Watermelon salad is a summertime classic! This Greek Watermelon Basil Salad with feta cheese is a refreshing summer salad recipe with sweet watermelon, tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, Kalamata olives, and fresh basil. It has that sweet and salty contrast we love in a watermelon salad recipe!

Greek Watermelon Basil Salad overhead view with a gold spoon

Is it really summer if you haven't had your first bite of watermelon? While it's fun to eat it in wedges on a hot, sunny day, combining it with fresh garden veggies into a watermelon salad makes it even more special.

And you don't have to be a kid to enjoy slurping juicy watermelon on hot summer days!

Jump to:

❤️ Why this watermelon feta salad recipe works
🛒 Ingredients
Dressing
🔪 Instructions
👍🏼 How to cut a watermelon to make watermelon cubes
🔁 Possible Variations
Storage
🗒 More summer salad ideas
🌟 Did you make this recipe?
📖 Recipe

❤️ Why this watermelon feta salad recipe works

If you love watermelon salad, you'll love this Greek watermelon salad with feta and basil! Made with juicy, sweet watermelon and salty feta, it has a beautiful balance of sweet and salty Greek flavours.

Crisp cucumbers, tangy red onion slices, cherry tomatoes and lots of fresh basil make this a fresh, healthy salad. Adding salty olives, feta cheese and freshly ground black pepper will bring those Greek flavours to your table.

Sweet and salty: it's a flavour combination we all love!

And once you've made this salad, try my other Greek recipes like this Traditional Greek Salad (Horiatiki) and these easy Greek Chicken recipes for the best barbecues too!

Greek Watermelon Basil Salad in a white oval bowl with basil leaves

🛒 Ingredients

watermelon: the "star" of this watermelon basil salad, cut into bite-sized pieces. To choose the best watermelon, see my 8 tips for How to Pick a Watermelon.
tomatoes: I suggest using cherry tomatoes as they hold their shape in a salad. Combining tomatoes with watermelon may seem odd, but it works!
cucumber: mini cucumbers are easy to use, but any cucumber will be fine. Remove the seeds to prevent excess water from bleeding out and making the salad too watery.
Kalamata olives: for that salty Greek flavour and contrast in colour
feta cheese: use the type packed in brine instead of the pre-crumbled feta. It will be moist and have more flavour.
red onion: for that tangy but sweet zing!
fresh basil: chiffonade cut half the basil leaves (roll up like a cigar and slice into very thin strips) and leave the remainder whole for garnish.
black pepper: is there anything better than lots of freshly ground pepper on feta cheese and sweet watermelon? Pepper enhances the natural sweetness of the melon.

Dressing

None! This salad does not need any dressing. It is delicious on its own. The flavours and textures add lots of variety and the basil and black pepper help to enhance the flavour of the fruit and cheese.

Not adding dressing means this is a low-calorie watermelon salad recipe, too.

Greek Watermelon Basil Salad on a blue cloth

🔪 Instructions

Cube the watermelon into bite-sized pieces or even 1-inch cubes.
Slice the cherry tomatoes in half, slice the cucumber into coins and thinly slice the red onion.
Chiffonade cut half the basil leaves and leave the rest whole for garnish.
Arrange in a small salad bowl and garnish with olives, feta cheese and basil.
Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper and serve.

👍🏼 How to cut a watermelon to make watermelon cubes

The easiest way to get uniform cubes is to first cut a whole watermelon in half.

Place the melon half cut-side down on a cutting board. Using a very sharp knife, cut the melon into slices about ¾ inch thick. Next, holding the melon together, turn it 90 degrees and slice it crosswise.

Now you'll have watermelon "sticks" which are very easy to cut into cubes. Discard or compost the rind or save it for pickling.

If you have watermelon cubes left over, you'll like this Avocado Chicken Salad with Watermelon and Mint Lime Dressing.

🔁 Possible Variations

You can change the flavour of this watermelon salad recipe significantly, simply by changing the herb and adding a light dressing.

Make it a watermelon mint salad: Substitute mint leaves for the basil, omit the tomatoes and toss this watermelon mint salad with a honey-lime dressing. Combine 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lime juice with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a teaspoon of honey.

This tasty honey-lime dressing pairs well with watermelon. It's the same dressing I use on another one of my favourite summer salads, my Strawberry Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint.

Storage

This watermelon feta salad is best served on the day it's made. However, if you have leftovers, drain any water that has accumulated in the bottom of the bowl, cover it tightly and refrigerate for the following day.

🗒 More summer salad ideas

See more Summer Salads →

🌟 Did you make this recipe?

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📖 Recipe