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If there’s one thing we love about TikTok, it’s the truly random culinary rabbit holes it takes us down. One day, we were drinking black cold brew, and the next thing we knew, we were churning up frothy Dalgona coffees every morning. Our go-to lazy dinner was pasta with a jar of marinara; then we started seeing baked feta pasta all over our FYP, and that became our new favorite. Now, it seems like we and everyone we know have been suddenly and rapturously influenced by a TikToker who is obsessed with a humble summer vegetable: Logan of Logagm and his cucumber salads.
We have no idea where this popular TikToker came from, but one day he popped up in our FYP making a crisp, refreshing cucumber salad in a clear deli container, and nothing’s been the same since. When Google released its 2024 Year in Search report this morning, it was revealed that these cucumber recipes were one of the top food searches. Thanks to Logan, devouring an entire cucumber in one sitting has never seemed so appealing, and his advice to always add “MSG, obviously,” reminded us to stock up on this savory staple so all of our summer salads can get kicked up a notch, too.
You can see Logan’s many cucumber salad videos on TikTok, and we scoured the web for some crispy, crunchy, and totally refreshing variations you can make at home, too. The next time you head to the store, stock up on your favorite cucumbers (we like using hot house cucumbers, Japanese cucumbers, or Persian cucumbers, which have a thin, edible skin), get your deli containers ready, and prepare to eat some seriously satisfying salads.
Cucumber Salad with Lemon Chive Dressing
A trio of summer veggies joins forces in this salad: cucumber (the main star), sweet corn, and red bell pepper. The vegetables are chopped and sliced, then coated in a creamy, tangy, lemon chive dressing. And yes, you can shake this all together in a large food storage container with a tight lid, so no extra bowls or utensils need to get dirty.
Get the recipe from Carlsbad Cravings.
Fridge Pickles
No, you don’t need any fancy canning equipment to make mouthwatering pickles. We love this easy and delicious recipe from The Rooted Farmhouse.
Get the recipe from The Rooted Farmhouse.
Japanese Cucumber Salad (Sunomono)
There are many variations of Japanese sunomono, which at its most basic is a vinegar-based cucumber salad. This recipe adds dashi to the mix along with rice vinegar, with a bit of sugar and soy sauce to round things out. The resulting flavors are balanced between salty and sweet, and the refreshing texture will have you going back for more.
Get the recipe from The Japanese Kitchen.
4-Ingredient Apple Cucumber Salad
Here’s a 4-ingredient salad that’s delicious as a snack on its own, or as a side dish to heavier meals like BBQ or fried chicken. It’s made with julienned cucumbers and apples, and simply dressed with olive oil and apple cider vinegar. You can season the salad with just salt, or add black pepper for a gentle kick.
Get the recipe from Nourish Nutrition Co.
Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad
Instead of slicing your cucumbers, this recipe has you smash then slice. This gives each bite a ragged, uneven texture so it can hold on to as much of the salty, tangy, sweet, and spicy sauce as possible. The secret ingredient? Homemade chili oil, though you can use your favorite store-bought Chinese chili oil, too.
Get the recipe from Healthy Nibbles and Bits.
Creamy Cilantro Cucumber Salad
Cooling and creamy, this cucumber salad is the perfect accompaniment to spicy food, like Buffalo wings, hot chicken sandwiches, and spicy BBQ. The dressing is made with Greek yogurt and sour cream, with lemon juice and apple cider vinegar, so even though it’s creamy, the flavor is anything but dull.
Get the recipe from Bite on the Side.
Oi Muchim (Korean Cucumber Salad)
Kimchi lovers, this one’s for you. Korean oi muchim is a marinated cucumber salad that’s seasoned with gochugaru, the red chili flakes that gives most kimchi a bright orange-red color. It’s got some tang thanks to vinegar, but it’s not as sour as kimchi, and the cucumbers are nice and crunchy.
Get the recipe from Korean Bapsang.
Cucumber Ribbon Salad With Sesame Ginger Dressing
It’s easy to turn cucumbers into long ribbons with the use of a vegetable peeler, and the resulting texture of your cucumber ribbon salad is unique and refreshing. Shake or toss your cucumber ribbons with a vibrant sesame, lime, and ginger dressing, and garnish with sesame seeds and cilantro.
Get the recipe from Olivia’s Cuisine.
Cucumber Corn Salad
Sweet corn joins summer cucumbers to make this colorful salad. It’s crunchy enough to stand up for a few days in the fridge, and is versatile enough to be used as a salsa for tortilla chips, a topping for pulled pork sandwiches, or as a light side salad.
Get the recipe from The Happier Homemaker.
Chinese Pickled Cucumbers
There are two steps to making these irresistible Chinese pickled cucumbers, which are delicious enough to eat on their own. First, the cucumber sticks are seasoned with salt and sugar, then left in the fridge while those ingredients help draw out the excess water in the cucumbers. Then, the savory pickling liquid (made with soy sauce, black vinegar, sugar, and aromatics) is added, and the cucumbers sit overnight to soak up all of the flavor.
Get the recipe from The Woks of Life.
Cucumber Noodle Shrimp Salad
Spiralized cucumbers are the “noodles” in this cooling summer salad. They’re joined by succulent shrimp and seasoned with a sweet and spicy lime juice and fish sauce dressing.
Get the recipe from Kalyn’s Kitchen.
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