Mix things up this summer with this delicious watermelon mint salad. This perfectly balanced salad combines sweet watermelon with creamy goat cheese and tangy mint leaves for the perfect bite every time.

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There is nothing better than a sweet ripe watermelon during the summer. But sometimes you want something a little more than just a slice of watermelon, especially when you need something to bring to share for a summer party!

This year, the start of watermelon season coincided with my herb garden overflowing, and I knew I wanted to use fresh herbs to create a watermelon salad. I spent hours testing every combination of feta, basil, nuts, goat cheese, dressing, and mint you could think of.

I discovered that the best salad focuses on adding to the watermelon, not distracting from it. The mint brings out the brightness, while the creamy goat cheese and pistachio balance the watermelon with a hint of saltiness that together create the best watermelon salad. Serve this mint watermelon salad with these watermelon slushies for the ultimate watermelon celebration!

Why you’ll love this watermelon salad

Elevated with minimal effort – the addition of these three ingredients takes this from a typical kid snack to a restaurant-worthy bite that guests of every age will love.
Time saver – This only takes two minutes longer than cutting a regular watermelon, leaving you time to focus on more important things.
Feeds a group – one watermelon can make a delicious salad for adults and leaves plenty of slices for the kids. Two birds with one stone and everyone is happy.

Ingredients in This Watermelon and Mint Salad

Since there are only four ingredients in this watermelon salad, the quality of those ingredients is important! Make sure you pick the best watermelon possible using the tips provided below and make sure your mint is fresh!

ingredients in watermelon mint salad with labels

Ingredient Notes + Substitutions

Goat cheese – get a goat cheese log and crumble it yourself rather than buying already crumbled goat cheese. The pre-crumbled goat cheese didn’t provide the creaminess that makes this salad great. If goat cheese isn’t your thing, feta is the best substitute as a watermelon mint feta salad is also tasty!
Mint leaves – if you can’t find mint or don’t enjoy the flavor, basil has the next best flavor to match the rest of the salad.
Pistachios – after trying every nut I had in my pantry (which is a lot) pistachios were the best choice. The only other nut I liked in this salad were toasted pine nuts, but the pistachios were easily our favorites. If you don’t want to add pistachios or pine nuts, I recommend just omitting the nuts all together rather than adding a different substitute.

How to make Watermelon salad with mint leaves

This 4-ingredient watermelon salad is about as easy as it gets! I’ve included basic instructions below but make sure to check otu the full recipe card for measurements and details!

Cut the watermelon into 1/2 inch cubes, toss in your serving bowl, and drain any excess juice from the bowl.
Add pistachios and chopped mint leaves to the bowl and stir gently.
Crumble the goat cheese log into bite-sized pieces and add to the bowl!
Mix and serve immediately!

four image collage showing adding ingredients to a watermelon mint salad

how to Make the salad ahead of time

If you are planning to bring this to a party or potluck and want to make it ahead of time, cut your watermelon ahead of time and cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. Then just add the other ingredients right before you serve.

It will take you less than five minutes to finish the salad and that way it’ll keep the goat cheese melting into the watermelon.

white bowl of watermelon mint salad that's a close up shot

How to pick the best watermelon

Look for a creamy yellow spot. Skip watermelons without spots or that are white. Those ones weren’t allowed to ripen and won’t be as sweet.
Knock on the watermelon and listen to the sound. Skip the ones that sound hollow and pick one that sounds dense and juicy.
Look for green strips that are about two fingers width wide.
Look for a watermelon with a small circle on the non-stem side.
Look for ones with plenty of scoring or scratches. It means the watermelon is likely sweet and the bugs were trying to get in!

How to store a watermelon and Mint Salad

Store any leftover salad in the fridge in an airtight container. While the salad will be edible for a few days, I recommend eating it as soon as possible so that the excess juices don’t ruin the other ingredients.

If you want to eat this throughout the week, I recommend just cutting the watermelon then adding the other ingredients right before you eat. It just takes a few minutes and keeps the watermelon juices from ruining the fresh mint leaves and creamy goat cheese.

Dice or slice the other half of the watermelon to serve alongside the salad for a more kid-friendly option. You can also save the leftover watermelon by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap to use later.

Tips for the best watermelon salad

To make the salad last longer, cut the watermelon the day before and store it overnight in the fridge. When ready to assemble, drain all the excess juices before adding the other ingredients.

Flash freeze the goat cheese before crumbling to make it easier to break apart. Simply place the goat cheese in the freezer for ten minutes before breaking it apart.

This salad is only as good as the watermelon you pick, so make sure to follow the tips for picking the best watermelon.

bowl of watermelon mint salad with slices of watermelon in the back

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