Name: Easy Watermelon Basil Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: ¼ cup lime juice (fresh squeezed); 2 tbsp honey; 1 tbsp champagne vinegar; 1½ tsp kosher salt; 4 cups watermelon (cubed or balled); 1 pint blueberries; 12 oz cucumbers (thin circles); 1 cup blackberries; 8 oz feta (cubed); 1 fresh jalapeno (fine dice ); ¾ oz fresh basil (chiffonade ); ½ cup fresh mint (chiffonade)

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This Easy Watermelon Basil Salad will be your go-to side dish for all of your summer BBQ’s and parties! It’s sweet, juicy, tangy and a little spicy.

This quick summer salad is so fresh and it’s easy to throw together. Watermelon, cucumber, blueberries, blackberries, jalapeno, basil and feta in a honey lime dressing.

These flavors just scream summer! This easy recipe is perfect for Fourth of July celebrations, birthday parties, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Labor Day.

There’s something so refreshing about eating watermelon on a hot summer day. The sweet taste, juices running everywhere.

You don’t have to worry about getting covered in watermelon juice with this recipe though! This salad is best eaten from a bowl with a fork.

I never really ate watermelon salad growing up. As an adult I love it! You definitely need a few quick summer sides up your sleeve.

I don’t always feel like cooking up a storm when it’s hot so this recipe works perfectly. My Summer Fruit Salad is a great quick side dish too!

Give this watermelon salad a try this summer and leave me a star rating and/or review at the bottom of this blog post to let me know what you think!

Ingredients for Easy Watermelon Basil Salad

Watermelon – I use seedless watermelon but seeded would work fine too
Basil – Fresh basil is a must here
Cucumber – I like to use either mini cucumbers or English cucumbers
Blueberries – I love the color combo of blueberry and watermelon
Blackberries – Berries pair really well with this Easy Watermelon Basil Salad
Jalapeno – A little fresh jalapeno for some heat! If you’re not a spice fan then feel free to omit the jalapenos
Feta – Feta cheese pairs so well with watermelon
Lime Juice – I love lime on any fruit
Honey – A little extra sweetness in the dressing
Mint – Fresh mint on my fresh fruit is the best
Kosher Salt – Salt brings out the flavor or all the ingredients
Champagne Vinegar – Champagne vinegar adds a nice flavor to the dressing

Equipment needed

Sharp Knife – Use a sharp chef’s knife to cut your ingredients. Keeping your knives sharp is super important!
Cutting Board – Using a cutting board you like! I prefer a large plastic board with grips or a large wooden Boos Block.
Mixing Bowls – Grab a large mixing bowl for the fruit and a small bowl for the dressing. If you want to make your dressing in the large bowl first then add the other ingredients, that works too.
Whisk – Use a whisk when making the dressing for the watermelon basil salad.

easy watermelon basil salad on a plate with a honey stick next to the plate

Tips for Easy Watermelon Basil Salad

You can pre-chop all the ingredients a day or two ahead of time so it’s ready to mix when needed!
Make the dressing up to 5 days ahead of time.
Dress the salad about 30 minutes ahead of time. That way the dressing has a little time to soak in.
Once the salad is dressed, it keeps for about 24-48 hours. Anything after that will be soggy.
If you’re not a fan of spicy things you can omit the jalapeno.
Fresh herbs work best in this salad! Dried basil or mint won’t have the same flavor.
Try using different shape cutters (or a melon baller) for the watermelon to make it fun!
To chiffonade the basil and mint – Remove leaves from the stems, stack them on top of each other then roll them up like a cigar. Hold the roll together with one hand and begin finely slicing with the other. This will leave you with thin sliced herbs.

Storing Easy Watermelon Basil Salad

Once you mix your Easy Watermelon Basil Salad together it will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for 24-48 hours. After that it starts to become soggy.

If you keep the ingredients separate from the dressing then you can store them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Once they’re mixed together, the same rule as above applies.

Do not attempt to freeze or store this watermelon basil salad at room temperature.

How to make Easy Watermelon Basil Salad

This Watermelon Basil Salad comes together so quickly and is easy to make. Whisk the dressing ingredients together an set aside.

Mix all remaining ingredients together in a large bowl. Toss with dressing to coat. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.

all ingredients tossed together in a large bowl with the honey lime dressing

Serve this Easy Watermelon Basil Salad chilled after 30 minutes of being dressed. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

I hope this watermelon salad recipe becomes one of your new go-to summer sides!

Please leave me a rating and or review!

If you make this Easy Watermelon Basil Salad I would greatly appreciate it if you left me a star rating and/or review at the bottom of this blog post! It’s so helpful for me and for any other blogger you leave a rating for.

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Main dishes Easy Watermelon Basil Salad goes well with

FAQ

What is watermelon salad made of?

Watermelon salad is made up of different fruits, veggies, herbs, sometimes cheese and a dressing. This watermelon salad has cucumber, blueberries, blackberries, basil, jalapeno, feta cheese, mint and a honey lime dressing.

Add a little salt and it’s ready to go!

What goes well with watermelon?

Many different fruits, veggies, herbs and cheeses go well with watermelon. Here are a few from each list:

Fruits

Blueberries
Blackberries
Strawberries
Cherries
Grapefruit
Mango
Pineapple
Limes
Kiwi

Veggies

Avocado
Cucumber
Jalapeno
Serrano
Jicama
Spinach
Corn

Cheeses

Feta
Blue Cheese
Goat Cheese
Parmesan
Brie

Herbs

Basil
Mint
Cilantro
Parsley

How long does it take to make Watermelon Basil Salad?

This Easy Watermelon Basil Salad is super quick to make! This recipe can be made in 15 minutes!

It’s a perfect quick side dish to throw together for dinner at your place or a last minute party dish.

How long does Easy Watermelon Basil Salad stay good for?

Easy Watermelon Basil Salad stays good for 24-48 hours after being dressed. Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge.

If you keep it longer than that the ingredients start to become soggy and the quality starts to diminish.

Can I eat watermelon seeds?

Yes, actually you can! Some fruits have seeds that contain cyanide and can be toxic but that is not the case for watermelon seeds.

Watermelon seeds actually pack nutrients and are safe for you to consume. Does that mean you want to?

That part is up to you but at least you know that it poses no risk.