This tangy Greek cucumber salad with marinated red onions and a creamy tzatziki-inspired dressing is a 5-star favorite! It’s fresh, flavorful, and has just the right zing. Easy to make and always a hit, it pairs beautifully with grilled meats or seafood. You’ll love how simple yet delicious it is!

greek cucumber salad with greek yogurt dressing this recipe
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Cucumber Greek Salad

Who doesn’t love a good cucumber salad?  It’s fresh, tasty, and does not require a lot of ingredients. Not to mention it makes the perfect side to just about any meal. We personally love it with orzo chicken soup.

I personally grew up eating cucumber salad tossed in sour cream and dill. My mom would make it every summer with homegrown veggies from our garden.

So today I’m putting my own spin on this childhood favorite with a lot of Greek inspired flavors. Oh and the most delicious marinated red onions.

ingredients for greek yogurt cucumber salad

What is Cucumber Yogurt Salad Made Of?

I recently started following Teri on IG and everything she makes looks insanely delicious, including her marinated onions. We make them all the time as they go with everything.

The combination of flavors is just so good. Not to mention the overall salad is so basic and easy. But that’s what I love about it. You can pretty much whip up a bowl of this salad any day of the week or if you’re looking for a non-creamy version, try our cucumber and onion salad.

You’ll need the following ingredients to make Greek cucumber salad:

  • Red onions
  • Olive oil
  • Red wine vinegar
  • Dried oregano
  • English cucumbers
  • Greek yogurt, full fat
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Garlic
  • Fresh dill

Greek Yogurt Dressing

The Greek yogurt dressing is very similar to a traditional tzatziki sauce. Except it doesn’t have any shredded cucumbers in the dressing.

It’s simply Greek yogurt combined with lemon juice, garlic, and dill. I recommend using full-fat Greek yogurt and fresh dill to get the best flavor. It’s tangy and fresh, with a slight bite from the garlic.

cucumber yogurt salad with greek yogurt dressing recipe

How to Make Greek Yogurt Cucumber Salad

  • Step 1: Marinate the Onions – in a small bowl combine the sliced red onions with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and oregano. Let the onions sit at room temperature while you prepare the dressing and the rest of the salad.
  • Step 2: Prepare the Dressing – combine the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and dill. Season the mixture with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Step 3: Toss with Cucumbers – in a large salad bowl, combine the sliced cucumbers with marinated onions and dressing. Mix to combine. Taste for salt before serving. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for up to 30 minutes.
how to make greek cucumber salad

Leftovers: If you like the crisp taste of cucumbers, I recommend serving this salad immediately or within a half-hour of prep. Otherwise, the cucumbers will begin to soften as they release some of their water. You can store the leftover salad in the refrigerator for up 1 day. The cucumbers just won’t be as crisp.

How to Keep Cucumber Salad Crisp

One way to guarantee that your cucumber salad is crisp and fresh every single time is to buy the freshest cucumbers. Look for firm cucumbers, without blemishes or soft spots. They should be dark green without any yellow spots.

Another way to guarantee a crisp cucumber salad is to toss the salad with the dressing just before serving. Otherwise, if you prepare the salad way in advance the cucumbers will release water and begin to soften.

Lastly, a technique I have yet to try but apparently if you salt the sliced cucumbers beforehand, they release some of their water and stay crisp even after you add the dressing. 

How to Serve Greek Cucumber Salad

This Greek cucumber salad is creamy, light, and refreshing. It’s a great salad to serve on a warm summer day with:

More Easy Cucumber Salads

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Greek Cucumber Salad - made with marinated onions and creamy Greek yogurt dressing. This simple summer side is insanely delicious and easy to make! | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

Greek Yogurt Cucumber Salad

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 20 reviews
  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 15 mins
  • Yield: 6
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Chop
  • Cuisine: Greek
Print Recipe

Description

Greek cucumber salad with marinated red onions tossed in a tzatziki inspired Greek yogurt dressing. It’s fresh, creamy, and has a good punch of flavor, and makes a perfect side for all of your summer get togethers.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • ⅓ cup thinly sliced red onion
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 ½ tsp. red wine vinegar
  • 1 ½ tsp. dried oregano
  • 2-3 English cucumbers, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (full fat)
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic, pressed
  • ¼ cup fresh chopped dill
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine the red onion, olive oil, vinegar, and oregano. Let the onions marinate at room temperature while preparing the rest of the salad.
  2. Place the sliced cucumbers into a large salad bowl.
  3. Combine the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, dill, salt, and black pepper. Add to the cucumbers, along with the marinated onions, including the liquid from the onions. Toss everything together really well. Taste for salt and pepper.
  4. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for up to 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • For best flavor, use full-fat Greek yogurt and fresh dill. Don’t like dill? Try fresh parsley instead.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 160
  • Sugar: 4.8 g
  • Sodium: 412 mg
  • Fat: 12 g
  • Carbohydrates: 10 g
  • Protein: 5.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 6.2 mg

Recipe published on 6/14/2017. Updated on 6/3/2021.