If you're looking for a simple side dish that's loaded with flavor, this Million Dollar Cucumber Salad is about to become a new favorite! It's crispy, creamy, and refreshing, with the perfect mix of crunchy cucumbers, smoky bacon, fresh green onions, and sharp cheddar cheese. Everything is tossed in a tangy homemade ranch dressing that ties it all together, creating a salad that's always sure to hit the spot!
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Who doesn't love a cool, refreshing salad in the heat of summer? The fresh veggies keep every bite light and fresh, and the bacon adds that deliciously smoky crunch that pairs perfectly alongside the cheese and ranch dressing. It's simple to make, packed with tasty ingredients, and perfect to bring along to your next outdoor picnic or get-together!
Are you a fan of cold and creamy salads? Try this Loaded Ranch Potato Salad that's packed with flavor or this tasty Easy Pea Salad. This recipe pairs perfectly with any entreé, but especially classic summer dishes like these Best Homemade Smash Burgers or these easy Air Fryer BBQ Ribs.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Refreshing and flavorful: Crisp, cool cucumbers are paired with smoky bacon, sharp cheddar, and a creamy homemade dressing for a delicious balance of fresh and savory flavors that everyone will love!
- Crispy and creamy: This salad brings the best of both worlds with fresh, crisp cucumbers and an irresistibly creamy dressing that coats every bite!
- Perfect for summer picnics: This refreshing salad is a great addition to any outdoor event or summer barbecue! It's cold and fresh, making it especially delicious on a hot day! Pair it with this fresh and flavorful Bruschetta Pasta Salad for an easy summer spread everyone will love.
- Simple to make: With a handful of easy ingredients and simple preparation, this is an effortless side dish that delivers amazing flavor without too much work in the kitchen.
Ingredients
Gather the ingredients below to make this creamy cucumber salad with bacon!
- English cucumbers: These are crisp, refreshing, and have thinner skins and fewer seeds than regular cucumbers. Use about 2 pounds to achieve a good balance of cucumber in every bite.
- Kosher salt: Helps draw the excess moisture out of the cucumber to keep the salad extra crisp. Don't skip this step!
- Thick-cut bacon: Cook the bacon just until it's nice and crispy and then crumble it into bite-sized pieces. It's smoky, salty, and adds the perfect richness that pairs wonderfully with the cucumbers.
- Sharp cheddar cheese: Adds a savory richness to the salad. You can use pre-shredded cheese or shred your own if you have the time.
- Green onions: Thinly sliced green onions add a mild, fresh onion flavor to the salad.
- Fresh dill: Adds a bright, herby flavor that makes the salad taste super fresh.
- Sour cream: Creates the creamy, tangy base of the salad dressing.
- Mayonnaise: Adds richness to the dressing and creates a velvety smooth texture that perfectly coats every cucumber.
- Dry ranch seasoning mix: A convenient way to add delicious seasoning and savory flavor to the dressing with minimal effort.
- Apple cider vinegar: Adds acidity to balance out the richness of the other ingredients.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Cucumber varieties: English cucumbers work especially well in this salad, but you can use regular garden cucumbers or Persian cucumbers in a pinch. Try to avoid overly watery cucumbers with lots of seeds if possible, as these can make the salad less crisp.
- Cheese swaps: Feel free to swap the sharp cheddar for colby jack, monterey jack, pepper jack, or crumble feta cheese for slightly different flavors.
- Sour cream substitution: Plain Greek yogurt works great as a swap for sour cream that keeps the dressing tangy and creamy.
- Homemade ranch seasoning: Use a blend of dried dill, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper for an easy homemade ranch mix if you don't have the store bought packets.
- Veggie add-ins: Toss in some halved cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, or red onion for an extra fresh and juicy salad!
How to Make Million Dollar Cucumber Salad
Once you've gathered all your ingredients, grab a mixing bowl and follow the steps below to make this easy summer cucumber salad!
- Step 1: Slice cucumbers into half-moons, toss with salt in a colander and drain for 20 minutes, then pat dry with paper towels.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, ranch seasoning, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder and black pepper until smooth.
- Step 3: Add cucumbers, cheddar, green onions, dill and three-fourths of the bacon, then gently toss until evenly coated.
- Step 4: Top with remaining bacon just before serving and serve chilled.
Helpful Tips
- Don't skip the salt! Salting your cucumbers helps bring out any excess moisture and keeps your salad from becoming watery. This helps the cucumbers stay crisp and the dressing stay creamy and flavorful! I do the same with this Creamy Cucumber Salad (my mom's recipe!)
- Drain the cucumbers well: Be sure to give the cucumbers 20 minutes or more to drain and gently pat them dry to release any extra moisture.
- Don't overdress the salad: Add the dressing gradually and toss until everything is evenly coated. You want the cucumbers covered in creamy dressing without having a pool of dressing at the bottom.
- Add the bacon right before serving: To keep the bacon as crisp as possible, keep some on the side and sprinkle it on top right before serving. If you don't have time to cook up the bacon just use this crumbled bacon in a bag.
- Serve it cold: This salad is at its best when it's cool and refreshing, so keep it in the fridge until you're ready to serve!
Recipe FAQs
Salting sliced cucumbers before assembling the salad helps draw out excess moisture. Let them sit briefly, then drain and pat them dry before adding the creamy dressing.
English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers work especially well because they have thin skins, fewer seeds and a crisp texture. Regular cucumbers can also be used, but you may want to peel and seed them first.
Not necessarily. Thin-skinned cucumbers, such as English cucumbers, can be left unpeeled. If you're using regular cucumbers with thicker or waxed skins, peeling them can improve the texture.
Yes! You can make this salad a few hours ahead of time and keep it covered in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve. It's best served within a few hours of preparing; when the cucumbers are the most fresh and crisp!
Storage Instructions
Storage Instructions
Store leftover salad covered in the refrigerator for up to two days.
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Million Dollar Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 2 large English cucumbers (about 2 pounds)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon (cooked until crisp and crumbled)
- ¾ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 green onions (thinly sliced)
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill (chopped)
For the Dressing
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon dry ranch seasoning mix
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cut the cucumbers in half lengthwise, then slice them into ¼-inch-thick half-moons.
- Place the cucumbers in a colander and sprinkle them with the salt. Toss to combine and let them drain for 20 minutes.
- Spread the cucumbers onto paper towels and gently pat them dry.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, ranch seasoning, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder and black pepper until smooth.
- Add the cucumbers, cheddar cheese, green onions, dill and about three-fourths of the crumbled bacon to the bowl.
- Gently toss until all of the ingredients are evenly coated in the dressing.
- Cover and refrigerate the salad for 15 to 30 minutes.
- Sprinkle the remaining bacon over the top just before serving.
- Serve chilled. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to two days.
Notes
- Don't skip the salt! Salting your cucumbers helps bring out any excess moisture and keeps your salad from becoming watery. This helps the cucumbers stay crisp and the dressing stay creamy and flavorful!
- Drain the cucumbers well: Be sure to give the cucumbers 20 minutes or more to drain and gently pat them dry to release any extra moisture.
- Don't overdress the salad: Add the dressing gradually and toss until everything is evenly coated. You want the cucumbers covered in creamy dressing without having a pool of dressing at the bottom.
- Add the bacon right before serving: To keep the bacon as crisp as possible, keep some on the side and sprinkle it on top right before serving.
- Serve it cold: This salad is at its best when it's cool and refreshing, so keep it in the fridge until you're ready to serve!
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