There’s nothing quite like a Watermelon Salad with Feta on hot summer days. This salad has sweet watermelon cubes, crisp cucumber, red onion, fragrant fresh herbs, and creamy feta cheese. This dish is the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and tangy. I grew up enjoying fresh fruit in the summer, and this recipe has become one of my favorite ways to serve watermelon at family dinners and summer meals. This recipe has been tested, perfected, and shared at cookouts, gatherings, and backyard BBQs, and it always gets rave reviews.
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Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Watermelon Feta Salad
- Perfect Summer Dish – This salad is perfect for summer gatherings and dinners, especially when it’s watermelon season.
- Mediterranean Flavors – With mint, basil, cucumber, and feta, it’s not only refreshing, but adds a unique Greek twist to dinner!
- Family-Sized – The recipe makes enough for a large bowl, perfect for a family dinner or picnic.
- It’s Healthy! – This watermelon salad is a nutrient-dense, low-calorie dish that hydrates you, boosts antioxidants, and provides a perfect balance of sweet + salty flavors.
What Does Watermelon Feta Salad Taste Like?
Imagine biting into sweet watermelon with a hint of a cool crunchy cucumber, with a sudden whisper of fresh mint and basil and the salty bite of crumbly feta cheese. Tossed in a light honey lime salad dressing, this salad has the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and salty flavors. This salad is literally summer in a bowl.
Ingredients for Watermelon Feta Salad
Here’s what you’ll need to make this refreshing summer salad:
Watermelon Feta Salad Base
- 10 cups diced watermelon (about 1 small–medium seedless watermelon)
- 2 cups chopped cucumber (about 2 medium cucumbers or 1 English cucumber)
- 1.5 cups thinly sliced red onion (soaked in water to soften bite)
- ⅓ cup chopped fresh mint
- ⅓ cup chopped basil
- 8 oz chopped feta cheese (use Greek feta, French feta, or Bulgarian feta for different textures)
Honey Lime Dressing (for 10 cups watermelon)
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (or lemon juice for a twist)
- 1 tbsp honey
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
How to Make Watermelon Feta Salad
Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, honey, garlic powder, and salt, until smooth. Set aside.
Step 2: Start by thinly slicing or chopping a red onion. Allow the sliced red onion to soak in water for 10 minutes to create a milder flavor. Set aside to soak.
Step 3: Prepare your watermelon. Use a knife or melon baller to create watermelon cubes. Place them in a large bowl. Chop the cucumber and feta cheese. Place these to the same large bowl. Drain red onions from water and place these in the large bowl as well. If you are not ready to serve the salad yet, pause at this step until you are ready to serve. If you are ready to serve, proceed with tossing in the garnishes.
Step 4: Before serving, chop and sprinkle fresh mint and basil leaves. Drizzle honey lime dressing on top and toss ingredients to combine. Finish by drizzling on a balsamic glaze, serve, and enjoy! TIP: If you think you will have leftovers, hold off on adding dressing until you’re ready to serve.
What to Serve with Watermelon Feta Salad
This Mediterranean-inspired fruity salad pairs perfectly with:
- Grilled chicken, garlic rosemary lamb chops, or salmon for a complete meal
- Other summer salads like potato salad or coleslaw
- A charcuterie board with kalamata olives, crackers, and goat cheese
How to Store Watermelon Feta Salad
I’ve found that this salad is best served fresh and consumed on the same day. If you believe you may have leftovers, below are a few storage hacks to optimize flavor for the next 2-3 days:
- Store separately for best results:
- Keep the diced watermelon, cucumber, and onion in one airtight container.
- Store the crumbly feta and fresh herbs in a separate small bowl.
- Refrigerate the honey-lime dressing in a jar with a lid.
- Assemble just before serving: Mix everything in a large bowl and toss with the dressing right before eating. This keeps the vibrant colors and perfect combination of flavors intact. If you mix everything together, the water from the fruit will cause the flavor of the salad to become bland.
- Shelf life: If stored separately, this salad should easily last 2–3 days in the refrigerator. However, once dressed, it’s best to consume immediately within the same day.
TIP: If you’re making this for a family dinner or party, prep all the ingredients in advance, but add the dressing at the very last minute on the serving platter. That way, your guests get the full refreshing crunch without the soggy leftovers.
Watermelon Feta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Honey Lime Dressing
- 3 tbsp Fresh Lime Juice
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 3 tsp Honey
- 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
Watermelon Feta Salad
- 10 cups Diced watermelon, (about 1 small – medium watermelon)
- 2 cups Cucumber, chopped
- 1.5 cups Red Onions, thinly sliced
- 8 oz Feta cheese, chopped
- 1/3 cup Fresh Mint, chopped
- 1/3 cup Fresh Basil, chopped
- Balsamic glaze , for garnish
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
Honey Lime Dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, honey, garlic powder, and salt, until smooth. Set aside.
Watermelon Feta Salad Base
- Start by thinly slicing or chopping a red onion. Allow the sliced red onion to soak in water for 10 minutes to create a milder flavor. Set aside to soak.
- Prepare your watermelon. Use a knife or melon baller to create watermelon cubes. Place them in a large bowl. Chop the cucumber and feta cheese. Place these to the same large bowl. Drain red onions from water and place these in the large bowl as well. If you are not ready to serve the salad yet, pause at this step until you are ready to serve. If you are ready to serve, proceed with tossing in the garnishes.
- Before serving, chop and sprinkle fresh mint and basil leaves. Drizzle honey lime dressing on top and toss ingredients to combine. Finish by drizzling on a balsamic glaze, serve, and enjoy! TIP: If you think you will have leftovers, hold off on adding dressing until you're ready to serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Craving More?
This refreshing Watermelon Feta Salad is just one of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh fruit during the warmer months. If you loved this fruity salad, be sure to check out more of my summer salads, easy hosting recipes, and fresh ingredient dishes that bring a perfect balance of sweet and savory to your table. Don’t forget to Pin this recipe for later and tag @elicitfolio on Instagram if you make it! I’d love to see your take on this fantastic side dish!
I absolutely love how this salad balances the vibrant sweetness of juicy watermelon with the creamy tang of feta, every bite feels like a refreshing burst of summer.
This is so good! I love the sweetness of the watermelon with the tang of the feta. This is the perfect summer salad!
This is by far my favorite salad, I can eat this every day, I love it just that much. All the flavors just blend so well together especially the feta! Best salad around
I didn’t think watermelon could go anywhere near a salad and taste god, but boy was I wrong!!!
This is just what we needed for our BBQ!!! Perfectly refreshing, but feta cheese gives it an extra salty spin. LOVE IT
I have made something similar to this for years! But I love the honey lime twist you have! I will have to try!
Watermelon and feta are such a magical combo — sweet, salty, juicy, everything. I love how simple the recipe is, too; it feels fancy without the fuss. Totally making this for my next backyard hangout!
This salad literally blows my mind! I would never think of combining these different flavors/tastes but now I have to give the recipe a try just to see for myself!!