167 Ways to Use Cucumbers from Your Garden

by Erin Marissa Russell

Facing a pile of cucumbers harvested from the garden and wondering how your family will eat them all now that you’re tired of them in garden salads or sliced raw as a snack? Nothing to worry about—Gardening Channel has your back. We’ve combed through all the recipes out there that use cucumbers to present you with this collection of the most unexpected, the most recommended, and the most delicious cucumber recipes on the web. Don’t let your haul of homegrown cucumbers go to waste when there are all these great ways to serve them.

Cucumbers are healthy, hydrating, and super low in calories, so you can eat as many as you want without worrying about your waistline. Their clean flavor and crisp texture makes them the perfect ingredient to binge in the summer when you can’t even think about heating up the house to cook.

Think Outside the Box for Cucumber Condiments Other Than Pickles

Of course you might decide to pickle some of the cucumbers you grow, but there are other ways to use cucumbers in condiments to enhance lots of dishes. Chop them into salsas, blend them into smooth and creamy dips, or whip up a Greek tzatziki. The possibilities are just about endless.

Bon Appetit’s Peach and Cucumber Salsa

Cooking on the Weekends’ Watermelon Cucumber Salsa

Cottage at the Crossroads’ Sweet Cucumber Relish

Dad With a Pan’s Cucumber Mango Salsa

Diabetes Food Hub’s Avocado-Cucumber Dip

Fatfree Vegan’s Cucumber Hummus

Hidden Valley’s Ranch Cucumber Dip

Katie Lee’s Pineapple-Cucumber Salsa on Food Network

Lauren Schaefer’s Curry-Cucumber Dip with Fried Shallots on Bon Appetit

Martha Stewart’s Cucumber Relish

Real Simple’s Pickled Radish-and-Cucumber Dip

Sara Foster’s Cucumber-Avocado Salsa at MyRecipes

SOS Cuisine’s Tomato and Cucumber Salsa

Taste of Home’s Crisp Cucumber Salsa

The Saucy Southerner’s Pickled Cucumber Spread/Dip

The Spruce Eats’ Kentucky Benedictine Dip or Spread

The Wanderlust Kitchen’s Authentic Greek Tzatziki

TheKitchn’s Cucumber-Peel Sandwich Spread

VJUNE’s Garlic Cucumber Dip on AllRecipes

Don’t Be Afraid to Serve Cucumber in Soup, Hot or Cold

It may surprise some readers to learn that cucumber is just as tasty cooked and served warm as it is ice-cold, but it’s true. Many of the soups below are served chilled, but there are some warm cucumber soups to try as well. Take a look at the ideas listed here to see which recipes strike your fancy.

Andrew Zimmern’s Cold Cucumber Soup with Yogurt and Dill on Food & Wine

BBC’s Green Cucumber and Mint Gazpacho

Bon Appetit’s Chilled Cucumber Soup with Soba Noodles

Budget Bytes’ Green Gazpacho

EatingWell’s Creamy Cucumber Soup

Elise Bauer’s Vichyssoise on Simply Recipes

Fab Food 4 All’s Chilled Picante Summer Soup

Fine Cooking’s Cucumber-Yogurt Soup with Avocado

Foolproof Living’s Chilled Cucumber and Avocado Soup with Roasted Shrimp

KCET’s Chilled Corn and Cucumber Soup

Kimchimari’s Korean Cold Cucumber Soup (Oi-Naengguk)

Kristen Langford’s Zesty Thai Cucumber Soup on AllRecipes

My Favourite Pastime’s Pork and Cucumber Soup

Rachael Ray’s Warm Cucumber Soup with Cheese Toasts

Simply Fresh Dinners’ Cold Cucumber Soup

Taste’s Cold Buttermilk and Cucumber Soup

The Mediterranean Dish’s Chilled Cucumber Soup, Persian-Style

The Splendid Table’s Spicy Cold Cucumber Soup

The Spruce Eats’ Polish Pickle Soup—Zupa Ogórkowa

The View from Great Island’s Iced Cucumber and Yogurt Soup

Vibrant Plate’s Cream of Cucumber Soup (Vegan)

Serve Cucumbers in Classic and Imaginative Salads

Don’t worry, you won’t find any plain-Jane salads on this list. The salad recipes in this section call on flavors from around the world or partner cucumbers with unusual ingredients (like grapefruit!). We’ve included some traditional American recipes that feature cucumber as well, so you’re sure to find something to suit your family’s palate.

