These keto smoked salmon cucumber bites are one of my favorite appetizers to make. They look fancy, taste amazing, and come together in about 10 minutes with zero cooking required.
Each bite is a combination of cool, crispy cucumber topped with a creamy dill spread and a piece of smoked salmon. It’s simple but the flavors work so well together.
The best part is that they’re completely low carb and keto friendly. No bread, no crackers, just fresh ingredients that won’t kick you out of ketosis.
They’re perfect for parties, game day, or even just a quick snack when you want something a little more special. People always assume you spent way more time on them than you actually did.
If you’ve been looking for a low carb appetizer that actually impresses, this is it. Let me show you how to make them.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Zero Cooking Required – This is a completely no-cook recipe so you can make it in minutes without turning on the stove or oven.
Incredibly Low in Carbs – Cucumbers as the base instead of bread or crackers keeps each bite at barely any net carbs.
Packed with Healthy Fats and Protein – Smoked salmon and cream cheese deliver the fat and protein your keto diet needs to keep you full.
Perfect Keto Party Appetizer – These look fancy enough for a party platter but they take about 15 minutes to throw together.
Recipe Ingredients
- 2 Large English Cucumbers
- 6 oz Smoked Salmon, cut into small pieces
- 4 oz Cream Cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp Sour Cream
- 1 tbsp Fresh Dill, finely chopped
- 1 tsp Lemon Juice
- 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp Capers, drained
- Everything Bagel Seasoning, for topping
How To Make
Step 1
In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, chopped dill, lemon juice, garlic powder, and black pepper. Mix until completely smooth and creamy.
Step 2
Slice the cucumbers into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Lay them out on paper towels and pat the tops dry so the topping stays in place.
Step 3
Spoon or pipe about a teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture onto each cucumber round, creating a small mound in the center.
Step 4
Top each one with a piece of smoked salmon, folding or rolling it slightly so it sits neatly on the cream cheese. Place a few capers on top of each bite.
Step 5
Sprinkle a light pinch of everything bagel seasoning over each assembled bite. Arrange them on a platter and serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 1 hour before serving.
Tips
Use a Piping Bag for the Cream Cheese
If you have a zip-lock bag at home, put the cream cheese mixture inside, snip off a small corner, and pipe it onto each cucumber round. It gives you way more control than using a spoon.
When you spoon it on, it tends to slide around and look messy. Piping it makes neat little mounds that hold the salmon in place much better.
If the mixture feels too thick to pipe, let the cream cheese soften a bit more at room temperature before mixing everything together.
Score the Cucumber Tops with a Fork
Before you slice the cucumbers, run a fork down the length of each one, pressing firmly so the tines leave grooves in the skin. Do this all the way around.
This does two things. It gives each round a nice decorative edge, and it also creates tiny ridges on the surface that help the cream cheese mixture grip onto the cucumber instead of sliding off.
Dry the Cucumber Slices Really Well
Cucumbers release a lot of moisture, especially once they’re cut. If the tops are even a little wet, the cream cheese mixture will slide right off within minutes.
After you pat them dry with paper towels, let them sit cut-side up on a fresh paper towel for about 5 minutes. That extra time lets any remaining moisture come to the surface so you can give them one more quick pat before topping.
More Recipes
- Keto Baklava Bites
- Low Carb Cannoli Cream Cups
- Low Carb Creme Brulee
- Low Carb No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
- Low Carb Vanilla Panna Cotta
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these ahead of time without the cucumbers getting soggy?
You can prep the cream cheese mixture and cut the salmon ahead of time, storing them separately in the fridge for up to a day. This saves you a ton of time when you’re ready to assemble.
However, don’t assemble the bites more than about an hour before serving. Cucumbers release moisture once they’re sliced and topped, so they’ll start to get watery if they sit too long. Patting the cucumber rounds dry right before topping helps a lot.
Keto Smoked Salmon Cucumber Bites
Ingredients
Method
- In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, chopped dill, lemon juice, garlic powder, and black pepper. Mix until completely smooth and creamy.
- Slice the cucumbers into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Lay them out on paper towels and pat the tops dry so the topping stays in place.
- Spoon or pipe about a teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture onto each cucumber round, creating a small mound in the center.
- Top each one with a piece of smoked salmon, folding or rolling it slightly so it sits neatly on the cream cheese. Place a few capers on top of each bite.
- Sprinkle a light pinch of everything bagel seasoning over each assembled bite. Arrange them on a platter and serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 1 hour before serving.