These are five ways I fill cucumber boats, all in one place. Each one starts the same way. I cut a cucumber in half lengthwise, take the seeds out with a spoon, blot it dry, and spread softened cream cheese down the middle. From there the toppings change: avocado and Everything Bagel Seasoning, bacon and tomato, spicy tuna, Tajín and lime, or chive and onion cream cheese with stone-ground mustard and bacon. Every version is crunchy, creamy, and salty. Each recipe makes two boats and takes 5 to 10 minutes.
Cucumber boat snack ideas
The videos for these cucumber boat recipes have had millions of views on TikTok and Instagram.
The first version started when I wanted a quick, filling snack I could make with what I had on hand. I was craving something crunchy, creamy, and salty, so I put cream cheese, avocado, and Everything Bagel Seasoning on a cucumber.
Every version takes 5 to 10 minutes. You slice the cucumber, take out the seeds, blot it dry, spread on the cream cheese, and add the toppings.
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💬 Cucumber boat FAQs
Are cucumbers healthy?
Yes, cucumbers are a healthy choice. They are mostly water, low in calories, and a source of vitamin K, vitamin C, and magnesium.
How many carbs are in a cucumber?
For these recipes, a medium-sized cucumber that has been peeled is calculated as having 4 grams of total carbs and 1 gram of fiber for the whole cucumber.
How should the cucumber boats be stored?
While these cucumber boats are best when eaten fresh, you can pre-make them and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
What can I do with the seeds from the cucumber?
The cucumbers are de-seeded to make them into cucumber boats, which makes it a lot easier for all of the added ingredients to sit inside and eat. After de-seeding, make tzatziki with them! Or, mix them up with the cream cheese and re-add them to the cucumber boat.
👉 Ingredient substitution suggestions
- Cucumber: Bell peppers, sweet mini peppers, or celery work great here.
- Cream Cheese: You can substitute vegan cream cheese or, if you consume nuts, almond cream cheese at a 1:1 ratio. Subbing either of these will make the recipe dairy-free. Hummus works too.
- Avocado: Guacamole can be used in place of mashed avocado. The boats may taste a little saltier if the guacamole has added salt.
- Salt-Free Everything Bagel Seasoning: I buy mine on Amazon, but you can also find this seasoning at most grocery stores in the spice aisle. If you can’t find it, you can make your own seasoning at home, or you can also just use any of the components you have on hand to make a variation (like sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried minced garlic, and/or dried minced onion).
- Bacon: Turkey bacon works, or you can leave it out.
- Grape Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes or diced fresh beefsteak tomatoes could be used instead. I would avoid using canned tomatoes, as they typically have excess juice and added salt.
- Canned Tuna: Canned chicken, a small portion of fresh tuna, or pre-made tuna salad could be used instead.
- Hot Sauce: This can be omitted completely if you don’t want a lot of heat, or you could add just a dash of cayenne pepper instead.
- Stone-Ground Mustard: Either Dijon mustard or yellow mustard can be swapped in at a 1:1 ratio, but if you can find Stone-Ground Mustard, I recommend it for the flavor it gives the boats.
- Tajín: This chili-lime seasoning is worth keeping in the pantry because it goes on so many things. You can also make your own by combining chili powder, lime zest, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.
🍴 Nutrition
Each recipe makes 2 cucumber boats, one boat per serving. Depending on the version, one boat has 109 to 150 calories and 3.2 to 7.6 grams of total carbs.
The calories, fat, carbs, fiber, and protein for one boat are listed under each recipe’s photo below.
⏲ How to make these 5 cucumber boats
1. Cream Cheese, Avocado, and Everything Bagel Seasoning
Serves 2 // Per serving: 112 calories, 9.2g fat, 4.2g carbs, 1.7g fiber, 2.4g protein
Ingredients:
- Cucumber
- Cream cheese
- Avocado
- Flaky sea salt
Get the recipe for these Everything Bagel Seasoning cucumber boats.
2. Bacon & Tomato
Serves 2 // Per serving: 150 calories, 11.4g fat, 7.6g carbs, 1.7g fiber, 4.8g protein
Ingredients:
- Cucumber
- Cream cheese
- Avocado
- Bacon
- Grape tomatoes
Get the recipe for these Bacon, Tomato, and Avocado cucumber boats.
3. Spicy Tuna
Serves 2 // Per serving: 129 calories, 8.3g fat, 3.2g carbs, 0.7g fiber, 9.1g protein
Ingredients:
- Cucumber
- Cream cheese
4. Tajín & Lime Juice
Serves 2 // Per serving: 109 calories, 8.9g fat, 4.3g carbs, 1.5g fiber, 2.4g protein
Ingredients:
- Cucumber
- Cream cheese
- Avocado
- Lime juice
5. Chive & Onion
Serves 2 // Per serving: 132 calories, 10.2g fat, 5g carbs, 1.6g fiber, 5.3g protein
Ingredients:
- Cucumber
- Chive & Onion cream cheese
- Avocado
- Bacon
Get the recipe for these Chive & Onion cream cheese cucumber boats.
✨ Final thoughts
I hope one of these five becomes a regular snack for you. Once the cucumber halves are ready, almost any spread and topping works, so try your own combinations too.
If you come up with a combination you love, tell me about it in the comments.
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