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Home By Diet Gluten-Free

Fresh Watermelon Salad With Feta

★★★★★ 18 Reviews Recipe Print
gf nf vg
By: ErinPosted: 6/2/21Updated: 6/1/21

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Let summer speak for itself with this delicious watermelon salad with feta. Perfect for a warm day where you don’t feel like cooking, this watermelon salad will satisfy both your sweet and savory cravings!

watermelon feta salad

Light And Fresh Watermelon Feta Salad With Mint Leaves

What is it about a hot summer evening that has you feeling full without taking a single bite? When it’s hot outside, the last thing I want is something heavy and filling.

This watermelon salad recipe is just the thing to satisfy my taste buds and fill me up on a summer evening. It’s light, fun, and packed with flavor!

When summer rolls around, farmer’s markets, grocery stores, and fruits stands brim with fresh produce. Of course, summer is the time of year to take advantage of the fresh flavors. My salads in the summer are always packed full of summer fruits and veggies.

That’s where watermelon comes in! I like to make this salad for a quick dinner, but also when I’m having guests over for a summer BBQ or going to an afternoon picnic. Imagine this watermelon feta salad served alongside a simple grilled turkey burger– Yum!

Easy to make, it also stays good for a few days in the fridge. So you can make it now when you have a spare minute and enjoy it later!

Requiring very little prep work, the vinaigrette for this watermelon salad recipe uses a fresh lemon, a shallot, and some pantry staples. Using simple ingredients in the summer is always a plus.

Tip: This salad can easily be made vegan by swapping out the feta cheese with a plant-based cheese and by replacing the honey with another sweetener such as brown sugar or monk fruit sugar. The original recipe is already gluten-free and vegetarian.

watermelon feta salad

Ingredients In This Watermelon Salad Recipe

Watermelon takes center stage in this recipe, but there are a few other fresh and yummy ingredients worth talking about. Have I mentioned how much I love feta?

Salad

  • Watermelon: The main ingredient of the salad. You will need 5 cups of watermelon diced into 1-inch cubes.
  • Arugula: This herby leaf balances out the sweetness of the watermelon as arugula adds a hint of bitterness.
  • Feta: I love the salty attitude of feta, but feel free to substitute it with fresh mozzarella or goat cheese, or leave it out altogether if you are vegan.
  • Mint: Don’t skip out on the mint! Trust me 😉
  • Red Onion: Another strongly flavored ingredient, a ½ cup of red onion adds a nice bite. Make sure to slice the onions thin so they don’t overwhelm the taste buds.
  • Sunflower Seeds: A ½ cup of sunflower seeds add a hint of nuttiness and extra crunch to the salad.

Vinaigrette

  • Olive Oil: This is the base for the vinaigrette. 1/3 cup of olive oil will get you started on the dressing.
  • Lemon: Zingy and bright, squeeze out the juice of one lemon into your vinaigrette!
  • Red Wine Vinegar: A delicious pairing with lemon, red wine vinegar is a pantry staple perfect for whipping up a simple dressing recipe. You will need ¼ cup for this recipe.
  • Shallot: Milder than onion, shallots have a sweeter taste yet are still packed with flavor. For the dressing, chop up 1 shallot in small pieces.
  • Honey: To balance out all the acids in the vinaigrette, 2 tbsp of honey will add some sweetness.
  • Salt and Pepper: The perfect last touch!
making watermelon feta salad

How To Make Fresh Watermelon Salad With Feta

Like most salads, this recipe takes no time at all from cutting to eating. The total time should only take 10 to 15 minutes and the recipe requires no cooking!

First, prepare all your salad ingredients. Cut watermelon into 1-inch cubes, chop the mint into fine pieces, and thinly slice the onions.

Combine in a bowl and crumble your feta overtop or dice it. Mix in arugula and sunflower seeds.

To prepare your vinaigrette, chop up your shallot into small pieces. Combine all dressing ingredients and whisk them together.

Drizzle your vinaigrette over your salad bowl and lightly toss until everything is evenly coated.

For a super fresh and scrumptious salad, serve immediately!

Recipe Tips

I’m all about getting creative with your salads. While this recipe is perfect in my eyes, I know there are quite a few variations you can make.

