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37 Watermelon Recipes That Are Juicy and Refreshing
There’s nothing like sinking your teeth into a juicy wedge of perfectly ripe watermelon.
While it’s always delicious on its own, there are actually a ton of creative watermelon recipes that demonstrate that the fruit is also a surprisingly versatile ingredient in summer cooking.
Watermelon’s sweet and juicy flesh is complemented beautifully by acidic flavors (like balsamic or lime juice), fresh herbs (like mint or basil), soft cheese (like feta or mozzarella), spicy flavors (like jalapeños), and other seasonal produce (like cucumber or avocado).
Those are ingredients you’ll see pop up frequently in the assortment of watermelon recipes below. Along with all sorts of delicious salads—fruit, grain, green—there are recipes for frozen treats, salsas, chilled soups, and clever dishes that cook with the fruit like it’s a protein. You’ll be delighted by what watermelon can do.
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Jeanine Donofrio via Love and Lemons1 Watermelon Tomato Salad from Love & Lemons
Thai basil, fresh ginger, and jalapeño bring tons of flavor to this creative salad, dressed in a tamari-lime sauce and topped with toasted cashews.
Get the recipe here.
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Taylor Kiser via Food Faith Fitness2 Summer Maple Lime Watermelon Zoodle Bowls from Food Faith Fitness
Charred corn, a maple-syrup-and-lime sauce, and cubed watermelon make this feta-topped zoodle-and-edamame bowl pleasantly sweet to eat.
Get the recipe here.
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Shawn Syphus via I Wash You Dry3 Watermelon Fruit Pizza from I Wash You Dry
This adorable dessert idea involves spreading a mixture of yogurt and Cool Whip as the “sauce” on your watermelon pizza and using kiwi and berries for toppings.
Get the recipe here.
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Aaron Hutcherson via The Hungry Hutch4 Mango Watermelon Salsa from The Hungry Hutch
Up your chips-and-salsa game with this juicy rendition, made with jalapeños and red onions to complement the sweet fruit.
Get the recipe here.
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Alanna Taylor-Tobin via The Bojon Gourmet5 Watermelon Jicama Salad With Cotija, Cumin, and Lime from The Bojon Gourmet
Crunchy jicama is a highly underrated veggie—and a beautiful complement to watermelon in this complex-tasting but easy-to-make salad.
Get the recipe here.
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Carrian and Cade Cheney via Oh, Sweet Basil6 Watermelon Granita from Oh, Sweet Basil
This granita is like a sophisticated Italian ice. Scraping icy bits off of your frozen mixture into little crystals takes a little time but is totally worth it!
Get the recipe here.
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Marwin Brown via Food Fidelity7 Grilled Watermelon from Food Fidelity
Roasting and pan-grilling “filets” of watermelon caramelizes the outside while leaving the inside juicy, giving it the appearance of a medium-rare steak and the texture of a seared rare ahi tuna steak, recipe creator Marwin Brown explains.
Get the recipe here.
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Chungah Rhee via Damn Delicious8 Watermelon Salad With Balsamic Reduction from Damn Delicious
This recipe includes a homemade balsamic reduction, which is surprisingly easy—just simmer balsamic vinegar and brown sugar on the stove for a few minutes.
Get the recipe here.
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Dana and John Shultz via Minimalist Baker9 Coconut Lime Watermelon Slushie from Minimalist Baker
This slushie-like smoothie is frosty and sweet thanks to frozen chunks of watermelon, while coconut milk adds a nice creaminess.
Get the recipe here.
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Monique Volz via Ambitious Kitchen10 Avocado, Watermelon & Cucumber Salad from Ambitious Kitchen
This summery trio, tied together with lime juice and fresh cilantro, is both creamy (from the avocado) and refreshing (from the watermelon and cucumber).
Get the recipe here.
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Erin Alderson via Naturally Ella11 Minted Summer Couscous With Watermelon and Feta from Naturally Ella
This is basically like a limey watermelon, feta, and herb salad, served over whole wheat couscous to make it into a full meal.
Get the recipe here.
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Elise Bauer via Simply Recipes12 Watermelon Gazpachoa from Simply Recipes
Puréeing a portion of the ingredients creates a smooth base, while the rest are finely chopped and added at the end for texture. You get plenty of tang from the red wine vinegar.
Get the recipe here.
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Sylvie Shirazi via Gourmande in the Kitchen13 Fennel, Arugula, and Watermelon Salad With Green Olive Vinaigrette from Gourmande in the Kitchen
Capers and green olives add some salty, savory goodness to this crunchy salad, topped with fennel fronds and pistachios.
Get the recipe here.
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Dana and John Shultz via Minimalist Baker14 Watermelon Sashimi from Minimalist Baker
This clever side/snack/appetizer has you glaze watermelon triangles with a mixture of sesame oil and tamari and top ’em with sashimi fixings like pickled ginger and sesame seeds. Wasabi optional!
Get the recipe here.
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Elise Bauer via Simply Quinoa15 Watermelon Mint Quinoa Salad from Simply Quinoa
This extremely simple recipe requires just four ingredients and creates something a little more substantial than your average watermelon salad, thanks to the quinoa.
Get the recipe here.
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Elise Bauer via Simply Quinoa16 Watermelon & Goat Cheese Salad With Spiced Nuts from Simply Quinoa
The key to this recipe is the spiced nuts. Toasting the walnuts in a skillet with some olive oil, honey, and spices for just a couple of minutes will make your kitchen smell heavenly.
Get the recipe here.
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Jeanine Donofrio via Love and Lemons17 Vegan Poke Bowl from Love & Lemons
This clever spin on the poke bowl subs in watermelon for the raw fish and incorporates flavorful, crunchy toppings like macadamia nuts and furikake.
