Looking for an easy summer side dish for your potluck, picnic, family cookout, or BBQ? This creamy tomato and cucumber salad is loaded with fresh veggies, crispy bacon and a creamy ranch dressing that everyone will love.
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When it comes to summer salads, I usually stick to our tried and true- creamy macaroni salad, classic potato salad and our favorite pizza pasta salad. But, this year I decided that it was finally time to step out of my comfort zone and try a few new cold salad recipes to serve at our backyard BBQs and family cookouts.
That’s exactly how this creamy tomato and cucumber salad came to be (well, that and I had an extra container of cherry tomatoes and some mini cucumbers that needed to be used up). And, while I had heard of creamy tomato cucumber salad before it’s usually made with large tomatoes and regular cucumbers.
So, I combined my cherry tomatoes, mini cucumbers, and some red onions with a creamy ranch dressing (and I decided at the last minute to add some bacon pieces because everything tastes better with a little bacon). The result was a cool and refreshing summer side that was creamy, crunchy, and flavorful. My picky eaters even loved it so I thought I would share it in case you need a quick side dish for your BBQ, picnic, or potluck this summer.
Why You Will Love This Creamy Tomato & Cucumber Salad
- Simple to Prep with budget-friendly ingredients that you probably have on hand, it’s perfect to whip up on busy days.
- Ideal to make ahead, just prepare it in advance and the flavors will blend together making the salad even more delicious.
- Perfect for feeding a crowd all summer long at backyard BBQs, picnics, potlucks, holiday celebrations, or a simple side dish for quick family dinners.
- Pairs well with your favorite summer grilling foods like burgers, grilled chicken, hot dogs, and kabobs.
- Easy to customize as you can add in some shredded cheese, avocados, or bell peppers.
- Family-friendly as even picky eaters enjoy this creamy tomato and cucumber salad with bacon.
Looking for more easy summer side dish recipes for your next BBQ?
- 46 Make-Ahead Potluck Side Dish Recipes
- 39 Summer Potato Side Dish Recipes
- 32 Summer BBQ Side Dish Recipes
- 36 Summer Potluck Recipes to Feed a Crowd
- 12 Best Summer Salad Recipes
Creamy Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Ingredients for Tomato Cucumber Salad
If you love creamy summer salads, you will want to try this easy tomato, cucumber, and bacon salad. It’s perfect for sharing at any occasion this summer. Whether you are heading to a family reunion, outdoor picnic, or you just need a simple side dish for your weeknight dinner, this refreshing cold salad is sure to impress.
You will need:
- cherry tomatoes
- mini cucumbers
- red onion
- Great Value real bacon pieces (or cooked crumbled bacon)
- mayonnaise
- sour cream
- ranch dressing
- salt and pepper
How to Make Creamy Tomato & Cucumber Salad
- In a large serving bowl, combine the halved cherry tomatoes, sliced and halved mini cucumbers, sliced red onion, and precooked crumbled bacon.
- Then, in a small mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, and ranch dressing with a sprinkle of salt and pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the dressing over the vegetable mixture and stir gently until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes (optional step but recommended so the flavors blend together).
Helpful Tips
- You can use regular tomatoes and cucumbers if that is what you have on hand, however cherry tomatoes and mini cucumbers will stay crisp longer so that is what I would recommend for the best flavor and texture.
- Make sure you slice the red onions really thin so they don’t overpower the other ingredients.
- For the best flavor, refrigerate the salad for 20-30 minutes. However, this is optional.
- Taste the dressing before adding it to the veggies especially if you would like more or less ranch flavor.
Variations
- Add in some shredded cheddar or Colby Jack cheese.
- Love veggies? Try it with some diced bell peppers, avocado, or celery.
- You can make a lighter version by substituting the sour cream with plain Greek yogurt or replace part of the mayonnaise with the Greek yogurt.
- Add in some grilled chicken for some protein
Storage
- Store leftover creamy tomato and cucumber salad with bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Keep in mind the cucumbers and tomatoes will release some liquid the longer they chill so the dressing may thin a little as it sits in the fridge. Just stir before serving.
Find More Easy Summer Recipes:
- 50 Refreshing Summer Drinks and Mocktails
- 45 Quick No-Fuss Summer Dinner Recipes
- 38 No-Bake Summer Dessert Recipes
- 43 Best Picnic Desserts
Creamy Tomato and Cucumber Salad With Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 4 mini cucumbers sliced and halved
- ½ small red onion sliced thin
- ¼ cup Great Value real bacon pieces or crumbled precooked bacon
Creamy Ranch Dressing
- ¼ cup mayonnaise or ⅓ if you want it extra creamy
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp ranch dressing bottled (not dry mix)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large serving bowl, combine the halved cherry tomatoes, sliced and halved mini cucumbers, sliced red onion, and precooked crumbled bacon.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, and ranch dressing with a sprinkle of salt and pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the dressing over the vegetable mixture and stir gently until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes (optional step but recommended so that the flavors blend together).
Notes
Helpful Tips
- If you find that the salad isn't as creamy as you would like you can add 1/3 cup of mayo instead of the 1/4 cup.
- You can use regular tomatoes and cucumbers if that is what you have on hand, however cherry tomatoes and mini cucumbers will stay crisp longer so that is what I would recommend for the best flavor and texture.
- Make sure you slice the red onions really thin so they don't overpower the other ingredients.
- For the best flavor, refrigerate the salad for 20-30 minutes. However, this is optional.
- Taste the dressing before adding it to the veggies especially if you would like more or less ranch flavor.
Variations
- Add in some shredded cheddar or Colby Jack cheese.
- Love veggies? Try it with some diced bell peppers, avocado, or celery.
- You can make a lighter version by substituting the sour cream with plain Greek yogurt or replace part of the mayonnaise with the Greek yogurt.
- Add in some grilled chicken for some protein
Storage
- Store leftover creamy tomato and cucumber salad with bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Keep in mind the cucumbers and tomatoes will release some liquid the longer they chill so the dressing may thin a little as it sits in the fridge. Just stir before serving.
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