Smoked Salmon Cucumber Bites

These smoked salmon cucumber bites come together in just 10 minutes and are perfect for entertaining or a light meal. I have to be honest, they are always a hit at parties but I love enjoying them as a snack during the week. Fresh cucumbers layered with cream cheese (regular or dairy free) and smoked salmon create an impressive yet simple appetizer.

Love smoked salmon? Me too, so be sure to check out these Smoked Salmon Rice Bowls or Smoked Salmon Frittata recipe.

As a former personal trainer and nutrition coach, I know firsthand how challenging it can be for busy women to prepare nourishing meals while juggling work, family, and life. That’s why I create these quick, nutritious recipes that take 20 minutes or less – because I believe eating well shouldn’t feel like another full-time job. Every recipe on this site is designed with busy women in mind, so you have one less thing to worry about.

Why you will love this recipe

• Ready in 10 minutes
• Perfect for parties, especially bridal showers, baby showers, new years eve celebrations
• Can easily prep components
• Easy high protein snack that gluten free, low carb and can be dairy free
• No cooking required
• Customizable
• Great for brunch, light meals or easy appetizer

Ingredients

• English cucumber or persian cucumbers are best as they have thin skin so do not require peeling.
• Cream cheese – regular or dairy free cream cheese will work.
• Smoked salmon – smoked salmon is the star of this recipe. You can find good quality wild caught smoked salmon at Trader Joe’s for a good price.
• Red onion (optional) but recommended!
• Dried or fresh dill

How to make salmon cucumber bites

Top tips

• Slice cucumbers uniformly for best presentation
• For parties: Prep components in advance but assemble last minute
• Use fresh dill for the most flavor

Creative flavor options

Mix any of these into the cream cheese to change the flavor:

• Chopped capers
• Fresh chives
• Everything but the bagel seasoning
• Horseradish
• Lemon zest

Common questions

What is smoked salmon and how it is made?

Smoked salmon is salmon that is salt-cured or brined (just like Lox) first, then smoked either by a method called cold smoke or hot smoke.

• Cold smoke is a method where the salmon is exposed to smoke in a cooler environment. Cold smoked salmon has the texture more like raw salmon and is what most people think of when you hear smoked salmon.
• Hot smoke is a method where after brining the salmon, it is exposed to hot heat for smoking. This salmon thus has the texture of cooked salmon and has a smoky flavor.

Can you prepare these salmon cucumber bites in advance

These smoked salmon cucumber bites are best served within 8 hours of preparing them.

However here are some tips so you can easily prep these quickly the day you are serving.

1. Slice the cucumber store it in a container filled with cold water to keep the cucumber fresh.
2. Slice the red onion and cube the smoked salmon ahead of time.

Right before serving, spread the cream cheese and assemble the cucumber bites.

What are the best cucumbers to use

English cucumbers are best. They have thin skin so no peeling needed. They are available in most grocery stores and are usually wrapped in plastic since they don’t have a waxy covering. This makes them perfect for making these cucumber bites.

Other options are Persian cucumbers, which are smaller and can be more difficult to find. They also have thin skin so don’t require peeling. If you want to use traditional cucumbers, be sure to peel them at least partially before slicing, since the skin tends to be thick and harder to eat.

Where do you find dairy free cream cheese?

The best dairy free cream cheese is the Chive Cream Cheese from Kite Hill.

Update Notes: This recipe was originally posted in November of 2015, but was published again in January 2020 to include step by step directions, recipe notes and new photos