Keto Cucumber Dill Salad

Who doesn’t love a fresh and easy salad in hot summer months? This simple sliced cucumber dill salad can be made in little time and ready when you are, to take and head to that summer BBQ! 

In the warmer months of the year, I’m all about less time in the kitchen and more time with family and friends. This is one of my  “go-to” recipes for all the pool parties! Everyone loves it, and the ones who hate red onion can simply pick it out.

You could also add some tasty black or green olives to this crunchy, crispy salad of fresh cucumber slices with a delicious dressing of simple ingredients.

Why This Keto Cucumber Dill Salad Is One of My Favorite Summer Salads

When my summer garden is overflowing with fresh cucumbers, this easy keto cucumber dill salad is always one of my favorite recipes. It’s a great side dish for grilled chicken, burgers, steak, seafood, or even alongside my keto BBQ recipes.

What I love most is the perfect combination of flavors. The crisp cucumbers, tangy dressing, fresh dill, and thin slices of red onions create bold flavors without adding unnecessary carbohydrates.

Whether you’re following a keto diet, low carb lifestyle, or simply looking for a healthy side dish, this recipe fits almost every menu.

It’s also one of those recipes that’s even better the next time you enjoy it because the vinegar dressing has time to soak into the sliced cucumbers.

For a Mediterranean Cucumber Salad, this is a very versatile recipe!

You can easily turn this into a Greek cucumber salad by adding:

• Kalamata olives
• Feta cheese
• Cherry tomatoes
• Green onions
• Extra fresh dill
• A drizzle of olive oil

You could eliminate the onion if you’re not a fan, but red onion does not have such a strong bite as raw regular yellow onion and adds some pretty color and more crunch to this salad.

Fresh herbs like fresh dill chopped on top is optional or try adding fresh basil if you’re not a fan of dill. You could also just toss this with the vinegar alone and call it a day and eliminate the stevia if you would rather not have a sweetness to the salad. 

This is more of a keto German cucumber salad which does not include olive oil, but feel free to add some as it’s a great addiction to this salad.

Best Cucumbers for Cucumber Salad

One of the hardest parts of making a great cucumber salad is choosing the right cucumbers.

For the crispiest texture, I highly recommend using English cucumbers. Their thin skin doesn’t need peeling, they have very small seeds, and they contain less water than many regular cucumbers.

Other great options include:

• English cucumbers
• Persian cucumbers
• Garden fresh cucumbers
• Regular cucumbers (peeled if the skin is thick)

Many cucumbers are bitter and have a high water content which can make salads a bit soggy.

If you’re using regular cucumbers, sprinkle them generously with salt and allow them to drain in a colander before assembling the salad. This easy step removes excess moisture so your salad stays crisp instead of watery.

Using the English cucumber will keep the salad crispier as well as removing the seeds which has most of the bitterness and water in them. I left the skin on the English cucumbers because it’s not waxy like regular cucumbers so unpeeled cucumber is the way I like this salad the best. 

I would recommend peeling the skin since if you are using a regular large cucumber, but that’s just my personal preference. 

Why Cucumbers Are Great for a Low Carb Lifestyle

Besides being naturally low in carbohydrates, cucumbers are full of water, making them refreshing during hot summer months.

Each serving contains only about 2 grams of net carbs (4 grams of carbs total), making this recipe an excellent choice for anyone following a keto or low carb eating plan.

Cucumbers are also a good source of:

• Vitamin K
• Vitamin C
• Potassium
• Magnesium

Their high water content also makes them a refreshing addition to a healthy lifestyle.

Helpful Tips for Crisp Cucumbers Every Time

Nobody likes soggy cucumbers. These simple tips help keep your salad crunchy.

• Slice cucumbers evenly with a mandoline slicer if you have one.
• Salt the cucumbers before mixing to remove excess water.
• Pat dry with paper towels before adding the dressing.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container.
• Wait to add fresh herbs until just before serving for the freshest flavor.

These simple steps make a huge difference in maintaining those delicious crisp cucumbers everyone loves.

Can I Make this Cucumber Salad Ahead of Time?

Enjoy this for any cook out or outdoor get together. It is nice even room temperature as opposed to chilled in the refrigerator. It can easily be made a day ahead and covered, ready for your party when you are.

I take this to all my summer parties because it won’t go bad being outside, nor get anyone sick if it’s not refrigerated. 

Can I leave out the Stevia in the dressing?

If you don’t have lemon liquid stevia, you can use clear stevia or leave it out if you prefer no sweetness to this salad.

I recommend replacing the lemon stevia with 1 -2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice or even lime juice.

You can of course,  use any sweetener you prefer, but granulated sugar free sweeteners might not be the best choice here as you certainly don’t want a grittiness on your cucumbers.

Easy Ingredient Swaps

This easy recipe is incredibly flexible.

Instead of white wine vinegar, try:

• Rice vinegar
• Apple cider vinegar
• Red wine vinegar

Instead of lemon juice:

• Fresh lime juice
• Extra vinegar

Instead of dill:

• Fresh basil
• Fresh parsley
• Chives
• Mixed fresh herbs

If you’d like even more bold flavors, add:

• Avocado (add just before serving)
• Cherry tomatoes
• Sliced radishes
• Bell peppers

Creamy Cucumber Salad Variation

If you love a creamy cucumber salad, stir one of these into the finished salad:

• Sour cream
• Greek yogurt
• Mayonnaise

This creates a creamy dressing that’s perfect for cookouts and potlucks. The fresh dill pairs beautifully with all three options.

Asian Cucumber Salad Variation

Want something completely different?

