Watermelon Salad Recipe

By Amy Dong
Updated Jul. 30, 2024

This Watermelon Salad Recipe is supremely refreshing all summer long! It’s a crazy-easy and fun spin on summer fruit salad – perfect for all those picnics and cookouts.

watermelon salad in a bowl. — With it’s bright colors and vibrant flavors, this Watermelon Salad Recipe screams summer .

Why This Recipe Stands Out

Here’s why you and your family will adore this watermelon salad:

Perfect for Summer: This salad is a highlight of our summer recipes – it’s sweet, juicy, tangy, and crispy.
Easy Ingredients: Just 7 simple ingredients are all that’s needed for this refreshing summer salad.
Healthy: Watermelon Salad is a perfectly healthy, fresh side to serve alongside your favorite grilled recipes.
Super Fast: All you’ll need is 20 minutes to throw this flavorful salad together.
It’s Versatile: We keep this recipe simple so you can spruce it up any way you want. There are so many ingredients that pair well with watermelon!

Key Recipe Ingredients

Watermelon – Cube the freshest, crispest watermelon you can get your hands on. It makes all the difference in this recipe.
Yellow Cherry Tomatoes – Yellow cherry tomatoes are slightly sweeter than red and add the perfect pop of sunny yellow to this dish.
Red Onion – Red onion gives watermelon salad just the right amount of zing.
Fresh Basil Leaves – The sweet, earthy aroma and flavor of fresh basil just can’t be beat. It pairs amazingly with watermelon!
Fresh Lime Juice – Lime juice’s acidity balances the sweetness of the other ingredients perfectly and helps preserve the salad.
Honey – Pure honey thickens while it sweetens
Black Pepper – Black pepper seems like a small addition, but makes all the difference in the flavor of this salad.

Substitutions And Variations

Like we already mentioned, this Watermelon Salad Recipe is the perfect base to start with and tweak however you want to. Here’s our favorite variations:

Change the Dressing: Omit the lime juice and honey and replace it with this super simple, sweet, and tangy Balsamic Reduction.
Add Some Crunch: For added crunch, we love sprinkling toasted walnuts, pine nuts, or almonds onto this fruit salad.
Swap the Herbs: Try substituting fresh mint for the basil. It changes the whole taste of this salad!
Switch the Fruit: We know this is a Watermelon Salad, but if you happen to have fresh strawberries or peaches on hand, these also work wonderfully for this dish. Check out this Strawberry Caprese Salad.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

Stacked watermelon rounds cut into cubes.

Prepare watermelon, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and basil.
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl and serve immediately. Enjoy!

For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

Key Tips For Success

Pick the Right Watermelon: Start off with the sweetest, crispiest, ripe watermelon you can get your hands on. This is the trickiest part of this recipe, because the salad itself is super easy. If picking a great watermelon is a mystery, learn how we consistently pick the best watermelon every time.
Select the Best Tomatoes: Make sure your yellow tomatoes are fresh and sweet. If you can’t source yellow tomatoes, you can certainly use the little orange or cherry tomatoes.
Get Only the Freshest Basil: If you’re lucky enough to grow basil in your garden, you’re in business. If you prefer, you can use fresh mint leaves.
Use Fresh Lime Juice: Use only freshly squeezed lime juice. No bottled lime juice here.

What To Serve With Watermelon Salad

Protein

Serve Watermelon Salad alongside a big, juicy BLT Burger with Roasted Garlic Mayo for the perfect summer meal the whole family will love.
We can never pass up an opportunity to grill these Marinated Ribeye Steaks. As soon as the weather warms up enough, we’re firing up the grill.

Starches

Have extra limes leftover? Make this Cilantro Lime Rice for a zesty side to any dish.
We can’t resist fresh Naan or rustic Rosemary Garlic Bread served next to any summer salad – especially Watermelon Salad.

Desserts and Drinks

Nothing quite hits the spot on a 90 degree day after a hearty grilled meal like this Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream.
For even more fresh watermelon goodness, serve these refreshing Watermelon Margaritas alongside this fruit salad.

Commonly Asked Questions

Can I make this watermelon salad in advance?

Though the vast majority of our recipes can be made in advance, this one isn’t one of them. We recommend enjoying this salad soon after tossing. Keep covered and chilled.

Do I have to use yellow tomatoes?

The yellow tomatoes tend to be extra sweet, but are chosen mainly for color. You’re free to use cherry tomatoes or whatever baby tomatoes are the sweetest ones you can find.

What can I substitute for fresh basil?

If you can’t find fresh basil (or simply don’t prefer it,) try freshly torn mint for a burst of refreshing flavor.

Can I add other fruit to this watermelon salad?

Absolutely! Try adding other melons like honeydew or cantaloupe at a 1-1 ratio. We recommend using watermelon as the main fruit, to keep it a watermelon salad 🙂

Did you make this?

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