Cool Off With These 12 Refreshing Watermelon Recipes

Watermelon goes from cocktail hour to dessert.

By
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves is a food and beverage writer.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published August 09, 2023
Robin Shreeves
Grilled Watermelon Slices Topped With Mint Sprigs and Lime Wedges and Next to a Bowl of Spice Blend, All on a Parchment Paper Lined Baking Tray

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Summer and fresh fruit go hand in hand. And if there's one fruit that's most associated with summer, it has to be watermelon. Whether you cut it into sticks, cubes, or wedges, there's nothing like the sweet taste of ripe watermelon to let you know it's summer.

Simple Tip!

To make watermelon even more refreshing, freeze it in bite size pieces and pop them in your mouth straight from the freezer.

Watermelon is great all on it's own, but you can also use it as an ingredient in all sorts of salads, drinks, and so much more. These 12 recipes will help you use watermelon to its full potential.

  • Sweet and Salty Grilled Watermelon

    Triangles of grilled watermelon with small bowl of spice mix, sprig of mint and lime wedges alongside

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Grilling thick slices of watermelon on high heat creates a sweet and smoky unexpected dish. After you grill the watermelon, sprinkle the slices with a rub of sugar, salt, smoked paprika, and cayenne. Squeeze on some lime to complete the treat.

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  • Pickled Watermelon Rinds

    Pickled Watermelon Rinds in a Jar

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Don't worry if you've never pickled anything before, pickling watermelon rinds is a great recipe for beginners. The pickling spices are simple: allspice and cinnamon. Add them to apple cider vinegar, boil, and pour over watermelon spears for a classic sweet and sour pickled taste. Refrigerate for 24 hours and you're done.

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  • Watermelon Lemonade

    Whole lemon and watermelon lemonade in tall glasses and garnished with lemon and watermelon.
    Alison Bickel

    The perfect balance of sweet and tart, this watermelon lemonade recipe uses whole seeded lemons (yes, including the skins) plus cubed watermelon, sugar, and water blended together, strained, and poured over ice.

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  • Watermelon Gazpacho

    Watermelon Gazpacho
    Elise Bauer

    This refreshing cold soup, a riff on traditional Spanish gazpacho, is full of watermelon, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, cucumbers, and seasonings. Serve as a light fresh course topped with a dollop of sour cream and cubed avocado.

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    Continue to 5 of 12 below.

  • Watermelon Salad with Cotija, Jicama, and Lime

    Bowl of Watermelon Salad With Cotija, Jicama, and Lime

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    This crisp watermelon salad has a southwestern flair. Crunchy jicama, red onion, a couple of juiced limes, minced serrano chile, and a pinch of cumin join cubed watermelon. Sprinkle cotija cheese on top and enjoy.

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  • Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint

    Watermelon Feta Salad With Mint

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    This version of watermelon salad is similar to the one above but it's seasoned differently. Fresh parsley and mint stand out subtly among the watermelon, red onion, and lime juice. If you want, add some chopped Kalamata olives for the unexpected.

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  • Watermelon Rosé Mimosa

    Horizontal view of ingredients for sparkling rose mimosas are on a tray. Rose, stir stick, lemon slices, watermelon slices and a wine glass with the mimosa inside.
    Elana Lepkowski

    Making watermelon juice is easy. Simply place cubed watermelon in a blender, blend it up, then strain to get the juice. Use the juice to switch up the classic mimosa cocktail for one that includes watermelon juice, sparkling rosé wine, and lemon juice.

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  • Watermelon Granita

    Side view of two glasses with watermelon granita and garnished with lemon slice.
    Alison Bickel

    Blend watermelon, honey, and lemon juice together and place the mixture in a freezer-safe container. Every hour for four hours, run a fork through the mixture. At the end of four hours, you'll have a lovely textured frozen dessert.

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    Continue to 9 of 12 below.

  • Watermelon Pitcher Margaritas

    watermelon margaritas
    Leela Cyd Ross

    Make watermelon margaritas for a crowd with this recipe that changes up the classic margarita by adding a bit more tequila and fresh watermelon. It's scaled to make 5 or 6 servings, but you'll want to keep some extra watermelon juice in the fridge because there's a good chance you'll need to make a second pitcher.

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  • Strawberry Watermelon Agua Fresca

    watermelon agua fresca with strawberry in glass
    Elise Bauer

    Agua fresca is a classic Mexican fruit drink, and this version is a combination of ripe strawberries, watermelon, citrus, sugar, and water. Purée in a blender, then strain. Drink as is, or pour in popsicle molds and freeze for a treat.

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  • Frutero-Inspired Watermelon Salad

    Frutero inspired watermelon salad

    Simply Recipes / Kat Thompson

    This fresh, tart, spicy, sweet salad is the watermelon recipe you didn't know you needed. Inspired by street fruit vendors, known as fruteros, it includes lime, chamoy (a pickled Mexican fruit sauce_, and Tajín (the chili pepper, lime, and salt spice that often rims a Michelada glass).

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  • 1-Ingredient Watermelon Granita

    Top view of a watermelon granita toped with a lemon slice.
    Alison Bickel

    The granita recipe above is very easy, but if you want an easier and quicker version, try this. Freeze watermelon cubes and when you need a refreshing frozen treat, add a few cubes to a food processor. Presto! You have granita. Eat it plain, add a squeeze of lemon or lime while you're processing the frozen cubes, or drizzle with condensed milk or honey when it's in the glass.

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