Cucumber Pasta Salad is a simple salad, that is light and fresh! The perfect salad for BBQs, picnics, potlucks, or any get together!

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Up close of shot of pasta salad with bow tie pasta, red onion and cucumbers

BBQs are on of my favorite things to do during the summers. I love me a grilled steak or burger! But what I really love even more than meat sometimes are the sides!! Salads, chips, dips, fruit…the sides are where it’s at!

My sister-in-law brought this salad to a family party years ago and we all loved it! It’s been a staple at all of our BBQS ever since!

A bowl of cucumber pasta salad with cucumbers and red onions next to the bowl

The Vinegar Salad Dressing

This is a cucumber pasta salad with vinegar dressing. If you hate vinegar this salad is not for you!

The dressing in this salad is made with vinegar, sugar and a few other ingredients and seasonings. But the vinegar is a big part of the flavor with this salad and the sugar sweetens it just enough! That being said, the vinegar is down right delicious! The dressing is light, simple and fresh!!

Vinegar dressing being poured out of a glass measuring cup onto the pasta salad with cucumbers and red onions

Other Ingredients for Cucumber and Onion Pasta Salad

The salad is made with bow tie pasta, sliced red onions and sliced cucumbers! Simple and easy!

Sliced onions and sliced cucumbers for Cucumber, Red Onion Pasta Salad

You can use any other type of pasta that you like for this salad. The larger pastas like bowtie, penne, rigatoni, ziti, or rotini will work best. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package.

Red onion is the only onion I will use in the this salad. The bite from this kind of onion is needed and the color is needed for the salad. Just slice them up!

You will slice the cucumber and then I prefer to cut the slice in half, but you can keep it a full slice. You can also choose to peel the cucumber before slicing or not. I like mine peeled before slicing.

The ingredients are simple in this pasta salad, but mixed with the vinegar dressing is it so yummy!

The salad is full of flavor. I love the bit of crunch from the cucumbers and onion and the tangy dressing makes it the perfect light salad for summer! I love the ratio of cucumbers, onions and pasta that this recipe has. But you can easily add more cucumbers or more red onion as desired.

Serving the Salad

The salad is easy to make, just throw all the ingredients together.

For serving just give it a good mix before you are ready to eat and enjoy.

NOTE: The recipe makes a lot of dressing. The vinegar dressing will settle at the end of the bowl so just give it another toss to re-distribute the dressing as needed. The extra dressing is good because salads soak up the dressing, so you will want more, especially if you have leftovers!

Up close shot of cucumber and onion pasta salad

I would love to hear from you if you try this recipe and how you liked it! Feel free to comment below!

I hope you enjoy!

For some other tasty salads that are perfect for summer try my Shrimp Salad, BLT Ranch Pasta Salad, my Spinach Tortellini Salad, or my Broccoli Bacon Salad.

If you liked this recipe please take the time to leave a comment and a star rating below! Also, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram!

Check out the latest posts from the Butcher’s Wife!

Print Recipe

Cucumber Pasta Salad

This Cucumber Pasta Salad is simple, light and fresh and perfect for BBQs, potlucks, picnics and any occasion.

This recipe makes one large salad- about 12 cups.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 4th of july, BBQ food, Dressing/Sauce, salad, memorial day, pasta salad, side dish

Servings: cups

Author: Beth, The Butcher’s Wife

Ingredients

1 (1 lb.) box bow tie pasta, cooked and cooled
2 cucumbers, peeled (optional) and sliced, halved or quartered
1 large red onion, sliced thin and cut into strips

VINEGAR DRESSING

3 cups cider vinegar
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tbsp canola oil
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp Accent Seasoning see notes
1 tbsp dried parsley or more as desired
1 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. When it is done rinse it under cold water so it cools.
While the pasta cooks, whisk all of the dressing ingredients together.
In a large bowl, add the cooked pasta, sliced onions and sliced cucumbers. Pour the dressing over the pasta, cucumbers and onions. Mix well.
This will stay well in the fridge for up to 3 days. Stir again when you are ready to serve to redistribute the dressing.

Notes

You can add more onion or cucumbers than the recipe states.

The dressing recipe makes quite a bit of dressing. It will settle in the bottom of the bowl. As the salad sits the pasta tends to soak some of it up. Just give it a good stir if you need to redistribute the dressing. You will want all of the dressing (even if it looks like too much). If you have leftovers, the extra dressing at the bottom of the bowl is needed!

Accent seasoning can be found at most grocery stores along with all the other herbs and spices. Don’t think you don’t need it- the flavor from the Accent seasoning enhances the dressing and it is needed.

Cucumber and Red Onion pasta salad in a bowl with onions and cucumbers next to the bowl

Up close shot of cucumber pasta salad with red onions

2 Comments

Katerina
July 25, 2019 at 2:54 PM · Reply

That sounds like a brilliant accompaniment to summer picnics! Thanks so much for sharing!
- Beth, The Butcher's Wife
  July 25, 2019 at 2:58 PM · Reply
  
  Katerina thank you so much!!! It is absolutely delicious and perfect for summer!!! 😘

Cucumber Pasta Salad

The Vinegar Salad Dressing

Other Ingredients for Cucumber and Onion Pasta Salad

Serving the Salad

Check out the latest posts from the Butcher’s Wife!