This refreshing watermelon feta salad is a simple, no-fuss recipe ready in less than 10 minutes! Tossed in a bright honey lemon dressing, it’s the perfect combination of sweet and salty.
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I know it’s summer when large bins of seedless watermelons grace the grocery store aisles!
This hydrating summer fruit is a quick and easy way to jazz up fruit salads, smoothies, boozy drinks, and popsicles.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
So many reasons to love this watermelon feta salad:
- Quick and easy with minimal prep
- Vibrant, crunchy, salty, and sweet
- Perfect for a summer gathering, outdoor party, or BBQ
Every summer I look forward to this impressive yet simple watermelon salad. It’s ready to go in ten minutes, easy to make-ahead, and vanishes all too quickly!
Key Ingredient Notes:
With just seven ingredients, this watermelon salad is quick and easy to assemble!
- Watermelon – Be sure to pick a sweet and juicy watermelon! Look for a heavy watermelon with a bright yellow patch and a firm rind. If the patch is pale white, it was picked too early.
- Cucumbers – Mini cucumbers are great for salads. They don’t need to be peeled or de-seeded. Just slice them up and they’re ready to go.
- Feta Cheese – Creamy and salty feta complements the sweetness of the watermelon. Use a full-fat block of feta cheese for the best texture and flavor.
- Lemon juice – Always use freshly squeezed lemon juice. It’s quick, affordable, and far superior than the bottled kind.
- Honey – Honey sweetens the dressing and tames the zip of the lemon juice and zest.
How to cut a watermelon into cubes:
Although the ways to cut a watermelon are endless, this no-fail method is super quick and simple.
- Slice the watermelon in half widthwise.
- Set the flat side down onto a cutting board
- Slice into 1-inch strips, then rotate and slice perpendicular into 1-inch strips. It should create a grid-like pattern, as pictured.
- Slice each strip of watermelon into uniform cubes.
How to make this watermelon salad recipe:
This watermelon cucumber salad is ready in less than 10 minutes. Just whisk, toss, and chill!
- Whisk: Make the honey lemon dressing. Whisk the lemon juice, lemon zest, and honey in a small bowl.
- Toss: Combine watermelon, cucumber, feta, and mint in a large mixing bowl. Pour dressing over the salad and toss gently so you don’t break up the watermelon.
- Chill: Enjoy immediately or chill for a couple hours in the refrigerator before serving.
Watermelon Feta Salad Variations:
This watermelon salad recipe is easy to customize! If you’re missing a key ingredient or just like a change of scenery, try one of these delicious options.
- Sweetener – Swap the honey with agave or maple syrup.
- Fresh herbs – Substitute mint with fresh basil!
- Fruit – If watermelons aren’t in season yet, don’t fret. Try cubed honeydew or cantaloupe melon instead.
- Cheese – Swap feta with goat cheese or mini mozzarella balls.
- Citrus – Try lime instead of lemon juice and zest.
- Onion – Add sliced red onion for added crunch and flavor.
Tips for Success:
- If you want the salad cold but ready to eat immediately, chill the watermelon before slicing it.
- Since watermelon is the star of the show, be sure to buy a sweet watermelon during peak-season!
- For a fun twist, use a melon baller to cut the watermelon. It takes longer, but it looks beautiful.
Make-Ahead Tips:
- It’s best to assemble watermelon cucumber salad within a few hours of serving it. You can, however, cube the watermelon ahead of time.
- Store the cubed watermelon in the refrigerator and drain the juice before tossing it with the other ingredients.
Storing Tips:
- Store leftover watermelon feta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- The longer it sits in the fridge, the more juice it releases. For this reason, it won’t be as fresh the next day, but still delicious!
FAQs:
Watermelon salad is a cold salad centered around watermelon as the main ingredient and often tossed in a simple vinaigrette. This version contains cucumbers, feta, and mint, but others contain ingredients like arugula, avocado, red onion, nuts, and basil.
Feta is the most popular choice for a watermelon salad, but blue cheese, goat cheese, gorgonzola, or mini mozzarella balls are great options too!
Yes! Since watermelon is naturally sweet, it tastes delicious without the dressing too. I do recommend tossing it with the honey lime dressing though. It adds a bright, sweet touch and brings all the ingredients together.
More Summer Salad Recipes:
Try one of these light and refreshing summer salads at your next cookout!
Watermelon Feta Salad
Ingredients
For honey lemon dressing:
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice Note 1
- 1 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon raw honey Note 2
For salad:
- ½ medium-sized watermelon diced into 1" cubes (6 cups) Note 3
- 2 cups thinly sliced cucumbers Note 4
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese Note 5
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh mint Note 6
Instructions
To make the dressing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, lemon zest and honey. If needed, microwave the mixture for 5-10 seconds to let the honey melt easily.
To make the salad:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cubed watermelon, cucumber slices, feta and mint.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently. Serve immediately or chill for 1-2 hours in the fridge before serving.
Tips & Notes
– Store leftover watermelon feta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
– The longer it sits in the fridge, the more juice it releases. For this reason, it won’t be as fresh the next day, but still delicious!
Nutrition
The watermelon feta salad was an absolute hit for Memorial Day, and my family couldn’t stop raving about it! This refreshing summer dish perfectly balanced sweet, juicy watermelon with the salty, creamy feta, creating a delightful contrast of flavors and vibrantly colorful. The addition of fresh mint added a burst of aromatic freshness that elevated the entire salad.
This salad is incredibly easy to prepare and was a refreshing change from the usual Memorial Day fare. It’s definitely going to be a staple at our summer gatherings from now on! Highly recommended for anyone looking to impress their guests with minimal effort
Thank you SO much for your feedback, Jo Mai. I’m so happy you tried the recipe and that your family love it!!