Easiest Cabbage and Cucumber Salad (With Homemade Dressing!)
Cabbage Cucumber Salad is a refreshing salad that’s perfect for any occasion featuring savory, creamy, and crispy flavors that you’re going to absolutely fall in love with! Plus, this salad is easy to make, requires minimal preparation, and is packed with healthy ingredients. The combination of crisp cucumbers and crunchy cabbage provides a satisfying texture, while the creamy dressing adds a delicious tangy flavor.
This salad is perfect for a summer BBQ or a potluck, but it can also be enjoyed as a light and healthy lunch or dinner side dish. With just a few simple ingredients and a quick preparation time, this cabbage cucumber salad is sure to become a staple in your recipe collection.
What’s best is that the crunchy texture and incredible flavor pair nicely with practically any softer and milder dish, such as mashed potatoes or pasta.
It’s also a fast favorite at weddings because the freshness of this salad nicely evens out nicely with the richly flavored meat dishes that are so common and loved at weddings. This cabbage cucumber salad is a hit on practically any occasion and is even one of my kids’ favorites. I hope a favorite of ours becomes one of yours too!
Want to learn how to make Cabbage Cucumber Salad? Then keep on reading!
What is Cabbage Cucumber Salad?
Cabbage cucumber salad is a colorful and flavorful dish that is perfect for any occasion. This salad consists of crisp cucumbers, crunchy cabbage, and a creamy dressing. It’s easy to make and requires minimal preparation, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.
The combination of flavors creates a fresh and satisfying taste that will have your guests asking for seconds. It’s absolutely packed with nutrients and is also super customizable. I’m sure you’re going to absolutely love this salad!
What Makes This Cabbage Cucumber Salad Recipe Special?
Healthy: This cabbage cucumber salad recipe is loaded with nutrients and a great addition to your diet. Cabbage is high in fiber and Vitamin C while cucumbers are a great source of vitamin K.
Easy to make: This salad takes has a low prep time and takes almost no time to throw together! It’s awesome for special occasions and can even be made ahead of time.
Delicious: Instead of regular dressings, this salad uses mayonnaise and Greek yogurt dressing. The taste is phenomenal with the slightly sweet and earthy taste of the veggies.
What You Need to Make Cabbage Cucumber Salad at Home
All you need are some simple ingredients to make the tastiest cabbage and cucumber salad you’ve ever had. Let’s look at each of these in more detail:
- Cucumbers: First of all, of course, we’ll need some cucumbers for our salad. Try using homegrown cucumbers when in season, it takes the salad to the next level of freshness!
- Cabbage: Next, we’ll need some cabbage! I prefer using organic cabbage when I can. It tastes so much better with a delicious, real cabbage aroma.
- Mayonnaise: We’ll be using some mayonnaise as one of the main ingredients for our homemade salad dressing. You can use store-bought mayo, but I really recommend homemade mayonnaise. It’s easy to make and tastes so fresh and delicious!
- Greek yogurt: We’re going to use some Greek yogurt along with the mayonnaise for the dressing. It adds a little sourness to the salad, which I really love, and trust me you will as well!
- Salt: Salt is a great way to bring out the flavor of the other ingredients. If you can, I recommend going for sea salt.
- Black pepper: Lastly, we’ll top our salad with some black pepper. Use freshly ground black pepper for the best aroma and taste.
How to Make Cabbage Cucumber Salad (Step-by-Step)
Making this cabbage cucumber salad is quick and easy. Here’s how to make it at home step by step:
First, rinse and slice the cucumbers.
Next, rinse and shred one whole small head of cabbage. Use a sharp knife or mandolin slicer to cut the cabbage into fine strands.
Transfer the shredded cabbage and sliced cucumbers into a large glass bowl. Add Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, and salt.
Toss the salad gently until well combined. While mixing, don’t pound on the veggies or they will release juice and the salad will turn out watery. Mix the veggies in a folding manner from bottom to top with a spoon.
To do this, insert the spoon along the side of the bowl to the bottom. Then lift a spoonful of veggies upwards while gently shaking off the shredded veggies from the spoon in a side-to-side manner, allowing the salad to fall back into the bowl. Repeat this until the salad is everything is well-mixed.
Enjoy this salad with grilled chicken thighs or your favorite prepared meal for dinner.
Your delicious Cabbage Cucumber Salad is ready to be served!
Tips for Making the Best Cabbage Cucumber Salad Ever
Prep ahead of time: One of the best things about this salad is that it may be chopped ahead of time (as far as 12 hours before serving). However, do not mix in the dressing until you’re ready to serve.
Add dressing before serving: Add dressing right before serving to avoid vegetable watering. If you like the salad to be as crunchy as possible, serve it immediately after mixing in the dressing.
