Creamy Cucumber and Onion Salad
My garden cucumbers are out of control this year! They just became ready about 2 weeks ago and since then, I’ve picked over 60 cukes from only a couple of plants. I see plenty of pickles in my future. But other than some gifted cucumbers to family friends, most of the cuke surplus has been made into a couple batches of this, Creamy Cucumber and Onion Salad.
This recipe, with some modifications, comes from our family friend, Jo.
Jo is always great for fresh, summer recipes like this Creamy Italian Pasta Salad I posted last year.
There are 2 keys to this recipe.
Giving the sliced cucumbers a little salt water soak, before assembling the salad.
This helps to both season the cukes and have them release some of their excess moisture. Making sure that once you add the dressing it won’t become a watered down soup.
And #2
You. Have. To. Use. Miracle. Whip!
I’m a mayonnaise girl myself, but this is the one recipe where substituting is not going to be good.
Don’t ask me the science behind it all, but cucumbers and mayonnaise are not friends. The dressing becomes separated and thin.
Miracle Whip will ensure this recipe stays thick and creamy!
Take it to a family potluck (like I did last week at our county fair).
Or serve alongside your favorite grilled meats and side dishes.
It’s one salad that is sure to be well loved.
Creamy Cucumber and Onion Salad
Ingredients
- 10 cups Cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 Onion, thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 cups Miracle Whip
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 3 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
Instructions
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Put the cucumbers in a large container. Cover the cucumbers with salt water (about 1 tsp salt to 1 cup of cold water). Refrigerate for about 2 hours.
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Drain soaked cucumbers, rinse thoroughly, and place into a large container with sliced onion. In a separate bowl, stir together Miracle Whip, sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Pour dressing over cucumbers and onion. Stir to combine.
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Refrigerate salad for several hours to overnight. Flavors need time to mingle.
Excellent! I used mayo instead of MW and added some dill.
Sounds delicious!
It’s delicious but leftover is moral whip sauce is runny. Is there a way I can thicken it. I plan on putting more cakes in it today.
Hi Laura. Yes sometimes the sauce does get runny because cukes can give off a lot of water. That’s why in the recipe I usually do the salt soak first with the cucumbers to remove some of their excess water and season them. It doesn’t cure the problem, but does help. When my batch gets runny, I usually do as you have planned. Add in more cukes! 😉
My mother would layer onions n cus in a big bowl, then place a big full measuring cup on top then every hour for three would pour water out and then pour dressing over n keep in refrigerator overnight. It was perfect!
Brilliant! Thanks for sharing.
I also used mayo instead of mirical whip and added a half tsp of dill and it turned out excalent
Sounds great!
Equal-ish parts of mayo and sourcream , dill a bit of white vinegar and a little sugar to taste. Mix dressing , then add white onion ans sliced cucumber …. xoxo
I knew there was a recipe that used Miracle Whip! This is the same way my mom made them. Thank you for sharing.
Great to hear Lisa! Yes, this is a family friend’s recipe and Miracle Whip is the key!
So glad I found this! My mom used to make this and I never learned how. I knew she used Miracle Whip, though. I just didn’t know the measurements. Thanks!
Lisa, I’m glad that you found the recipe as well! Hope it’s just as you remember mom making.
This was truly amazing!! I think it’s my one of my few favorite recipes this summer! You are totally right on waiting till the next day though! I tried it when I first made it, was just cuke salad. The next day, it magically became awesome!! My son stopped by and was afraid to try it, he took 2 little pieces, lol. He came back for more and asked for some to take home for his roommate! Ty so much for sharing this recipe! It will be my go-to forever!
I love this Phyllis! And I’m so glad that you were able to spread the love to your son and his roommate.
Happy New Year’s, I have 2 questions. 1.) Can you use purple onions and 2.) How long is this salad good for , leftover wise???
Happy New Year Evelyn! I haven’t tried it with purple onions, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. The salad can last 1 to maybe 3 days in the fridge. The cucumbers keep giving off some water/liquid and it makes the dressing start to fall apart after a few days.
Prep the dukes, make the dressing. And keep separate. Blend together from each container as you want to serve/consume. Separately stored eliminates the puddling of dressing.
Great idea Stephanie!
