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  4. 29 Watermelon Recipes to Serve This Summer

29 Watermelon Recipes to Serve This Summer

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors Updated May 13, 2021
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Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan

There are many things that remind Southerners of summertime, and at the top of the list you'll find a cold, juicy slice of watermelon. Some love it plain, others with a sprinkling of salt. Either way, it's a delicacy enjoyed by everyone below the Mason-Dixon all summer long. And while watermelon is delicious enough to stand alone, it makes just as strong of a showing as a main ingredient in summer salads, salsas, desserts, and cocktails. We're making it easier than ever to celebrate the South's favorite melon by sharing the tastiest watermelon recipes ever. Start with one of our watermelon salads that serve as the ultimate cookout side dishes, or perhaps begin with one of our refreshing watermelon cocktails that cool off the hottest of summer days. In between, plenty of watermelon dishes like Watermelon-Lime Pops with Chile Dipping Salt, Watermelon-Peach Salsa, and even a Watermelon Chiffon Pie will give fresh flair to your summer menu. Make the most of this summer staple with these best-ever watermelon recipes.

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Watermelon Ice Cream

Watermelon Ice Cream
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Watermelon Ice Cream

This rich and creamy ice cream is the prettiest shade of pink.

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Watermelon Salad

Watermelon Salad
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick

Recipe: Watermelon Salad

Start your summer party on a fresh note with this simple salad.

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Watermelon Chiffon Pie

Watermelon Pie
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Watermelon Chiffon Pie

My, oh my—watermelon pie! You never knew you needed this summer dessert until now.

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Marinated Watermelon and Tomato Salad

Marinated Watermelon Tomato Salad
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Marinated Watermelon and Tomato Salad

This isn't your basic watermelon salad. Tomatoes and melon soak up the tangy lime-ginger-mint vinaigrette, while goat cheese crumbles add a nice, creamy note.

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Watermelon Daiquiri

Watermelon Daiquiri
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Watermelon Daiquiri

We took a classic favorite and added a splash of summer that we're sure will make you fall in love.

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Watermelon Gazpacho

Watermelon Gazpacho
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Recipe: Watermelon Gazpacho

Cool off with your new favorite chilled soup. Every summer should see a batch of watermelon gazpacho.

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Watermelon-Braised Pork Shoulder Steaks

Watermelon-Braised Pork Shoulder Steaks Recipe
Credit: Stephen DeVries; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

Recipe: Watermelon-Braised Pork Shoulder Steaks

The pork shoulder for this recipe is braised in a blend of miso, Sambal sauce, and mirin.

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Spiked Watermelon Lemonade

Spiked Watermelon Lemonade
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Recipe: Spiked Watermelon Lemonade

Your local lemonade stand's got nothing on this summer cocktail refresher.

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Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad

Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan

Recipe: Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad

Cucumbers add a welcome crunch to this salad recipe.

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Watermelon-Ginger Mojitos

Watermelon-Ginger Mojitos
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Watermelon-Ginger Mojitos

Watermelon, mint, lime, and ginger come together to make this wonderfully refreshing pitcher drink.

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Pickled Watermelon Rind Slaw

Fried Catfish Sandwich With Pickled Watermelon Rind Slaw
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Pickled Watermelon Rind Slaw

Ginger and star anise add interesting notes of flavor to this summer slaw.

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Watermelon Smoothies

Watermelon Smoothies
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Recipe: Watermelon Smoothies

Make use of your fresh watermelon by way of a hearty breakfast smoothie. Five ingredients, and you're set.

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Watermelon-Lime Pops with Chile Dipping Salt

Watermelon-Lime Pops with Chile Dipping Salt
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Recipe: Watermelon-Lime Pops with Chile Dipping Salt

This zingy watermelon pop is refreshing with the most subtle spicy kick.

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Chadwick Boyd's Watermelon Derby Juleps

Chadwick Boyd’s Watermelon Derby Juleps
Credit: Chadwick Boyd

Recipe: Chadwick Boyd's Watermelon Derby Juleps

It doesn't have to be Kentucky Derby weekend to sip on mint juleps, especially one that's perfect for deep summer.

