If there’s one salad I can almost guarantee will be eaten the fastest at a summer party, it’s this watermelon feta salad. When I was recipe testing, I brought this to a friend’s house and in less than 5 minutes it was devoured and they begged me to share it on my site… so here I am!

I think the reason this watermelon salad is so popular is it has the perfect balance of juicy, sweet, tangy, and salty flavor with a crisp texture that cools you off on a hot summer day. Based on my experience, I highly recommend using pickled onions instead of raw (which you will find in most other recipes). I disliked that sharp, pungent flavor of a raw onion – while pickled are tangy and slighty sweet. I include tips on how to choose the best juicy watermelon (yes, you can tell from the outside!) and fun variations to switch up the flavor of this recipe (like adding tajin!) Once you’ve prepped the basic ingredients, you can have this recipe ready for your summer party in literally 5 minutes – it’s SO easy!

I’m not kidding when I say I could eat watermelon every day if possible. Too bad it’s not available year round here in Wisconsin. So when it’s watermelon season, I’m making this salad ALL the time!

I know you’re going to LOVE this recipe because…

It uses pickled onions instead of raw which have a slight sweetness and tanginess (so much better than raw in my opinion)
It’s one of the easiest side dishes – other than chopping that watermelon and making your pickled onions (optional), this recipe has got to be one of the easiest out there (and tastiest!)
I include pro tips – how to choose the best watermelon, how to cut mint the fancy way (aka chiffonade), and fun flavorful additions to this salad (because we all like to spice it up every once in awhile!)

Watermelon Salad Recipe Ingredients

5 cups cubed watermelon
Lime juice & zest
Olive oil
Maple syrup
Fresh Mint – cut chiffonade
Feta crumbles (non-dairy if preferred)
Pickled onions (see notes)*

*See below for more information.

See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.

How To Choose Your Watermelon

Follow these tips for picking out the best watermelon:

1. Look for brown webbing – this indicates the watermelon underwent more pollination which can make it sweeter

2. Pick one that feels heavy which can indicate it’s full of water & juicy!

3. Check the field spot (aka the spot the watermelon sat in the field) It should be large and yellow – indicating it was on the ground for longer and is likely riper

What is the purpose of adding pickled onions?

I LOVE the addition of pickled onions to watermelon salad because it adds a tanginess and slight sweetness to the salad. Raw red onions can be pungent and have too much of a bite versus pickling onions softens that sharpness. You can easily make pickled onions at home in just an hour! (I’ll show in how in the recipe) If you don’t want to spend time making your own pickled onions, you can either purchase some or just use red raw onions.

How To Make Watermelon and Feta Salad

1. Prep ingredients

If you are making pickled onions, make those first (see recipe card for full instructions).

Whisk your dressing in a small bowl.

Add you cubed watermelon to a large bowl with the dressing and mint.

2. Gently mix

Gently combine the watermelon with the dressing and mint until its evenly distributed.

3. Transfer to a serving bowl

4. Top with feta & pickled onions.

When ready to serve, top with crumbled feta and pickled onions. Enjoy right away or chill for a few hours in the fridge.

Adjust the amount of pickled onions and feta to your liking.

How To Customize Your Watermelon Feta Salad

Different herbs – While I’m a huge mint lover, this salad would also be delicious with fresh basil (or a mix of both!)
Fresh veggies or fruit – You could try adding some cucumbers, arugula, jalopeños, avocado, strawberries, or blueberries for different fun summery flavors!
Add a little kick – Have you ever tried tajin? It’s a tangy chili lime salt that tastes so good on watermelon and would be great sprinkled on top of this salad!

Watermelon Feta Salad Dressings

The dressing in this recipe is a simple lime vinaigrette but could easily be adjusted to your taste preference. Consider adding in a little balsamic (or balsamic glaze) for a sweeter flavor. Instead of lime, you could also try lemon. If you want it a bit sweeter, consider adding more maple syrup, or even honey.

What to Serve with Watermelon Salad

I adore this salad because it pairs well so many other summer dishes.

Serve it with a main dish like a hearty black bean burger or a buffalo tofu wrap.
This salad pairs well with a pasta salad like my dill pickle pasta salad or orzo pesto salad.
Try it alongside a vibrant green salad like a fresh kale salad or a rainbow mediterranean salad.
It’s great amongst appetizers and dips like homemade hummus or lemon dill roasted zucchini dip.

Watermelon Feta Salad