Use fresh ingredients: Use fresh and high-quality ingredients for this salad recipe. You want the veggies to have a nice crunch and fresh taste.
Recipe Variation Ideas for Cabbage Cucumber Salad
This Cabbage and Cucumber salad is absolutely perfect as is, but if you’re looking to change things up here are a few ideas you can try:
Different dressings: Switch up the mayonnaise and Greek yogurt dressing with a creamy ranch, French vinaigrette, or Italian dressing.
Other vegetables: Add sliced tomatoes, shredded carrots, or bell peppers to give your cabbage cucumber salad more color and additional nutrients!
Protein: This salad can easily become a full meal with the addition of proteins such as canned tuna, grilled chicken, boiled eggs, or crumbled feta cheese.
Fresh herbs: Additional herbs taste great in this salad. Add your favorite ones like fresh dill, garlic, or fresh cilantro.
Nuts: Adding nuts is a great way to add flavor and a delightful crunch to the salad. Pecans, almonds, and walnuts are all great choices.
Can I Make this Salad Ahead of Time?
Yes, you absolutely can! To do this, chop and shred the vegetables ahead of time and store them separately in airtight containers. Dress the salad right before serving for the best results.
What is the Best Way to Prolong Salad Life?
You can prolong the life of your delicious salad by placing a damp paper towel over the sliced cucumber and shredded cabbage. This will prolong their freshness and crispiness. But I do recommend making this salad fresh for the best results!
How to Store Leftover Cabbage Cucumber Salad
To store leftover cabbage cucumber salad, transfer the salad to an airtight container. Place the container in the refrigerator and store it for up to 4 days. Make sure to stir the salad before serving, as it will likely have separated from sitting in the fridge. If desired, you can add a little extra dressing prior to serving.
Similar Salad Recipes You’ll Love
- Red and Green Cabbage Cucumber Salad Recipe
- Purple Cabbage Tomato Salad
- Cabbage Carrots Peppers Salad
See all salad recipes.
Easiest Cabbage and Cucumber Salad (With Homemade Dressing!)
Ingredients
Cabbage and Cucumber Salad Ingredients
- 4 – garden cucumbers (or ½ of the English cucumber)
- 1 – small cabbage head
- ¼ tsp. – black ground pepper
- 1 tsp. – sea salt (or to taste)
- ¼ cup – Homemade Mayonnaise
- ¼ cup – Greek yogurt
Instructions
How to Make Cabbage Cucumber Salad
- First, rinse and slice the cucumbers.
- Next, rinse and shred one whole small head of cabbage. Use a sharp knife or mandolin slicer to cut the cabbage into fine strands.
- Transfer the shredded cabbage and sliced cucumbers into a large glass bowl. Add Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, and salt.
- Toss the salad gently until well combined. While mixing, don’t pound on the veggies or they will release juice and the salad will turn out watery. Mix the veggies in a folding manner from bottom to top with a spoon.
- To do this, insert the spoon along the side of the bowl to the bottom. Then lift a spoonful of veggies upwards while gently shaking off the shredded veggies from the spoon in a side-to-side manner, allowing the salad to fall back into the bowl. Repeat this until the salad is everything is well-mixed.
- Enjoy this salad with grilled chicken thighs or your favorite prepared meal for dinner.
Notes
- One of the best things about this salad is that it may be chopped ahead of time (as far as 12 hours before serving), but do not mix in the dressing until serving time.
- Add dressing right before serving to avoid vegetable watering. If you like the salad to be as crunchy as possible, serve it immediately after mixing in the dressing.
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This recipe was originally posted on August 8, 2014 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
Simple and delicious. I love the creamy version of this salad, exactly how I grew up eating it. Great way to get my kids to eat their veg
I cant agree more! Thank you for your feedback!
I noticed in the picture of the cucumber and cabbage salad , there was dill in it, but not listed in the ingredients. So I take it, the dill is optional?
Yes, dill is an optional but great addition!
I tried this and it is fantastic!!! Thank you very much for posting this recipe.
You are very certainly welcome! Glad you liked it 👏
You’re right Valya, this salad is very good and is also my family’s favorite! When radishes are available, I clean and cut thinly into the salad. As you already know radishes are really good for you and when paired with cucumber, they taste very good and refreshing. This is another way I sneak in some veges into kids diet!
Way to go Tanya! That’s my trick too! More veggies – healthier kids. 🙂
Thank you !
You are very welcome Tatyana! Let me know how you like it. 🙂
I love the crunch of cabbage in a salad. This one sounds wonderful!
I do too! It’s made out of simple ingredients, but it is so tasty. 🙂