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Watermelon Salad

5 from 7 votes
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posted: 06/06/25

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

This Watermelon Salad makes the perfect easy summer side dish. With great fresh ingredients, this is exactly what you should bring to picnics and BBQs.

overhead view of a watermelon salad with mint, cucumbers, red onions, and feta in a white bowl with silver serving spoon and fork

Summer salads are one of my favorite recipes to create this time of year. There are so many different ways to throw together summer produce, and this Watermelon Salad is the perfect example.

Watermelon Salad starts with a quintessential summer ingredient, but layers in so many delicious flavors. The salty feta, sweet watermelon, and tart lime juice all balance each other so well. We add in some sweet red onion, crunchy cucumbers, and fresh mint leaves to round it out. This makes it the perfect summer side dish, that you will adore. It is amazing for hot summer days.

How to Make Watermelon Salad

Here is a brief overview of how this watermelon feta salad recipe comes together. Perfect for a summer day, be sure to scroll to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for the full recipe, including all measurements.

  • Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lime juice (or bottled in a pinch), and kosher salt.
  • Combine the other ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the watermelon cubes, cucumber, red onion, mint, and feta cheese.
  • Put it all together. Pour the dressing over the ingredients in the large bowl and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
overhead view of watermelon salad broken up by ingredients: watermelon, fresh mint, feta, red onions, and cucumber slices cut into fourths.

Picking the Perfect Watermelon

When picking out a watermelon for this watermelon cucumber salad, there are a few things you want to look for:

  • Sphere Shaped: Watermelons that are more sphere-like and less oblong are sweeter.
  • Orange Spot: Look for a watermelon that has an orange spot, not a white spot. This means that it spent more time ripening on the vine before being picked.
  • Dried Out Stem: A watermelon with a dried-out brown stem will be more ripe than one that still has a green stem.
  • Heavy Watermelon: Pick a heavy watermelon. It should feel heavy for its size, as that means it is fuller of water and juicier.
  • No Give to it: Gently press on it. It shouldn’t have a lot of give to it. If the watermelon does, it is likely over-ripe.

Making Ahead

While you could make this watermelon feta mint salad the night before, I would not recommend it. It will still taste delicious, but it won’t have nice of a presentation. If you do choose to make it the night before, add the mint right before serving.

Storing Leftovers

This salad is best when eaten right away. That being said, leftovers will still be enjoyed. They should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. As with all recipes, use your best discretion when it comes to leftovers.

close up side view of a watermelon feta salad with fresh mint, red onions, and cucumber

What to Serve with Watermelon Salad

If you are looking for the perfect summer spread to serve with this delicious summer salad, look no further.

If you make this cucumber watermelon salad recipe, or any or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

overhead view of a watermelon salad with mint, cucumbers, red onions, and feta in a white bowl with silver serving spoon and fork
5 from 7 votes

Watermelon Salad

Serves: 8 servings
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 20 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
This Watermelon Salad makes the perfect easy summer side dish. With great fresh ingredients, this is exactly what you should bring to picnics and BBQs.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 cups cubed seedless watermelon see note 1
  • 1 seedless cucumber cut in half, cut in half again and sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1/2 small red onion cut in small slices
  • 1/2 cup fresh mint coarsely chopped, see note 2
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, and kosher salt.
  • In a large bowl, combine the watermelon, cucumber, red onion, mint, and feta cheese.
  • Pour the dressing over the ingredients in the large bowl and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
  • While leftovers will taste delicious the next day (when stored in the refrigerator) they will not look as pretty as they did fresh.

Notes

  1. Look for a watermelon that is sphere shaped, has an orange spot (not white), has a dried out stem, is heavy, and doesn’t have much give to it. Read more details about this within the post.
  2. To store mint before making this, get a paper towel damp, ringing out the excess water. Wrap it loosely around the mint and put it in the refrigerator. Mint can be stored for one week this way.
Serving: 1cup Calories: 109kcal (5%) Carbohydrates: 12g (4%) Protein: 2g (4%) Fat: 7g (11%) Saturated Fat: 2g (13%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 4g Trans Fat: 7g Cholesterol: 5mg (2%) Sodium: 155mg (7%) Potassium: 208mg (6%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 9g (10%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
overhead view of a watermelon salad with mint, cucumbers, red onions, and feta in a white bowl with silver serving spoon and fork

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Watermelon Salad

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

    5 from 7 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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  1. Linda Allen says

    5 stars
    I want to try these receipes

    • Lisa Longley says

      If you do, please let me know what you think, Linda!

  2. Dawn says

    5 stars
    Yum! Yum!

  3. Sherrie Ashenbremer says

    I just found your recipes and they look so good. Want to make the watermelon salad a the cobb salad too. Keep the good recipes coming

    • Lisa Longley says

      Thank you Sherrie!

  4. Dana says

    5 stars
    Really enjoy your website! Thank you so much!!! You have great taste in food! 😁

    • Lisa Longley says

      Thank you, Dana!

  5. Susan says

    5 stars
    I have made this salad a few times now and we love it! It really compliments my seafood feast. Feel a little full have a bowl of salad and you’re ready for round two! Very refreshing to the palate. If your family doesn’t like mint substitute with chives. Bon Apetite!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you like it!

  6. Lola MILES says

    5 stars
    HI MY Mother use to make a apple cake in her crackpot You would put the cake in a coffee can then put the coffee can in the crackpot Have you or anybody else heard of this? It’s great I looked in her cookbooks after her death but didn’t find the recipe Thank You Lola

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