Name: Cucumber Tomato Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 cucumbers (sliced); 3 medium tomatoes (cut into wedges, or 2 cups cherry tomatoes); ½ red onion (thinly sliced); 3 tablespoons olive oil; 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar; ½ teaspoon sugar; 2 tablespoons fresh dill or parsley (chopped); Salt and black pepper (to taste)

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This Cucumber Tomato Salad is the simplest side dish on the site, and one of the freshest. Crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes and thin slices of red onion soak up a tangy vinaigrette in about 10 minutes.

There’s nothing fancy here, which is exactly the point. A couple of cucumbers and a few tomatoes cost very little, and they turn any dinner into a more balanced meal.

It pairs with almost everything: grilled chicken, burgers, pasta, rice bowls or a simple sandwich.

For the best flavor, let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before serving so the vegetables pick up the dressing.

Ingredients and Swaps

Cucumbers: English or mini cucumbers don’t need peeling or seeding. Regular cucumbers are cheaper. Peel them if the skin is thick or waxed.
Tomatoes: Ripe tomatoes cut into wedges, or halved cherry tomatoes.
Red onion: Thinly sliced. Soak in cold water for 10 minutes for a milder flavor.
Dressing: Olive oil, red wine vinegar and a pinch of sugar. Lemon juice or white vinegar also work.
Herbs: Fresh dill or parsley. Use 1 teaspoon dried if that’s what you have.

Tips for a Crisp Cucumber Tomato Salad

Use ripe tomatoes. This salad is only as good as the tomatoes. In winter, cherry tomatoes have the most flavor.
Salt at the last minute. Salt pulls water out of cucumbers and tomatoes. Season just before serving.
Cut everything bite-size. Pieces about the same size make each forkful balanced.
Serve it cool, not ice-cold. Tomatoes taste best close to room temperature.

Prices are from Walmart’s and ALDI’s websites for stores in Columbus, Ohio, checked in October 2026. Ohio’s grocery prices are within about 1% of the national average, so you may pay more or less depending on where you live, and prices change often. Here’s how we price our recipes.

Cost: Ingredients – $3.81 from Walmart, $4.89 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.95 to $1.22

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Cucumber Tomato Salad

Crisp cucumbers, ripe tomatoes and red onion in a simple red wine vinaigrette with fresh herbs. A fresh, 10-minute side for any meal.

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Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

2 cucumbers sliced
3 medium tomatoes cut into wedges, or 2 cups cherry tomatoes
½ red onion thinly sliced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
½ teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons fresh dill or parsley chopped
Salt and black pepper to taste

Method

Add the cucumbers, tomatoes and red onion to a large bowl.
Whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper.
Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss gently.
Sprinkle with the fresh herbs.
Let sit for 10–15 minutes, then toss again and serve.

Notes

English or mini cucumbers don’t need peeling or seeding.
Add crumbled feta or sliced olives for a Greek twist.
Swap the red wine vinegar for apple cider vinegar.
Use the ripest tomatoes you can find; they make the biggest difference.

How to Serve It

Next to grilled or baked chicken, One-Pot Curry Chicken and Rice, sandwiches or anything rich. Add crumbled feta and olives for a Greek-style salad, or chickpeas to make it a meal. More ideas are in 12 Cheap Salad Recipes That Actually Fill You Up.

Storage

Refrigerate for up to 2 days. It’s best the day it’s made.
Drain off extra liquid before serving leftovers.
If you’re making it ahead, cut the vegetables and mix the dressing, then combine and salt just before serving.