This super simple Cucumber Pico de Gallo recipe has all the classic ingredients, plus chopped fresh cucumber. It’s a refreshing, healthy, and flavorful Mexican-inspired salsa fresca or side dish.

bowl of salsa with a wooden spoon on table

This recipe was originally published in 2021; it was updated and re-published in February, 2025.

Classic Pico de Gallo is a chunky salsa fresca made with tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, and jalapeño. This version has the delightful and hydrating crunch of a crisp cucumber as well.

It’s perfect with a side of tortilla chips or served atop any of your favorite Mexican dishes and sides.

Why You Need This Recipe

  • Cucumber Pico de Gallo is a delicious whole foods recipe using fresh ingredients that is also naturally vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free.
  • This fresh salsa only takes 10 minutes of prep time. Once you’re done chopping up the ingredients, you just stir everything in a bowl and let it sit so the flavors can come together.
  • This salsa goes great with Mexican-flavored dishes like my Keto Chicken Fajitas, Instant Pot Chicken Tinga Tacos, or Crockpot Mexican Chicken and Rice.

Key Ingredients

Ingredients for cucumber pico de gallo
  • Tomatoes give this chunky salsa its familiar and delicious taste and texture. I like to use cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, but you can also use roma tomatoes or other garden tomatoes.
  • Fresh cucumber adds a good crunch to the classic flavors of Pico de Gallo. You can use any type of cucumber, but I prefer the English cucumber.
  • Lime juice brightens up all the ingredients and bring out their flavors (be sure to use fresh lime juice). You can also use lemon juice.
  • Jalapeño pepper adds that traditional spicy flavor to the pico!
  • Fresh cilantro is traditional in a pico de gallo recipe, but you could always swap it for parsley or other fresh herbs if you prefer.

Please see the full recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Recipe Steps

step one of making cucumber pico de gallo.

Step One: Start by chopping the jalapeño pepper using a sharp knife on a cutting board.

Tip: Remove the seeds if you don’t want the recipe to be too spicy (or, leave them in for extra spiciness)!

chopped tomatoes in bowl for pico de gallo recipe.

Step Two: Chop the rest of the ingredients and add them to a mixing bowl.

chopped cucumber in bowl for cucumber salsa.

Step Three: Stir the ingredients well.

chopped ingredients in bowl for pico de gallo recipe.

Step Four: For best results, let the mixture sit for 10 minutes at room temperature to let all the flavors come together.

Alternatively you can let the mixture sit in the refrigerator covered for 30 minutes.

I hope you agree that this simple recipe using fresh vegetables is your new favorite side dish. It’s a great recipe for hot summer days or at any time of year.

Extra cucumbers on hand? Try my recipes for cucumber juice or pineapple cucumber juice as their are lots of benefits to drinking cucumber juice.

A bowl of cucumber pico de gallo with jalapenos

Recipe Tips

  • Store your fresh cucumber salsa in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
  • If you find that there is a lot of water that has come out from the chopped cucumbers after you refrigerate the mixture, you can just carefully drain off the extra water before serving.
  • If you tend to have problems digesting regular cucumbers, you can try peeling the skins before chopping them. You may also want to try using Persian cucumbers which are also known as “burpless” cucumbers.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use a food processor to make the pico de gallo?

I don’t recommend using a food processor because then the ingredients will likely turn out too smooth and watery. A traditional pico de gallo texture is chunky, so it’s best to chop the ingredients by hand.

What’s the difference between salsa and pico de gallo?

Pico de gallo is actually a type of salsa, but it uses uncooked ingredients whereas salsas traditionally use cooked ingredients. Salsa can be chunky or very thin but pico de gallo is usually served chunky.

Do you need to add olive oil to pico de gallo?

No; it is not traditional to use oil in homemade pico de gallo.

Cucumber pico de gallo with tortilla chips

Fun Facts About Pico De Gallo

  • The Meaning Behind “Pico de Gallo” – The name “pico de gallo” translates to “rooster’s beak” in Spanish. Some say it’s because the chopped ingredients resemble the colors of a rooster’s comb, while others believe it’s because people originally ate it by pinching it between their fingers, like a rooster pecking at food.
  • Pico de Gallo vs. Salsa: What’s the Difference? – Unlike regular salsa, pico de gallo is made with fresh, uncooked ingredients and has less liquid. Traditional salsas are often blended or cooked, creating a smoother texture.
  • A Recipe with Ancient Roots: Fresh salsas like pico de gallo have been eaten in Mexico for centuries, dating back to the Aztecs and Mayans. Tomatoes, onions, and chili peppers were staple ingredients in their diet long before Europeans arrived.
  • The Many Names of Fresh Salsa – In different parts of Mexico and the United States, fresh salsa can go by different names, including:
    • Salsa fresca (fresh salsa)
    • Salsa cruda (raw salsa)
    • Pico de gallo (chunky-style salsa)
  • Cucumbers Are a Fruit! – Did you know that cucumbers are actually part of the fruit family? They are often thought of as veggies, but they are a green fruit. This also makes them part of an animal based diet food list.

More Mexican-Inspired Recipes You Might Like

What to Serve with Cucumber Pico De Gallo

Air Fryer Loaded Nachos with Black Beans

Mexican Buddha Bowls with Spicy Tahini Sauce

Dairy-Free Breakfast Egg Casserole (Mexican Flavors)

Spicy Mexican Mashed Potatoes (Papas Con Chile)

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

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A bowl of cucumber pico de gallo

Cucumber Pico de Gallo (Cucumber Salsa)

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4.5 from 2 reviews

Print Recipe

This super simple Cucumber Pico de Gallo recipe has all the classic ingredients, plus chopped cucumber. It’s a refreshing, healthy, and flavorful Mexican-inspired salsa or side dish.

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 Medium-sized ripe tomatoes, diced
  • 1 English cucumber or 2 Persian cucumbers, diced
  • 1/2 red onion, minced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, minced (remove the seeds before mincing if you don’t want the salsa to be too spicy)
  • 1/2 bunch of cilantro leaves, finely chopped
  • 2 limes, juiced
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, and sea salt. Stir to combine.
  2. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes at room temperature for the flavors to combine, or cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
  3. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

  1. If you don’t like cilantro, just leave it out or replace it with flat-leaf parsley.
  2. If you find that there is a lot of water that has come out from the chopped cucumbers after you refrigerate the mixture, you can just carefully drain off the extra water.
  3. If you tend to have problems digesting cucumbers, you can try peeling the skins before chopping them. You may also want to try using Persian cucumbers which are also known as “burpless” cucumbers.
  4. While it’s traditional to serve Pico de Gallo with tortilla chips or on the side of a main dish, you can also serve this salsa on top of cucumber slices for a low-carb option.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
  • Calories: 50
  • Sugar: 5.9 g
  • Sodium: 303.5 mg
  • Fat: 0.4 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 11.8 g
  • Fiber: 2.6 g
  • Protein: 2.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and is a certified holistic nutritionist. She is a top wellness and food blogger with over 5 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send her a message through her contact form.