, and can be made ahead, making it perfect for any potluck!

Fresh cucumbers and tomatoes from the garden are my favorites! This tomato basil salad, this delicious creamy cucumber salad and this yummy Italian avocado cucumber tomato salad are more light and tasty salad recipes that are just as delicious.

The top view of a bowl of chilled cucumber tomatoe salad.

Chilled Cucumber Tomato Salad

I love a good fresh salad, especially during the summer months! If you are one of those lucky ones with a thriving garden in your backyard and don’t know what to do with all those tomatoes… I am so jealous! You will never get sick of eating them after trying this recipe! These ingredients, when blended together with fresh herbs, combine and and taste SO good. Everything becomes juicy, but stays crisp.

Fresh produce is the best thing about spring and summer. And this chilled cucumber tomato salad might just be my favorite way to use it all up. Sometimes simple is best, and this salad is the perfect example. It has just the right amount of flavor from the dressing. Plus, this summer salad goes with just about anything which makes it the perfect side to bring to any potluck or get-together!

Ingredients in Cucumber Tomato Salad

Using fresh veggies is key to making this salad taste absolutely delicious! The dressing compliments all of their flavors, and they taste so delightful altogether. Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

The Dressing

  • Olive Oil: I used regular olive oil for the base of this dressing.
  • Red Wine Vinegar: Red wine vinegar brings in a sharp and tangy flavor.
  • Sugar: There is just enough sugar to balance out the dressing.
  • Salt: I like to add salt because it enhances all of the other flavors.
  • Black Pepper: I love using black pepper in my dressings.
  • Chili Flakes: They don’t bring in much heat, but they bring a lot of good taste and it goes so well in this cucumber tomato salad.
  • Basil: This adds in a bright and fresh taste!
  • Parsley: This classic herb goes so well with everything else.

The Salad

  • Fresh tomatoes: You can use cherry or grape tomatoes for this salad. Cut them in half so that they are easier to eat.
  • Cucumbers: I like to slice up my cucumbers and then cut them into quarters.
  • Red Onion: Slices of red onion blens so well with the other veggies; it’s a must!
  • Feta Cheese: I haven’t found a salad that doesn’t taste better after adding feta cheese and this cucumber tomato salad is no exception.

How do you make Cucumber Tomato Salad?

  1. Whisk ingredients: Whisk together all the ingredients for salad dressing in a small bowl. Salad dressings should be on the saltier side so that when you add in the fresh vegetables then the flavors balance themselves.
  2. Toss and chill: Add all the veggies to a large bowl and toss well with the salad dressing. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Mix again right before serving.
3 pictures showing how to add the dressing and toss it in the salad.

Variations

Juice tomatoes, crisp cucumbers and red onions add sweetness, freshness, and punch to this super versatile cucumber tomato salad. Here are some ideas on how you can switch things up!

  • Tomatoes: If you don’t have cherry tomatoes on hand then feel free to swap grape tomatoes for cherry or heirloom.
  • Do I need to peel my cucumbers? You don’t need to peel your cucumbers! I like to keep the skin on the cucumbers because it adds so much color, and saves me some time.
  • Onions: I personally love using red onions and I recommend that you don’t swap them for white. I know that some people think the flavor is too strong, but you can get rid of the bite by soaking them in water for 10-15 minutes before slicing. This retains the flavor but takes away the sting.
A close up of cucumber tomato salad in a bowl with a gold spoon.

Can Cucumber Tomato Salad be Made Ahead of Time?

I would recommend making this a few hours ahead to let the flavors marry and to let the veggies soak up that delicious dressing so that you can taste it in every bite. This chilled cucumber tomato salad stays good for at least 24 hours when refrigerated and testes great the next day. The problem is, it’s so delicious that I bet it wouldn’t last that long!

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Chilled Cucumber Tomato Salad

5 from 1 vote
By: Alyssa Rivers
Chilled Cucumber Tomato Salad is a refreshing salad made with fresh ingredients that everyone can enjoy all year round. It's fast, easy, and can be made ahead which makes it perfect for potlucks!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Refrigerate: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients 

For the dressing:

For the salad:

Instructions 

  • Whisk together all the ingredients for salad dressing. Salad dressings should be on the saltier side so that when they are added to the veggies, the flavors balance themselves.
  • Add all the veggies to a large bowl, and toss well with the salad dressing. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Mix again right before serving.

Video

Notes

Originally posted July 4, 2019
Updated on July 7, 2022

Nutrition

Calories: 128kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 2gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 309mgPotassium: 407mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 925IUVitamin C: 31mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!
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About Alyssa Rivers

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Alyssa Rivers and the food blogger behind The Recipe Critic. The blog launched in 2012 as a place to share my passion for cooking. I love trying new things and testing them out with my family. Each recipe is tried and true, family-tested and approved.

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6 Comments

  1. Hi I liked your blog & recipes here in. Since I am professional chef & I have also started my own food blog specially with classic dishes served in restaurants.

  2. I made this salad several times over the summer to take to friend’s house and every time I was asked for the recipe! It’s so good! The only thing I did differently was add mini mozzarella balls to it. Thank you!

    1. Hey!
      I am so glad to hear that you received great feedback. This really is a great salad! Thanks for following along with me! xoxo

    2. Thanks for the idea! Adding the fresh mini mozzarella balls was a super addition! For those who have people who like pickles but who don’t eat cucumbers, the addition, along with allowing at least a couple hours for flavors to marry, it turns the recipe from a no-go into a yummy side!

  3. This salad was perfect for a summer dinner! I made it for my whole family at the beach and they all raved about it! Also made the slow cooker ranch mashed potatoes and worlds best flank steak marinade – perfect combo and all components could be made ahead of time (so I could enjoy the day at the beach!)