Watermelon Tomato Caprese Salad: A Refreshing Summer Delight

Watermelon salad high, watermelon salad high…

Since I first crafted this unique watermelon caprese salad at summer's start, I've developed a serious craving for it. I just wanna taste it, I just wanna taste it, watermelon salad high… Whether you’re excited or confused, I know my fellow fans can relate. (And trust me, hearing me sing isn’t as bad as it sounds.)

Some of you might raise an eyebrow at my calling this a “caprese,” but I’m all for creative interpretations. The essence of a caprese is more about the combination: fruit/veggie + cheese + herbs. If you clicked the link, yes, I’m referencing my own site—because if it’s online, it must be accurate!

Right now, I’m operating on limited sleep (waking up at 4:57 AM this week is rough), so let’s focus on the salad.

This watermelon caprese salad is the refreshing, sweet, cold, and crunchy dish that summer cravings are made of.

If you're like me and often find yourself with extra watermelon after cutting it up, this recipe is for you. I chop my tomato, melon, and cucumber into pieces of a similar size, resulting in a highly snackable salad that works as lunch, an appetizer, or a side for grilled salmon or chicken. Adding fresh mozzarella brings a creamy element, while basil, a squeeze of lime, olive oil, and plenty of flaky sea salt create a simple yet perfect dressing. It’s simply delightful.

Summer calls for flexibility with ingredients (especially with limited grocery trips), so I've experimented with various versions of this dish with great results. You can replace watermelon with cantaloupe, use feta instead of mozzarella, and swap basil for mint or cilantro—whatever fresh herbs you have will work. Keep scrolling for the full recipe and a video of me preparing this salad from start to finish.

If you try this out, please leave a comment, rate it, and tag me on Instagram so I can see your creation!

Description

This watermelon caprese salad is crunchy, sweet, creamy, and refreshing. Meet my new favorite summer starter!

Ingredients

• 1/2 seedless cucumber
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 seedless watermelon
• 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini)
• 1 lime
• handful of fresh basil leaves
• extra-virgin olive oil
• flaky salt and red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Halve the cherry tomatoes and place them in a large bowl. Depending on the cucumber's thickness, slice or chop it into pieces that match the size of the tomato halves, then add to the bowl. Cut the watermelon into similar-sized cubes and add about a cup to the mix.
2. Cut the mozzarella into halves or quarters, depending on their size, and add to the bowl along with the lime juice, basil leaves, a generous drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of flaky salt, and a dash of red pepper flakes.
3. Gently toss everything together with a serving spoon, drizzle with a bit more olive oil, and enjoy!

Comments (7)

1. Anne Campbell says: July 21, 2020 at 3:49 pm

   YUM YUM YUM. All of my fave ingredients in one easy salad!

   Reply
2. Sue says: July 23, 2020 at 10:58 am

   I made it last night and it looks lovely. A splash of balsamic added some zing to the flavors.

   Reply
3. Heather says: July 24, 2020 at 12:36 pm

   I made this salad for BLTs last night, and it was amazing! A drizzle of balsamic reduction really enhanced the flavors. Thanks for this wonderful recipe!

   I have a fig tree in my yard that’s about to produce tons of fruit; I might substitute figs for watermelon soon! Any other delicious ideas for using fresh figs?

   Reply
4. Penny says: July 26, 2020 at 10:51 am

   I REALLY wanted to love this. I adore all the ingredients! However, there was too much liquid, and the leftovers weren’t great.

   Reply
   1. Camille Styles says: July 27, 2020 at 7:28 am

      I’m sorry to hear that! I wonder if the watermelon released too much liquid. Next time, try chopping the watermelon on a board and transferring it to the salad with a slotted spoon, keeping the liquid behind.

      Reply
5. Darcy Acker says: June 5, 2025 at 7:32 pm

   I tried it and enjoyed it! I made this salad with random ingredients from my fridge, and it turned out very tasty!

   Reply