Appetite for China’s Sichuan Cucumber Salad

Archana’s Kitchen’s Khamang Kakdi (Maharashtrian Cucumber Salad)

Budget Bytes’ Thai Cucumber Salad

Cooking With Amy’s Mango, Cucumber, Strawberry Salad

Dinner at the Zoo’s Watermelon Salad with Feta and Cucumber

FoodieCrush’s Thai Chicken and Cucumber Salad

Gaby’s Cucumber Salad on Cookie and Kate

J. Kenji López-Alt’s Spring Vegetable and Arugula Salad with Labne and Cucumbers on Serious Eats

Just a Taste’s Hungarian Cucumber Salad

Lemon Tree Dwelling’s Creamy Cucumber Salad

Peas and Crayons’ Spicy Sriracha Crab and Cucumber Salad

Sabrina Modelle’s Chinese Smashed Cucumber Chicken Salad on Simply Recipes

Sandro Gamba’s Cucumber-Grapefruit Crab Salad on Food & Wine

Taste of Home’s Kansas Cucumber Salad

The Guardian’s Grilled Cucumber Salad

Yotam Ottolenghi’s Fresh Coconut Salad on The Guardian

Start Your Next Meal with a Cucumber-Centric Appetizer

These appetizers go way beyond sliced cucumbers sprinkled with seasonings or drizzled with vinegar. You’ll find a Mexican take on ceviche called aguachile, lots of seafood bites, and Vietnamese summer rolls—with meat or without. We can’t think of a more appetizing way to kick off your next dinner (or better dishes for a party or potluck).

A Couple Cooks’ Greek Nachos with Cilantro Drizzle

Bon Appetit’s Shrimp Rice Paper Rolls with Vietnamese Dipping Sauce

Food & Wine’s Scallop Ceviche with Aguachile

In Mamá Maggie’s Kitchen’s Shrimp Aguachiles

KitchMe’s Creamy Dill Cucumber Toasties

Lavender & Lovage’s Little Smoked Salmon Cucumber Cups with Peppered Creme Fraiche

Melissa D’arabian’s Cucumber and Lemony Dill Cream Cheese Sandwiches on Food Network

Natasha’s Kitchen’s Avocado Cucumber Shrimp Appetizers

Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen’s Baked Cucumber Chips

Minimalist Baker’s Rainbow Spring Rolls with Ginger Peanut Sauce

RuthE’s Cucumber Cups with Dill Cream and Smoked Salmon on AllRecipes

Taste of Home’s Greek Shrimp Canapes

Williams Sonoma’s Crab and Cucumber Canapes

Feature Homegrown Cucumber in Delectable Sides

Cucumber’s light flavor makes it a perfect canvas to spice up, and it’s just as tasty when preparation is simpler and streamlined. That’s why the cucumbers your garden produces make excellent side dishes, no matter what’s on the menu. Take a look at the sides below that feature cucumbers to see which ones will pair well with your family’s favorite main dishes.

Andrew Zimmern’s Cold Peanut-Sesame Noodles on Food & Wine

Budget Bytes’ Lemony Cucumber Couscous Salad

Fine Cooking’s Toasted Israeli Couscous Salad with Mint, Cucumber, and Feta

Food Network’s Couscous Salad with Tomatoes and Mint

Gimme Some Oven’s Cucumber Quinoa Salad

Hidden Valley’s Mediterranean Savory Dill and Cucumber Muffins

Joshua Bousel’s Grilled Eggplant Rollups with Greek Yogurt, Tomatoes, and Cucumber on Serious Eats

Kay Chun’s Grilled Cucumbers and Eggplant on Food & Wine

Kayla’s Cucumber Carrot Muffins on SparkPeople

Mistyaikin’s Crisp Marinated Cucumbers on AllRecipes

The New York Times’ Chinese Smashed Cucumbers with Sesame Oil and Garlic

The New York Times’ Spicy Stir-Fried Japanese Eggplant and Cucumber

Whip Up a Batch of Cucumber Rolls

Cucumber rolls are the latest thing going, and they’re a great way to serve your harvest of cucumbers. No, we’re not talking about sushi rolls (although those would be good, too). These cucumber rolls, sometimes called cucumber roll-ups, have thinly sliced cucumber wrapped around all kinds of tasty fillings for a variety of delectable small bites. Just take a look at all these options.

