Best Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint
This refreshing watermelon cucumber salad with feta and mint is the ultimate summer side dish. After making this salad dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping it crispy is all about the prep. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Rosemary Dijon Chicken Breast Recipe for Dinner and Easy Lemon Herb White Bean Dip Recipe for Quick Snacks.
Why This Best Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint Is Pure Comfort
- Easy no-cook side dish
- Perfect for summer cookouts
- Crispy cucumbers and juicy watermelon
- Salty feta and fresh mint
What You'll Need for Best Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- seedless watermelon
- cucumber
- red onion
- feta cheese
- fresh mint leaves
- olive oil
- lemon juice
- honey
- salt
- black pepper
- Optional: crumbled bacon
- Optional: chopped fresh basil
📝 Ingredient Notes
- watermelon: Use seedless watermelon for easy prep.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Y-shaped vegetable peeler — Makes quick work of cucumbers → See on Amazon
- sharp kitchen knife — Ensures clean cuts for perfect salad prep → See on Amazon
How to Make Best Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint
- Prep watermelon: Cut watermelon into bite-sized cubes. You'll need about 4 cups.
- Prepare cucumbers: Peel cucumbers and slice thinly using a mandoline or sharp knife. You'll need about 2 cups.
- Chop red onion: Finely chop 1/2 cup of red onion.
- Crumble feta: Crumble 1/2 cup of feta cheese.
- Make dressing: Whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp honey, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
- Assemble salad: In a large bowl, combine watermelon, cucumbers, red onion, feta, and 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves. Pour dressing over salad and gently toss to combine.
- Serve: Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 hour to allow flavors to meld. Garnish with additional mint leaves and optional toppings.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Best Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint
- Common mistake and fix: Avoid over-dressing the salad. Start with half the dressing and add more as needed to prevent sogginess.
- Pro tip: For a quicker prep, use a melon baller to scoop out watermelon cubes.
- Pro tip: To prevent watermelon from browning, toss it with a bit of lemon juice before adding other ingredients.
- Pro tip: For a more substantial meal, add grilled chicken or shrimp to make it a main dish.
Storing & Reheating Best Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Can be made up to 1 hour ahead. Do not make ahead longer as cucumbers will release water and make the salad soggy.
Freezing Best Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint
Not suitable for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not applicable. Microwave: Not applicable.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add some finely chopped jalapeño to the salad.
- Best substitution: Substitute feta with crumbled goat cheese or cotija cheese for a similar tangy flavor.
- Make-ahead: Prepare all ingredients ahead of time, but do not mix until ready to serve.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If your salad is too watery, drain some of the liquid before serving.
Want to level up this recipe?
Melon baller — Saves time and effort in prepping watermelon → Check price on Amazon
Best Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- seedless watermelon
- cucumber
- red onion
- feta cheese
- fresh mint leaves
Seasonings
- olive oil
- lemon juice
- honey
- salt
- black pepper
Optional Toppings
- crumbled bacon
- chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Prep watermelon: Cut watermelon into bite-sized cubes. You'll need about 4 cups.
- Prepare cucumbers: Peel cucumbers and slice thinly using a mandoline or sharp knife. You'll need about 2 cups.
- Chop red onion: Finely chop 1/2 cup of red onion.
- Crumble feta: Crumble 1/2 cup of feta cheese.
- Make dressing: Whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp honey, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
- Assemble salad: In a large bowl, combine watermelon, cucumbers, red onion, feta, and 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves. Pour dressing over salad and gently toss to combine.
- Serve: Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 hour to allow flavors to meld. Garnish with additional mint leaves and optional toppings.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add some finely chopped jalapeño to the salad.
- Best substitution: Substitute feta with crumbled goat cheese or cotija cheese for a similar tangy flavor.
- Make-ahead: Prepare all ingredients ahead of time, but do not mix until ready to serve.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
- Troubleshooting: If your salad is too watery, drain some of the liquid before serving.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not suitable for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Not applicable.
- Microwave reheat: Not applicable.
- Make ahead: Can be made up to 1 hour ahead. Do not make ahead longer as cucumbers will release water and make the salad soggy.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 120
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 8g
- Carbs: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Cholesterol: 15mg
- Sat. Fat: 2.5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Best Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint FAQs
Yes, prepare all ingredients ahead of time, but do not mix until ready to serve to prevent sogginess.
Over-dressing the salad or making it too far ahead of time can cause the salad to release water and become soggy. See my tips above to prevent this.
Yes, this salad is naturally gluten-free. Just be sure to check the labels on any store-bought dressings or toppings you use.
While this salad is best in the summer with fresh watermelon, you can use seedless watermelon from the store in the winter. It won't be as sweet, but it will still be delicious.
This salad pairs well with grilled meats, fish, or as a side dish to your favorite summer cookout menu.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Best Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Mint and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
