Crunchy Celery Cucumber Salad with fresh herbs, crisp green apple, and a bright lemon-honey dressing. Ready in 15 minutes and perfect for BBQs, potlucks, or a light lunch.
Celery Cucumber Salad is my summer go-to because it comes together fast and somehow disappears every single time. It's naturally gluten-free as written, easy to keep paleo or low carb, and if you skip the Parmesan, it's fully dairy-free too.
I've tested this both dressed immediately and prepped ahead for cookouts, and here's what I learned. It's best when the dressing is tossed in just before serving, so everything stays crisp and fresh.
The green apple is the quiet game changer. The sweet crisp bite makes this salad pop. If you love fresh salads like my Beet and Cucumber Salad or something heartier like my Salmon Quinoa Salad, this cucumber and celery salad fits right in. If you love the bright dressing, you'll love the version we put over our Roasted Carrots and Asparagus.
Recipe Highlights
- Ready in 15 minutes and completely no-cook!
- There's a big crunch in every bite between the cucumber, celery, and apple.
- The lemon honey vinaigrette balances the salad with just enough sweetness and tartness from the Dijon.
- It's budget-friendly and so refreshing
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Celery - Thin slicing is important. Slicing slightly diagonally is going to give it the best texture. If your celery is extra fibrous, pull off the tough outer strings. Use the leaves too!
Cucumber - I enjoy using mini cucumbers, but English or Persian cucumbers work too. Peeling isn't necessary. If you're using water and heavily seeded cucumbers, I recommend scooping out the middle to keep your salad from turning soggy. Pat the cucumbers dry if needed.
Fresh Herbs - Dill and parsley are so good together, but you can just use dill or parsley if you only have one on hand.
Parmesan - Feta is a great swap
Almonds - Sunflower seeds can be substituted
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities
How to Make Celery Cucumber Salad (Step by Step)
Step 1. Prepare all the salad ingredients and toss them together gently in a big bowl.
Step 2. Whisk the ingredients for the dressing together in a small bowl until smooth.
Step 3. Finish with shaved Parmesan, sliced almonds, and dressing right before serving. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.
See the recipe card for more details.
Expert Tips for the Best Celery Cucumber Salad
- If you're serving the salad later than an hour, sprinkle the cucumbers lightly with salt, let sit for 15 minutes, then pat dry. This pulls excess water out and can prevent the salad from becoming soggy.
- Dress the salad right before serving so it stays crunchy longer. Start light and don't overdo it. You can always add more.
- Use cold ingredients to keep it refreshing.
- Cut the apple last to prevent browning. You can also toss them in lemon juice to prevent them from turning if the salad is going to sit for a while.
- Try using a mandolin to thinly shave the cucumber, celery, and apple to keep the thickness uniform.
Why Add Green Apple to Celery Cucumber Salad?
Celery and cucumber are crisp, but they're both mild. Green apple brings contrast. That sharp, slightly sweet bite cuts through the herbs and lemon and makes the whole celery cucumber salad taste brighter.
It also adds texture. Thin matchsticks blend right in, but you still get that snap. And since this is such a light, clean salad, the apple keeps it interesting without weighing it down.
Storing, Make Ahead, and Freezing Tips
The salad is best fresh. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, but expect some liquid to settle at the bottom. It may also lose its crispiness. Give it a good toss before serving.
To make it ahead, slice everything except the Parmesan and nuts and store them dry. Toss the apples with a little lemon juice to prevent them from browning. Prepare and keep the dressing separate. Combine everything within 30 minutes of serving.
Don't freeze this salad. Cucumbers and celery will both become soggy and won't be good thawed.
Ways to Serve Celery Cucumber Salad
During the summer, we love throwing this together with Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs or Grilled Pulehu Chicken. We also love serving it alongside a Bagel BLT Sandwich or a Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich. It's also great over Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowls or a Greek Pesto Quinoa Salad.
Common Questions
If serving later than 30-60 minutes, salt and drain the cucumbers or store the dressing separately. Both methods keep things crisp.
You can prep all the components a day ahead. Combine and dress shortly before serving for the best texture.
We love it with grilled chicken, salmon, quinoa, or even chickpeas.
It's not necessary unless it's very fibrous.
More Refreshing Salads Like This
If you tried this Celery Cucumber Salad or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
15 Minute Celery Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups sliced celery
- 1 ½ cups sliced cucumber
- 1 cup chopped and sliced green apple
- 2 tablespoons dill chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- ¼ cup shaved parmesan optional
- 1 tablespoon sliced almonds
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- Pinch of salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the sliced celery, cucumber, green apple, dill, and parsley. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, lemon zest, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss lightly until everything is evenly coated.
- Top with shaved Parmesan and sliced almonds just before serving.
- Serve immediately or chill for 10-15 minutes to let the flavors meld.
Notes
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Liquid will settle. Toss before serving.
- To make it ahead, slice everything except the Parmesan and nuts and store them dry. Toss the apples with a little lemon juice to prevent them from browning. Prepare and keep the dressing separate. Combine everything within 30 minutes of serving.
- Don't freeze
- If you're serving the salad later than an hour, sprinkle the cucumbers lightly with salt, let sit for 15 minutes, then pat dry.
- Dress the salad right before serving so it stays crunchy longer.
- Cut the apple last to prevent browning.
- Try using a mandolin to thinly shave the cucumber, celery, and apple to keep the thickness uniform.
Kate says
We made this for a spring potluck and everyone loved it!