Watermelon Salad with Feta and Honey-Lime Dressing

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This watermelon feta salad is loaded with watermelon, fresh berries, peaches, cherries, feta cheese, and mint, all tossed in a honey lime dressing. Perfect for summer parties, BBQs, picnics, and potlucks.

Why You'll Love It

I make this watermelon salad whenever I need an easy side dish for BBQs, cookouts, picnics, and summer parties. I've made many salads since I started this food blog in 2012, and this one might be one of the best yet! It comes together in just 20 minutes and always disappears fast, just like my strawberry spinach salad, crowd-favorite apple spinach salad, and summer fruit salad.

• Flavor: The combination of sweet watermelon, fresh berries, peaches, cherries, salty feta, and mint creates the perfect balance of flavors and textures. The honey lime dressing ties everything together without overpowering the fruit.
• Nutrition-wise, It's naturally gluten-free and vegetarian, and you can easily make it dairy-free by omitting feta cheese or using vegan feta. 
• I especially love serving it alongside grilled favorites like my grilled shrimp skewers, easy chicken shawarma bowls, my grilled salmon, and teriyaki chicken skewers.

Watermelon Salad Ingredients

• Watermelon: Use a ripe, sweet seedless watermelon. Since it's the star ingredient, choose the best one you can find. I provide tips below for choosing the best watermelon.
• Strawberries: Fresh, ripe strawberries. Hull and halve larger berries. Strawberries should be deep red all the way through. You can substitute with raspberries or halved grapes.
• Blueberries: Fresh blueberries add sweetness and beautiful color.
• Blackberries: Look for plump, ripe berries without soft spots.
• Peaches: Use ripe but slightly firm peaches that should yield slightly when gently pressed so they hold their shape in the salad. Nectarines, apricots, or plums work well, too.
• Sweet Cherries: Fresh sweet cherries, pitted and halved. Bing cherries are my favorite when in season. Dark grapes are a good substitute.
• Feta Cheese: Block-style feta works much better than pre-crumbled feta. I like to cube my own feta to create cleaner pieces that hold their shape and provide a creamier texture. You can use fresh mozzarella pearls (small balls) as a substitution if you don't like feta.
• Fresh Mint Leaves: Tear the leaves rather than chopping them to help preserve their flavor and prevent bruising. Fresh basil is a great alternative.

Honey Lime Dressing Ingredients

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Use a good-quality extra virgin olive oil with a mild, fruity flavor.
• Lime Juice: I always use freshly squeezed.
• Honey: Adds just enough sweetness to balance the lime juice. Maple syrup or agave nectar are great alternatives.
• Dijon Mustard: Helps emulsify the dressing and adds subtle tanginess.
• Lime Zest: Freshly zested. This adds even more fresh lime flavor.
• Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper: Add those to taste or omit.

How to Choose the Best Watermelon

A great watermelon salad starts with a perfectly ripe, sweet watermelon. Here's exactly what I look for when shopping:

• Look for a large creamy-yellow field spot. This is the area where the watermelon rested on the ground while ripening. A deep yellow or creamy golden spot usually means it ripened naturally in the field and will be sweeter.
• Pick one that feels heavy for its size. A ripe watermelon should feel surprisingly heavy, which indicates it's full of juice.
• Check for uniform shape. Whether round or oval, choose a watermelon with a symmetrical shape and no major dents, soft spots, or bruises.
• Give it a tap. A ripe watermelon should produce a deep, hollow sound rather than a flat or dull thud.

Preparation Tips

• Try to cut the watermelon, peaches, and feta into similarly sized pieces. Uniform pieces make the salad easier to eat and create a more polished presentation.
• Whisk the dressing until fully emulsified before pouring it over the fruit. This helps distribute the honey and Dijon evenly throughout the salad.
• Dress the salad shortly before serving. The lime juice and salt will gradually draw moisture from the watermelon, making the salad watery if it sits for too long.
• If making the salad ahead, prepare and refrigerate the fruit and dressing separately.
• Toss everything together just before serving for the freshest texture.
• Taste the fruit before assembling. If your watermelon or berries are especially sweet, you may prefer to reduce the honey slightly. If they're a little tart, an extra drizzle of honey can help balance the flavors.

What to Serve with Watermelon Salad

I make this salad throughout the entire summer season. It's a wonderful thirst-quencher. I serve it at Memorial Day cookouts, Fourth of July celebrations, backyard BBQs, picnics, potlucks, and even for Labor Day weekend! It pairs beautifully with anything grilled, such as: 

• Grilled Chicken Salad with Peaches
• Grilled Steak Salad
• Grilled Peruvian Chicken
• Glazed Pork Chops with Peaches and Bourbon Glaze
• Grilled Pork Tenderloin
• Grilled Pork Chops with Mango Salsa

More Summer Salads

• Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
• Pear Salad with Walnuts and Honey-Mustard Dressing
• Grilled Peach Salad
• Tomato Cucumber Avocado Mozzarella Salad with Basil Pesto
• Berry Spinach Salad with Pecans and Feta
• Summer Orzo Salad
• Greek Salad
• Spaghetti Salad