🥒 Sometimes the simplest recipes are the most refreshing! Crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, sweet onions, and just the right seasoning… it’s a salad that never goes out of style. ❤️ EAT or 👎 PASS? Tell us your vote in the comments! ⬇️ ⭐ Get the recipe here: 👇

There’s nothing quite like the taste of fresh garden vegetables marinated in a sweet, tangy dressing, and this Marinated Cucumbers, Onions, and Tomatoes Salad has been a summertime staple for decades. If you grew up anywhere in the South or Midwest, chances are you’ve seen a giant mason jar of this chilling in Grandma’s fridge right beside the sweet tea. It’s crisp, refreshing, budget-friendly, and made with simple ingredients you almost always have on hand. And when the tomatoes are juicy and the cucumbers are cool and crunchy, this salad tastes like summertime sunshine in every bite.

There are dozens of versions of this classic dish out there — and I’ve made most of them — but this is the one I always come back to. It balances the vinegar and sugar perfectly, has just the right amount of black pepper, and keeps the cucumbers firm while letting the onions mellow into the dressing. It’s the salad I bring to cookouts, picnics, and backyard barbecues because it goes with everything from grilled chicken to burgers to fried fish.

You can make it ahead, double it easily, and store it for days. And every hour it chills, it gets even better. Whether you’re cooking for the family, feeding a crowd, or just wanting something cold and refreshing to snack on throughout the week, this recipe is a guaranteed winner. One thing’s for sure — once you put this bowl on the table, you’ll look up and realize it’s already gone. Let’s dive in and make the #1 summer salad the old-fashioned way.

Ingredients

3 medium cucumbers, peeled and sliced ¼-inch thick
1 medium onion, sliced and separated into rings
3 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges
½ cup vinegar (white vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
¼ cup sugar
1 cup water
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
¼ cup oil (vegetable or light olive oil)

Instructions

1. Prep the vegetables.

Peel and slice the cucumbers into even ¼-inch rounds so they stay crisp. Slice the onion and separate it into rings. Cut the tomatoes into wedges, keeping them thick enough so they hold their shape. Place everything in a large mixing bowl.

2. Make the marinade.

In a separate bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the vinegar, sugar, water, salt, pepper, and oil. Make sure the sugar fully dissolves — this ensures an even taste throughout the salad.

3. Combine and marinate.

Pour the marinade over the vegetables. Gently toss to coat, making sure everything is submerged.

4. Chill and serve.

Transfer the salad to a mason jar or airtight container. Chill for 1–2 hours, or even overnight for deeper flavor. Serve cold and enjoy the freshest, most refreshing summer bite imaginable.