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Watermelon-Tomato Cooler

Watermelon-Tomato Cooler
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Watermelon-Tomato Cooler

Think of this fun cocktail as a sweeter, fruity take on a Bloody Mary.

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Pickled Watermelon Rind

Pickled Watermelon Rind
Credit: Caitlin Bensel, Food: Victoria Cox, Props: Kathleen Varner

Recipe: 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.

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Watermelon Slushies with Key Lime-Mint Sugar

501634_Watermelon_Slushies_206.jpg

Recipe: Watermelon Slushies with Key Lime-Mint Sugar

These slushies are the refreshing treat you need on a hot summer day.

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Fried Watermelon Bites

Twain's Brewpub & Billiards Fried Watermelon Bites
Credit: Tori Allen PR

Recipe: Fried Watermelon Bites

Cubes of watermelon are soaked in lime, red wine vinegar, and chili sauce before they're coated in a cayenne pepper-and-IPA batter for frying.

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Spicy Watermelon Refresher

Spicy Watermelon Refresher
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Spicy Watermelon Refresher

Serrano peppers are used in this cocktail recipe to give your drink some punch.

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Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktails

Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktails
Credit: Chris M. Rogers; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Recipe: Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktails

Watermelon cocktails are just about the most refreshing drink we can think of for summer.

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4th of July Punch

4th of July Punch
Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: 4th of July Punch

This big-batch punch is perfect for summer bashes.

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Grilled Watermelon with Blue Cheese and Prosciutto

Grilled Watermelon with Blue Cheese and Prosciutto
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: 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.

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Watermelon, Feta and Almond Salad

Watermelon, Feta and Almond Salad
Credit: © Christina Holmes

Recipe: Watermelon, Feta and Almond Salad

Add some salt to sweet watermelon with feta cheese and almonds.

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Watermelon Salad with Kalamata Olive Vinaigrette

Watermelon Salad image
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Lucy Barr; Food Styling: Liz Mervosh

Recipe: Watermelon Salad with Kalamata Olive Vinaigrette

Toasted almonds balance out the olives in this salad dressing.

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Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad

Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad

Watermelon and feta make a foolproof salad combo—but orzo, arugula, and a homemade lemony vinaigrette take this dish to delicious new heights.

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Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad

Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad
Credit: Photo: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad

This no-cook salad combines sweet, juicy watermelon chunks with the makings of a beautiful summer salad.

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Watermelon, Mâche, and Pecan Salad

Watermelon, Mache, and Pecan Salad
Credit: William Dickey

Recipe: 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.

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Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Party Bites

Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Party Bites
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Party Bites

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

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Watermelon-Mint Margaritas

Watermelon-Mint Margaritas
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Watermelon-Mint Margaritas

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

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    1 of 29 Watermelon Ice Cream
    2 of 29 Watermelon Salad
    3 of 29 Watermelon Chiffon Pie
    4 of 29 Marinated Watermelon and Tomato Salad
    5 of 29 Watermelon Daiquiri
    6 of 29 Watermelon Gazpacho
    7 of 29 Watermelon-Braised Pork Shoulder Steaks
    8 of 29 Spiked Watermelon Lemonade
    9 of 29 Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad
    10 of 29 Watermelon-Ginger Mojitos
    11 of 29 Pickled Watermelon Rind Slaw
    12 of 29 Watermelon Smoothies
    13 of 29 Watermelon-Lime Pops with Chile Dipping Salt
    14 of 29 Chadwick Boyd's Watermelon Derby Juleps
    15 of 29 Watermelon-Tomato Cooler
    16 of 29 Pickled Watermelon Rind
    17 of 29 Watermelon Slushies with Key Lime-Mint Sugar
    18 of 29 Fried Watermelon Bites
    19 of 29 Spicy Watermelon Refresher
    20 of 29 Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktails
    21 of 29 4th of July Punch
    22 of 29 Grilled Watermelon with Blue Cheese and Prosciutto
    23 of 29 Watermelon, Feta and Almond Salad
    24 of 29 Watermelon Salad with Kalamata Olive Vinaigrette
    25 of 29 Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad
    26 of 29 Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad
    27 of 29 Watermelon, Mâche, and Pecan Salad
    28 of 29 Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Party Bites
    29 of 29 Watermelon-Mint Margaritas

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