A crunchy, refreshing, high-protein salad bowl with creamy ranch-style dressing, inspired by viral cucumber salad trends—leveled up with protein to make it a full meal.

Servings

2 large servings (or 3–4 side servings)

Ingredients

Salad Base

2 large cucumbers (English or Persian preferred)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ small red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup cooked chicken breast, chopped
(or tuna, chickpeas, tofu for variation)
½ cup shredded carrots (optional)
¼ cup fresh dill, chopped
2 tbsp green onions, sliced

High-Protein Creamy Ranch Dressing

¾ cup nonfat Greek yogurt
2 tbsp light mayonnaise (optional, for extra creaminess)
1 scoop unflavored or ranch-flavored protein powder (optional but boosts protein)
1 tbsp lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1–2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried dill (or 1 tbsp fresh dill)
½ tsp dried parsley
½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
¼ tsp black pepper
2–4 tbsp water (to thin dressing)

Optional Add-Ins

Avocado slices
Boiled eggs
Feta cheese
Jalapeños for spice
Croutons or crispy chickpeas for crunch

Instructions

1. Prep the Cucumbers

Slice cucumbers thinly.

For extra crunch:

lightly salt them
let sit 10 minutes
pat dry

This removes excess water so the salad stays creamy, not watery.

2. Make the Protein Ranch Dressing

In a bowl mix:

Greek yogurt
mayo (if using)
protein powder (optional)
lemon juice
mustard
garlic
onion powder
dill
parsley
salt
pepper

Whisk until smooth.

Add water gradually until it becomes pourable but still thick.

3. Assemble the Salad Bowl

In a large bowl combine:

cucumbers
cherry tomatoes
red onion
carrots (if using)
chicken (or alternative protein)
fresh dill
green onions

4. Add Dressing

Pour creamy ranch dressing over salad.

Toss well until everything is coated evenly.

5. Chill or Serve Immediately

You can:

serve immediately for crunch
chill 15–20 minutes for deeper flavor

Serving Ideas

Enjoy as:

full high-protein meal bowl
lettuce wraps
sandwich filling
wrap filling (low-carb tortilla)
side dish for grilled meals

Storage

Store in refrigerator up to 2 days.
Best eaten fresh (cucumbers release water over time).
Keep dressing separate for meal prep.

Protein Boost Tips

To increase protein further:

add extra chicken or turkey
include boiled eggs
use high-protein Greek yogurt (15–20g protein per cup)
mix in cottage cheese blended into dressing

Flavor Variations

Spicy Ranch Bowl

Add:

sriracha
jalapeños
chili flakes

Mediterranean Version