Sometimes You Need to Eat a Whole Cucumber

Remember when “sometimes you need to eat a whole cucumber” went viral? To me, it’s not just an internet trend: it’s a lifestyle. Why? Because I just love these crisp, refreshing, inexpensive veggies, especially in the summer when crisp and refreshing is the move.

Healthy Creamy Cucumber Salad with Greek yogurt, radish, and dill. A light, bright, and refreshing version of old-fashioned cucumber salad that’s perfect for summer potlucks and BBQs!

My favorite cucumber recipes to make right now!

cookbook author erin clarke of well plated

When the weather warms up, there are few ingredients I crave more than cucumbers.

They’re crisp, cooling, hydrating, and require no cooking.

As a side, they’re the perfect balance for heavy mains. And as a meal, they make a fabulous, filling alternative to lettuce as a base for a salad.

If you’ve ever come home from the grocery store with a giant English cucumber that was on sale, or your garden gives you way more than you know what to do with, these recipes have you covered!

Asian Cucumber Salad

Crunchy, tangy, and packed with flavor, this cucumber salad proves that a handful of ingredients can go a long way. The dressing seeps into the cucumbers just enough to season them while preserving their signature crunch.

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Creamy Cucumber Salad

This is the cucumber salad many of us grew up eating, just updated a bit. Cool, creamy, and perfect alongside grilled food, it's one of the easiest ways to use up multiple cucumbers at once.

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A white bowl full of avocado tomato salad

Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad

Cucumbers provide the crunch, tomatoes add sweetness, and avocado brings richness. It's the kind of salad that works as a side dish but can easily become lunch with a little protein added.

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Greek Bowls

One of my favorite uses for cucumbers. Their cool crunch balances the grains, vegetables, and protein, adding freshness to every bite and making the bowls taste lighter and brighter.

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A fresh salad in a bowl featuring chickpeas, quinoa, cucumber slices, red onion, crumbled feta, pistachios, and mint leaves. A fork rests on the side of the bowl.

Jennifer Aniston Salad

Whether or not Jennifer Aniston actually ate it every day is beside the point. This protein-packed salad became popular for good reason, and cucumbers are part of what keeps it fresh and satisfying.

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Homemade Tzatziki Sauce

If cucumbers have a greatest-hit recipe, this might be it. Grated cucumber mixed with Greek yogurt, garlic, and herbs creates a sauce that's equally good as a dip, spread, or topping.

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Homemade Hummus Recipe

Not technically a cucumber recipe, but perhaps the best excuse to eat an entire cucumber. Crisp cucumber slices and creamy hummus are one of the easiest snacks you'll ever make—and one of the most satisfying.

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