37 Watermelon Recipes for Your Juiciest Summer Yet
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Perhaps there’s no limit to the number of watermelon slices you can eat your way through straight off the rind. But these watermelon recipes might make you think twice before downing a 20-pounder in a single sitting. When a cooling watermelon slush awaits, or a spicy-sweet chilled watermelon soup, or a salad dressed with creamy yogurt or a punchy umami vinaigrette, it’s worth letting a little more variety into your melon routine.
Before you get started, learn how to cut a watermelon slice by slice—just don’t eat them all while you perfect your technique. Then, get scrolling to discover our very best recipes for watermelon desserts, drinks, sides, and more.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson1/37
Watermelon, Arugula, and Pine Nut Salad
While the ingredients for this sweet, salty, and savory watermelon recipe can all be prepped ahead, the greens should be tossed through just before serving so they stay bright and crisp. Serve with grilled pork chops or lobster rolls.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton2/37
Frozen Watermelon Margarita
Ice who? Freeze watermelon cubes to blend with tequila and the rest of the margarita gang for a cooling summer drink. No blender? Keep scrolling for a version served on the rocks.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton3/37
Willing Watermelon Rind Preserves
Don’t throw away your watermelon rinds. Turn them into these sweetly sour preserves, a perfect accompaniment to roasted meats, cheese plates, and more.
- Photo & Food Styling by Joseph De Leo4/37
Aguas Frescas (Mexican Fruit Coolers)
Got a big juicy seedless watermelon and not sure how to eat it all? Aguas frescas are a cool and refreshing way to make the most of it.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews5/37
Country-Style Ribs With Quick-Pickled Watermelon
Pickled watermelon flesh pairs perfectly with hearty country-style ribs. This is one of our favorite backyard dinners. Just finish the night off with a frozen dessert and everyone will be happy.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Sean Dooley6/37
Barbie Girl
This pretty pink drink gets its color from watermelon juice (buy some fresh at a juice shop, juice your own, or blend a heap of watermelon and strain through a cheesecloth) and fruity crème de cassis.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton7/37
Ensalada de Sandía y Tomate
This watermelon salad gets bang-pow flavor from ripe summer tomatoes, creamy cheese, and toasty, salty crushed corn nuts.
- Photo by Baxter Miller8/37
Sweet Potential
Separate watermelon flesh from the rind, then preserve both in different batches using this method from North Carolina chef, cookbook author, and television host Vivian Howard. Pro tip: This is even a good way to make use of a less-than-sweet watermelon.
- Photo by Colin Price9/37
Watermelon Chia Smoothie
Pair watermelon and mint for a rejuvenating morning drink. The nutrient-packed secret to this smoothie’s creamy texture may surprise you.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano10/37
Jam Session
This refreshing sherry and watermelon cocktail gets a spicy kick from ginger kombucha. It’s low in alcohol, making it a great brunch drink or lazy day sipper.
- Stephen Hamilton11/37
Watermelon and Feta With Lime and Serrano Chili Peppers
Watermelon and feta make a great pairing. Toss in some hot chiles and cilantro, and you have a salad to delight everyone who tries it. Try to get seedless watermelon so you don’t have to go on a mini archeological dig to extract all those black bits.
- Photo by Levi Brown12/37
Watermelon Granita with Blueberries
Think of this like a spoonable slushie, made even more summery with plump blueberries and sweet mint leaves.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson13/37
3-Ingredient Grilled Watermelon, Feta, and Tomato Salad
Sometimes the simplest combinations are the best. Here that means tangy feta, ripe tomatoes, charred watermelon, and olive oil.
- Photo by Maren Caruso14/37
Tomato and Watermelon Salad
Okay, you don’t actually have to tile these cubes in a pattern. Just toss rich, creamy avocados, crisp cucumbers, and heirloom tomatoes with juicy watermelon, and move on with your life. Mixed fresh herbs and coriander seeds boost the flavor.
- Photo by Myles New15/37
Watermelon Jell-O Shots
These spirit-free jellies are fun for everyone, but if you’re serving them to folks who imbibe, you can replace up to ½ cup of the water with vodka for a boozy version.
- Photo by Gabriele Stabile16/37
Watermelon Salad With Radishes and Mint
This refreshing watermelon salad gets peppery bite from slivers of crisp radish while cooling mint brings a bright counterpoint.
- Romulo Yanes17/37
Grilled Halloumi With Watermelon and Basil-Mint Oil
Grilled cheese, but without the bread—and, uh, with watermelon. Trust us on this one.
