22 Best Watermelon Recipes - Southern Living

Photo: Van Chaplin; Styling: Ashley Wyatt

Watermelon Cooler

Watermelons are a classic summer road stand fruit that sometimes goes to waste because they are so large. Make use of your leftover watermelon slices and cool down from the heat with this fresh, tangy summer sipper.

Recipe: Watermelon Cooler

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Grilled Grouper with Watermelon Salsa

Ready in 21 Minutes
This delicious dish is ready in less than 30 minutes! Cool watermelon salsa pairs perfectly with hot-off-the-grill fish. For a twist, serve in a pita pocket for a sandwich.

Recipe: Grilled Grouper with Watermelon Salsa

Tomato-Watermelon Sorbet

While a bit unexpected, this duo creates a flavorful combination that’s both delicious and full of healthful benefits. Consisting of only five ingredients, this refreshing treat is also simple to make.

Recipe: Tomato-Watermelon Sorbet

Watermelon, Mache, and Pecan Salad Recipe

William Dickey/ Styling Rose Nguyen/ Food Styling Vanessa McNeil Rocchio

Watermelon, Mâche, and Pecan Salad

Spiked with the sweet-sharp heat of a pepper-jelly vinaigrette, ice-cold cubes of watermelon team up with buttery crumbles of Gorgonzola cheese and toasted pecans. Mâche is a tender, heirloom variety of lamb’s lettuce, but the salad is equally good prepared with a mix of baby lettuces.

Recipe: Watermelon, Mâche, and Pecan Salad

Watermelon Sorbet

Making refreshing sorbet takes just fruit, water, and sugar. Use the simple syrup base to make the flavor combination of your choice— grapefruit, pineapple, lemon, orange, strawberry, cantaloupe, cherry, or raspberry.

Recipe: Watermelon Sorbet

Photo by Tina Cornett, Jennifer Davick / Styling by Melanie Clark, Sissy Lamerton / Food Styling by Vanessa McNeil Rocchio, Angela Sellers

Watermelon Agua Frescas

Melons are at their most flavorful this time of year so chill out with this summer refresher.

Recipe: Watermelon Agua Frescas

Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad

This surprising salad combination will please your palate. The bright hues and refreshing flavors make Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad the perfect summer side dish.

Recipe: Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad

Watermelon-Mint Margaritas

Use leftover watermelon to make this slushy summer drink. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

Recipe: Watermelon-Mint Margaritas

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Watermelon-Peach Salsa and Tomatoes

Reinvent the fruit cocktail with hot pepper jelly, watermelon, peaches, herbs, and tomatoes.

Recipe: Watermelon-Peach Salsa and Tomatoes

Photo: Lauren Rubinstein

Melon-and-Mozzarella Salad

This rainbow of summer fruit makes an elegant presentation and a refreshing side for a luncheon, brunch, or dinner. Layer and chill the salad up to eight hours in advance.

Recipe: Melon-and-Mozzarella Salad

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Sweet, Salty, and Spicy Watermelon Refresher

Step up your traditional fruit salad recipe with this punched-up take as a BBQ side dish. The watermelon cleanses the palette and cools you down on hot summer days.

Recipe: Sweet, Salty, and Spicy Watermelon Refresher

Photo: John Kernick

Southwest Watermelon Salad

The reserved watermelon flesh from the Pickled Watermelon Rind is perfect for this recipe.

Recipe: Southwest Watermelon Salad

Photo: John Kernick

Pickled Watermelon Rind

Don't let your watermelon rind go to waste—enjoy this fresh and easy recipe to get the most out of this delicious summer fruit. Use the watermelon flesh in our Southwest Watermelon Salad recipe.

Recipe: Pickled Watermelon Rind

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Watermelon Salsa

This colorful salsa makes a delicious topping for sliced tomatoes, grilled chicken, or steak.

Recipe: Watermelon Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Melon and Plum Salad

Watermelon, honeydew, and plums are dressed with a bold Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette in this fresh salad.

Recipe: Melon and Plum Salad

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Grilled Watermelon with Blue Cheese and Prosciutto

Blue cheese and salty prosciutto are delicious with sweet melon. Grilling the watermelon enhances that sweetness and adds a touch of smoky flavor. Brushing the wedges with oil keeps them from sticking to the grill.

Recipe: Grilled Watermelon with Blue Cheese and Prosciutto

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Tipsy Red-and-Yellow Watermelon Salad

This pretty and easy to prepare spiked-fruit salad is perfect for summer gatherings.

Recipe: Tipsy Red-and-Yellow Watermelon Salad

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Beef-and-Watermelon Stir-Fry

The sweet heat of this dish is surprisingly refreshing. Slice the watermelon into sticks about the same size as the sugar snap peas so you get a sweet crunch in every bite. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves for extra flavor.

Recipe: Beef-and-Watermelon Stir-Fry

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Watermelon Bellini

Whirl up any summer melon in this refreshing sipper. For a nonalcoholic option, replace the sparkling wine with sparkling white grape juice, sparkling cider, or club soda.

Recipe: Watermelon Bellini

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Instant Watermelon Pops

Cut a 1-inch slit into the rind of a just-cut watermelon wedge, and insert a wooden stick. Serve pops a variety of ways: Sprinkle with flavored salts and freshly ground pepper, drizzle with local honey and fresh lime juice, dust with red pepper, or add a splash of schnapps.

Recipe: Instant Watermelon Pops

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Party Bites

Indulge in the warm days of summer with this refreshing watermelon and goat cheese combination.

Recipe: Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Party Bites

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Shrimp Salad over Zesty Watermelon

This salad uses just enough mayo to coat the shrimp, which will keep them moist but not drown them in a deluge of dressing.

Recipe: Shrimp Salad over Zesty Watermelon