Quintessentially summer, this watermelon feta salad is refreshing in every way, with juicy-sweet watermelon, salty feta, and crunchy cucumbers with a light lime dressing. Best of all, it comes together in just 20 minutes!
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If I’m being honest, I feel like most watermelon feta salads are bland and BLAH. But this recipe changed my mind; it’s seriously the best! The first time I made it, I figured my husband and I would nibble on a few bites before dinner. Instead, we stood at the counter and devoured the entire bowl! No shame.
My watermelon salad recipe cold and crisp, with just the right amount of salty feta, bright mint, and a citrusy dressing to bring it all together. The textures hit every note: juicy, creamy, crunchy, and fresh. It’s not just a side dish…it’s the main character of summer, just like Caprese Salad and this other awesome Summer Salad.
And yes, we’ve learned to double this recipe ever since!
Watermelon Feta Salad Recipe Ingredients
You’ll be surprised how easy it is to make this watermelon salad! With only a handful of ingredients thrown in a bowl and tossed together, you’ll have one of the best summer salads ever in just a few minutes. Here’s what you need:
- Cubed watermelon – if you don’t feel like cutting up a whole watermelon, just buy pre-cut cubes in the produce section of your grocery store. But if you do want to cut your own, follow my easy steps on How to Cut a Watermelon into chunks. Make sure to buy a watermelon that feels heavy and has a creamy yellow field spot (which means it’s ripe).
- Feta cheese – I like to buy a block of good-quality feta and hand-crumble it into larger chunks. But if you want to make this salad in pinch, buy the pre-crumbled stuff…no problem!
- English cucumber – English cucumbers are extra crunchy and hold up really well in this salad.
- Red onion – red onion adds a bit more crunch and a touch of tang.
- Shelled pistachios – pistachios are the secret ingredient! They’re buttery and provide contrast to the sweet watermelon.
- Fresh mint – mint and watermelon are the perfect pair, just like PB&J!
- Lime – to cut through the sweetness of the watermelon, lime juice and zest are our friends, adding brightness and acidity.
- Extra virgin olive oil – olive oil binds everything together.
- Red pepper flakes – if you like a little heat, add a dash of red pepper flakes!
Variations
Make this watermelon feta salad your own! Here’s a few ways to change it up:
- Leave out or swap the nuts: like pumpkin seeds, toasted pine nuts, or Candied Pecans
- Try different herbs: like basil or chives
- Add more mix-ins: like avocado, arugula, microgreens, or even crispy prosciutto
- Add a finishing touch: like a drizzle of balsamic glaze, hot honey, or pomegranate molasses
What to Serve With Watermelon Feta Salad
Whether you’re hosting a cookout, a summer brunch, or just dinner for you and your family, this salad will be your new go-to! Pair it with other cookout favorites like Grilled Chicken Breast, homemade Baked Beans, Vinegar Coleslaw, and Cornbread Muffins.
For a brunch spread, this watermelon salad is perfect with Quiche Florentine and Popovers. And for a summer dinner, make it with Smash Burgers and Macaroni Salad.
There’s clearly too many options to list!
FAQs
The best dressing for watermelon feta salad is simply lime juice and zest with a little olive oil to create a tangy contrast while still letting the other ingredients shine through!
This recipe couldn’t be easier. Toss all the ingredients in a bowl, mix and serve!
This salad is best made same-day (although you can make it a few hours ahead!). If you need to make it further in advance, it keeps well in the fridge for up to 2 days, adding the fresh mint last minute.
More Summer Salad Recipes You’ll Love!
Breakfast
Easy Fruit Salad Recipe
Snacks & Side Dishes
Easy Greek Pasta Salad
Snacks & Side Dishes
Easy Asian Cucumber Salad
Appetizers
Peach And Burrata Salad
Snacks & Side Dishes
Simple Cucumber Tomato Salad
If you’ve tried this Watermelon Feta Salad Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Please consider leaving a 🌟 star rating while you are here!
Watermelon Feta Salad
Ingredients
- 5 cups cubed watermelon, roughly 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese, block of feta hand-crumbled is best
- 1 cup English cucumber, chopped
- ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup shelled pistachios
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, cut into ribbons
- ½ lime, zested
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Red pepper flakes, to taste
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a salad bowl.
- Toss gently, and let the flavors marinate for 10 minutes before enjoying!
Video
Notes
- You can use pre-cut watermelon or learn How to Cut A Watermelon into cubes.
- I like to crumble my own feta into relatively large crumbles, so when you toss the salad, the crumbles stay intact better than if they were extra small like the pre-crumbled kind!
- Don’t like mint? Try basil instead!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This salad feels very gourmet while being incredibly quick and easy to make, especially with your instructions on how to cut a watermelon. Thank you for helping me feel like a pro chef ๐
I’m glad the instructions were easy to follow and it turned out great! Cheers ๐
Grace
I always found the classic watermelon feta salad a little bland, but the pistachios, lime, and red pepper in this recipe really gave it some extra zip! A perfect taste of summer.
๐ love the “zip” too!! Happy Summer!
Grace
This recipe was incredible! We brought it to a family picnic and it was devoured. Even our teenager went back for seconds. Sweet, tangy, salty, mmmm!!
When the teenagers love it too, it’s a win! Thanks for sharing ๐
Grace