To me, the perfect picnic has simple, delicious food and drinks that travel well. This Strawberry Watermelon Salad with Honey Lime Vinaigrette is one of my favorite summer salads.
This is exactly what makes it an ideal choice for any outdoor gathering, whether it’s a picnic in the park or a backyard BBQ.
Watermelon: Perfect for Summer Picnics
While it isn’t quite summer yet, watermelons have started popping up at the grocery store. In fact, my kids beg me to get one every time we are there because it’s their absolute favorite. So I picked one up for our picnic, but instead of just slicing it and putting it in a container, I decided to turn that ordinary watermelon into an extraordinarily sweet and refreshing salad.
Although watermelon is refreshing on its own, when you add the honey-lime vinaigrette it gives it another layer of mouth-watering flavor. The sweetness of the honey and the zing of the lime take this simple summer salad to a whole new level.
Instructions for Preparation
This recipe is not only delicious but also incredibly easy to prepare, taking less than 10 minutes to whip up. Begin by cutting the watermelon into bite-sized cubes and placing them in a large bowl. Add in the sliced strawberries and sprinkle with finely chopped mint for a burst of freshness.
Finally, make the dressing by squeezing fresh limes into a small bowl of olive oil. Add the honey, nutmeg, and lime zest and whisk until well blended.
Summer Strawberry Watermelon Salad Recipe
Once you’ve made the vinaigrette, drizzle about half of it over the watermelon/strawberry mixture. Pour the remaining dressing into an air-tight container. You can store the remaining dressing in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Use it to make Strawberry Spinach Salad, another one of our family’s favorites, or marinate chicken in the dressing for 2-3 hours before grilling it.
There is no doubt that this watermelon strawberry salad with honey-lime vinaigrette will quickly become one of your favorite summer recipes!
Strawberry Watermelon Salad with Honey Lime Vinaigrette

This Strawberry Watermelon Salad with Honey Lime Vinaigrette is the perfect side dish to take with you on a picnic or to a backyard BBQ this summer.
Ingredients
- 1/2 watermelon, cubed
- 6-8 strawberries
- 3-4 mint leaves
- pinch of salt
- Honey Lime Vinaigrette:
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/2 teaspoon lime peel
- 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg or cinnamon
- 3/4 cup salad oil
Instructions
- Cut the watermelon into cubes and place it in a large bowl.
- Hull and slice the strawberries and add to the watermelon.
- Cut the mint leaves into slivers and sprinkle on top
- Add a pinch of salt
- Vinaigrette Instructions:
- In a small mixing bowl combine the honey, lime peel, lime juice, and nutmeg.
- Whisk to mix ingredients, add half of the oil to the honey mixture in a thin steady stream.
- Continue whisking till mixture is thick, add more oil until you reach the desired flavor.
- Drizzle over the watermelon and serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4-6Serving Size:
1 CupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 85
Additional Summer Picnic Recipes
Looking to diversify your picnic spread? Consider adding these delectable recipes and tips to your outdoor entertaining repertoire:
- Cucumber & Onion Salad
- Almond Joy Granola Parfait
- Tips for Planning the Perfect Picnic
- Mason Jar Drink Containers and DIY Stamped Napkins
With these additions, you’ll be well-equipped to host the ultimate summer gathering, complete with an array of tantalizing dishes and thoughtful touches that elevate the picnic experience.
This sounds delicious and perfect for summer; thanks for sharing!!!
Looks and sounds delicious. Perfect for all of the Summer cookouts that I have coming up over the summer.
Thank you Celeste, it’s the ultimate summer side dish. Enjoy!
Oh my goodness gracious, this looks divine!!!! I especially your food-tography 🙂 totally pinning, have a great day! xo
Thank you Jess, you are so sweet. Hope you have a great day too!
Drooling just by reading the name. Honey lime vinaigrette? Sounds divine and I pinned! 🙂
Thank you, we hope you love it as much as we do!
Sounds perfect for summer. Definitely a must try!
If you have time, I would love for you to come and share this post over at the Really Crafty link party that is live right now! (http://keepingitrreal.blogspot.com.es/2016/05/welcome-to-really-crafty-link-party-19.html).
Such a fresh fruit salad 🙂
Thank you, the vinaigrette is really what makes it so tasty!
Looks delicious. I have put homey and lime on my watermelon, but never the salad oil? Where do you get this and what is it exactly? Is there a particuliar brand you buy? Thanks!
Hi Mari, I use extra virgin olive oil to create the salad dressing with the honey and lime. It’s actually a dressing we use quite a bit on all kinds of different salads. I have the recipe linked in the post.
Can you put the dressing on the side to make the fruit last longer? I made this for my family and by the next day the fruit was very soggy
Yes, you most certainly could. I usually only make mine the day I will be serving it and there is rarely any left so I haven’t had that problem before, but that is a great suggestion for anyone wanting to make it ahead of time or if you think you may have leftovers. Thanks.