Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint

I could eat this Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint all summer. Watermelon, the quintessential summer fruit, pairs so well with briny feta and fresh mint to bring together a mouthful of happiness in every refreshing bite.

You will make this salad again and again this summer. It comes together quickly, too, and no oven required. Does it get any better than that for a summer recipe? Not in my book!

 Why you’ll love this recipe

• In every bite of this salad you get the perfect balance of juicy watermelon, salty feta cheese and cooling mint
• It’s a quick recipe that’s easy to make with super-fresh ingredients 
• The sweet-and-savory dressing makes this one of my favorite recipes for a hot day
• Refreshing summer salad is the perfect side dish for barbecues, cookouts and potlucks

Watermelon salad makes for the best summer side

The only downside to me making this simple salad is that my kids and husband try to eat all the watermelon before I can throw together the fixings for the dressing and toss it all together!

Plus, this recipe is too "fancy" for them. Ugh...this is my life - I make delicious food, sometimes they try it, sometimes they don't.

If they try it and like it, they probably won't eat anymore of it. If they try it and don't like it, they definitely won't eat anymore of it.

Salad without lettuce is the best kind of salad

I've seen this sweet watermelon salad made with arugula before. And while I am all for getting my greens in, and I particularly like arugula for its peppery flavor, I prefer this salad without the added greens.

It can be served as a side dish this way, too, which I like. A salad minus the salad part is the best kind, in my opinion.

And, for another easy summery salad recipe, check out my Avocado Corn Salad with White Balsamic Honey Reduction - it's always a crowd-pleaser at my summer picnics and pool parties!

Ingredients & substitutions

• Watermelon: cube a whole watermelon instead of buying ready-cut chunks, as they can get too watery. Read my Pro Tips below for how to choose the juiciest melon
• Feta: use a block of Greek feta instead of the pre-crumbled kind. Blocks of feta are easy to crumble or chop into chunks any size you like. And the flavor is so much better
• Mint: the taste of chopped mint totally makes this salad. But if you aren’t a fan, substitute fresh basil or even cilantro. It’s a great way to use up extra herbs from your garden
• Orange: slice an orange and juice half of it for the dressing
• Lemons: 2 lemons are enough to make ¼ cup of juice. Or substitute lime juice, which works just as well
• Shallot: use red or yellow onions if you can’t find shallots
• Honey: adds a little extra sweetness to the dressing
• Olive oil: I like high-quality extra virgin olive oil with a good fruity flavor
• Salt and pepper

Looking for a watermelon salad without feta?

One of my favorite ways to eat feta cheese is in this watermelon salad. But I know not everyone is a fan of feta. So if that’s the case, you have a couple of options.

Omit the cheese: Serve the salad with no cheese at all. Although I love the salty feta-watermelon combo, it’s still delicious without it.

Make a substitution: Or, swap the feta out for another type of cheese. The best substitutes are fresh mozzarella, blue cheese or goat cheese. They all go really well with watermelon.

How to make copycat Panera Watermelon Feta Salad recipe

Step 1

First, make the dressing. Juice the orange and lemons, straining out the pits. Pour the orange and lemon juice into a medium bowl. Add the minced shallots, honey, salt and pepper. Whisk it all together until the honey is dissolved in the citrus juice.

Add the olive oil slowly and whisk constantly to incorporate. Pour the dressing into a mason jar and screw on the lid. If you don’t have a mason jar you can use a small bowl.

Step 2

For the salad, add the watermelon cubes to a large bowl. Sprinkle in the crumbled feta cheese and mint leaves. Gently stir it all together.

Step 3

Shake the mason jar before drizzling the dressing over the salad. Add just enough to coat the fruit (you may have extra). Toss to combine.

Step 4

Transfer the salad to a serving bowl and enjoy!

FAQs

Is watermelon salad vegan?

If you want to make a vegan version of this salad, it’s easy to do. Substitute maple syrup or agave nectar for the honey. Omit the cheese entirely or use a plant-based variety.

Does cheese go with watermelon?

I think one of the best ways to eat chilled watermelon is with salty cheese.  It might seem like an odd combo, but if you’ve ever eaten your watermelon with a sprinkle of salt, you know what I’m talking about. The salty taste of the cheese brings out the sweetness of the watermelon.

Can you make watermelon feta salad ahead of time?

You can definitely make this salad ahead of time. Store the cubed watermelon, mint and feta in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Keep the dressing in a separate container until you’re ready to toss it with the melon and serve.