This Watermelon Salad with Feta Cheese is the perfect summer side dish. Made with juicy watermelon, salty feta cheese, fresh basil, and a simple lime dressing, it’s light, refreshing, and ready in less than 15 minutes.
We make this salad all summer long for cookouts, pool days, and easy family dinners. The combination of sweet watermelon and creamy feta creates a simple dish that always disappears quickly.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
Watermelon Feta Salad Recipe is a delicious summer side dishes that is easy to make but looks impressive but takes very little effort to make. The sweet and salty combination of the ingredients makes this salad so refreshing. The flavor is amazing and the fresh watermelon is amazing in this salad and pairs perfectly with grilled meats and backyard cookouts.
You may want to you use watermelon and these other family favorite recipes – The Best Homemade Watermelon Popsicles, Watermelon Water, and Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie Recipes.
What is Watermelon Feta Salad?
This Watermelon Feta Salad is the perfect summer salad. It is made with cubes of melon, feta cheese and topped with a vinaigrette dressing. You may also see it topped with extra virgin olive oil.
This refreshing salad combines the sweetness of the seedless watermelon and salty cheese. It is light and perfect to enjoy all summer long, like my 7 layer salad, and makes a perfect side to this Easy Homemade Flatbread Pizza.
Quick Glance at this Recipe
- Budget-Friendly: Uses a few simple ingredients.
- Family-Tested: A favorite summer side dish at our house.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes.
- Cooking Method: No-cook recipe.
- Freezer-Friendly: No.
- Best For: Cookouts, potlucks, BBQs, and summer dinners.
Ingredients
- Watermelon – Choose a ripe seedless watermelon for the best flavor.
- Feta Cheese – Block feta packed in brine provides the best texture and flavor.
- Fresh Basil – Adds freshness and complements the watermelon.
- Red Onion – Thinly sliced for a mild bite.
- Olive Oil – Use a good-quality extra virgin olive oil.
- Fresh Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed gives the dressing the best flavor.
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.
How to Make Watermelon Feta Salad
Follow along with my simple instructions to learn how you can make your own watermelon salad with feta cheese.
Step 1 – Dice Watermelon – Dice the watermelon and arrange it on the platter. Top with the sliced red onions.
Step 2 – Combine Dressing – Place the dressing ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. You can also whisk the dressing together in a small bowl.
Step 3 – Top the Watermelon – Drizzle the dressing on top of the watermelon.
Step 4 – Add Basil and Feta Cheese – Top with sliced basil leaves and feta cheese.
Step 5 – Serve and Enjoy – Serve chilled and enjoy.
Tips for Success
- Layer Salad – We recommend layering this salad on a platter. Instead of mixing in a large bowl so that the watermelon doesn’t fall apart.
- Drain Watermelon – If you are preparing the watermelon in advance, drain the juices from the watermelon.
- Dressing Ingredients – Mix the dressing ingredients together in a food processor. This allows for the dressing to combine evenly.
- Serving – This salad is best served immediately chilled.
Variations & Substitutions
- Cheese – Feta cheese is what we prefer in this recipe, but you can also top with goat cheese.
- Fresh Basil – Instead of using fresh basil, top the feta salad with fresh mint leaves. Feta and mint is delicious together. There are many fresh herbs that can added to this salad.
- Dressing – You can easily use a different type of dressing over this salad. Toss with a balsamic vinegar, honey-lime dressing or a red wine vinegar.
- Lemon Juice – If you do not have a lime, use lemon juice instead. We recommend using fresh lemons when making the dressing.
- Top with Nuts – For some extra crunch, top the salad with some chopped pecans, sliced almonds, or chopped walnuts.
- Other Add-ins – To add to this refreshing salad, add in some slice cucumbers, strawberries and arugula. Watermelon and cucumber is the perfect combination.
How to Find a Ripe Watermelon
Since this salads main ingredient is the watermelon, it is important to buy a ripe watermelon.
- Watermelon Season – The best time to make this salad is during the summer. It is the best time to get a delicious watermelon.
- Field Spot – When I am picking the best watermelon, I look for the field spot on the watermelon. This is the spot that the watermelon was resting on the ground. If the spot is yellow, then it is ripe but if it is white then it is unripe.
- Pick a Heavy Watermelon – If you pick a watermelon that is heavy, then you know that it is juicy. That is the best watermelon to pick for this recipe.
What is the Best Feta Cheese to Buy?
Feta Cheese is another key ingredient in this recipe. We recommend buying quality feta cheese. You want to buy crumbled feta cheese that in the form of a block. Make sure it is the full fat kind.
Make sure the feta cheese is not made of cows milk as this is not true feta. Most grocery stores have a cheese counter that will have the best feta cheese to buy for this this refreshing salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Watermelon Feta Salad is best served immediately combining the ingredients. If you want you can prepare the watermelon by cutting into chunks.
You can also use a melon baller to cut the watermelon into bite size pieces. Then store the watermelon in a air tight container until ready to make the salad.
The sweet and salty combination of the cheese and watermelon makes this salad so delicious. This salad is the perfect summertime meal.
The Watermelon Salad with Feta leftovers is only good for about 2 days when stored in airtight container.
More Easy Summer Salads
We love to hear from you. If you make this Feta Watermelon Salad Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.
Watermelon Salad with Feta Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 cups Ripe Watermelon diced
- 6 Basil Leaves sliced
- 1 ½ cups Feta Cheese
- ½ Red Onion sliced
For the Dressing:
- 1 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 Limes juiced
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
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Instructions
- In a large serving bowl, combine 8 cups diced ripe watermelon, 6 sliced basil leaves, 1 ½ cups feta cheese, and ½ sliced red onion.
- In a small bowl or blender, whisk together 1 tablespoon olive oil, the juice from 2 limes, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
- Drizzle the dressing on top of the watermelon.
- Top with sliced basil leaves and feta cheese.
- Serve chilled and enjoy!
