• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Chef Sous Chef
  • Summer
  • Recipes
  • Cookbook
  • Press
  • About
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Summer
  • Recipes
  • Cookbook
  • Press
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Summer
    • Recipes
    • Cookbook
    • Press
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Salad Recipes

    Chicken Watermelon Salad with Feta

    Published: Aug 12, 2018 · Modified: Jul 24, 2024 by Philip Lago and Mystique Mattai · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    Chicken watermelon salad with basil on a blue plate.

    This hearty and refreshing Chicken Watermelon Salad with Feta is the ultimate sweet and salty flavor combo. A fresh and balanced summer salad using basil, red onion, pistachios, and roasted chicken, this juicy and flavorful favorite is guaranteed to be a unique recipe at your next summer event.

    a plate of chicken watermelon salad with feta topped with red onions and pistachios.
    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love This Watermelon Salad Recipe
    • Ingredient List
    • Recipe Variations and Modifications
    • Recipe Steps: How to Make Chicken Watermelon Salad with Feta
    • Chef's Tip
    • Make Ahead and Storage
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Craving More Salad Recipes?
    • Recipe Card

    Watermelon is the ultimate summer ingredient. It’s refreshing, juicy, and irresistibly sweet – if you get a good one. Aside from eating it straight off the rind and in Watermelon Granita as featured in our cookbook Eat With Us, one of our favorite ways to eat watermelon is with feta.

    A sweet and salty taste sensation, the sweetness and juiciness of the melon brings out the saltiness and tanginess of the feta cheese. Pair it with chicken, red onions, and pistachios, and this winning summer recipe is guaranteed to be a hit at your next event.

    Why You’ll Love This Watermelon Salad Recipe

    • It’s refreshing: Any dish that features watermelon is instantly refreshing. Our hearty chicken and feta salad is made bright with watermelon and basil leaves making every bite juicy, filling, and packed with lively flavor from the pistachios and red onion.
    • It’s beautiful: The rich and cheerful color of watermelon makes any dish pop. When paired with green arugula, red onions, and the contrast from the feta, this watermelon salad is a treat for the eyes and is guaranteed to be the first dish finished at any summer event.
    • It’s a balanced meal: Protein, healthy fats, fruit, and greens, this abundant summer salad recipe uses a mix of sweet, salty, and savory ingredients that are chewy and crunchy and serve perfectly as a main course or appetizer recipe.

    If this Chicken Watermelon Salad with Feta looks appetizing, try our other summer salad recipes like Burrata Caprese Salad, Polonaise Asparagus Salad with Prosciutto, or Sweet Coleslaw, or learn How to Make the Perfect Simple Salad.

    Ingredient List

    ingredients needed to make chicken watermelon salad with feta.
    • Olive oil: use extra virgin olive oil, the best quality available.
    • Balsamic vinegar: balsamic vinegar of Modena is preferred for dressing, the best quality available.
    • Dijon: mustard adds spice and depth to the dressing.
    • Honey: adds sweetness and balances the acidity of the dressing.
    • Watermelon: seedless is preferred, if available. Get the freshest watermelon you can find.
    • Arugula: adds a little spice to the salad and holds up well to be dressed.
    • Chicken: use leftover grilled chicken for the best flavor, roast chicken works well too.
    • Feta cheese: the saltiness of the feta works well with the sweetness of the watermelon. Find authentic Greek feta if available.
    • Red onion: thinly sliced for a little added spice.
    • Basil: adds freshness and brightness to the salad.
    • Pistachios: use shelled, salted pistachios if available.
    • Salt: Sea salt or kosher salt.
    • Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper.

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    Recipe Variations and Modifications

    • Simplify the salad: omit the red onions, pistachios and basil for a quick and simple salad to pack for lunch or get on the table in a hurry.
    • Make it spicy: jalapeno slices, chili flakes or a drizzle of chili oil over the salad will add a kick that pairs perfectly with the watermelon.
    • Greens: other greens that work well with the salad are romaine lettuce, mustard greens, or frisée.

    Recipe Steps: How to Make Chicken Watermelon Salad with Feta

    watermelon cubed on a cutting board with basil and a knife.

    1. Prepare your ingredients.

    It's much easier to assemble the salad if everything is prepped. Cube the watermelon, shred the chicken, thinly slice the red onion, crumble the feta cheese, clean and roughly tear the basil, and chop the pistachios.

    arugula salad on a plate with a hand pouring salad dressing overtop of it.

    2. Dress the arugula.

    Whisk together the olive oil, balsamic, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.

    Place the arugula in a salad bowl or large plate. Drizzle with half the dressing and toss until evenly dressed.

    arugula, watermelon, chicken and red onions on a plate with a hand dressing the salad.

    3. Assemble the salad.

    Arrange the dressed arugula on the serving plate. Top with shredded chicken, watermelon cubes, and red onions. Drizzle with remaining dressing

    chicken watermelon salad with feta on a plate topped with red onions and pistachios with a hand cracking freshly ground pepper over top.

    4. Garnish the salad.

    Sprinkle the salad with feta cheese, pistachios, and basil. Finish with a sprinkling of flakey sea salt and fresh ground pepper before serving.

    Chef's Tip

    Shred the chicken: shredding the chicken versus chopping it. Shredded chicken provides lots of nooks and crannies to soak up the dressing.

    Make Ahead and Storage

    Chicken watermelon salad is best if prepared and served right away. If you have leftovers, remove the arugula and basil, then store the remaining ingredients for a maximum of 1 day.

    chicken watermelon salad with feta on a plate topped with red onions and pistachios.

    Recipe FAQs

    Does chicken go well with watermelon?