Get the recipe here.
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Marwin Brown via Food Fidelity18 Watermelon Wedge Salad from Food Fidelity
A lime-cilantro vinaigrette made with chopped spicy mustard greens takes watermelon wedges from simple and sweet to complex and zesty.
Get the recipe here.
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Taylor Kiser via Food Faith Fitness19 Green Cashew Curry Chicken Bowls With Watermelon from Food Faith Fitness
Spiralized cucumbers get doused in a cashew butter, lime juice, coconut milk, rice vinegar, and ginger sauce and topped with watermelon, chicken, and fresh herbs.
Get the recipe here.
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Dana and John Shultz via Minimalist Baker20 Strawberry Chia Watermelon Smoothie from Minimalist Baker
Watermelons don’t get their due in smoothie recipes! This one is sprinkled with chia seeds (or hemp seeds) for a little extra texture.
Get the recipe here.
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Erin Clarke via Well Plated21 Watermelon Feta Salad With Mint, Avocado, and Lime from Well Plated
Adding shelled edamame to this colorful salad gives it some extra crunch and staying power (from the protein).
Get the recipe here.
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Sylvie Shirazi via Gourmande in the Kitchen22 Watermelon Salad With Chili and Mint from Gourmande in the Kitchen
This hot-and-cold salad is flavored with cool fresh mint and spicy chile peppers.
Get the recipe here.
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Marwin Brown via Food Fidelity23 Calamari Chickpea Salad from Food Fidelity
Balled watermelon plays a key supporting role in this unusual, protein-rich salad, which also includes cherry tomatoes, avocado, and a garlic-lime vinaigrette.
Get the recipe here.
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Krista Rollins via Joyful Healthy Eats24 Watermelon Feta Bruschetta from Joyful Healthy Eats
Serve these little toothpick-speared stacks as an appetizer for a festive summer feast—or keep to yourself to enjoy as a fun snack.
Get the recipe here.
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Ali Ebright via Gimme Some Oven25 Watermelon Gazpacho from Gimme Some Oven
This simple gazpacho recipe comes with a ton of suggestions to mix it up. You can add more fruit (cantaloupe, strawberries), veggies (beets, corn), fresh herbs (basil), or spice (serrano chiles).
Get the recipe here.
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Deborah Harroun via Taste and Tell26 Watermelon Ice from Taste and Tell
This is barely a recipe, more of a genius idea. Freeze chunks of watermelon on a baking tray and use as ice cubes in water, seltzer, or lemonade.
Get the recipe here.
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Lindsay and Bjork Ostrom via Pinch of Yum27 Balsamic Watermelon Chicken Salad from Pinch of Yum
In the mood for a light but satisfying meal? Cubed watermelon, blue cheese, sliced almonds, and balsamic dressing take this otherwise basic salad and chicken breast over the top.
Get the recipe here.
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Alexandra Meyer via Veganosity28 Watermelon & Heirloom Tomato Salad With Mint Dressing from Veganosity
If you can get your hands on some ripe baby heirloom tomatoes, you absolutely should make this gorgeous, simple summer salad.
Get the recipe here.
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Ali Ebright via Gimme Some Oven29 Watermelon Salsa from Gimme Some Oven
Diced red onion is the perfect offset to watermelon in this simple, tomato-free salsa, made with lots of fresh cilantro and mint.
Get the recipe here.
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Deborah Harroun via Taste and Tell30 Crown Ruby Fruit Salad from Taste and Tell
Enjoy three of summer’s juiciest fruits at once—strawberries, raspberries, and watermelon, of course—livened up with lime and mint.
Get the recipe here.
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Mike Brosio via The Iron You31 Watermelon-Lime Agua Fresca from The Iron You
Straining blended watermelon and mixing with sweetener, lime juice, and water creates a refreshing, modestly sweet beverage similar to the agua frescas popular in Mexico.
Get the recipe here.
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Emilie Hebert via Emilie Eats32 3-Ingredient Cherry Watermelon Sorbet from Emilie Eats
You can make this simple chilled dessert in a food processor or high-speed blender. Serve immediately or freeze and take out a few minutes before eating to soften.
Get the recipe here.
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Sylvie Shirazi via Gourmande in the Kitchen33 Spinach, Watermelon, and Zucchini Noodle Salad from Gourmande in the Kitchen
Grilled (or oven-broiled) halloumi cheese is a mouthwatering addition to any salad, including this fresh zoodle dish.
Get the recipe here.
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Stephanie Le via I Am A Food Blog34 Watermelon Burrata Salad from I Am a Food Blog
Creamy burrata is a lovely complement to juicy watermelon and blueberries. Simply slice, combine, drizzle with honey, and sprinkle with mint.
Get the recipe here.
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Stephanie Le via I Am A Food Blog35 Raspberry Strawberry Watermelon Popsicle from I Am a Food Blog
You only blend half of the fruit mixture to make these refreshing treats, mixing in the other half just before freezing so that your pops are full of icy chunks of fruit to savor.
Get the recipe here.
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Jeanine Donofrio via Love and Lemons36 Watermelon Feta Salad With Kale & Avocado from Love & Lemons
This salad is packed with delicious produce like crunchy fennel, spicy radishes, cool cukes, and, of course, juicy watermelon, all over a bed of kale.
Get the recipe here.
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Alexandra Meyer via Veganosity37 Watermelon and Tomato Salad from Veganosity
This salad uses a clever shortcut to add flavor—tomatillo salsa. It’s also got delightfully crunchy jicama and a generous amount of cilantro.
Get the recipe here.