Ambitious Kitchen’s Low Carb Pesto and Turkey Cucumber Roll Ups

Avocado Pesto’s Avocado Cucumber Roll with Shrimp and Wasabi Aioli

California Avocado’s California Avocado Cucumber Rolls with Creme Fraiche Pesto

Dakota Layers’ Egg and Avocado Cucumber Rolls

Detoxinista’s Cucumber Roll-Ups with Sun Dried Tomato Sauce

Divine Flavor’s Black Bean Hummus Stuffed Cucumber Rolls

EatWell101’s Cucumber and Goat Cheese Rolls

Good Life Eats’ Cucumber Feta Rolls

Go Dairy Free’s Asian Cucumber Rolls with Ginger “Peanut” Sauce

Gourmet’s Smoked-Salmon and Cucumber Rolls on Epicurious

KetoDiet’s 5-Ingredient Salmon Mousse Cucumber Rolls

Little Broken’s Ham and Cheese Cucumber Roll Ups

Low Carb Delish’s Chicken Avocado Cucumber Rolls

Nifty Mom’s Shrimp and Grapefruit Cucumber Rolls

Pamela Salzman’s Cucumber-Hummus-Turkey Roll-Ups

Pastry and Beyond’s Healthy Carrot and Cucumber Rolls

Perry’s Plate’s Pesto Shrimp Cucumber Rolls

Plaid & Paleo’s Turkey Cucumber Roll Ups

Rachel Schultz’s Avocado Cucumber Rolls with Capers

Robert Rothschild’s Tuna Tartare in Cucumber Rolls

Sargento’s Prosciutto Cucumber Roll-Ups with Ultra Thin Mild Cheddar Cheese

The Candida Diet’s Spanish Cucumber Rolls

Veggies Made Easy’s Kale Beet Cucumber Rolls

Partner Cucumber with Meat for Tasty, Unique Main Dishes

Cucumber kind of has an “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” thing going on. It seems like we eat lots of cucumbers as garnishes, sides, and salads, but these tasty veggies hardly ever get to be part of the main event with the meat on the plate. All that is about to change—peruse the recipes below for inspiration.

Better Homes & Gardens’ Cucumber Chicken Pita Sandwiches

Better Homes & Gardens’ Spiced Turkey Pitas with Cucumber, Olives, and Mint

Betty Crocker’s Turkey Cucumber Dill Sandwiches

Big Oven’s Cucumber and Minced Meat Casserole

Blue Apron’s Sauteed Beef and Roasted Eggplant with Spiced Rice and Cucumber Salad

CookingLight’s Mediterranean-Style Beef Kebabs with Cucumber Mint Salad

Ellie Krieger’s Jerk Pork Loin with Mango Cucumber Salsa

Fine Cooking’s Grilled Pork Sandwiches with Fennel, Dill, and Cucumber

Food Network’s Grilled Chicken with Tomato-Cucumber Salad

Good Life Eats’ Cucumber Garlic Chicken

Kay Chun’s Spicy Stir-Fried Cucumbers with Shredded Chicken on Food & Wine

Mealime’s Korean-Style Beef Rice Bowl with Cucumbers

Modern Honey’s Greek Chicken Bowls

Pickled Plum’s Vietnamese Pork Chops with Cucumber Tomato Salad

Real Simple’s Gingery Pork and Cucumber Pitas

Recipe Studio’s Czech Cucumbers Stuffed with Meat

Savory’s Mediterranean Pork Chops with Cucumber Salad

Shao Z.’s Stir-Fried Cucumbers with Spicy Ground Pork on Serious Eats

Spice the Plate’s Easy Chicken with Cucumber

Spoon Fork Bacon’s Grilled Brown Sugar Pork Chops over Cucumber Salad

SweetPhi’s Korean Beef BBQ Tacos with Quick Pickled Cucumbers

Taste of Home’s Cucumber Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Tastes Better from Scratch’s Chicken Shawarma Bowls