Turn this recipe into an Asian cucumber salad by replacing the dressing with:

• Rice vinegar
• A splash of soy sauce or coconut aminos
• A few drops of sesame oil
• Sesame seeds
• Fresh garlic
• Crushed red pepper flakes

You can even add a splash of fish sauce if you enjoy authentic Thai-inspired flavors. This variation has incredible tangy flavors and pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken or shrimp.

More Easy Keto Salads you might like:

• Cauliflower “Mock” Potato Salad
• Mediterranean Cauliflower Salad
• Summer Confetti Salad

Why so much Salt?

The reason for the heavy amount of salt added to the cucumbers,  is to pull the bitterness out of the cucumbers.

Of course you can taste them and if they are fine and not at all bitter to you, skip the draining step and toss everything together.

For the approximate nutritional breakdown below I’ve only calculated 1 teaspoon of salt here since most of it gets washed off and rinsed anyway.

Perfect for Meal Prep

This is one of my favorite meal prep recipes because it comes together in minutes.

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The cucumbers stay surprisingly crisp, making this a great option for weekday lunches or healthy snacks.

If making it ahead for a party, wait until just before serving to stir in the fresh dill and lemon juice for the freshest taste.

Kitchen Tools That Make This Recipe Even Easier

While you don’t need any special equipment, these kitchen tools make prep quick:

• Large mixing bowl
• Sharp knife
• Mandoline slicer
• Colander
• Measuring spoons
• Airtight container for leftovers

Serving Suggestions

This keto cucumber onion salad pairs perfectly with:

• Grilled burgers
• Steak
• BBQ chicken
• Salmon
• Pork chops
• Grilled shrimp
• Kabobs

It’s one of my favorite summer salads because it goes with just about everything.

Keto Cucumber Dill Salad

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Keto Cucumber Dill Salad with Sugar Free Dressing

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Calories 17kcal

Author Brenda Bennett

Ingredients

• 4 cups English cucumber (or 2 large cucumbers)
• 3 ounces red onion sliced thin
• 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon liquid stevia
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped
• juice of half a lemon or lime (about 1 tbsp)

Instructions

• Slice the cucumbers lengthwise and remove the seeds with a spoon or melon ball scooper. Slice thin. Should be about 4 cups of cucumbers.
• Place onion and cucumbers in a bowl and toss with salt.
• Place into a colander and allow to drain for 20 minutes.
• Press out liquid, rinse well with cold water.
• In a serving bowl whisk white wine vinegar and stevia together.
• Add cucumbers and onion and toss to combine well.
• Top with fresh dill and lemon.
• Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Video

Notes

This recipe was first published in July 2013 and updated with new pics and video in May 2019.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 17kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 123mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.2mg

The post Best Easy Low Carb Keto Cucumber Dill Salad Recipe appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.

Do you LOVE super easy appetizers that look really pretty and you made little effort?

I do! These are seriously easy….seriously low in calories…..seriously fantastic looking for a party!

These pretty little bites were a creation of food I had on hand and needed something to bring to a mom’s night “in” with friends. I wanted a carb-free snack I could munch on and not worry about consuming too many calories! This was PERFECT!

Only 20 calories for one yummy appetizer!! You can have quite a few and not worry if you can’t remember how many you ate while you (had a glass of wine) were chatting away with friends!

Tasty, easy, healthy and very delicious!

Extra Tips:

• I cut the cucumber ends off, then sliced it in half, then lengthwise. I wanted them to resemble little crackers or tiny sandwiches. You can easily just slice the cucumber and use rounds.
• Cucumbers vary in size but I was able to make 24 “sandwich” bites. That was 48 sliced pieces.
• I used chicken I had in the freezer from my freezer cooking burrito recipe and it was seriously delicious! Use whatever cooked chicken you have on hand.
• I shredded the chicken because you can use a lot less mayo rather than just using chopped chicken. It may seem dry at first, but work with it and it will absorb well and be just as tasty even though it doesn’t have tons of mayo.

If you are interested in just making the chicken salad alone for sandwiches or wraps. here’s the breakdown for you.

• Separating this recipe into 4 servings of abut 1/2 cup each and excluding the cucumber will give this for nutrition info:
• Servings: 4* Calories: 108* Fat: 4g* Cholesterol: 44mg* Sodium: 97mg* Carbs: 1g* Fiber: 0g* Sugars: 0g* Protein: 15g* Points+: 3*

To See How I packed this as a Meal-To Go check this post!

If you’d like to bring a crunchy, salty snack to any party or to serve at your own, try my Sweet & Salty Garbanzo Bean Snack or Garlic Parmesan Chickpeas!

Do you have a favorite appetizer you serve for company? Have you revamped it to make it healthier? Please share, I’d love to hear!

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Low Carb Chicken Salad Cucumber Bites

Servings 8 @ 3 cucumber bites

Calories 74kcal

Ingredients

• 1 English cucumber
• 7 ounces cooked chicken breast
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 2 scallions chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin
• salt and pepper to taste
• Kalamata, black or green olives for topping optional

Instructions

• Slice the cucumber making either 48 rounds or squares. 
• Shred your chicken with a food processor if you have one or using a fork.
• In a bowl thoroughly mix the chicken, mayo, cilantro, scallions and cumin and salt and pepper.
• Lay a slice of cucumber on the plate you will serve the appetizer on. Add a heaping tablespoon of the chicken salad on the cucumber, lay another piece on top.
• Add a toothpick to hold it together.
• Place kalamata, black or green olives through the top of the toothpick to pretty it up!
• Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 127mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.4mg

The post Chicken Salad Cucumber Bites appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.