This Watermelon Basil Salad with Feta and Honey Glaze is the perfect summer side dish for your next BBQ. The juicy watermelon, tangy feta, and sweet blueberries combine to create an explosion of flavor with each bite. And the best part? This refreshing salad is easy to make and will become a favorite dish for picnics, barbecues, and get-togethers.
I am SO excited for summer to come - I can't wait to exchange my winter boots for flip-flops.
And with the arrival of warmer weather, I have started to change my recipes from cozy soups and stews to refreshing salads and smoked meats.
I'm excited to share with you this lovely summer side dish - it's one of my favorite recipes! This watermelon cucumber salad is perfect for warmer months when watermelon is fresh and ripe. The sweet fruit flavors of watermelon combine perfectly with the salty feta cheese and honey-lime dressing for an explosion of flavor.
If you want something light but filling, this is the perfect summer salad. The combination of sweet watermelon, blueberries, and crumbled feta gives the salad tons of flavor, while the honey lime dressing adds an extra layer of sweetness that ties everything together.
This salad is perfect for any summer gathering. I like to serve it along with my other summer salad recipes - Miracle Whip Coleslaw, Carrot Salad With Lemon, and Cucumber Salad.
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⭐ Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Refreshing: This watermelon feta salad is perfect for a hot day as it combines the sweetness of the watermelon, cool cucumber, and fresh basil, creating a refreshing flavor.
- Colorful: With the vibrant colors of watermelon, feta cheese, blueberries, and basil, this salad will surely be a showstopper at your next gathering.
- Healthy: This easy salad packs plenty of nutrition as it contains all-natural ingredients such as watermelon, cucumber, basil, and feta cheese which are high in vitamins and minerals. The addition of honey lime dressing gives this salad an extra boost of sweetness without adding any artificial sugars.
- Versatile: Serve it as a side dish with your favorite grilled meats and veggies, or even as a light lunch. It's perfect for a summer picnic, pool party, or a casual backyard BBQ.
- Easy To Make: This watermelon salad recipe comes together in just a few minutes, and only requires a handful of ingredients.
🍉 Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Watermelon: Fresh watermelon adds a refreshing sweetness to this salad. I used a seedless watermelon so I didn't have to worry about picking out seeds.
- Cucumber: Cool cucumbers add a nice crunch. I used English cucumbers, but any cucumbers will work, including Persian cucumbers.
- Red Onion: Thinly-sliced red onion adds flavor and crunch.
- Blueberries: Fresh blueberries add bursts of sweetness.
- Fresh Basil: Fresh basil leaves pack in plenty of flavor and aroma.
- Feta Cheese: Feta cheese adds a salty tang that helps balance out the sweet flavors of watermelon and blueberries.
- Fresh Lime Juice and Honey: The perfect finishing touch, lime juice and honey make a delicious dressing that brings out all the flavors in this salad! Fresh lime juice is best, but you can use bottled it that's what you have. And if you don't have lime juice, use lemon juice!
See the printable recipe card for exact measurements and a complete list of ingredients.
🍈 How To Pick A Watermelon
If you have trouble finding the perfect watermelon, try these tips:
- Look for a symmetrical shape: Watermelons should have a symmetrical shape without any lumps or bumps.
- Check the color: A healthy watermelon should have an evenly-colored rind with no white or yellow spots.
- Check the underside: The watermelon's underside (the part resting on the ground) should be creamy yellow, not white or green.
- Pick up and thump it: Lift the fruit and give it a gentle knock with your fist. If you hear a deep hollow sound, it’s likely ripe and ready to eat!
🍉 How To Cut A Watermelon
To cut a watermelon into cubes, place the watermelon on a large cutting board. Using a sharp knife, slice off the top and bottom of the watermelon to create two flat surfaces. Then, stand the watermelon on one end, and use the knife to carefully cut off the rind in strips, following the curve of the fruit. Cut away as much of the rind as possible, leaving only the juicy red flesh.
Once the rind has been removed, cut the watermelon into slices about 1 inch thick. Cut each slice into cubes by making vertical and horizontal cuts with the knife, creating a grid pattern. Use a spoon or your hands to transfer the watermelon cubes into a large mixing bowl.
🍉 How to Make Watermelon Basil Salad with Feta
First, start by prepping the ingredients. Rinse the watermelon, cucumber, blueberries, and basil with cold water and pat dry.
