This vibrant watermelon salad recipe is the ultimate refreshing summer side dish! Perfect for brunch, BBQs, or a light lunch, this recipe features juicy watermelon, crisp cucumber, peppery arugula, and creamy feta, all tied together with a zingy lime-honey dressing. Garnished with fresh mint and a drizzle of olive oil, it’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
If you love fresh and colorful salads, try my Asian Broccoli Slaw Salad with Roasted Sesame Ginger Dressing or my Big Mac Salad with Homemade Big Mac Sauce as a dressing!
I love making this Watermelon Salad recipe when I want to wow my guests with the presentation! It's SO pretty!!! The best part is that it comes together so quickly!
It's perfect for showers or a girls' afternoon! The juicy watermelon and crisp cucumber pair perfectly with the salty feta and peppery arugula, while mint brings a burst of freshness. The simple honey-lime dressing adds so much flavor to this stunning salad! My favorite touch is making the cucumber roses, everyone loves them!
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Recipe Highlights
- Gorgeous summer salad perfect for entertaining
- Simple to assemble with no cooking required
- Sweet, salty, tangy, and refreshing all in one bite
- Easily customizable with fun garnishes like cucumber roses or edible flowers
Ingredient Notes
- Watermelon: Use seedless watermelon. Chill before cutting for best flavor and presentation.
- English cucumber: Adds crunch. Cube them in roughly the same size as the watermelon chunks they can be a bit smaller. Shave a few slices with a vegetable peeler into ribbons for to create cucumber roses. Simply roll the ribbons into a rose shape and place on the salad.
- Arugula: Choose baby arugula for a delicate, peppery bite.
- Lime juice: Freshly squeezed adds the perfect citrusy brightness.
- Honey: Balances the tart lime and enhances the watermelon’s sweetness.
- Feta: Crumbled feta adds creamy, salty contrast.
- Fresh mint: Don’t skip it—it adds a beautiful herbal note and smells so delicious along with the lime!
- Olive oil: Just a light drizzle adds richness and ties the flavors together.
- Balsamic Glaze: Optional for serving.
How to Make this Watermelon Salad Recipe
- Step 1: Cube watermelon on a cutting board.
- Step 2: Next, cut some cucumber in cubes.
- Step 3: In a large bowl, gently toss the cubed watermelon and cucumber with lime juice and honey.
- Step 4: Spread arugula in a single layer on a large oval platter.
- Step 5: Spoon the watermelon and cucumber mixture evenly over the arugula.
- Step 6: Top with crumbled feta and scattered mint leaves. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper just before serving
Charlotte's Tips for: Watermelon Feta Salad
- Chill your watermelon before cutting for easier prep and a refreshing result.
- Keep the cubes uniform in size for a beautiful presentation—make the cucumber pieces slightly smaller for visual balance.
- Assemble the salad just before serving to avoid soggy arugula.
- Use a large oval platter for an elegant, styled presentation.
- Create cucumber roses by shaving long strips with a vegetable peeler, rolling them into spirals, and adding them in odd-numbered groupings.
- Garnish with edible flowers for extra color and charm.
- When you are cubing up watermelon for this salad, cut up some extra to freeze for this delicious Watermelon Slushie!
Recipe Variations
- Swap arugula for baby spinach or spring mix.
- Add avocado slices for creaminess.
- Use goat cheese instead of feta for a milder, tangy flavor.
- Sprinkle with toasted pistachios or almonds for crunch.
Recipe Substitutions
- If you don’t have lime, use lemon juice instead.
- Honey can be replaced with maple syrup or agave.
- Omit cheese or use a plant-based feta alternative to make this salad dairy-free.
Storage Tips
This salad is best served fresh. If needed, you can prepare the watermelon and cucumber mixture ahead and store it in the fridge (covered) for up to 4 hours. Assemble the salad with arugula, feta, mint, and olive oil just before serving to avoid sogginess.
Recipe
Watermelon Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups cubed seedless watermelon
- 2 cups cubed English cucumber
- 4 cups baby arugula
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- Fresh mint torn
- Olive oil for drizzling
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- Balsamic glaze optional for serving.
Instructions
- In a large bowl, gently toss the watermelon and cucumber with lime juice and honey.
- Arrange the arugula in an even layer on a large oval platter.
- Spoon the watermelon and cucumber mixture over the arugula.
- Top with crumbled feta and torn mint leaves.
- Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and freshly cracked pepper just before serving.
Notes
- Chill your watermelon before prepping the salad to make it easier to cut and for the most refreshing flavor.
- Slice cucumbers and watermelon into fairly even cubes for the best presentation (cucumbers can be slightly smaller)
- Use a large oval platter for a styled, elevated presentation. This needs to be assembled right before serving, and the watermelon and cucumber will release a lot of liquid, making the arugula soggy.
- Create cucumber roses by using a vegetable peeler to cut long cucumber strips and then roll them into a rose shape. Arrange them in odd numbers to garnish the finished salad. Edible flowers would also be lovely.
Nutrition
I hope you love this Watermelon Cucumber Salad. If you make this recipe, leave a comment and a rating! I'd love to know how you liked it. Enjoy, xoxo!
Natalie says
So fresh and perfect for summer! I can't wait until the watermelon is ripe and sweet to try this salad.