My 1-Ingredient Upgrade for Incredible Cucumber Sandwiches

While cucumbers are readily available year-round, gardeners and farmers' market regulars know that they are downright prolific throughout the summer. Come August, my yard is absolutely bursting with them.

To manage the excess, I often turn to the humble cucumber sandwich. The contrasting texture of the crunchy produce, soft bread, and creamy spread is delicious and satisfying.

The classic recipe is great, but I like to switch it up and keep things interesting. My top tip for taking cucumber sandwiches to the next level: adding pickles. 

Add Pickles to Your Cucumber Sandwiches

I start my cucumber sandwiches by spreading a creamy base of either cream cheese or mayo onto soft, whole wheat bread and layer it high with sliced fresh cucumbers. Then, I add a generous heap of sliced dill pickles to round out the simple recipe.

The briny bite of the pickles brings the burst of flavor and intrigue I need to balance out the creaminess of the spread and neutral taste of the cukes. This addition also ups the crunch factor, which I love.

And if you’re like me and need to put your cucumber harvest to good use, you can even try your hand at homemade pickles for this recipe. Two cucumbers in one dish.

Tips for Adding Pickles to Cucumber Sandwiches

If adding pickles to your cucumber sandwiches sounds up your alley, I have a few tricks to help you make the tastiest one on your very first try.

• Use Sliced Pickles: For easy eating and balanced flavor, it’s imperative to use either pre-sliced pickles or whole pickles that you thinly slice yourself. Pickle spears result in too much pickle per bite—and an awkwardly-shaped sando.
• Switch up Your Pickles: If you don’t have dill pickles on hand, other pickled pantry staples work beautifully. Some of my favorites are pickled red onions, pickled jalapeños, giardiniera, and kimchi.
• Don’t Forget the Brine: I like to stir some pickle brine into my spread, whether that's cream cheese, mayo, or something else. It really drives home that pickle flavor.
• Add Fresh Dill: If I have fresh dill on hand, I’ll often add a few fronds to my sandwich for added brightness and pickle-y taste.