16 Watermelon Salad Recipes That Are Refreshing and Delicious

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.

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

This is one of those salads that the longer it sits, the better it gets. The heat from the chipotle chili powder is tamed by the juicy watermelon, sweet mango and crisp cucumber.

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.

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.

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.

Baby arugula tosses with cubed watermelon, diced feta and julienned mint in a citrus shallot vinaigrette sweetened with honey. It comes together fast and stays light, a refreshing pick for a summer table.

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

Basil pairs perfectly with watermelon in this refreshing summer salad. Jalapeño gives it an unexpected spicy kick.

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

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.

Diced watermelon and cucumber toss with scallions, cilantro and jalapeno in a bright lime dressing, then land on a bed of watercress with crumbled feta scattered over top. It's a fast no-cook side that brings cool crunch and a little heat to any cookout spread.

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.

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.

This is a fun recipe because the tomato and watermelon look very similar when diced, and they complement each other extremely well. Plus, it's customizable: you can add as much or as little of each ingredient as you prefer to make this bright summer salad.