Healthy Melon Recipes

Find healthy, delicious melon recipes, including honeydew, cantaloupe and watermelon recipes, from the food and nutrition experts at EatingWell.

Staff Picks

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.
By Pam Lolley

Creamy Watermelon Smoothie

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This creamy vegan watermelon smoothie has a subtle coconut flavor thanks to coconut-milk yogurt. Strawberries add color and banana adds a smooth texture while letting the watermelon flavor shine through.
By Marianne Williams

Watermelon & Goat Cheese Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

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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.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Watermelon-&-Peach Rosé Sangarita

Can't choose between sangria and a margarita? This big-batch cocktail is for you! We like the summertime combo of peaches and watermelon, but any ripe fruit that catches your eye will be delicious.
By Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H., RD

Cucumber Salsa

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This fresh, tangy cucumber salsa is perfect for grilled fish or on its own as a simple side salad. Well balanced and easy to make, the flavor mellows and the cucumber softens as this sits, so it can easily be made a day or two ahead of time--or enjoy it right away, fresh and crisp.
By Liv Dansky

Watermelon, Orange & Cucumber Salad with Castelvetrano Olive Vinaigrette

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.
By Julia Levy

Chilled Melon Soup

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This refreshing summer soup is a great starter for dinner on the patio on a summer evening. Try any variety of melon in this recipe. Serve leftover soup with salad for lunch the next day.
By Marie Simmons

Tomato, Watermelon & Avocado Salad

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.
By Vivian Howard

Watermelon Caprese Salad

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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.
By Carolyn Casner

Watermelon Sherbet

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The only difference between sorbet and sherbet is that the latter has a bit of dairy. In the case of this easy summer dessert, sweetened condensed milk adds sweetness plus a touch of creaminess.
By Anna Theoktisto

Watermelon Gin Fizz

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This pretty pink cocktail would be perfect for a bridal shower luncheon. Any leftover pureed juice is refreshing on its own.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Watermelon-Strawberry Smoothie

Strawberry and watermelon combine in this easy, 4-ingredient healthy fruit smoothie recipe.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen
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Inspiration and Ideas

16 Watermelon Salad Recipes That Are Bright and Fresh
Add some brightness to your plate with these watermelon salad recipes. Watermelon can be used in sweet or savory salads as it pairs well with other fruit and vegetables. Not only is watermelon hydrating, it's also low in calories and carbohydrates. Watermelon is full of vitamin A, vitamin C and can be good for your heart. Recipes like Watermelon, Cucumber & Feta Salad and Mojito Blueberry & Watermelon Salad are refreshing, delicious and enjoyable in the warm weather.
14 Healthy, Refreshing Melon Salad Recipes
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.
Our 15 Juiciest Watermelon Recipes to Brighten Your Summer
Watermelon Margarita
Watermelon Fruit Pizza
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Mojito Blueberry & Watermelon Salad
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Watermelon Gazpacho
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The delicate flavors of cucumber and watermelon go hand in hand to create a sweet-and-savory chilled soup, perfect as a first course on a hot night.

All Healthy Melon Recipes

Pizza Roll-Up Bento Lunch

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This easy pizza-inspired roll-up is a kid-pleaser. Make crunchy vegetables more appealing by selecting colorful varieties like orange and purple cauliflower--and don't forget the dip! Keep 'em smiling with watermelon cut into fun shapes with cookie cutters.
By Stacy Fraser

Whipped Frozen Cantaloupe Creamsicle

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Got a lot of leftover cantaloupe? Don't worry about wasting it--just throw it in the freezer and you'll be ready for cool cantaloupe creamsicles whenever you get the craving. Frozen cantaloupe cubes make this blended treat refreshingly juicy, and when blended with milk or a nondairy alternative, you get a summery treat that's just sweet enough.
By Casey Barber

Watermelon-Mango Smoothie

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This satisfying fruit smoothie recipe has only four ingredients for a quick and easy healthy breakfast on the go.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

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.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Cantaloupe Smoothie

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This healthy smoothie recipe is the perfect way to cool off in the summer when cantaloupe is at its peak, adding plenty of sweetness to this healthy snack.
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Frozen Watermelon Cocktail

