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GET IT NOWMy Cucumber Appetizers Were Made For Every Occasion
These cucumber appetizers started out as a fun finger food for my daughter’s birthday party, and have since totally earned a spot in my regular rotation. They’ve shown up for brunch, holidays, potlucks, light lunches, eat-half-the-pan “girl dinner” situations, for my kids (who adore both cucumbers and smoked salmon), and more. Here’s why these cucumber snacks rock:
- Refreshing contrast of flavors and textures – These have salty smoked salmon along with fresh, crisp cucumbers, but the sauce between them is the special part. It’s creamy, herby, and a little tangy. Most salmon and cucumber appetizer recipes I’ve seen just use cream cheese, but mine has Greek yogurt for a lighter, fluffier texture… and a little protein boost!
- No cooking needed – If you like the no-cook ease of my stuffed mini peppers, you’ll love these cucumber appetizers, too. They only need 6 simple ingredients and come together in minutes.
- Party-perfect presentation – I love how fancy these look, but they’re secretly super easy. And people always ask about the sauce!
If you need an easy, healthy appetizer to serve for a party or just enjoy on a summer day, these are perfect. Make them with me!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my cucumber snack recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Cucumbers – I prefer English cucumbers for my cucumber appetizers, because they’re large enough to hold toppings but much sweeter than American cucumbers. If you use Persian cucumbers (which also taste great), I’d recommend slicing them lengthwise, since they’re usually so small. Whatever kind you choose, slice them about 1/4 inch thick.
- Smoked Salmon – You can use store-bought or make my homemade salmon lox.
- Cream Cheese – Let it soften at room temperature, so it mixes smoothly.
- Greek Yogurt – Makes the filling lighter, tangier, and creamier, and adds a little protein. I use full-fat yogurt, but lower fat varieties work just fine.
- Fresh Dill – For an herby touch in the cream cheese mix, plus extra on top. You can also use other herbs, like chives or parsley. I don’t recommend using dried herbs for topping, but if you run low on fresh, you can get away with a tablespoon dried in the cream cheese portion.
- Garlic Powder – For extra flavor. You can substitute a small clove of fresh garlic if you want extra bite.
How To Make Cucumber Appetizers
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Mix the creamy base. In a small bowl, mash together the cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and garlic powder. Stir in the fresh dill.
- Scoop the mixture into a piping bag. You can also just snip the corner on a regular zip lock bag.
- Assemble the cucumber appetizers. Lay out the cucumber slices on a platter, pipe on a dollop of the cream cheese mix, and top with a folded piece of smoked salmon. I sprinkle extra sprigs of fresh dill over each piece, too.
My Recipe Tips
- Slice the cucumbers on the diagonal. This makes the slices a little bigger than circles, so you can fit more on each.
- If you forgot to soften the cream cheese, you can microwave it in 10-second intervals to soften it. Don’t let it get too warm, though, or it can change the texture of the Greek yogurt.
- For a fluffier texture, you can blend the cream cheese and yogurt in a mini food processor or small blender. I usually don’t, as it’s more dishes to wash.
- I use this piping set when I want these to look extra fancy. They’re my favorite tips! But a zip lock bag with a snipped corner works just fine. Two spoons can also work, but are a lot more effort so I don’t recommend this method.
- Want even more protein? Replace the cream cheese with cottage cheese (blend it first so that the texture is smooth), or you can even replace the creamy base with hummus. Feel free to layer more salmon over these cucumber appetizers, too.
- Vegetarian option: Swap the fish for a halved cherry tomatoes, and use fresh basil instead of dill. Hi, summer!
Cucumber Appetizers
Make my cucumber appetizers with cream cheese, dill, and salmon for your party! These cucumber snacks feel fancy, but are so easy to make.
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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In a small bowl, mash together the cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and garlic powder. Stir in the fresh dill.
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Transfer the cream cheese mixture into a piping bag (or make your own by snipping the corner of a zip lock bag).
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Arrange the cucumber slices in a single layer on a platter. Pipe about 1/2 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture onto each cucumber slice. Top with a folded-over piece of smoked salmon. Garnish with additional dill if desired.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 4 cucumber bites, or 1/10 of the entire recipe
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you make this recipe easier, boost the flavor and texture, and a couple of my favorite variations.
- Storage: You can keep these salmon and cucumber appetizers in the fridge for a day or two. You can also chop and toss leftovers into my smoked salmon salad.
- Meal prep: If you’re preparing for a party, I recommend storing the sliced cucumbers, yogurt sauce in a piping bag, and salmon separately. Then it’s pretty quick to assemble the day-of.
- Note on nutrition info: The number of bites you get will vary a bit depending on the size of the cucumber you use. I got 40 full-sized slices.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Holiday Cookbook!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Cucumber Appetizers
16 Comments
veronika
0My go to snack. This appetizer is so filling with healthy ingredients. Will never get tired of this.
Wholesome Yum D
0Veronika, that’s so great to hear! I love that it’s become your go-to, tasty, satisfying, and made with wholesome ingredients is always a win.
Lynda
0Can I used crumbled can salmon to place on top. Smoked salmon is not available here. Do you have another suggestion to put on the top?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Linda, Yes, if you like the taste of the canned salmon you have, you can certainly just place that on top. I also have a recipe for homemade lox that you can make with fresh salmon if you don’t have smoked salmon in your area. Sliced or grated hard boiled eggs could also work.
Teresa
0This looks so refreshing. l was very much looking forward to making these.. I was in such a hurry that I picked up regular cucumbers. Will this still work okay? Also, I forgot to get fresh dill. But I do have dried dill. Recipe only had a handful of ingredients and I still managed to bungle it up.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Teresa, Yes, any kind of cucumbers you have will work. American cucumbers are just less flavorful than English in my opinion. Dried dill is okay, but you’ll only need 1/3 the amount (1 tablespoon instead of 3), and I don’t recommend it for topping. Hope you still like these even with the swaps!
Tatiana
0I love this recipe. It’s so simple but so tasty. My daughter loves this. Fresh cucumber, and smoked salmon, what’s not to love?
kim
0Love this app idea! It was so easy and tasty! Will definitely be making again!
Megan Bowes
0This is a delicious recipe. I made it for an appetizer and everyone loved it – and I had leftovers for myself. Yum! Will definitely make this again.
Andrea Metlika
0These are a great appetizer for everyone to enjoy. I’d even eat this for lunch.
Pam
0These little bites are absolutely perfect for this hot weather. They’re light, refreshing and delicious!
Annie @ Annie's Noms
0I love smoked salmon and cream cheese, but I’ve never tried putting it on slices of cucumber before. What a tasty, quick snack! I will definitely be making these and I’m not sure I’ll be sharing them as they look so delicious!
Carrie Robinson
0These would be perfect for a weekend brunch! 🙂
Lesley
0I love making these for parties.
Lorrie
0Where can you find the smoked salmon?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Lorrie, Most grocery stores carry it.