Quick & Easy Apple Cucumber Salad

This Apple Cucumber Salad is quick and easy and the whole family loves it! The whole thing takes less than 10 minutes to prepare. 

Looking for a quick and healthy salad recipe that even the kids will eat? Look no further than this Apple Cucumber Salad! With just a few simple ingredients, you can have a nutritious and delicious salad that is perfect for any occasion.

This salad is packed with nutritional benefits, including antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It is also incredibly easy to make – simply mix the ingredients together and enjoy! I love that this is an easy way to get both a fruit and vegetable serving with one delicious side dish.

Yes, even my salad-averse girl Meghan ate this. It’s okay if there aren’t any greens in it–baby steps!

Ready to make this one? Let’s go!

Recipe Ingredients–What You Need

These simple ingredients result in a flavorful salad with a crisp texture.

2 English cucumbers

I like to use English cucumber because they have less seeds, but you can use regular cucumbers you prefer. Cucumbers are a great source of hydration and are also low in calories.

3 small apples

If your apples are bigger, you’ll only need 2. You can use any type of apple you like; I like to use sweet apples here, but use a blend of sweet and tart apple if you have them on hand. Apples are a great source of fiber and vitamins A and C.

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Extra-virgin olive oil is my favorite type of oil to use for salad dressings as it’s flavorful and packed with health benefits. Olive oil is a healthy fat that’s known to help fight inflammation. (Check out my Anti-Inflammatory Diet Food List)

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a versatile ingredient that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It’s also been shown to lower blood sugar levels. (source)

2 teaspoons maple syrup

Maple syrup adds just a touch of sweetness to compliment the apples and also provides some additional nutrients, including zinc and manganese.

Salt and pepper, to taste

Sea salt brings out the flavor in all of the salad ingredients. When I have it on hand, I like to use Himalayan pink salt as it is a pure, unrefined salt that contains 84 different minerals. Black pepper is a great source of antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Dijon mustard is a type of mustard that is made with wine and spices. It has a slightly sweeter flavor than regular mustard and pairs well with the apple cider vinegar in this recipe.

Optional Toppings and Additions:

The simple salad is great as the recipe is written, but here are some ideas if you want to customize it and make it your own!

• crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese
• chopped nuts (I like to use walnuts or pecans)
• dried cranberries or raisins
• avocado slices
• green onions
• fresh herbs like fresh dill, fresh rosemary, or fresh mint. The flavor profile will change drastically depending on which you choose, but next time I’d love to try one of these!

How to Make Apple Cucumber Salad

1. Start by chopping the cucumbers and apples into bite-sized pieces. I like to leave the skin on the apple and cucumber for extra fiber and nutrients, but you can peel it off if you prefer. Add the chopped apples and cucumbers to a large bowl.
2. To make the homemade dressing, in a small bowl or jar, combine the dressing ingredients: olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
3. Whisk or shake to combine, and then pour the dressing on the apple and cucumber mixture. Stir to combine.
4. Sprinkle the salad with a touch more salt and pepper, and serve.

Recipe Tips

1. This salad can be made ahead of time or as part of meal prep. It will keep in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for 4-5 days.
2. The vinegar does a decent job of keeping the apples from turning brown. Only after storing the salad in the fridge for 2 days did the apples start to slightly brown. If you’d like to avoid this, soak your chopped apples in salt for a few minutes, and then rinse and proceed with the recipes. For more details, see my How to Keep Apples from Turning Brown post.
3. When the salad gets cold, as when stored to in the refrigerator, the olive oil may solidify. This does not mean it’s bad; when the salad comes to room temperature, it will return to its normal, liquid state.

If you like easy recipes that are filled nutrients, you’ll love some of my other salad recipes!

Cucumber Salad with Green Grapes and Avocado

White Bean Salad

Pear Gorgonzola Salad

Vibrant Thai Salad

If you need another apple recipe, you’ll love this Air Fryer Apples recipe! It’s quick, easy, and healthy!

If you make this Apple Cucumber Salad recipe or any of my other healthy recipes, I’d love to know about it! Please give the recipes a star rating as it helps other readers who are interested in trying it know it’s a tried and true recipe. Share your pics on  Instagram and Facebook and I’ll feature you!

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