Our Most-Refreshing Watermelon Salad Recipes

These salads will complete every summer meal you put together, from busy weeknights to relaxing cookouts.

March 14, 2022

By: Meghan Hynes Cole

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Cool Ways to Enjoy Watermelon

Be honest: Can you even have a summer cookout without watermelon in some form? Cool watermelon and warm weather simply go better together. From simply slicing a watermelon into perfect wedges to turning the fruit into a keg, there is no shortage of easy ways to enjoy one of summer’s greatest gifts. (It’s actually even easy to grow a watermelon plant!) If you aren't eating your watermelon in salad form, though, now is the time. This tomato and watermelon salad is a delicious last-minute side for any get-together. Toss the fruit chunks (yes, they’re both fruits!) with Ree’s quick honey vinaigrette, then sprinkle with feta and fresh basil — it won’t take you more than 20 minutes to throw together.

Get the Recipe: Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon Salad

Watermelon and Feta Salad

Toss together sweet watermelon and salty feta for one of our favorite combinations. A minty oil-and-vinegar dressing adds a level of freshness you’ll crave all summer.

Get the Recipe: Watermelon and Feta Salad

Grilled Watermelon Salad with Sweet and Spicy Vinaigrette

Brushing thick slices of watermelon with Kardea’s honey-and-hot-sauce-infused vinaigrette before grilling will give the sweet fruit more flavor than you ever imagined. Serve it atop arugula, with fresh berries, blue cheese, pecans and more.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Watermelon Salad with Sweet and Spicy Vinaigrette

Tomato and Watermelon Salad

Alex Guarnaschelli uses cold watermelon and room-temperature tomatoes to create a contrast that gives this salad an extra-fresh taste.

Get the Recipe: Tomato and Watermelon Salad

Watermelon ChowChow Salad

Forget everything you know about eating the fruit of a watermelon and tossing the rind. In just four hours, you can turn watermelon rinds into the perfect base for a chowchow salad, thanks to this refrigerator-pickling method.

Get the Recipe: Watermelon ChowChow Salad

Spicy Melon Salad

Giada proves you need little more than cantaloupe, watermelon and crushed chiles to spice up your next cookout.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Melon Salad

Watermelon-Feta Salad

Get this 5-star salad on the table in just 10 minutes. It’s filled with so much flavor no one will ever guess all you did was whisk together a quick vinaigrette and toss everything together.

Get the Recipe: Watermelon-Feta Salad

Jicama and Watermelon Salad

Bobby’s one-bowl watermelon salad gets a little crunch from jicama and a citrusy kick from orange and lime juices.

Get the Recipe: Jicama and Watermelon Salad

Watermelon-Cucumber Salad

Don’t worry, the thin onion slices in this refreshing salad aren’t overwhelming at all. A cold-water soak will mellow out a red onion’s strong flavor and make it the perfect addition to this cool summer salad.

Get the Recipe: Watermelon-Cucumber Salad

Watermelon Salad

Many fans of this 5-star salad agree: You’ll want to double the recipe! Use mint sprigs to add a layer of freshness to the simple syrup, then toss with the blueberries and watermelon.

Get the Recipe: Watermelon Salad

Coconut-Watermelon Salad

A pinch of cinnamon goes a long way in adding warmth to a cool watermelon salad. A little toasted coconut and a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk won't hurt either.

Get the Recipe: Coconut-Watermelon Salad

Watermelon Salad Pizza

Cooking balsamic vinegar with a little sugar will give you a sweet, syrupy dressing that you’ll want to eat on just about anything — including this arugula-watermelon "pizza."

Get the Recipe: Watermelon Salad Pizza

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