Here are some popular ones:

  • If you want to make this watermelon salad with feta a main dish, you can heavy it up a bit by mixing in some quinoa.
  • If the taste of the onions is too strong for your taste buds, try soaking them in cold water beforehand. Leave the slices of red onion in water for 15 minutes to help take out the strong flavor of onions. The sulfur responsible for the flavor dissipates in the water. Before adding to the salad, drain out the water well with a strainer.

Substitution Tip

  • Change up the fruit or add some veggies to the mix. Cucumbers or strawberries are known to pair well with feta and vinaigrette. Check your local fruit stand to see what’s in season!
  • Add some extra crunch to the salad with cashews and walnuts.
  • Don’t like the taste of mint? Substitute with some basil to keep the fresh, herby taste.
watermelon feta salad

What To Eat With Fresh Feta And Watermelon Salad

Considered a light side, this watermelon salad with feta makes for the ultimate summer sidekick for meals. For me, this salad cries out for summer BBQs! Pair it with my simple turkey burger recipe or black bean burgers for any vegetarians.

If burgers aren’t your style, these healthy BBQ chicken thighs only require four ingredients and taste like barbeque heaven.

For other healthy protein pairings, consider coconut shrimp made crispy in an air fryer or healthy chicken nuggets complete with a copycat Chick-fil-A sauce. Yum!

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

When you want something light or as a side, here are a few of my other favorite summer salad ideas:

  • Healthy Mexican Street Corn Salad
  • Light and Easy Broccoli Salad
  • Easy Curry Chicken Salad
  • Creamy Italian Chopped Salad
Pin This Recipe For Later!

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photography by Moriah Sawtelle

watermelon feta salad
★★★★★ 5 from 18 reviews

Watermelon Feta Salad

Let summer speak for itself with this delicious watermelon salad with feta. Perfect for a warm day where you don’t feel like cooking, this watermelon salad will satisfy both your sweet and savory cravings!

Prep: 10Cook: 5Total: 15 minutes
Yield 8 servings 1x
Print Pin it Rate

Ingredients

Salad

  • 5 cups watermelon, diced into 1 inch cubes
  • 1 5oz bag arugula
  • 6 oz feta cheese, diced or crumbled
  • 1/2 cup chopped mint leaves
  • 1/2 red onion, sliced thin
  • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds

Vinaigrette

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 shallot, chopped small
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare all salad ingredients by chopping. Add them to a bowl.
  2. In another bowl, whisk together all vinaigrette ingredients.
  3. Drizzle vinaigrette over top of salad and lightly toss.
  4. Serve immediately.
Author: ErinCategory: salad, dinner, gluten-free, healthy, summerMethod: no-bakeCuisine: americanDiet: Gluten Free
watermelon feta salad

Did you make this?

Leave a comment below and tag @erinliveswhole on social media!

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There may be affiliate links in this post! By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat 🙂

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Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Steph says

    Posted on 6/16 at 8:35 am

    This salad was incredible! Made it for dinner with friends and everyone took seconds. The dressing had amazing flavor. I subbed basil for mint and it worked perfectly. Also, the red onion tip (soaking in water) was very helpful! Thanks for another great recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/16 at 8:17 pm

      Hi Steph, so happy you all loved the salad so much! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Lauren says

    Posted on 5/4 at 9:38 am

    Made this for Easter brunch and my family LOVED it!! They are somewhat picky/skeptical eaters and thought the flavors were incredible together. So refreshing, light, and perfect for a spring or summer day!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 5/4 at 4:15 pm

      Hi Lauren, so glad you loved it so much!! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Courtney says

    Posted on 8/11 at 7:50 pm

    Great summer salad! Flavors pair so well together. Highly recommend!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/13 at 12:17 pm

      Hi Courtney, so glad you loved it!!

      Reply
  4. Carrie says

    Posted on 7/1 at 12:27 pm

    Yummy! This salad was light and easy. I took it to a BBQ and it was a big hit! I even ate the leftovers for lunch the next day. Thanks Erin!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 7/1 at 6:43 pm

      Hi Carrie, so happy you loved it!! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Anna says

    Posted on 6/13 at 3:43 pm

    such a yummy and fresh salad, so perfect for summer!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/13 at 8:20 pm

      Hi Anna, so glad you loved it!