Watermelon is the dominant flavor in this frozen rum and watermelon cocktail, with a subtle hint of mint shining through. Making simple syrup is easy, plus, having leftover mint syrup on hand is nice for whipping up extra cocktails.
By Liv Dansky

Herby White Gazpacho

This take on gazpacho replaces the tomato with melon or grapes for a sweeter taste and gets its silky texture from Marcona almonds. If you can't find them, use skinless almonds and add 1 tablespoon oil and a pinch more salt.
By Stacey Ballis

Watermelon, Cucumber & Corn Salsa

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This refreshing summer salsa combines cooling watermelon and cucumber with the kick from jalapeño. The heat from jalapeños can vary widely. For those that like the heat, use a whole jalapeño. Serve with tortilla chips on the side.
By Joy Howard

Arugula, Chicken & Melon Salad with Sumac Dressing

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.
By Hilary Meyer

Watermelon & Arugula Salad

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.
By Liv Dansky

Watermelontinis

These refreshing summery drinks can be made with or without alcohol.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Sweet & Savory Hummus Plate

Fresh veggies with dip, juicy fruit and even a sweet treat make up this easy-to-make picnic dinner that's great for packing up or enjoying at home. Plus, this combo excludes the most common allergens and food intolerances (it's free from dairy, eggs, soy, nuts and gluten) so just about everyone should be able to enjoy it without worrying.
By Victoria Seaver, M.S., R.D.

Watermelon Lemonade

This summer-fresh lemonade with a DIY watermelon base is sure to cool you down on a hot day.
By Sarah Epperson Loveless

Honeydew Melon Agua Fresca (Agua de Melon Verde)

We've knocked back the sugar quite a bit in this healthier Mexican agua fresca recipe. This refreshing drink is often a way that Mexicans use up their leftover fruit, so feel free to use this technique with whatever fruit you have, especially other melons and tropical fruits like pineapple and mango.
By Roberto Santibañez

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.
By Carolyn Casner

Spicy Thai Melon Salad

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

Prosciutto, Mozzarella & Melon Plate

This perfect picnic for two is great for an outdoor date night or even just a quick, romantic dinner at home. The fresh fruit, vegetables and cheese pair perfectly with prosecco for sipping. Chocolate-dipped strawberries for dessert make the meal extra-special.
By Victoria Seaver, M.S., R.D.

Watermelon-Basil Agua Fresca

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Sweetened fruit-infused water popular throughout Mexico and South America, this refreshing drink blends watermelon and water with lime juice and basil for even more flavor. The fruit for agua fresca is pureed and can be strained, but we skip the latter step for a thicker drink. Try it spiked by stirring 1 1/2 ounces gin or vodka into each serving.
By Laura Kanya

Summer Melon & Cheese Board

Serve this pretty appetizer board for summer parties when watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe are at their juiciest and tastiest. The sweetness of the melon plays wonderfully against the salty cheese and prosciutto, while a squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of fresh herbs add bright flavors and colors to the board.
By Sarah Simms Hendrix

Caraili (Sautéed Bitter Melon)

If you like radicchio, broccoli rabe or other bitter vegetables, you'll find caraili appealing as well.
By Ramin Ganeshram

Watermelon Juice

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Clean and simple, it just takes a blender to whip up this DIY watermelon juice. You can enjoy this refreshing drink with no added sugar on its own, or jazz it up with one of our variations (see below).
By Sarah Epperson

Cantaloupe Salad with Lime, Pepitas & Cotija

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.
By Pam Lolley

Vegan Watermelon Fruit Pizza

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Wedges of juicy watermelon topped with nondairy coconut yogurt and berries make for a crisp and refreshing dessert. To feed a crowd, leave the wedges blank and let guests add their own toppings to the yogurt.
By Carolyn Casner

Yeo Joo Ggori Tang (Oxtail & Bitter Melon Soup)

This bitter melon soup recipe showcases the nuances of the polarized vegetable alongside rich and delicious oxtails for comfort in a bowl
By Dennis Lee
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