Watermelon salad is the essence of summer. The refreshing combination of sweet watermelon, cool cucumbers, and salty feta with a pop of fresh mint means this watermelon feta salad recipe is easy to make and easy to enjoy with friends and family.

overhead photo of watermelon salad in a bowl with gold serving utensils next to three glasses of water and a bowl of crumbled feta.
Photo Credits: Andrea Gralow

Every bite of this watermelon salad is refreshing and packed with sweet and salty flavors. Watermelon season is my absolute favorite! I love the sweet, cool, refreshing taste of this summertime fruit so much that I add it to sangria in my Watermelon Sangria recipe and I even put it on the grill. When it comes to watermelon I do not mess around.

Growing up by the shores of the Mediterranean, my summers in Port Said, Egypt consisted of two things: the beach and watermelons. I remember spending long days on the sunny beach with my favorite snack in hand: slices of watermelon topped with crumbles of creamy feta. I spent hours with my father at the local market called the Souq where he would teach me how to pick watermelon so it was sweet and ripe everytime. These are skills I still use to this day.

I still love nothing more than the combination of salty feta over sweet, cool watermelon. And this watermelon salad with feta, cucumbers and fresh herbs, is another level of delicious. I think of this watermelon feta salad as grown up version of my favorite snack, and the zesty honey-lime dressing sure brings everything together.

ingredients for watermelon salad including watermelon, lime, olive oil, honey, salt, cucumber, feta, mint and basil.

Watermelon Salad Recipe Ingredients

This summer salad is the perfect combination of flavors. Like my Strawberry Spinach Salad, it shows how delicious fruit can be in a savory salad. Juicy cubed watermelon pairs beautifully with cool cucumbers, fresh herbs, and, of course feta cheese. It's the perfect balance of sweet and salty. Here are the fresh ingredients you need and some notes on how to prepare them:

  • Watermelon: You can use 1 small watermelon or ½ a large watermelon. You'll need to peel and cut the watermelon into cubes. I have a step by step tutorial on how to cut a watermelon if this is new to you, but you can also slice it in half and use a melon baller, if you're feeling fancy!
  • English cucumber or hot house cucumber: English cucumbers are sweeter and their skin is thin so you don't need to peel them. If you end up using American slicing cucumbers, you'll want to peel and seed the cucumbers before slicing.
  • Mint and basil leaves: I used a good amount of herbs here, about 1 cup packed of each (or 15 leaves of mint and 15 leaves of fresh basil), roughly chopped or torn. Trust me, you need the punch of freshness from these herbs!
  • Creamy feta cheese: You'll need about ½ cup or more of creamy crumbled feta. I usually start with a small block of feta packed in the brine, and I don't mind crumbling it myself. Feta packed in the brine is more creamy and not as salty as dry, already crumbled feta (besides I always keep a block of feta on hand in case the mood strikes for a delicious baked feta appetizer).
close up of a watermelon salad in a bowl with gold serving utensils.

Watermelon Feta Salad Dressing

With juicy watermelons and cucumber, you may think the dressing is unnecessary. While this watermelon and feta salad is delicious without a dressing, a simple and bright dressing like I use here does bring it together and enhances the flavor. You only need 4 ingredients for the honey-lime dressing:

  • Honey: I used 2 tablespoons of our Greek honey from Crete, the thyme and wild herb flavor really enhances and balances the other ingredients.
  • Lime juice: Use lemon juice if that's what you have on hand.
  • Extra virgin olive oil: I recommend 2 tablespoons of our Greek Early Harvest EVOO or our fruity Spanish Hojiblanca EVOO for this salad.
  • Kosher salt: Just a pinch is all you need here to help draw out some of the delicious juices in the cubed cucumber and watermelons.

How to Make Watermelon Salad

Summer picnic salads like thes are easy to make, add color to your table, and are so refreshing to eat on hot summer days. You can make the salad dressing ahead of time and wait to dress the salad just before serving. It should keep in your fridge for up to 3 days.

  • Add your watermelon cubes, cucumber, torn fresh herbs in a large salad bowl or platter.chopped cucumber, cubed watermelon, crumbled feta and shopped mint in a bowl.
  • Pour the honey-lime dressing on top, then gently toss to combine.honey lime dressing in a bowl with a whisk.
  • Finally, crumble feta cheese and sprinkle it all over the salad.watermelon salad in a bowl.

Make this Watermelon Salad Your Own

I keep this salad pretty simple—watermelon, feta, cucumber and mint, but consider this a watermelon salad foundation! In addition to the ingredients already in the salad the following extras will take this salad to the next level. Play around! It's important to have fun with your food!

  • Shallots or red onions: Thinly sliced shallots will add a little punch and an extra pop of color.
  • Avocado: Dice up a creamy avocado to add a little indulgence and healthy fat to this salad.
  • Hot peppers: You can slice up some jalapeño rings for added crunch and heat.
  • Red pepper flakes such as Aleppo pepper: I love Aleppo pepper over watermelons and over mangos, it is not too spicy but adds enough of a kick with hints of sweetness. I highly recommend it, which is why we offer it in our shop. If you try it don't stop with fruit. I love Aleppo pepper on a simple Cherry Tomato Salad or sprinkled over the top of Creamy Whipped Feta Dip. I could go on and on about my love for this spice, but I will stop here!
watermelon salad in a bowl with gold serving utensils in front of two glasses of water and a bowl of crumbled feta.

