If summertime had an official fruit, it would be watermelon. It is delicious way to hydrate and cool down. How can you say no? But if you really want to indulge, consider making watermelon recipes for National Watermelon Day. The holiday, which falls on Aug. 3, gives you an excuse make some seriously refreshing treats.
This round-up includes more than just salads and slushies, though. There are also foods like salsa, ice pops, and pizza involved. (Yes, you read that right). Plus, watermelon is more versatile than you may think. Savory ingredients, like basil and rosemary, work so well with this summer fruit. Trust me on this one.
Now, if you really want to win at life, learn how to make a watermelon keg. The process is surprisingly simple, and you do not need to be Martha Stewart or Rachael Ray to pull it off. You can even customize the keg to fit your boozy needs. Beer, rum, or vodka are all tasty options. Love wine? Fill it up with your favorite sangria recipe.
At the very least, enjoy a slice or two of watermelon before the end of summer. After all, before you know it, the reign of pumpkin will begin again.
1Strawberry, Watermelon, and Basil Summer Salad
Craving something sweet and simple? Make a watermelon strawberry salad in just 10 minutes. Learn how with The Crepes of Wrath.
2Watermelon Feta Mint Salad
You can't beat the classic combination of watermelon, feta, and mint. For an extra boost of flavor, take a tip from Joy The Baker and drizzle on some honey.
3Watermelon Wedge Salad With Arugula, Jalapeno, and Avocado
Who knew you could eat watermelon wedges like toast? Joy The Baker is brilliant, and bread is so yesterday.
4Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad Cups
Nothing says "summer" like watermelon and cucumber. But instead of tossing them together and calling it a day, make these adorable cups by Cooking For Keeps.
5Grilled Watermelon Feta Stacked Salads
To make these adorable little sandwiches by Cooking For Keeps, stack the ingredients. You can even use cookie cutters for super fun appetizers.
6Watermelon Peach Caprese Salad
If you love Caprese salad, try it with peaches. The combination of flavors will be a party for your taste buds. Find the easy recipe at Joy The Baker.
7Watermelon Blueberry Salsa
Salsa isn't just for tomatoes, people. This fruity mixture by The Healthy Foodie calls for ingredients like watermelon, blueberries, cucumber, and papaya. Yum.
8Cedar Plank Salmon With Watermelon Feta Salsa
Who says watermelon can't be part of a main dish? Head to Half Baked Harvest to make this crazy good salmon with watermelon, mango, and feta salsa.
9Watermelon Sponge Cake
This sponge cake by Adventures In Cooking has homemade watermelon syrup and watermelon whipped cream. BRB, I'm drooling.
10Raspberry, Watermelon, And White Nectarine Popsicles
Long gone are the days of ice pops made with nothing but water and sugar. Sugar Et Al demonstrates how to use real fruits (and Greek yogurt) for a nutritious treat.
11Watermelon Star Pops
For a simpler technique, use cookie cutters and wooden skewers like Domestic Fits. Want to make them boozy? Soak the watermelon in rum and simple syrup.
13Chilly Watermelon Soup
On a hot and humid days, treat yourself to The Healthy Foodie's chilled watermelon soup. It's the best way to cool down while fueling up on vitamins.
14Watermelon Gazpacho
If you want to get fancy, try watermelon gazpacho. This version by Green Kitchen Stories has ingredients like tomato, celery, cucumber, and ginger. Hello, flavor.
15Minty Watermelon Cucumber Margaritas
The margarita is like the mascot cocktail of summer. To give it a minty watermelon spin, try this recipe by Half Baked Harvest.
16Strawberry Watermelon Lime Juice
When you desperately need to cool down, make Joy The Baker's sweet and tart concoction. All you need is watermelon, strawberries, lime juice, and ice.
17Watermelon Slice Jello Shots
A summer party isn't complete without jello shots. Instead of using plastic cups, go for watermelon slices like A Beautiful Mess did. They're way cuter, anyway.
18Watermelon Strawberry Citrus Sangria
When you think of sangria, fruits like berries and peaches come to mind. But Joy The Baker is here to change that, thanks to this mouthwatering watermelon version.
19Frozen Watermelon Rosé Sangria
You know a drink is good when "frozen," "rosé," and "sangria" are in the same sentence. Watermelon only makes it better. For the full recipe, visit Half Baked Harvest.