- Photo by Eva Kosmas Flores18/37
Watermelon-Berry Salad With Chile Dressing and Lots of Herbs
The Thai-inspired dressing—tart and spicy and salty—plays up the sweetness of watermelon and berries while keeping this fruit salad firmly in savory territory.
- Photo by Shannon Sturgis19/37
Say Anything
If you’re craving a bar-worthy cocktail at home, this recipe from Brooklyn’s Ivy Mix is worth the effort. It’s got a spicy kick thanks to a simple jalapeño infusion and a bitter backbone courtesy of Aperol.
- Marcus Nilsson20/37
Gingery Watermelon Paletas
A small dollop of yogurt keeps these watermelon pops from getting too icy, while fresh ginger adds zing and keeps them from tasting overly sweet.
- Photo by Beatriz Da Costa21/37
Grilled Watermelon Salad With Lime Mango Dressing and Cornbread Croutons
Just a touch of charred-wood flavor comes through in this sweet-and-savory watermelon salad. Grilling the melon caramelizes it, enhancing its fruitiness.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca22/37
Spicy Watermelon Onigiri
Can watermelon stand in for tuna in a vegan riff on onigiri? Turns out the answer is yes.
- Photo by Dylan James Ho and Jeni Afuso23/37
Watermelon, Lime, and White Pepper Yogurt Drink
Chef Josef Centeno’s cooling take on ayran, doogh, or lassi brings together fresh watermelon, tangy yogurt, tart lime, sweet honey, and herbaceous white pepper.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime24/37
Watermelon and Snap Pea Salad
Sliced watermelon becomes a savory dinner dish when hit with Taiwanese black vinegar, fish sauce, fried shallots, and chile crisp.
- 25/37
Watermelon With Yogurt, Poppy Seeds, and Fried Rosemary
This stately combination is at once sweet, tart, and savory—the kind of dish that’s as comfortable at the breakfast table as it is at a potluck.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Molly Baz, Prop Styling by Emily Eisen26/37
Salted Watermelon Margarita
Sip on a glass of salted watermelon juice (like Gatorade, but fresh tasting) or use it to make a fruity riff on a classic margarita.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Kat Boystova, Prop Styling by Allie Wist27/37
Kimchi-Melon Gazpacho
Use juicy-sweet watermelon (a botanical cousin to the cucumbers used to make traditional gazpacho) to balance zippy kimchi and toasty cashews in this riff on a summertime favorite.
- Romulo Yanes28/37
Pork Tonkatsu With Watermelon-Tomato Salad
Add summer flair to Japan’s classic breaded-and-fried pork cutlet by topping it with a salad of fresh tomatoes, watermelon, and arugula, dressed in a sprightly mustard vinaigrette.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou29/37
Tomato-Watermelon Salad With Turmeric Oil
Red, juicy, and sweet, tomatoes and watermelon are soul mates—paired with salty feta and smoky, bright spice, they’re the ideal companion to any grilled fish.
- Gentl & Hyers31/37
Watermelon Gazpacho With Feta Crema
This recipe with watermelon goes delightfully savory thanks to cucumber, tomato, and jalapeño. Like many cold soups, it can be made a day ahead.
- Sang An32/37
Feta-Stuffed Watermelon Blocks
File under: delightful summer combos. Make a tray of summery passed hors d’oeuvres by hollowing out cubes of watermelon and stuffing them with crumbled feta and herbs.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Heather Greene, Food Styling by Alison Attenborough33/37
Watermelon With Lime Dressing and Peanuts
This boldly flavored fruit salad is a welcome accompaniment to any grilled main. Peanuts add a bit of crunch and salt to balance the dish.
- Zach DeSart34/37
Pickled Watermelon Rind
Pickled watermelon rind is a Southern classic that makes a great addition to chopped salads but also pairs well with grilled meats and fried chicken.
- Jennifer May35/37
Yellow Watermelon & Mint Pops
Watermelon doesn’t only come in red: These pretty pops get a boost of color from yellow watermelon and extra flavor from herbs. If basil or tarragon are growing in your herb garden, they’re excellent alternatives to the mint.
- Photo by John Valls36/37
Melon Salad With Arugula, Fennel, and Marjoram
The combination of melon, marjoram, and sweet Moscato vinegar in this delicate fruit salad tastes exactly like summer.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce37/37
Vodka and Watermelon Cooler
Turn all your favorite watermelon recipes into a full-on party by serving them alongside this vodka cocktail, using a tapped hollowed-out watermelon as the punch bowl.
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