Easy, Healthy Watermelon Recipes
Watermelon is hands down, my favorite summer fruit. I love it for its naturally sweet, delicious flavor and I could literally eat an entire watermelon myself every week of the summer!
I’m always perfectly happy eating plain old watermelon slices, but recently, I’ve decided to step out of the box and try some healthy watermelon recipes. Yes — this fruit also tastes great in savory salads, naturally sweet sauces, delicious desserts, and refreshing beverages!
Here’s everything you want to know about watermelon, including why it’s good for you, how to choose the best watermelon, and lots of creative and healthy watermelon recipes so you know what to do with that perfect melon once you get it home.
Is Watermelon Healthy?
Ummm YES!
- A 2-cup serving of watermelon has only 80 calories and 21 grams of carbs, from naturally occurring sugars.
- Watermelon’s glycemic index is 51, making it a low glycemic food.
- Watermelon is full of vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin A.
- It’s an excellent source of the cancer-fighting antioxidant lycopene (the same compound found in tomatoes).
- Watermelon juice has been shown to reduce muscle soreness after exercise.
- Since watermelon contains more than 90% water, it’s excellent for hydration.
How to Pick a Perfect Watermelon
It’s hard! I know! But these tips can help:
- Look for a large, yellow field spot on one side of the watermelon. That spot means it was on the vine for a good long time getting nice and sweet and ripe.
- Check your watermelon over before choosing. Pick one that’s free from bruises or dents. But scratches are OK!
- Choose a heavy watermelon. Heavy watermelons are juicy watermelons.
- Skip the shiny-skinned watermelons. Shiny skin means it’s not as ripe. Choose one with dull skin.
- Stripes do not indicate ripeness. Some varieties have stripes. Others do not. There are 1,200 different varieties of watermelon.
- Cracks inside your watermelon? No problem! They’re perfectly safe to eat and often sweeter because sugar gathers along the crack.
Delicious, Healthy Watermelon Recipes
Watermelon Salsa | Flavor Mosaic
Light and refreshing watermelon salsa, with watermelon, strawberries, herbs, honey, and jalapeño, offers a sweet and spicy summer appetizer.
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Watermelon Hot Sauce | Snacking in Sneakers
Looking for a new way to spice up your meals? Try this homemade serrano and watermelon hot sauce!Â
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Watermelon Gazpacho | The Forked Spoon
Perfect as a light lunch or healthy snack, stay cool and enjoy this easy Watermelon Gazpacho Recipe topped with diced watermelon, creamy avocado, and fresh micro greens.
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Watermelon Gazpacho with Serrano Chiles and Mint | From a Chef’s Kitchen
Watermelon Gazpacho with Serrano Chiles and Mint is a summer favorite and a perfect, refreshing way to cool off on a hot summer day!
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Watermelon Salad with Feta | Little Sunny Kitchen
This watermelon salad with arugula and crumbled feta is sweet and savory at the same time, it’s super light, refreshing, and very satisfying.Â
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Peach Watermelon and Goat Cheese Salad | The Dizzy Cook
Sweet peaches and watermelon are the perfect pair with savory goat cheese!
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Sweet Corn and Watermelon Salad |The View from Great Island
Sweet corn and watermelon salad pairs two of summer’s most iconic foods to make a superhero summer salad.
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Take-Along Watermelon Skewers with Feta and Mint Pesto | Happy Kitchen
These take-along watermelon skewers with feta and mint pesto dressing are a quick and easy appetizer or snack for your next outdoor gathering, BBQ or picnic
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Easy Watermelon Skewers with Prosciutto | Recipes from a Pantry
These colourful Watermelon Skewers with a balsamic reduction drizzle are a quick and easy Watermelon Appetizer, salad on a stick or side perfect for BBQs, Game Day, Picnic, outdoor eating and more.Â
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Watermelon Smoothie Bowl | Midlife Healthy Living
This smoothie bowl is great for snacking, desserts, breakfast, and more. It’s a delicious way to start the day or take the edge off a sweets craving.
