This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure form more information.
Watermelon Salad is a refreshing salad made with juicy watermelon cubes, crisp cucumbers and goat cheese in a simple homemade dressing. The perfect side dish for hot summer days!
This easy watermelon salad recipe is a family favorite. I’ve made this summer salad several times this summer, and it always goes fast. It’s basically watermelon and cucumbers with a little goat cheese in a light homemade dressing.
Even though this summer side salad is simple to make, it has tons of flavor and tastes absolutely delicious. Plus, it goes with just about any main dish. You can even enjoy it for a quick snack — my kids do!
If you’re looking for more salad recipes, try my watermelon feta and blueberry salad or creamy cucumber salad or cucumber tomato salad next!
Ingredients
There are just a few simple ingredients in this watermelon cucumber salad. Full amounts are in the printable recipe card below.
- Ripe watermelon — you will need about 5-6 cups.
- English cucumber — or Persian cucumbers. These have thin skins, which do not need to be peeled. If you only have the larger American cucumbers, you need to peel them first.
- Goat cheese — You can sub Feta cheese crumbles, but I think goat cheese adds a delicious, nutty flavor here.
- Dressing — Olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, sea salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic powder and dried parsley flakes
How to Make Watermelon Salad
First, slice the cucumber into half moons. Then, slice the watermelon into bite size pieces. You can add them to a large bowl while you make the dressing.
Whisk the dressing ingredients together until well blended. Then, pour a little bit of dressing over the sliced cucumbers and watermelon. Watermelon releases a lot of liquid, so I like to save some of the dressing to drizzle on top of the salad when serving.
Give the salad a good stir. If you are serving it right away, you can grate some of the goat cheese on top of the salad now. Otherwise, I recommend adding the cheese right before serving.
Storage
Store the cucumber watermelon salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It lasts for 2-3 days before it gets soggy. To make ahead of time, you can slice everything and assemble the salad the same day you serve it.
Recipe Tips
Buy pre-cut watermelon if you don’t want to buy a whole watermelon.
You can use store-bought dressing, such as a red wine vinaigrette or raspberry dressing in place of making your own.
Add the goat cheese right before serving.
Watermelon Salad with Cucumber and Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- 5 cups watermelon cubed and seeded
- 1 medium English cucumber sliced into half moons
Dressing
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 tbsps red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1½ tsps honey
- ¼ tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ⅓ tsp dried parsley
- pinch red pepper flakes
Topping
- ½ cup grated goat cheese
Instructions
- Add the watermelon and cucumbers to a large mixing bowl
- In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients together until well blended
- Pour a small amount of dressing over the watermelon and cucumbers, and toss to coat. Reserve the remaining dressing to serve with the salad
- Top with grated goat cheese when serving
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Sign up for the newsletter and follow me on social media for more easy recipes each week.
What a great summer salad and so easy to make! The goat cheese adds a subtle new flavor as well! Have made this twice for get togethers already!
So glad you liked the salad, Janet. Thanks!
What a great and supper easy summer side dish! Love the combination of flavors! Great as leftovers too!