This refreshing Watermelon and Basil Salad is perfect for a warm sunny day. The juicy watermelon, salty feta cheese, crisp red onion, fresh basil, and mint create an irresistible combination. And it's all drizzled with a sweet and tangy homemade honey vinaigrette. This salad is a delicious blend of flavors and the perfect complement to any summer meal!
Why this Recipe Works
This watermelon salad with feta and herbs is possibly the perfect summer salad for a hot sunny day. The combination of the juicy watermelon, aromatic fresh herbs, crisp red onion, and salty feta cheese is amazing! And the sweet and tangy honey vinaigrette is a perfect compliment to top off the salad.
And this salad is as easy to make as it is delicious. Simply chop your watermelon, slice your onion, chop the herbs, and whisk up the simple honey vinaigrette. Within 15 minutes, you'll have a restaurant-quality salad ready to wow your guests!
Ingredient Notes
- Watermelon - Seedless watermelon is the best choice for this salad. You'll need around half of a medium-sized watermelon. Check out this handy guide for choosing your watermelon.
- Herbs - Fresh basil and mint add tons of flavor to the salad. You can chop them or tear them into small pieces. The herbs will begin to oxidize and brown as they sit in the salad, so it's best to add those just before serving if making this ahead.
- Feta Cheese - The feta adds a salty flavor to help balance the sweetness of the watermelon and the honey vinaigrette. Crumble it yourself for the freshest flavor.
See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Start by preparing the vinaigrette. Combine olive oil, champagne vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and whisk together until well blended.
- Add the watermelon, feta, onion, basil, and mint to a large mixing bowl. Pour the prepared vinaigrette over the salad ingredients and gently toss until everything is well coated.
- Let the salad sit for 5-10 minutes to allow the watermelon to release some of its juices. Spoon the salad into a large serving bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste, then enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Toss the salad gently to avoid crushing the watermelon cubes and keep the feta from becoming too mashed.
- Save some feta and herbs to top the salad before serving for the best presentation.
- This salad is best served fresh, but if you're making it ahead, keep the dressing and herbs separate and toss them in the salad just before serving to keep the watermelon crisp and the herbs bright and green.
What to Serve with Watermelon Salad
This delicious watermelon and herb salad is perfect for grilled meats like my grilled BBQ chicken legs, spinach and feta turkey burgers, and grilled jerk chicken.
It's also perfect for summer barbecues with smoked meats like my smoked whole chicken, smoked St. Louis spare ribs, and smoked pork chops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. The watermelon will release juices as it sits, which can be drained off before serving the leftovers.
If you have any dressing leftover, store it separately and toss it with the leftover salad before serving.
Watermelon salad is best served immediately, but you can prep the ingredients ahead and leave out the dressing and herbs. Then toss them with the salad just before serving.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy watermelon salad - Add 1-2 sliced jalapeños and season the salad with 1 teaspoon of chili powder and ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper. For this version, I like to replace the basil with chopped cilantro and add the juice of 1 lime to the dressing.
- Cucumber watermelon salad - Add a sliced English cucumber for a salad with more crunch and color.
- Watermelon and Avocado Salad - Chopped avocado adds a creamy texture to the salad. This version is also tasty with a lime vinaigrette.
More Summer Salad Recipes
📖 Recipe
Watermelon Basil Salad
Ingredients
- 6 cups seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- ¼ cup fresh chopped basil
- 1 Tablespoon fresh chopped mint
- salt and pepper, to taste
Honey Vinaigrette Dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons champange vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add the vinaigrette ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
- Add the watermelon, feta, onion, basil, and mint to a large mixing bowl. Pour the dressing on top, then fold or gently toss to coat the salad.
- Let the salad sit for 5-10 minutes to allow the watermelon to release some of its juices. Spoon the salad into a large serving bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste, then enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
* All nutrition information we provide are estimates based on third party calculators. We encourage you to calculate these on your own for accurate results.
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