Everyone, at one time or another, struggles with that age old question of what to do for dinner. You check the fridge, scan the pantry but still come up blank. At our house, we have cucumbers in our refrigerator at all times. We enjoy them as a quick snack, I add them to my margaritas, and dice them for salads.
But there’s so much more to do with cucumbers than just enjoying them as a snack or tossing them in a salad.
How to Cook Cucumbers
Did you know that cooked cucumbers are also delicious? While there are many ways to cook cucumbers here is a quick and easy way.
- Preheat over to 400°F.
- Cut into 1/2-inch strips.
- Tossed with oil and a little salt and roast in the oven.
- Check them after 10 minutes as they’ll still have some crunch to them at this point, but they can be cooked longer depending on your preference.
Quickly sautéed cucumbers are also delicious. Prepare the cucumbers as directed above then give them a quick sauté over medium-high heat. Add a little onion and garlic for a delicious cooked cucumber side dish.
If those options for cooked cucumbers don’t suit you, here are many more delicious answers to the question “what to do with cucumbers?” for the last time. You’ll find cucumber recipes for everything from appetizers to cocktails! Be sure to pin your favorites so you’ll have them whenever you have a surplus of cucumbers.
Quick & Easy Cucumber Ideas
- Seasoned Cucumbers: Enjoy a flavorful and healthy snack by adding a little seasoning such as salt, pepper, lime or lemon juice, Tajín, Takis power, fresh dill or dill weed, chili flakes, mint, soy sauce, honey, garlic, or balsamic vinegar.
- Cucumber Dippers: Cucumber are perfect for dipping in sauces and dips such as hummus, greek yogurt, baba ganoush, sour cream and chive, ranch or blue cheese dressing, peanut butter, salsa, guacamole, pico de gallo, buffalo sauce, cottage cheese or mustard.
- Dips: Make a dip with cucumbers such as tzatziki sauce, hummus, Romesco sauce, yogurt dip, sour cream dip or veggie dip.
- Smoothies: Blend into a smoothie.
- Bagel and cream cheese: Easily elevate your breakfast with cucumber slices on top of a bagel and cream cheese.
- Cucumber water & cocktails: Flavor your water or favorite cocktail with an infusion of sliced cucumbers.
- Pickles: Making homemade pickles is extremely easy and delicious.
- Salads & sandwiches: Cucumbers add a refreshing crunch to sandwiches and salads.
- Crackers & chips: Place them on crackers or chips and add other toppings such as spreads, cheese and meats.
- Dog treats: Feed the cucumbers to your dog for a safe, low calorie, sodium and fat-free crunchy treat.
- Healthcare: Cucumbers have many uses beyond eating them including using them as cooling eye pads, facials masks and for sunburn relief.
27 Cucumber Recipes
To answer the question of what to do with cucumbers!
If you're stuck with what to do with cucumbers, we've got answers. You'll find everything here from appetizers to cocktails to desserts!
Cucumber Salad With Roasted Peanuts and Chile Recipe
Easy to assemble but far from basic, this cucumber salad delivers a riot of flavors and textures with snappy cucumbers, velvety peanut sauce, crunchy cilantro-peanut topping and zingy chile oil.
Cucumber and Cream Cheese Sandwich Rolls (with Lavash Bread)
Cucumber pinwheels, or cucumber and cream cheese sandwich rolls, are always a huge hit, no matter where or when you serve them. Great for picnics, barbecues, school or work packed lunches, afternoon tea or even a light dinner!
Roasted Salmon with Avocado Cucumber Salsa
This easy roasted salmon with avocado cucumber salsa is a simple, refreshing way to prepare salmon in under 30 minutes.
Cucumber Sushi
Cucumber sushi is an easy recipe to put together with friends and family. It's easily adaptable to any diet or taste preferences, and a fun twist on sushi.
German Cucumber Salad Recipe
German Cucumber Salad is a refreshing summer salad made with simple ingredients that are a staple in most kitchens! This recipe is easy to make, budget-friendly, and perfect for a potluck, family dinner, or summer cookout.
Plum & Cucumber Salad with Roasted Ginger Vinaigrette
This roasted ginger dressing is smoky, spicy, aromatic, funky, sweet, and complex, making for a very extraordinary, deliciously healthy plum and cucumber salad!
