11 Recipes That Star Watermelon, the Unofficial Fruit of Summer

here’s no doubt about it, watermelon is the unofficial fruit of summer. On a sweltering day, nothing sounds better than a cold, refreshing, juicy, and sweet slice of watermelon (or two or five). It’s perfect to serve up at barbecues, beach or pool days, picnics, or just as an everyday snack.

Sure, you can enjoy the summer fruit as is (or with a sprinkle of salt or Tajin), but you can also incorporate it into dishes. Like Grilled Watermelon and Shrimp Skewers; Grilled Calamari, Watermelon, and Tomato Salad; Spicy Watermelon Salad.

And don’t forget to use it as a key ingredient in cocktails, mocktails, and desserts this season. Who wouldn’t enjoy Lime Agua Fresca with Watermelon, Watermelon Granita, and a tequila cocktail that combines watermelon and Fresno chiles?

Take a look at our favorite watermelon recipes below.

1 of 11Thomas J. Story

Grilled Calamari, Watermelon, and Tomato Salad

Chef Chris Cosentino is known for adventurous dishes like this one, a meet-up of mild grilled calamari (squid), fresh produce, and exciting seasonings. He grills the calamari over almond wood plus regular charcoal briquets; for the home cook, he recommends easy-to-find mesquite hardwood charcoal. To make the dish as fiery as Cosentino likes it, use 2 tbsp. black pepper and 2 tsp. Aleppo pepper, and don’t seed the serrano chile.

2 of 11Iain Bagwell

Grilled Watermelon and Shrimp Skewers

Grilling watermelon adds a smoky note to the fruit and gives it a slightly meaty texture that matches well with shrimp. Cooking takes only a couple of minutes, so have both sets of skewers ready before you start. You’ll need 12 flat metal skewers (12 in. long) or 18 skewers (8 in. long)—or use bamboo skewers of the same size, soaked in water for 30 minutes.

3 of 11Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Emma Star Jensen

Lime Agua Fresca with Watermelon

To keep it simple, you can start with store-bought limeade, says chef Karen Hatfield of The Sycamore Kitchen in Los Angeles.

4 of 11Thomas J. Story

Watermelon Granita

Featuring fresh, summertime watermelon, the only other ingredients you need to complete this simple and stunning dessert are sugar, lime rind, watermelon, and lime juice.

5 of 11Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Robyn Valarik

Tomato and Melon Salad with Scallops and Pink Peppercorns

Using a few colors and different sizes of tomatoes will make this recipe especially beautiful.

6 of 11Thomas J. Story

Nicolette’s Waterfire Cocktail

This bold cocktail combines fresh watermelon and fiery Fresno chiles for a sweet and spicy delight. Perfect for summer evenings, it’s as refreshing as it is unforgettable.

7 of 11Iain Bagwell

Spicy Watermelon Salad

Matthew Lewis, chef and owner of the Where Ya At Matt? food truck in Seattle, makes this side dish in the height of summer, when melons are at their best. The cool, sweet juice of the fruit really hits the spot on a hot day.