Creamy German cucumber salad, or gurkensalat, is a fresh and flavorful side made with thinly sliced cucumbers, red onion, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, and fresh dill. For another wonderful potluck dish, try my famous broccoli salad.

german cucumber salad with red onion

German Cucumber Salad Recipe

No, this German cucumber dill salad recipe didn’t come from my German grandmother.

Spoiler alert, I don’t have a German grandmother!

I found this creamy German cucumber salad recipe in one of my mom’s old church cookbooks (are you seeing a trend with my recipe sources?), and I’ve hung on to it because it’s just so tasty!

This easy cucumber salad is perfect to make ahead of time and will taste even better when the flavors can meld and marinate in the refrigerator overnight.

If you love cool and refreshing summer salads, don’t miss my broccoli and red cabbage slaw. I also highly recommend this Amish potato salad.

bowl of german cucumber salad

Crissy’s Tips for Making German Cucumber Salad

I’m a huge fan of getting my cucumbers super thinly sliced for this recipe. I’m talking SUPER THIN! I use a mandoline slicer to achieve paper-thin slices.

Of course, if you like chunkier bits of cucumber, you can certainly cut it however you like. I’ve seen others who have made this recipe using thick bits of cucumber. I’m sure it tastes good too.

The key to a super-flavorful creamy cucumber salad is letting it rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours, but, it will taste even better if you let it chill out overnight.

Don’t skimp on that fresh dill. The dill is what gives this recipe the best flavor, in my opinion.

Don’t have white vinegar on hand? Make your German cucumber salad with apple cider vinegar for a different twist.

bowl of cucumbers and onions with sauce

Occasions For Serving

I love making this delicious salad for my Memorial Day and 4th of July cookouts.

It’s also a wonderful dish for summer picnics, potlucks, and family reunions.

Finally, this is a fantastic recipe to keep on hand as a side for your casual summer grilling.

Whether you’re having hamburgers, steak, or chicken, this creamy German cucumber salad is a fabulous side dish.

More Tasty Recipes

German Cucumber Salad

German Cucumber Salad

Yield: 10
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Additional Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

Cool, creamy, and delicious, this German cucumber salad is the perfect summer potluck recipe!

Ingredients

  • 2 large English cucumbers, sliced thin
  • ½ small purple onion, sliced thin
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 2 teaspoons fresh dill, chopped

Instructions

  1. Thinly slice the cucumbers and place in a medium bowl.
  2. In a small bowl stir together the sour cream, vinegar, salt, sugar, and dill.
  3. Pour the mixture over the cucumbers and stir to coat. Stir in the onions.
  4. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1 serving
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 53Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 138mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0gSugar: 5gProtein: 1g

Did you make this recipe?

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