I use purple onions but u will tell u the purple will start drawing out so the sauce will get a purple tint but it’s delicious 😋 with purple onions
Haha- yes! I’ve done that too.
My friend Jim Blanchard from Rockport taught me how to make this salad but I couldn’t remember the amount for each ingredients. Thank you for posting. Jim has since died but I will never forget him or his cuke and onion salad and now I have the recipe!
Karen thanks for the review and story. I am so happy that this recipe could help remind you of a dear friend.
My mom used to make this, I knew some of the ingredients. This was just like my mom’s. She passed away 5 years ago, I miss her, but her recipes will always keep her in my heart. She loved to cook.
I love this Tracey! Glad these runzas could provide a little bit of mom.
What is a runza? Lol
I’m going to be making this shortly, my cukes are taking their salt water bath now! The picture you provided looks like the cukes my mom and grandma used to make but they’ve been gone for decades now. I think they might have made it with Miracle Whip/sour cream mix but the rest sounds right! I’m excited, can’t wait! Thanks for your recipe!
Hope they give you a taste of what mom and grandma used to make.
Hi,
I need to have the cucumber and onion salad fir 2 servings. Can you advise?
Thank you,
Julie
If you quarter the recipe it will be smaller (around 2-4 servings). Should still work well.
Perfect -just the taste I was looking for and remember. First time making creamy cucumber salad. I let it rest overnight and then could not stop eating it. Have to make it again it was so good. I picked fresh dill from the garden as I though it should have some. Thought it would be too sweet but it was so good!
Thanks for the review Diane! So glad you enjoyed it!
Do not soak the cucumbers in salted water. Just slice them and sprinkle a teaspoon or 2 sea salt on them and let them drain in a colander for an hour 🙂
Exactly what I do!! Dang good cuke salad.
I was going to say the same thing. I make my cuke salad with vinegar and sugar. Draining the cukes in a colander works wonders.
Tom after the cucumbers soak in the sea salt for 1 hour do you rinse them off & dry them with paper towels before putting the salad together with the onions & dressing?
That’s what I do!
What are the black flecks in the photo of the cucumber salad? Pepper? The ingredient list doesn’t clue me in. Thank you.
Yes… I topped the cukes with a sprinkle of black pepper.
can i freeze the cucumbers & onions
using miracle whip
I know people who have froze cukes and onions and it works in a pinch, but it doesn’t have the same texture as fresh. Most of the time it is more watery as well.
I am a cook at the hospital in this small Kansas town where I live, the staff loves this little summer salad. Thanks for sharing!
Awe! So glad you and those at the hospital enjoy this salad. It’s a good one.
Perfect just the way it is’ no need to change anything. This tasted exactly like my mothers. Thanks
Happy I can help bring a taste of mom’s cooking back to your home.
I found this recipe on Pinterest and am now looking at all your recipes! This was excellent!
Awe! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe and are looking for more good eats!
Loved loved loved this recipe! Only one question: Do you have a per serving nutritional information breakdown for this recipe?
Thanks Jacki! I do not have the nutritional information, but you can put the ingredient list in multiple apps or websites online to determine the information you are looking for.
My Mom used to make cucumber and onion salad but she died before I thought to ask her for the recipe. I just wanted to make this to kind of remember her. That said, I HATE Miracle Whip! However, I followed the directions in this recipe to the letter, Miracle Whip and all. With apologies to my Mom, who always used Mayo, this was hands down the best cucumber and onion salad I ever ate. Thanks 🙂
Awe! This comment made my day… And I’m sure Mom would accept your apologies- and maybe ask for the recipe 😉
So good I made it twice.
Love it !!!
Thanks, Diana!
This was the same recipe my Grandma used, but she added both dill and celery seed. Gives it a bit more dimension, but any combination of those or none of those and it’s still yummy!
Sounds delicious.
My ex husband puts bacon and purple onion in. We do the soak and then lay out all the slices on paper towels and dry the cukes before adding the sauce. He makes the sauce thick, thick the way I like it. Definitely have to refrigerate overnight to mingle the flavors. Tear the bacon apart in pieces. Make sure it is cold before putting it in the sauce.
Bacon makes everything better! It’s a proven fact.
You can also dice onions and cukes – makes great sandwiches!
Sounds fantastic!