Watermelon Cucumber Salad (Chessboard)

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.

This Watermelon Cucumber Salad is a vibrant summer side dish packed with Mediterranean flavors. It’s perfect for serving a crowd.

A square salad arranged like a checkerboard with alternating cubes of watermelon and feta, garnished with small basil leaves, and surrounded by overlapping cucumber slices on a round white plate—perfect for fresh, healthy bites.

Sweet, refreshing watermelon is paired with creamy feta and shaped into a chessboard. Frame it with crisp cucumber slices, and it’s as vibrant as it is delicious.

A round marble platter with a checkerboard pattern of watermelon and feta bites, surrounded by cucumber slices and small basil leaves.

The salad can be made a few hours in advance and stored covered in the fridge. Dress it with balsamic glaze and olive oil when you are ready to serve.

Recipe Tip

Serve it with my focaccia and Milanese chicken for a complete meal.

❤️Why You’ll Love this Watermelon Cucumber Salad

Simple salad with fresh ingredients.
Showstopping presentation that is sure to impress.
Versatile dish you can serve on its own or as a side salad alongside pretty much anything.

Watermelon Cucumber Salad Ingredients

Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!

Ingredients for a Watermelon Cucumber Salad arranged on a gray surface featuring sliced cucumber, feta cheese, watermelon half, fresh basil, balsamic glaze, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Watermelon: Choose a firm, sweet melon that has a large field spot and sounds hollow when you tap it.
Feta: Use blocks of feta for the best taste.
Cucumber: I prefer English cucumber, but Persian is fine, too. Peel it or leave it as is.
Fresh basil: To garnish and add a bright flavor. Arrange as whole leaves or chop finely.
Dressing: Balsamic glaze, olive oil, a pinch of sea salt, and pepper.

How to Make a Watermelon Feta Salad

Two hands cut out a cube from a halved piece of watermelon with a square cookie cutter.

Prepare the ingredients: Slice and cube the watermelon and feta.

Watermelon and feta cubes are arranged in four rows in a chessboard pattern.

Arrange the salad: Place the cheese and fruit on a platter in a chessboard pattern.

A hand places fresh basil leaves on top of the cubed watermelon and feta salad.

Garnish with basil leaves.

A cubed watermelon and feta salad arranged in a chessboard and topped with fresh basil is being framed with halved cucumber slices.

Frame: Halve the cucumber slices and outline the salad. Mix olive oil and balsamic glaze, then drizzle over the salad. Season well.

Possible Variations

Watermelon: Grill the watermelon before cubing, or swap for any firm melon, such as honeydew, cantaloupe, or Galia.
Feta: Halloumi, cheddar, goat cheese, or a similar hard cheese.
Cucumber: Try radishes, strawberries, blueberries, avocado, or pomegranate.
Fresh basil: Cilantro, mint, dill, or parsley.
Toppings: Thinly sliced red onion (raw or pickled), a squeeze of lime juice, honey, hot honey, chopped pistachios, fresh herbs, and edible flowers (if you want to go all in).
Presentation: Use a melon baller for a different look.

How to Store Leftovers

Keep leftovers covered and in the fridge. Enjoy it within 1 day.

FAQs

Can I prepare the salad in advance?

Yes, you can prepare it a few hours ahead, but wait to season the salad until right before serving. Also, be sure to dry the watermelon cubes on a paper towel before plating to limit the juices.

I don’t have a cube cookie cutter. Can I still make the salad?

Absolutely! Cube a ‘master’ piece of watermelon and feta, and use these as a guide to cut your other cubes.

How is this watermelon cucumber salad recipe different?

It’s arranged in fun, bite-sized chunks for easy serving. This makes it perfect for gatherings, and you can double or triple the ingredients as needed.

More Watermelon & Feta

Valentine's day

Watermelon Feta Appetizer

If you make this recipe or any other recipe on Foodbites, then I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave a comment and rating below.

No ratings yet

Servings: people

Watermelon Cucumber Salad

By Sine Siemkowicz

Impressive chessboard salad featuring watermelon, feta, and basil with a cucumber frame.

Prep: 30

Cook: 0

Total: 30

Pin Rate Print

Equipment

small square cookie cutter

Ingredients

Instructions

Slice the watermelon.
Use the square cookie cutter to cut out the watermelon cubes. You'll need 32 cubes of watermelon and feta, each.
'Dry' the watermelon cubes with a paper towel before plating so they won't release that much juice.
Repeat with the feta. I got 9 cutouts from each block.
Arrange the chessboard on a large platter or chopping board.
Halve the cucumber slices and place the halves along the outer edge of the salad.
Top with finely chopped basil or use single leaves, as you prefer.
To make the dressing, mix olive oil and balsamic glaze.
Add sea salt and white pepper to taste, and pour the dressing over the salad when ready to serve.

Video

Notes

Save your feta leftovers to top onto your next salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 390kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 27g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 67mg, Sodium: 858mg, Potassium: 374mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 1923IU, Vitamin C: 23mg, Calcium: 391mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below!