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Creamy Watermelon Chia Seed Pudding |Nyssa’s Kitchen
Creamy watermelon chia seed pudding is slightly tangy, sweet, and loaded with juicy watermelon flavor that’s just begging to be eaten every summer morning. Or as the perfect sweet snack in the afternoon when you get that craving.
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Fruit Salad Pudding | Craving Something Healthy
Forget your old run-of-the-mill fruit salad! Did you know you can make a pudding out of fresh, seasonal fruit – like melons?Â
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Watermelon Kiwi Popsicles| The View From Great Island
Watermelon Kiwi Popsicles are a healthy refreshing snack. Break out these fresh fruit pops on a hot day and you’ll be an instant hero.
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Watermelon Yogurt Pops |Homemade in the Kitchen
Small Batch Watermelon Yogurt Popsicles made with Greek yogurt are not only refreshing after a long hot day, they are almost guilt-free.
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Watermelon Lime Snow Bowls | Craving Something Healthy
Because of their high water content, watermelons make for a delicious frozen treat – kind of like snow cones, but I eat mine in a bowl.  So much more fun than a piece of fruit!
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Watermelon Pizza | Homemade & Yummy
This watermelon dessert pizza is super easy to make. Pizza wedges with cheese, fruit slices, and a tasty balsamic drizzle. Perfect for BBQ parties, or tasty healthy eating any time of day.
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Refreshing Salted Watermelon Mint Cooler | Little Sugar Snaps
Fruity yet floral, this Salted Watermelon Mint Cooler is a wonderfully refreshing, adventurous and healthy drink to sip on throughout summer. A touch of salt works wonders to bring out the flavours in this drink without overpowering it.
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Watermelon Agua Fresca | More Than Meat and Potatoes
Watermelon Agua Fresca is a cool, fruity, non-alcoholic drink perfect for sipping away those hot summer days. All you need are watermelon, lime juice, water, and sugar to blend up this delicious drink.
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Summertime Watermelon White Wine Slushie | xoxo Bella
A watermelon white wine slushy is so tasty and refreshing and pairs the sweetness of watermelon with the slight acidity of the wine.Â
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The Best Watermelon Blueberry Mojito Recipe No Sugar Added | Simply 2 Moms
Look no further for a delicious and refreshing drink this summer! This Watermelon Blueberry Mojito recipe has no added sugar.
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Watermelon Safety Tips
- You don’t have to refrigerate a watermelon until it’s cut. It’s fine to leave it out on the counter.
- Watermelon has 3-4 weeks of shelf life once it’s cut from the vine. Keep in mind if you buy it at a regular grocery store it was probably picked a few weeks ago.
- Always wash the outside of your watermelon before cutting into it. And always use a clean knife. Although rare, melon skins can harbor Listeria bacteria, which causes a foodborne illness.
Whether you eat it straight, over the kitchen sink, with juice dripping down your chin, or you use a ripe, sweet watermelon in your favorite recipe, nothing says summer fruit quite like it.
Quick – Run right out and buy a watermelon or two! How do you like to eat it?
Eat well!
All of these recipes look SOOOO good! Thank you for including the chart on how to pick a good watermelon…I know tips on how to pick ripe produce for most things but watermelon is not one of them!
Thanks Rachel – and thanks for making that chart! I love it and use the tips all of the time 🙂
Thanks so much for including my granita recipe! These all look fabulous!
You’re so welcome Kaleigh! I can’t wait to try your recipe 🙂
Watermelon is my fave! Great roundup and thanks for including my watermelon stacks!
Thanks and you’re welcome Jessica! Those stacks are so pretty 🙂
That watermelon gazpacho looks relish! Great post, I really like the tips on how to pick the best watermelon, I always pick mushy ones!!
Ha Ha! Don’t you just hate it when you pick a bad one! Those tips are great! Thanks for visiting Brynn 🙂