14 Healthy, Refreshing Melon Salad Recipes

Cantaloupe, Arugula & Goat Cheese Salad

If you're looking for a healthy and refreshing side to add to your plate, these melon salads will do the trick. Watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew are key ingredients in these recipes, and they can be paired with sweet or savory flavors. Recipes like our Cantaloupe, Arugula & Goat Cheese Salad and Watermelon Caprese Salad are nutritious and flavorful.

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Cantaloupe, Arugula & Goat Cheese Salad

Cantaloupe, Arugula & Goat Cheese Salad

Buy a melon that feels heavy for its size and smells slightly sweet. Picking a ripe one ensures the right balance of flavors in this arugula and goat cheese salad.

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Watermelon & Goat Cheese Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

Watermelon & Goat Cheese Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
Jason Donnelly

In this watermelon and goat cheese salad, the contrasting flavors and textures of crisp, sweet melon and creamy, tangy goat cheese are magical partners. Top with sliced grilled chicken to make it a meal.

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Watermelon Caprese Salad

watermelon caprese salad

This refreshing twist on the classic caprese salad replaces tomatoes with sweet, juicy watermelon. Basil and balsamic vinegar push this easy summer salad to the savory side, but if you want some sweeter notes, opt for balsamic glaze. An optional drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil at the end helps marry the flavors.

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Green Fruit Salad

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Serve this refreshing fruit salad featuring juicy melon, grapes and kiwi on its own or with other colorblock fruit salads (like red, purple and orange) for a fun crowd-pleasing rainbow side dish.

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Watermelon, Cucumber & Feta Salad

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Here's a healthy salad recipe to make at the height of summer when watermelon and cucumbers are at their juiciest and most flavorful. Feta adds the perfect creamy, salty, tangy edge, and mint makes this salad taste even brighter. This is one easy side salad you'll want to serve at all your summer BBQs.

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Arugula, Chicken & Melon Salad with Sumac Dressing

Arugula, Chicken & Melon Salad with Sumac Dressing
Jason Donnelly

Sweet and savory find harmony in this salad dotted with ripe melon and tossed in a lemony dressing. Melon balls are so adorable but making them leaves some fruit behind—whir up those leftovers into a smoothie.

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Watermelon, Orange & Cucumber Salad with Castelvetrano Olive Vinaigrette

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This easy and superfast salad is incredibly refreshing, thanks to juicy watermelon and oranges! The Castelvetrano olives lend a briny hit, while the herbs add lots of delicious depth to the salad. Pair this colorful salad with grilled shrimp or chicken.

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Spicy Thai Melon Salad

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Turn this savory Thai salad into an easy weeknight dinner by doubling the dressing and tossing it with cooked shrimp and chilled rice noodles.

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Cantaloupe Salad with Lime, Pepitas & Cotija

Cantaloupe Salad with Lime, Pepitas & Cotija
Jennifer Causey

This refreshing cantaloupe salad is tossed with tangy lime and garnished with crunchy pepitas and salty cotija cheese. Chili powder and cumin add a Southwestern spin. Enjoy as dinner side or light lunch.

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Tomato, Watermelon & Avocado Salad

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Enjoy this refreshing healthy salad recipe as a side dish or dice the tomatoes, watermelon and avocado smaller (1/2- to 1/4-inch pieces) and serve as a condiment for grilled fish, shrimp or chicken.

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Cantaloupe and Cucumber Salad

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This refreshing salad, made with cantaloupe and cucumbers, is the perfect summer dish for any occasion. Ready in just 25 minutes, this dish is perfect for any occasion.

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Sagwa Chamoe Saelleodeu (Melon Salad)

Sagwa Chamoe Saelleodeu (Melon Salad)
Ryan Liebe

Sagwa chamoe is a melon native to Korea, predominantly grown by farmers in the Gyeonggi-do province. The creamy white flesh stays crunchy even when ripe. Look for it at Korean markets or make this salad with underripe honeydew. Read more about this recipe.

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Watermelon & Arugula Salad

Watermelon & Arugula Salad
Victor Protasio

This simple watermelon and arugula salad is slightly sweet, which mellows the peppery arugula. The basil works beautifully with both the arugula and the watermelon, and the briny, salty feta cheese is the perfect complement to the rest of the flavors.

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Mojito Blueberry & Watermelon Salad

Mojito Blueberry & Watermelon Salad

Inspired by the classic mojito cocktail, this festive and healthy fruit salad gets zing from rum, lime and mint. The optional piment d'Espelette--a sweet, spicy ground pepper from the Basque region of France--adds a hint of heat that's a nice contrast to the sweet fruit. Look for this spice at specialty stores, well-stocked markets or online. You could also swap in chile-lime seasoning blend (such as Tajín) for a similar subtle kick or omit the spice altogether. Feel free to skip the rum if you prefer an alcohol-free salad. With or without the rum, this salad has summertime backyard BBQ written all over it.

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