This watermelon salad is full of sliced cucumbers, crumbled feta cheese and mint, all tossed in an easy lime dressing. A simple yet unusual summer salad that’s sure to get rave reviews.
When I need a fresh and colorful salad for a warm day, I turn to favorites such as mango salad, cucumber tomato salad, caprese salad or chopped vegetable salad.
Watermelon feta salad is one of those flavor combinations that sounds odd, but just works SO well together. Add some crisp and refreshing cucumbers and mint to the mix, and you’ve got a fresh and colorful summer salad recipe that everyone will love. Serve your salad along with other summery main course options such as huli huli chicken, smoked ribs or cilantro lime chicken. Looking for a sweet finish? Check out my list of 30 summer dessert recipes!
Table of Contents
Watermelon Salad Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need watermelon, cucumber, feta cheese, mint, olive oil, lime juice, salt and black pepper.
How Do You Make Watermelon Salad?
Slice the watermelon into cubes. Peel the cucumber and remove the seeds. Place the watermelon, cucumber and mint in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat. Add a sprinkle of feta cheese, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Salad
- It can be temping to buy the pre-crumbled feta because it’s more easily available and ready to just dump into a salad. However, the blocks of feta are much more flavorful even if they take a touch more work to crumble up before adding to the dish.
- You can use any type of cucumber in this recipe. If you use a standard waxy cucumber like the type shown in these photos, I recommend peeling it and removing the seeds. Other varieties of cucumber such as English and Persian cucumbers do not need to be seeded or peeled.
- I cut my watermelon into chunks because it’s quicker and easier that way. However, you can use a melon baller if you’re looking for a more elegant presentation for your watermelon feta salad.
- Buy a seedless watermelon to cut down on prep time!
- I add the mint at the very last second, as cut mint can turn brown over time. Small, whole mint leaves or thinly sliced pieces of mint are best suited for this watermelon salad.
Quick Tip
Watermelon salad is best when enjoyed the same day that it is made, as it can become watery if it sits for too long.
Recipe FAQs
First cut the watermelon and half, and place each half cut side down on a cutting board. Use a knife to slice away the outer green peel and inner white rind. Finally, cut the watermelon halves into thick slices, and then into cubes from the slices.
Watermelon pairs well with both sweet and savory flavors. It is a great counterpart to salty cheese such as feta, and the flavor of watermelon is enhanced by citrus such as lemon or lime. This fruit also stands up well to spicy flavors, and is fabulous when served with a little chili lime seasoning.
You can cut up the watermelon and cucumbers and make the dressing the day before you plan to serve your salad. Keep all the components separate until you’re ready to serve.
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Watermelon Salad Flavor Variations
While this salad is delicious as-is, you can add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.
- Fruit: You can substitute the watermelon for other types of fruit such as cantaloupe, pineapple, strawberries, tomatoes or mango. Or you can use a combination of watermelon with a second type of fruit. You can also stir in a little avocado for a creamier flavor.
- Vegetables: Feel free to add more veggies to the mix! Some great options include red onion and jicama.
- Cheese: No feta on hand? You can use a different type of crumbly aged cheese such as cotija or ricotta salata.
- Greens: Feel free to add some greens to your watermelon salad; my favorite options are arugula or baby spinach.
- Dressing: Lemon juice can be used instead of lime juice in the dressing. Another great option is to add a small drizzle of balsamic glaze over the finished salad.
- Herbs: Try using fresh basil instead of mint leaves.
This watermelon salad is a must-try during the warmer weather months, and it’s great for potlucks. I find myself making it almost every week, it’s one of my favorite ways to use summer watermelon!
More Watermelon Recipes You’ll Love
Love This Recipe?
Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Watermelon Salad with Feta and Cucumber
Ingredients
- 3 cups watermelon cubed or balled
- 1 1/2 cups sliced cucumber peeled and seeds removed
- 2 tablespoons mint thinly sliced or small mint leaves
- 1/3 cup feta cheese crumbled
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the watermelon, cucumber and mint in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice and salt and pepper.
- Drizzle the dressing over the melon mixture and toss to coat. Sprinkle with feta and serve.
Notes
- I recommend using a block of feta cheese versus the crumbled kind that comes in tubs, as I find the block of cheese has more flavor.
- If you use a standard waxy cucumber you’ll want to peel it and remove the seeds. Varieties such as English and Persian cucumbers do not need to be peeled or seeded.
Need to log for MFP. What is the portion size of one serving?
1 1/2 cups!
How much is one serving? I am trying to add it to MFP but it is not in the database. However MFP does include a ton of your recipes!!!!! Well done!!!
We aren’t fans of feta at all. Can I leave it out or is it a key ingredient/flavor?
You could leave it out but you might want to add other flavor component or use something similar like goat cheese. Otherwise it’s basically just watermelon and cucumber!
Perfect summer salad – light & refreshing. Followed the recipe with one addition, diced red onion.
Can you use something other than mint? Or just leave it out?
You could try basil or just omit altogether!
If I’m prepping the day before, how would you suggest making it? Should I just leave the mint out until right before eating or would you suggest leaving everything separate and mixing just before, or leave dressing until right before? Thanks!
I would leave everything separate and mix right before serving!
How many servings is this recipe as is? I am checking for the calorie count per serving. Thank you!
4 servings!
Made this to go with a summer bbq meal and it was so good – everyone loved it, will make it again!
Absolutely delicious and perfect for these hot summer days!
We had this salad over the weekend at our nephews 7th birthday. It is wonderful!!
My niece always likes to try new recipe on family when we visit. Very good!
Great salad!
I was assigned the salad as my contribution to a dinner party with friends tonight and wanted to make something different. I served this salad on a bed of romaine. It was delicious, refreshing at the end of a hot Atlanta day. Everyone loved it!
Sara, thank you SO much for sharing this recipe! It was fresh, delicious, and just what our meal tonight needed. 😁
For what it’s worth, your bright, brilliant watermelon salad is a perfect accompaniment to Korean inspired, marinated chicken and rice.
Cheers
Whoops – forgot to add the 5 star rating you deserve, Sara!
Truly delicious! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I just taste tested my almost complete version and love it! I had to make it a night ahead and will add the mint at my event. I’m not sure if I should have added the feta to sit overnight or if I should have waited to mix it in until last minute as well but it’s too late for that now… It should taste the same anyways even if it is a bit pink from the watermelon juice… right?? 🙁
You can mix it ahead or add it right before serving, it doesn’t really matter. Hope everyone enjoyed it!
Made this for a get together card game ! It was
A hit !!!! Everyone loved it !!! Thank you , thank you !
I’ve got mint in the garden and a wonderful watermelon in the refrigerator so sending out the hubby tomorrow for the feta!
Wow, I have got to try this one. It looks so mouthwatering andamazing!
This is perfect as written. Absolutely amazing with barbecue chicken and some green beans from the garden. Bookmarked so I can make it a summer staple!
Wow, that is a home run salad idea. Watermelon is the perfect summer treat.
I have a friend who would 100% live off of this if she could. This honestly looks incredible!
I love all of these flavors, and imagine it comes together beautifully! I am bookmarking this page so I can come back for the recipe when I’m meal planning for next week 🙂
Had this salad a few years ago. Good way to use left over watermelon when only two people in a household.