What to Serve with Watermelon Salad

Watermelon salad means backyard get togethers with friends and family! The sun is shining, the grill is going, and pitcher drinks of freshly made Strawberry Lemonade or White Sangria are flowing. Once the sun begins to shine my Mediterranean heart lightens up and I'm reminded of growing up in Port Said.

When it comes to pairing this quintessential summer salad with main meals I have you covered! Because watermelon salad is so cool and refreshing it's a nice way to balance anything spicy. I like to serve it with Grilled Chicken Legs with Garlic Harissa or keep it simple with Grilled Pork Souvlaki, or Chicken Kebabs.

If summer means fish, seafood or sandwiches to you then you're in luck! This watermelon feta salad goes beautifully with Salmon Burgers, Grilled Swordfish or even Shawarma.

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4.96 from 176 votes

Watermelon Salad Recipe with Feta and Cucumber

Suzy Karadsheh
close up of a watermelon salad in a bowl with gold serving utensils.
This simple and refreshing watermelon salad is made of sweet watermelon, cucumbers, creamy salty feta, fresh mint and basil. The lime-honey dressing brings this salad together, adding tang and a little extra punch. This watermelon feta salad is best prepared and served right away, but you can make the dressing up to 3 days in advance and save it in the fridge.
Prep – 15 minutes
Total – 15 minutes
Cuisine:
Mediterranean
Serves – 8
Course:
Salad

Ingredients
  

For the Honey-Lime Dressing

  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons quality extra virgin olive oil I used Greek Early Harvest
  • pinch of salt

For the Watermelon Salad

  • ½ watermelon peeled, cut into cubes
  • 1 English or Hot House cucumber, cubed (about 2 cupfuls of cubed cucumbers)
  • 15 fresh mint leaves, chopped
  • 15 fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • ½ cup crumbled feta cheese, more to your liking

Instructions
 

  • Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, lime juice, olive oil and pinch of salt. Set aside for a moment.
  • Make the Salad: In a large bowl or serving platter with sides, combine the watermelon, cucumbers, and fresh herbs.
  • Finish and Serve: Top the watermelon salad with the dressing and gently toss to combine. Top with the feta cheese and serve!

Video

Notes

  • Variations: you can add shallots or red onions, avocado cubes, or hot peppers. You can also season the salad with a dash of Aleppo-style pepper flakes which adds a little bit of heat with sweet undertones. 
  • Tips for Leftovers: Because this is a super watery salad, with watermelon and cucumber being the star ingredients, it is best to finish it on the same day you prepare it. However, if you have some leftovers, you can store in a tight-lid glass container for a night or two (test before serving.)
  • Visit Our Shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including olive oils and spices

Nutrition

Calories: 143.9kcalCarbohydrates: 28.2gProtein: 4.1gFat: 3.4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 1.4gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 88.2mgPotassium: 390.1mgFiber: 1.5gSugar: 22.8gVitamin A: 1760.8IUVitamin C: 25.7mgCalcium: 32.4mgIron: 0.9mg
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*This post has been recently updated with new information and media for readers' benefit.

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I'm Suzy; born and bred right on the shores of the Mediterranean. I'm all about easy, healthy recipes with big Mediterranean flavors. Three values guide my cooking: eat with the seasons; use whole foods; and above all, share! So happy you're here...
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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I was looking for a good Watermelon Feta Salad recipe, and this was by far the best one I found. The flavors melded perfectly and the salad was delicious! The cucumbers were a really nice addition, and pairing the fresh basil with the mint was a great idea!

  2. 5 stars
    This is totally amazing my family loved this recipe. I have a question… How would this taste with blue cheese instead of feta?

    1. Hi, Andrea! I have never tried those together before, so I can't really give you any guidance here. Stop back to let us know your thoughts if you give it a try!

  3. 5 stars
    This was astoundingly good. I made one alteration and that was to mince shallots (because I adore shallots) and add them to the lime juice. I let that sit just lime and shallot for about an hour and added the rest of the ingredients. Use an olive oil you love the flavor of - I used a sharper, greener EVO because the astringency goes nicely with the sweet of the watermelon and the creaminess of of the feta. I will make this again and again - so good. This whole website actually is a fave - I have never once followed a recipe off of here and had it less than totally delicious.

  4. I had this salad at a family bbq... loved it... but I'm not a fan of mint... does it really need it? I would be happy with just the fresh basil... any other herb suggestions?

  5. 5 stars
    Love love love this! Someone else said this but I have had other watermelon salads but the dressing and the addition of the basil really makes it! I’ve shared it with several people! Thank u!!

  6. 5 stars
    Hi Suzy... awesome recipe good dressing and the flavour of basil and mint leaves with watermelon great... thanks for your good recipe.....

  7. 5 stars
    DELICIOUS! Honestly, I was a bit skeptical with the dressing... I can’t say enough about it though! Gives it that extra blast of flavor. Love love love this!

    1. I know! A surprising combo of flavors, but they really work well together! So glad you enjoyed it!

  8. 5 stars
    I’ve made a similar salad several time’s but without basil and your yummy dressing. Those two things made a big taste difference. This is now my favourite watermelon salad.

  9. 5 stars
    I have made this recipe a couple of times this summer and it is simply delicious. Everyone liked it. Definitely a keeper!

  10. 5 stars
    Tasty good. Love the dressing especially. My husband is Egyptian and he loves feta with watermelon. Thanks for sharing.

  11. 5 stars
    Loved this salad with it's fresh and simple flavors. Must be eaten soon after it's tossed together.