When the heat is on, cucumbers are your best friend. These cool, crisp veggies are perfect for keeping you refreshed and satisfied during hot days. You can enjoy them in all sorts of ways—light snacks, refreshing drinks, or tasty side dishes. From classic cucumber salads to creative new recipes, we’ve got a long list of cooling cucumber ideas that will help you stay as cool as a cucumber this summer
Cucumber Melon Salad
Cucumber melon salad, with pickled onions and sweet cantaloupe, is a great summer salad. It pairs well with grilled meats and is refreshing on hot days.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Melon Salad
Cucumber Gazpacho
Cucumber gazpacho made with avocado and cashews is a creamy, chilled soup. Highlighted with lime, basil, and mint flavors, it’s perfect for refreshing yourself on hot summer days.
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Creamy Cucumber Salad
This creamy cucumber salad with quick pickled red onions is a healthier twist on a classic. It’s a perfect summer salad for any cookout, bringing coolness to hot days.
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Serrano Cucumber Margarita
Inspired by a trip to Mexico, this serrano cucumber margarita is both spicy and refreshing. It’s a great drink for cooling down during happy hour on hot days.
Get the Recipe: Serrano Cucumber Margarita
Keto Cucumber Bites with Tuna
These cucumber bites with tuna are an easy appetizer or fun snack. Great for hot days, they are perfect for parties or potlucks and come together quickly.
Get the Recipe: Keto Cucumber Bites with Tuna
Cucumber Salad with Creamy Dill Dressing
This creamy cucumber salad is a great side for grilled meats. With fresh cucumbers and a tangy dill, vinegar, and yogurt dressing, it’s a refreshing choice for hot days.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Salad with Creamy Dill Dressing
Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
Cucumber tea sandwiches with cream cheese and dill are perfect for afternoon tea, luncheons, or garden parties. They are a cool and easy-to-make option for a hot day.
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Kimchi Cucumber Salad
Kimchi Cucumber Salad is flavorful, crunchy, and fresh. It’s great with rice bowls or as a spicy side for Asian-themed meals. Easy to make, it’s a cooling choice for warm days.
Get the Recipe: Kimchi Cucumber Salad
Mast-o Khiar (Persian Cucumber Yogurt Dip Recipe)
Mast-o Khiar is a Persian cucumber, walnut, raisin, and yogurt dip. It’s fresh and balanced, great with bread or as a side to grilled meats, and ready in under 15 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Mast-o Khiar (Persian Cucumber Yogurt Dip Recipe)
Korean Cucumber Salad
This simple Korean Cucumber Salad is easy to make and a great spicy side dish. With just 15 minutes of hands-on time, it’s perfect for any meal on a hot day.
Get the Recipe: Korean Cucumber Salad
Mango Salad with Avocado and Cucumber
This colorful Mango Salad with Avocado and Cucumber is ready in just 15 minutes. It’s a great side dish for summer cookouts, picnics, or potlucks.
Get the Recipe: Mango Salad with Avocado and Cucumber
Cucumber Mojito Recipe
A Cucumber Mojito is one of the most refreshing cocktails. With mint, lime, and cucumber, this rum drink is perfect for cooling down on hot days.
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Cucumber Smoothie
This cucumber smoothie combines the coolness of cucumber with pineapple and apple juice. It’s a refreshing drink for hot days, using only three ingredients.
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Easy Cucumber Carrot Salad Recipe
This crunchy cucumber carrot salad is a light and refreshing side dish. Tossed in an Asian-inspired sweet and savory dressing, it’s great for any meal on a hot day.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cucumber Carrot Salad Recipe
Cucumber Pico de Gallo
This cucumber pico de gallo adds a refreshing touch to the classic recipe. With cucumber, lime, and jalapeno, it brings authentic Mexican flavors and is perfect for hot days.
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Tzatziki Cucumber Salad
Tzatziki Cucumber Salad is a favorite at our house! The yogurt and cucumber flavors go well together, making it a refreshing and cool choice for any summer meal.
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Shirazi Salad (Easy Persian Cucumber Salad)
Shirazi Salad is fresh and herbal, with cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and fresh herbs. It’s bright and great for hot days.
Get the Recipe: Shirazi Salad (Easy Persian Cucumber Salad)
The Best Healthy Cucumber Salad
This healthy cucumber salad is easy and refreshing. Made with crisp cucumbers, olive oil, and lemon juice, it’s a simple yet great addition to any summer meal, ready in minutes.
Get the Recipe: The Best Healthy Cucumber Salad
Everything Bagel Low Carb Cucumber Rolls
These everything bagel cucumber rolls are a great snack or appetizer. Packed with flavor, they’re perfect for your next party and are easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Everything Bagel Low Carb Cucumber Rolls
Cracker Barrel Cucumber Tomato and Onion Salad
Cracker Barrel’s Cucumber Tomato and Onion Salad is a light and easy side dish. Full of fresh cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and onions, it’s perfect for hot days.
Get the Recipe: Cracker Barrel Cucumber Tomato and Onion Salad
Cucumber Rice
Fresh cucumber, garden herbs, and fluffy rice dressed with a tangy vinaigrette make this a refreshing dish. It’s great for a light meal on a hot day.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Rice
Fattoush Salad
Fattoush Salad, with marinated vegetables and grilled flatbread, is a great way to enjoy fresh flavors on hot days. It’s a bright and refreshing choice.
Get the Recipe: Fattoush Salad
Asian Cucumber & Peanut Salad
This Asian Cucumber & Peanut Salad has a hearty peanut dressing and is topped with roasted peanuts for extra crunch. It’s a refreshing and flavorful dish for any hot day.
Get the Recipe: Asian Cucumber & Peanut Salad
Salmon Avocado Cucumber Roll Ups
These Cucumber Roll-Ups with smoked salmon and avocado are elegant and refreshing. They make a great appetizer or light meal for hot summer days.
Get the Recipe: Salmon Avocado Cucumber Roll Ups
Tex Mex Cucumber Boats
Tex Mex cucumber boats, filled with a tasty quinoa salad, are a fresh and flavorful option for lunch or dinner. They’re perfect for warm days.
Get the Recipe: Tex Mex Cucumber Boats
Easy Cucumber Tuna Kimbap (Oi Chamchi Gimbap)
Korea’s favorite Tuna Kimbap with crunchy cucumber is easy to make and perfect for picnics, road trips, or lunchboxes. It’s a light meal that’s great for hot days.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cucumber Tuna Kimbap (Oi Chamchi Gimbap)
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.