      Reply
  6. Camille says

    Posted on 6/13 at 1:28 pm

    Hello summer! This was super refreshing and light, perfect for a healthy lunch. All the ingredients go so well together!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/13 at 7:59 pm

      Hi Camille, so happy you liked it!!

      Reply
  7. Sarah says

    Posted on 6/13 at 12:09 pm

    Taste like pure summer!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/13 at 2:04 pm

      Hi Sarah, so glad you loved it!

      Reply
  8. Katelyn says

    Posted on 6/13 at 11:58 am

    Made this yesterday before a pool day and it’s the perfect summer salad! So easy and refreshing!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/13 at 2:00 pm

      Hi Katelyn, so glad you loved it! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Courtney says

    Posted on 6/13 at 11:37 am

    Amazing summer salad! So fresh and great combination of flavors!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/13 at 1:58 pm

      Hi Courtney, so glad you loved it!!

      Reply
  10. Jenna says

    Posted on 6/13 at 11:33 am

    By far the best summer salad! My whole fam loved it! I repurposed leftover dressing on pasta, sandwiches, and other salads too 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/13 at 1:57 pm

      Hi Jenna, so glad you loved it!

      Reply
  11. Kathy P. says

    Posted on 6/13 at 11:10 am

    Hi there… I hope I’m in the right spot but wanted to comment on the watermelon, feta salad. Love, love, loved it! And so did my family, especially my husband who is not a huge arugula fan. I especially loved the dressing and will make that for other salads as well. My 24-year-old daughter had me start following you and we love it!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/13 at 1:49 pm

      Hi Kathy, so happy to hear you and your family loved it!! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Tess Syriac says

    Posted on 6/13 at 11:08 am

    This was sooooo delicious! When I saw this recipe, I could wait to try it. This 100% lived up to the hype I built up in my own head. So good! Made it for my family when they came over and they loved it. The vinaigrette was bomb, everything about this was delicious. Definitely going to buy another watermelon just to make this salad again

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/13 at 1:48 pm

      Hi Tess, so glad you and your family enjoyed it!!

      Reply
  13. Ella says

    Posted on 6/13 at 10:41 am

    This salad is insanely good. If you want summer in one dish this is it. The combination of feta and watermelon is amazing, but add the arugula and you have a peppery light dish!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/13 at 1:39 pm

      Hi Ella, so glad you liked it!

      Reply
  14. Alex says

    Posted on 6/13 at 10:39 am

    Made this for a dinner party and it was a huge hit! the dressing is amazing. Have never seen so many people go back for more salad! will 10/10 be making again. thank you!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/13 at 1:38 pm

      Hi Alex, so glad everyone loved it! 🙂

      Reply
  15. Allie says

    Posted on 6/13 at 10:26 am

    I made this and it was amazzzzing!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/13 at 1:37 pm

      Hi Allie, so glad you loved it!

      Reply
  16. Emily says

    Posted on 6/7 at 9:08 pm

    I’ve made this three nights in a row. It’s soo good. I’ll be making this all summer!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/8 at 5:11 pm

      Hi Emily, so happy you love it so much!!

      Reply
  17. Ashley says

    Posted on 6/4 at 8:47 am

    Made this salad last night and it was the perfect summer salad! Loved the dressing too! I also added some grilled chicken!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/4 at 5:47 pm

      Hi Ashley, so happy you loved it and great idea!

      Reply
  18. Morrgan says

    Posted on 6/3 at 5:58 pm

    OMG– this salad is amazing. Perfect for summer. I had high expectations going into it, and it definitely exceeded them. Plus, as an added bonus, my boyfriend, who hates arugula, loved it!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  19. Sara Prince says

    Posted on 6/3 at 10:57 am

    This salad is to DIE for. I usually don’t like raw red onion in salads, but this works soo perfectly. I could eat this all day long.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/3 at 8:37 pm

      Hi Sara, so glad you loved it! 🙂

      Reply

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