Tastes Better From Scratch’s Korean Ground Beef Bowls

The Gourmet RD’s Asian-Style Pork Meatballs and Sesame-Cucumber Salad

The Lemon Bowl’s Beef Shawarma with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

The New York Times’ Cold Noodles with Sesame Sauce, Chicken, and Cucumbers

The New York Times’ Cold Pork Rice Noodles with Cucumber and Peanuts

Wholesome Yum’s Cucumber Subs

Homegrown Cucumber and Seafood Are a Natural Match

The delicate flavor of cucumber is a perfect partner for the subtle flavors of all kinds of seafood. No matter what kind of fish or shellfish your family enjoys, you’ll find a recipe here pairing that fish with cucumber. Read over the recipes in this section for some ocean-flavored inspiration.

Alta NYC’s Fish Milanese with Cucumber Ceviche on Bon Appetit

Belleau Kitchen’s Grilled Salmon with Salted Cucumber and Fennel

CookingLight’s Sesame Shrimp with Smashed Cucumber Salad

Dickie’s Poached Fish with Cucumbers on AllRecipes

Emily Kyle Nutrition’s Tuna Salad Cucumber Boats

Food Network’s Soy-Glazed Salmon with Cucumber-Avocado Salad

Good Housekeeping’s Crab, Mango, and Cucumber Finger Sandwiches

Inspired Taste’s Pesto Soba Noodles with Shrimp

Kristen Stevens’ Healthy Tilapia Tacos with Creamy Cucumber Sauce on Food & Wine

Melissa Rubel Jacobson’s Spicy Curry Grilled Shrimp with Cucumber Salad on Food & Wine

Mommy’s Home Cooking’s Cucumber Noodles with Garlic Shrimp

My Korean Kitchen’s Cucumber Boats with Crab Salad

Patrick and Geena Neely’s Grilled Tilapia with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce on Food Network

Sara Dickerman’s Salmon with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Carrot Salad on Bon Appetit

Splendid Table’s Turmeric White Fish with Peanuts and Chilli-Lime Cucumber

Sprig of Thyme’s Pan-Seared Fish with Avocado-Cucumber Sauce and Fingerling Potatoes on Food52

Sunset’s Grilled Salmon with Cucumber Salad on MyRecipes

Taste of Home’s Lemony Fish and Cucumbers

The Back Label’s Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowls with Cucumber and Avocado

Yes, You Can Make Desserts with the Cucumbers You Grow

It’s true—cucumbers can be part of a delicious dessert. While you wouldn’t reach for these veggies first when you’ve got a sweet tooth, their moisture and understated flavor make them just the thing to add to all kinds of sweet treats. Don’t believe us? You don’t have to take our word for it. The recipes in this list will show you what we mean.

Bake From Scratch’s Strawberry Cucumber Bread

Brooklyn Farm Girl’s Cucumber Frosted Cookies

Brooklyn Farm Girl’s Sugar Glazed Cucumber Bread

Dessert for Two’s Cucumber Raspberry Pops

Family Cookbook Project’s Sweet Cucumber Pie

Honest Cooking’s Cucumber Cake

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Cucumber Sorbet on The Guardian

Homespun Seasonal Living’s Cucumber Mint Jam

Just a Pinch’s Vanilla Cucumber Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake

Keeley’s Maine Kitchen’s Chocolate-Cinnamon Cucumber Cake

Marcella’s Cucumber Nut Bread on AllRecipes

Sugarsmith’s Lemon Cucumber Cake with Lemon Frosting

Tablespoon’s Cucumber-Chili Mexican Paletas

The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s Cucumber-Lime Jam

Veggie Desserts’ Lemon and Cucumber Cake with Gin Icing

After bookmarking your favorites from the recipes in this article, you should be well prepared to put a major dent in this season’s bumper crop of cucumbers. That said, you may find you have one or two left over even after you’ve tried the new ideas out. First things first: To maximize their shelf life, don’t store cucumbers in the refrigerator, despite what you may be used to. Don’t forget that you can add cucumber slices to all kinds of drinks and cocktails, and the juice blends like a dream with other vegetables and fruit, too. Finally, follow the link here to learn 27 more ways to use up those cucumbers that don’t necessarily involve putting them on a plate.