This simple to make, viral Cucumber and Bell Pepper Salad is packed with nutrients, and is delightfully balanced. With crunchy peppers and cucumber, sesame ginger dressing, honey, chili crunch oil and everything bagel seasoning, this salad is sweet, savory, and so satisfying.

Platter of cucumber and bell pepper salad with everything bagel seasoning.

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What I Love about this Cucumber and Bell Pepper Salad
Ingredient Notes & Possible Substitutions
Making Homemade Chili Crunch Oil
How to Make Cucumber and Bell Pepper Salad
Recipe Variations
Storage
Dietitian Notes
Recipe Tips
Other Great Salads
Did you try this Bell Pepper and Cucumber Salad?
📖 Recipe

This incredibly popular salad from Rachael Kirkconnell is taking over the internet. Rightfully so, because it is so easy to make and full of unique flavors and exciting textures. I make my version with paleo-friendly and gluten-free ingredients for all of us with dietary restrictions to enjoy.

This cucumber and bell pepper salad makes the perfect addition to a light lunch or works well as a versatile side dish. Serve this salad alongside some grilled protein, or pair it with this Honey Harissa Chicken, this Almond Crusted Chicken Breast, or this Paleo Teriyaki Salmon for a delicious and healthy dinner.

What I Love about this Cucumber and Bell Pepper Salad

This salad is arguably the perfect summer side. Here is why I love it:

Quick & Easy - Prepped and ready in just 10 minutes is hard to beat (even with making my homemade Chili Crunch Oil)!
Nutrient Rich - This salad is loaded with fiber and micronutrients from the bell peppers and cucumbers to make healthy eating a breeze.
All the Flavor! - With sesame ginger dressing, chili crunch oil, and everything bagel seasoning, this salad is absolutely loaded with unique and fun flavors.

Close up of cucumber and bell pepper salad with everything bagel seasoning.

Ingredient Notes & Possible Substitutions

Mini Cucumbers

Mini cucumbers or Persian cucumbers are perfect for this recipe because they have a thin skin and can simply be sliced into small rounded. You could also use about 1 cup of sliced English cucumber.

Mini Bell Peppers

Mini bell peppers are slightly sweeter and less watery compared to regular bell peppers and will work best for this recipe. Use red, yellow, and orange for color.

Sesame Ginger Dressing

I used Primal Kitchen Sesame Ginger Dressing for this salad. It is light, only slightly sweet, made with avocado oil and is soy-free. You can use any type of sweet and savory asian vinaigrette that you want.

Chili Crunch Oil

Chili crunch oil can be found under a variety of names (including chili crisp oil, crunchy chili oil, chili onion crunch, or chili garlic crunch) and from a variety of retailers (Trader Joe's Crunchy Chili Onion is a popular one). I like to make my own gluten-free and soy-free version of Chili Crunch Oil that only requires about 5 minutes to whip up.

Trader Joe's Crunchy Chili Onion is gluten-free, soy-free, and made with olive oil making it a good store-bought option!

Honey

I add a little honey to the dressing because the Primal Kitchen dressing is not very sweet. You can omit this or add more depending on your preferences and the sweetness of the dressing you are using. Hot honey also tastes great!

Everything Bagel Seasoning

This is usually a mixture of dried onion flakes, garlic powder, kosher salt, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. It can be made at home using a recipe or purchased from almost any grocery store, located in the spice aisle.

Ingredients for cucumber and bell pepper salad.

Making Homemade Chili Crunch Oil

You can buy chili crunch oil at a variety of specialty retailers, but making chili crunch oil at home is very easy. Try using this Gluten-Free & Soy-Free Chili Crunch Oil Recipe that is inexpensive to make, requires no frying, and is ready in just 5-minutes!

How to Make Cucumber and Bell Pepper Salad

This recipe is impossible simple with very little prep. Here is how you'll make it:

Start by slicing the cucumbers and bell peppers into ⅛th inch slices and place in a large mixing bowl.
Combine the sesame ginger dressing, chili crunch oil, honey, and everything bagel seasoning in a small mixing bowl and whisk together until the honey dissolves and everything is well incorporated.
Pour the dressing over the cucumbers and bell peppers and gently toss to coat. Serve immediately or store covered in the fridge until ready to enjoy.

Process images for cucumber and bell pepper salad.

Recipe Variations

This salad is simple but also versatile. Make it your own by trying one these variations:

Add crushed peanuts or cashews for extra crunch.
Sprinkle in a dash of fish sauce for added umami flavor.
Try using hot honey instead or regular honey in the dressing.
Mix in a little chili paste for an added kick.
Top with green onions, Thai basil, mint, or cilantro for additional fresh flavor.

If you love this recipe, try another of my Asian-inspired recipes like this Curry Apple Butternut Squash Soup, this Vietnamese Cucumber Salad or this Carrot and Cucumber Salad.

Storage

Store this cucumber and bell pepper salad in an airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days. The longer it is stored the more it will lose its crunch, so it is best enjoyed fresh.

Dietitian Notes

This salad is light, low in carbohydrates, and rich in fiber and nutrients like vitamin C.
Easily make this recipe vegan-friendly, by swapping the honey for agave or maple syrup.
Made using the recommended ingredients, this recipe is paleo, gluten-free, soy-free, and made without seed oils (other than sesame seed oil).

Recipe Tips

Adjust the amount of honey used based on how sweet your sesame ginger dressing is.
Miso Ginger or another type of asian dressing can be used.
When using a store-bought dressing and/or store-bought chili crunch oil, read the ingredient labels to ensure they are gluten-free, soy-free, and seed oil-free, if needed.