Cucumber Margarita
This Cucumber Margarita is incredibly refreshing and tastes so good! Add jalapeño for a little spice or enjoy it as-is.
Blackened Shrimp & Crispy Chilled Cucumbers
These spicy blackened shrimp have the heat of blackening seasoning that's offset by the cool, crispy crunch of the cucumbers. A fantastic appetizer that's both easy and elegant!
Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
Homemade Tzatziki sauce is an easy recipe that's perfect as a topping or dipping sauce.
Chopped Veggie Salad with Lemon-Garlic Dressing
No lettuce goes into this fresh, all-veggie chopped salad. It even keeps well for lunches or light dinners all week long!
Shrimp Avocado Cucumber Salad
This Shrimp Avocado Cucumber Salad is loaded with red onions, cucumber, red bell peppers, avocado and sautéd shrimp. Also, it’s tossed with a very light and fresh lemon dressing. Delicious!
Salt & Vinegar Cucumber Chips
Easy to make, these baked salt and vinegar cucumber chips are a healthier low carb snack. Plus they're low in calories which makes them almost guilt-free!
Mexican Street Corn Salad with Cucumbers
This easy Mexican street corn salad with cucumbers is made with frozen corn and cucumbers. It’s served cold with fresh cilantro and vegan parmesan cheese and spicy, canned jalapeños. The creamy dressing is naturally dairy free, but it can be made vegan with one simple swap.
Bacon Ranch Stuffed Cucumbers
These easy Bacon Ranch Stuffed Cucumbers are a delicious snack and they are super easy to make! They're a good match for the Keto diet but delicious enough for everyone.
Thai Beef Salad (Nam Tok)
Thai Beef Salad (Nam Tok) is made with tender strips of steak tossed in a sweet, sour, spicy dressing with fresh herbs and cucumbers. Cook the steak over the grill or on the stovetop.
Cucumber Lime Mocktail
Cucumber Lime Mocktail is a refreshing non-alcoholic Summer mocktail made with cucumbers, lime, and carbonated mineral water.
Refrigerator Pickles
Making refrigerator pickles is incredibly simple - no sterilizing jars required. Try green beans, cauliflower, bell peppers, jalapeños or onions, too!
Pesto Avocado Salad with Tomatoes, Mozzarella, and Cucumbers
Small fresh Mozzarella cheese balls are delicious when combined with avocado in this easy salad that also features red and yellow cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onions.
Creamy Cucumber Salad
Easy creamy cucumber salad recipe that’s perfect for barbecues or busy nights. Crisp vegetables soak in a sweet and tangy marinade then get tossed with sour cream and dill dressing. It’s a light summer salad to pair with your favorite protein.
Cucumber Melon Splash Cocktail
This Cucumber Melon Spritzer pairs fresh cucumbers, cantaloupe, cucumber vodka, and sparkling water for a satisfyingly light cocktail.
Cucumber Water with Orange, Lime, and Mint
Enjoy this refreshing cucumber water recipe infused with fresh orange slices, mint and lime. Orange cucumber lime water is easy to make and sip all day!
Watermelon Feta Salad with Blueberries and Cucumber
Eat the rainbow when you dive into this Watermelon Feta Salad with Blueberries and Cucumbers! The most refreshing bite you’ll ever take, this easy side dish recipe is so simple to prepare and is always a hit at every meal.
Easy Refreshing Tabbouleh
This easy tabbouleh is the perfect side salad or snack to have kicking around during the warmer months.
Spicy Sesame Peanut Noodles
These spicy sesame noodles won’t last long. They’re creamy, crunchy, chewy and deliciously spicy.
Green Cabbage Cucumber Salad
Easy Green Cabbage Cucumber Salad is loaded with fresh green cabbage, crisp cucumbers and fresh herbs. It’s the perfect side dish for potlucks, parties and barbecue. Made with sunflower oil and vinegar, inexpensive and may just become your new favorite side dish.
Moroccan Chicken Meatballs with Parsley Sauce
These Moroccan chicken meatballs are going to become a new go-to! They’re easy to make, packed with so much good flavor thanks to Spice Tribe’s Moroccan spice blend, and they’re topped with a very exciting parsley yogurt sauce. It’s a dish that’s fresh in flavor and good for you, too.
Cream Cheese Ranch Cucumber Bites
These little bites have just five ingredients and are naturally gluten-free. Perfect little game day bites!
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