Next, cut the watermelon into 1-inch cubes. Transfer the cubed watermelon to a large mixing bowl.
Tip: You can also use a melon baller to make balls instead of cubes. This works especially well if you want to serve the salad in a watermelon bowl. (See Serving Suggestions below).
Then, cut the red onion and cucumber into small, bite-sized pieces. Add them to the watermelon in the large bowl.
Next, crumble the feta cheese over the top of the salad.
Then, tear or chop the basil leaves into small pieces, adding them to the bowl with the watermelon. Use a large spoon to toss the ingredients.
Next, add blueberries to the salad.
In a small bowl, whisk the lime juice and honey together.
Pour the dressing over the salad. Toss gently to combine.
For best results, serve immediately. However, you can cover and store it in the fridge for up to 30 minutes before serving.
When ready to serve, give the salad a gentle toss to redistribute the ingredients. Drizzle with extra honey, if desired.
Enjoy!
💭 Expert Tips
- Use fresh, ripe watermelon. Seedless are the best varieties, so you don't have to worry about seeds.
- Dice the cucumbers into small cubes and mince the red onions finely.
- This salad does not keep well because the watermelon can quickly become soggy after adding the dressing. The cucumber and onions will become softer over time, making the salad less appetizing. For best results, enjoy this salad soon after it has been prepared.
🥑 Variations
You can easily change this recipe by using different variations to make this salad your own. Some tasty ideas to try are:
- Add some chopped avocado to the salad, which will give it a nice creaminess and some healthy fats.
- Switch up the cheese and use goat cheese instead of feta.
- If you are not a fan of basil, try using different fresh herbs - one of my favorites is fresh mint leaves.
- Add sliced jalapeños for a spicy kick.
- Throw in some chopped walnuts for added texture.
- Add cherry tomatoes for an extra pop of color.
🍈 Serving Suggestions
One fun way to serve this summery salad is to hollow out a large watermelon and use it as a bowl. Simply cut off the top of the watermelon, scoop out the flesh to use in the salad, and then fill the hollowed-out watermelon with the finished salad. This makes for a beautiful and refreshing centerpiece for any summer gathering.
Another idea is to serve this delicious salad in individual cups or jars. Layer the ingredients in a large mason jar for a pretty and easy-to-grab snack. Top with a drizzle of honey lime dressing. This is perfect for picnics or outdoor events where guests may be mingling and want a quick snack.
📋 Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can make this salad earlier in the day. To do so, prepare all the ingredients separately and store everything individually in an airtight container in the fridge. When you're ready to serve, add the ingredients to a bowl, drizzle with dressing, and toss gently. This will prevent everything from becoming soggy.
Absolutely. If you're not a fan of feta, try substituting it with goat cheese or blue cheese.
To store leftovers of this salad, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate. It will only last for about a day, and be sure to discard any ingredients that have gone bad.
🌽 More Easy Summer Side Dishes
This Watermelon Feta Basil Salad is a must-try summer side dish. As the temperatures rise, take advantage of the fresh produce and try this refreshing salad and enjoy the best part of summer. 🙂
📋 Recipe
Easy Watermelon Basil Salad with Feta
Equipment
- Large bowl
- Large spoon
Ingredients
- 6 cups seedless watermelon cut in 1-inch cubes, about 4 pounds
- ¼ cup red onion diced or slivered
- 1 cup cucumber diced
- 1 cup feta cheese crumbled or cubed
- ¼ cup fresh basil cut into thin strips
- ¾ cup blueberries
Honey Lime Dressing
- 4 tablespoon lime juice
- 4 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- Combine watermelon, red onion, cucumber, feta, and chopped basil in a large bowl. Toss with a large spoon to combine.
- Add blueberries to the salad.
- Whisk the lime juice and honey together in a small bowl to make the honey-lime dressing. Pour the dressing over the ingredients in the bowl. Toss gently to combine.
- For best results, serve immediately.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Use fresh, ripe watermelon. Seedless are the best varieties, so you don't have to worry about seeds.
- Dice the cucumbers into small cubes and mince the red onions finely.
- This salad does not keep well because the watermelon can quickly become soggy after adding the dressing. The cucumber and onions will become softer over time, making the salad less appetizing. For best results, enjoy this salad soon after it has been prepared.
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