Southern Creamy Cucumber, Tomato and Vidalia Onion Salad/

Creamy cucumber, tomato and Vidalia onion salad is a cool, tangy side dish made with mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, and dill. This refreshing salad is perfect for summer cookouts, potlucks, and family dinners.

If you loved my last Southern tomato, cucumber, and Vidalia onion salad, Southern Cucumber, Tomato and Vidalia Onion Salad the one y’all shared almost 100,000 times just in the two days of posting it then hold onto your forks, because you’re gonna fall head over heels for this creamy version too.

This recipe takes the same fresh, juicy ingredients, homegrown tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and sweet Vidalia onions and gives them a creamy, tangy Southern twist thanks to a dollop (or two!) of good old-fashioned Duke’s mayonnaise. It’s the kind of side dish that brings back memories of my mama at the kitchen counter, slicing up vegetables straight from the garden. We’d eat this with nothing but a plate of fried okra, creamed corn, and maybe a skillet of cornbread, and I promise you we didn’t miss the meat one bit.

This salad is cool, crisp, and full of flavor the perfect way to enjoy summer’s bounty. It’s great for potlucks, cookouts, or just keeping in the fridge for a few days when you want something simple, nostalgic, and actually pretty healthy. (Yes, even with the mayonnaise, it’s still mostly veggies, and it’s worth every bite.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

• Uses sweet, Southern Vidalia onions for nostalgic flavor
• No cooking required—perfect for hot summer days
• Goes with anything from BBQ to fried chicken
• Creamy, tangy, and refreshing all at once
• Add chopped fresh basil or dill just before serving for a fragrant finish.
• Pairs beautifully with barbecue, fried chicken, or sandwiches on the porch.

What you will need to make Creamy Cucumber, tomato and Vidalia Onion Salad.

(Be sure to see the full printable recipe below this post.)

• Ripe tomatoes (My favorite is heirloom tomatoes or Beef steak tomatoes.)
• Crisp cucumbers (English cucumbers or homegrown taste the best in this recipe.)
• Thinly sliced Vidalia onions
• Mayonnaise
• Sour cream
• Apple cider vinegar
• Salt & pepper
• Sugar (optional for balance)
• Fresh dill (optional)

How to Make the Perfect Creamy Cucumber, Tomato and Vidalia Onion Salad

1. Slice cucumbers and tomatoes thick enough to hold their shape in dressing.
2. Thinly slice Vidalia onions – the flatter the sweeter.
3. In a separate bowl, stir together Duke’s mayo, a splash of apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar.
   

   This dressing is delicious over any salad and make a great vegetable dip too!

4. Gently toss vegetables in the creamy dressing.
5. Chill for at least an hour before serving so the flavors marry.
   

   So delicious!

How to Prep the Cucumbers for a Pretty Presentation

You can peel the cucumbers completely, but I like to leave a little of the skin on for color and texture. I simply run a vegetable peeler down the sides in stripes, leaving thin ribbons of green for contrast. Then, using a fork, I gently score down the length of the cucumber before slicing. It gives each piece a lightly ridged, decorative edge that looks beautiful in the bowl.

I usually use an English cucumber because it’s mild and crisp, but a good homegrown pickling cucumber works just as well and might even taste better if you’ve got one fresh off the vine!

Storage Tips:

• Best served the same day, but can be stored in the fridge for 2 days.
• The dressing may loosen over time as the vegetables release juice – just give it a gentle stir.
• Not recommended for freezing due to high water content

Successful Tips for the Best Summer Salad

• Use garden-fresh cucumbers and tomatoes if you have them. I love heirloom or beef steak tomatoes. If not, look for firm cucumbers and juicy red tomatoes at the store. English or Kirby cucumbers work great, but any fresh ones will do.
• Stick with sweet onions, like Georgia Vidalias, for that authentic Southern flavor. They won’t overpower the dish and add a smooth, mellow bite. Purple onions are a great backup if Vidalias are out of season just keep the slices thin.
• Let it marinate. This salad gets better as it sits. Make it at least an hour before serving, but it’ll keep several days in the fridge and just get more flavorful. Stir it occasionally to keep everything soaking up that delicious vinegar dressing.
• Chill several hours before serving for the most refreshing experience. This dish shines cold on a hot day or better make it the night before.
• Customize the herbs. A little fresh dill or fresh basil can brighten it up, but keep it simple too many greens can muddy the look and flavor. Sprinkle extra freshly ground black pepper over the salad just before serving.
• Low calorie + big flavor = a win for summertime sides. Serve it alongside grilled chicken, pork chops, pinto beans, or anything from the smoker.
  

  Perfect for potlucks and outside BBQ’s or cookouts.

What Are Vidalia Onions?

Vidalia onions are the South’s sweetest secret—grown only in the mild, low-sulfur soil around Vidalia, Georgia. Thanks to this unique dirt and the warm climate, they’re famously sweet, not sharp like regular onions. First discovered by farmers during the Great Depression, Vidalias quickly became a Southern staple for everything from onion rings to Sunday roasts.

Quick Tip: The flatter the Vidalia onion, the sweeter it tends to be! That’s because flatter onions have a higher water content and lower sulfur, which makes them milder and more mellow in flavor.

More recipes that you will love!!

Southern Cucumber, Tomato and Vidalia Onion Salad

Cornbread Salad

Crunchy Oriental Coleslaw

Classic Southern Tomato Pie

Southern Potato Salad

The Best Creamy Southern Coleslaw

Be sure to leave a comment below if you have any questions about the recipes.  I would love to hear from you and if you make it, be sure to use #deliciouslysouthern and let me know how you like it. Lastly, please follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

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