Apple Cucumber Salad

Super light and refreshing 10-minute apple cucumber salad recipe with crunchy onions and zesty and sweet dressing.

My apple cucumber salad recipe doesn’t have mayo or yogurt dressing like many traditional salad recipes – it is completely vegan, low-calorie, and packed with health benefits. My whole family loves this simple recipe!

My trick to keep the apples fresh is to make a quick dressing with lemon juice and honey.

If you love fruit salad recipes, try my favorites like this fruit and berry salad, or Ambrosia salad.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Perfect side salad packed with nutrients and healthy benefits like Vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants, and hydration.
• An amazing side salad for BBQs, potluck, picnic, and outdoor gatherings.
• Pairs ideally with chicken and turkey dishes, or with baked fish.
• Completely gluten-free and vegan, naturally sweet!

Ingredients Notes

All the exact quantities for the salad ingredients are on the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

• Fresh apples. Any crisp apples or variety works, including green apples like Granny Smiths, red apples like Honeycrisp, sweet apples, or sour ones. If you want, mix a few varieties for a burst of flavors! Keep the skins on.
• Fresh Cucumber. Just regular crunchy cucumbers are fine, but if the skin is too thick, you may have to peel them. You can also use English cucumber or Persian cucumbers.
• Red onion. They are sweeter and will work best for this salad.
• Dressing ingredients: Lemon juice and honey (or maple syrup). Sweet and citrusy – it will enhance the natural flavors.
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional). You can use cilantro,if you love it.

Kitchen Equipment

• Large bowl
• Small bowl
• Whisk
• Sharp knife, mandolin slicer, or food processor to slice ingredients

How To Make Cucumber And Apple Salad

Prep work: wash, thinly slice and dice all the fruit and veggies, core the apples. If making ahead, make sure to drizzle some lemon juice over the apples to keep them from browning.

1: Combine The Salad Ingredients

Combine the chopped apples, cucumber slices, and red onion in a large mixing bowl.

2: Make The Dressing

1. Whisk the lemon juice and honey together in a separate bowl until well combined.
2. Lemon juice will keep the apples fresh and keep them from turning brown.

3: Assemble

1. Drizzle the honey dressing over the veggies and toss gently to coat.
2. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 
3. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. You can move the salad to a prettier serving bowl if you’re making this side dish for a gathering.
4. Serve immediately or chill for 10 minutes before serving.

Storage

You can make the salad dressing ahead, and the salad makes a great meal prep option.

If you have leftovers, store cucumber and apple salad in an airtight container for 5 days refrigerated.

This apple cucumber salad doesn’t freeze well.

Substitutions & Variations

• Simple dressing options. Simply use extra virgin olive oil with some mustard. Or you can go all mayo with it.
• Homemade dressing with vinegar (white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar), maple syrup, and olive oil.
• Skip homemade salad dressings and simply use store-bought raspberry vinaigrette. Will make a great summer salad dressing.
• Protein rich salad dressing – yogurt dressing with herbs. Use 2% plain Greek yogurt and you will get a healthy and creamy dressing.
• Add-ons for extra texture: sliced almonds or pistachios, seeds, radish, blue cheese, crumbled feta, raisins. If you want more fruit or veg, pears and celery go well with apples and cucumbers too!
• Use fresh dill or fresh mint for garnish instead of parsley. Any of your favorite fresh herbs will work in a pinch.
• Asian apple cucumber salad recipe. For an Asian-style salad, you can make smashed cucumbers, add diced chilli peppers, toasted sesame seeds, and the dressing ingredients can be apple cider vinegar and brown sugar.
• Charcuterie board version. Slice apples and cucumber into sticks and serve with the dressing on the side for dipping.
• Change up this cucumber apple salad with sunflower seeds, green onions, lime juice, balsamic vinegar, sour cream, feta cheese, or sea salt.

Popular Questions

Why Soak Cucumbers In Salt Water Before Making Cucumber Salad?

Soaking cucumbers in salt water before making a cucumber salad helps to draw out extra water from them to keep the salad from getting watery. It is a completely optional step though!

What Are The Benefits Of Apple And Cucumber Salad?

Eating apple and cucumber salad is great for your health! Apples are packed with Vitamin C, which helps keep your immune system strong. Cucumbers are mostly water, so they help keep you hydrated and are good for your skin.

Together, they make a delicious salad that is naturally sweet and refreshing, perfect for a healthy snack or side dish. Plus, this salad is gluten-free and vegan, making it a great choice for all dietary needs!

What Fruit Goes Well With Cucumber?

Cucumbers taste great with many fruits! Try watermelon, mango, cantaloupe, pears, pomegranate arils, strawberries, and oranges for a zesty twist. These combinations make a great healthy and tasty salad that you can enjoy as a refreshing snack or a side dish for BBQ.

If you love this easy side dish recipe, you’re going to love these other potluck sides too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

More Great Cucumber Recipes

Carrot Cucumber Salad

Cucumber Sandwich Recipe

Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad

Easy Chef Salad

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