    Yes, because chicken is a light protein, it lends itself well to the sweet and delicate flavor or watermelon. Grilled chicken is especially good as the watermelon mellows and contrasts the charbroiled flavor of barbecued chicken.

    What is the best type of chicken to use for watermelon salad?

    Grilled chicken provides the best flavor for watermelon salad, especially if it has a slightly spicy, charred flavor. BBQ-flavored chicken is also delicious.

    What other ingredients work well in watermelon salad?

    Vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes, and bell peppers, mint leaves, goat cheese, and fresh mozzarella all make great additions to watermelon salad.

    How do you pick a watermelon at the store?

    There are lots of theories, but the best way to pick a watermelon is based on it's weight - it should feel heavier than it looks, and it's color - it should have a spot that is yellow, almost butter-like in color where it rested on the ground.

    Craving More Salad Recipes?

    • Close Up of Cucumber Chickpea Salad on a White Plate
      Cucumber Chickpea Salad
    • Close up of Green Salad on a Plate
      How to Make the Perfect Simple Salad
    • Easy Broccoli Salad with Peanut Butter Sauce
    • Three different salads in mason jars
      3 Salad in a Jar Recipes: Fajita, Samosa & Panzanella

    Did you make this Chicken Watermelon Salad with Feta recipe? Please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let us know what you loved about it in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for cooking with us!

    Recipe Card

    Chicken watermelon salad with feta on a plate.

    Chicken Watermelon Salad with Feta

    5 from 3 votes
    Philip Lago and Mystique Mattai
    Our refreshing and hearty Chicken Watermelon Salad with Feta is the ultimate kitchen sink salad perfect for summer lunches. The epitome combo of sweet and salty, using the little bits of leftovers found in your fridge and garden and tossed in a fresh balsamic, vinegar, dijon and honey dressing, it’s the summer salad you’ll be enjoying until the end of the season.
    Servings: 4 servings
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins

    Ingredients
      

    Dressing

    • 3 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
    • 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon honey
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground

    Salad

    • 4 cups watermelon cubed
    • 4 cups arugula
    • 2 cups leftover chicken shredded
    • ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
    • ½ small red onion thinly sliced rounds
    • 1 sprig basil torn or chopped
    • 2 tablespoon pistachios chopped

    Instructions
     

    • Whisk olive oil, balsamic, Dijon, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
    • Place the arugula in a salad bowl or large plate. Drizzle with half the dressing and toss until evenly dressed.
    • Arrange the dressed arugula on the serving plate. Top with shredded chicken, watermelon cubes, and red onions. Drizzle with remaining dressing.
    • Sprinkle the salad with feta cheese, pistachios, and basil. Finish with a sprinkling of flakey sea salt and fresh ground pepper.

    Video

    Recipe Notes

    Scroll up for a visual walkthrough of the recipe.
    Shred the chicken: shredding the chicken versus chopping it. Shredded chicken provides lots of nooks and crannies to soak up the dressing.
    Simplify the salad: omit the red onions, pistachios, and basil for a quick and simple salad to pack for lunch or get on the table in a hurry.
    Make it spicy: sprinkle chili flakes or drizzle chili oil over the salad to add a kick that pairs perfectly with the watermelon.
    Greens: other greens that work well with the salad are romaine lettuce, mustard greens, or frisée.
    Storage: Chicken watermelon salad is best if prepared and served right away. If you have leftovers, remove the arugula and basil, then store the remaining ingredients for a maximum of 1 day.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 350kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 431mg | Potassium: 489mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 1491IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 155mg | Iron: 2mg

    Additional Information

    Course: food and drink, Main, Salad
    Cuisine: Canadian, north american
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 350
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and let us know!

    More Salad Recipes for Lunch and Dinner

    • sweet coleslaw in a bowl with ingredients around it.
      Sweet Coleslaw with Maple Syrup
    • House salad topped with tomato, cucumber, sourdough croutons, and red onions on a plate with a fork.
      House Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette
    • 4 slices of heirloom tomatoes, grape tomatoes, small leaves, and spoonful of burrata cheese on a grey plate with antique serving spoon.
      Burrata Caprese Salad
    • Radicchio Salad Square image.
      Radicchio Salad with Lemon Parmesan Dressing

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elizabeth W says

      September 09, 2022 at 8:25 pm

      I made this for dinner before a trip, which was perfect because I ended up using a lot of odds and ends in my fridge - half a rotisserie chicken, cut watermelon, a few baby cucumbers, some Thai basil, and an opened package of feta. The salad was delicious. I’ll be making it again, even when I don’t need to clear out the fridge before traveling.5 stars

      Reply
    2. LauraMitch says

      August 02, 2020 at 8:32 am

      This salad was simply amazing. The only thing I did differently was toss it all together in the dressing, and increased the pistachios to about a 1/4 cup. Otherwise it was perfect and the flavours were awesome and complimented each other.5 stars

      Reply
      • Chef Sous Chef says

        August 05, 2020 at 8:15 am

        Hi Laura,

        Thanks for the comment! We're so happy you enjoyed the recipe. Such a great summer salad 🙂

        Reply
    3. Melanie says

      December 06, 2018 at 3:04 pm

      A great summer salad. Even with the chicken it is very refreshing and light. Can't wait to make it again next summer.5 stars

      Reply
    5 from 3 votes

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, we're Philip and Mystique.

    We're home cooks, cookbook authors, and contributors to Flavour Network. Here you'll find a mix of unique recipes and fusion food mashups that are fresh, flavorful, and diverse.

    LEARN MORE

    Summer Recipes

    • corn chowder with sausage in a bowl with a spoon with corn husks and pot of soup around it.
      Corn Chowder with Sausage
    • brownie waffle ice cream sandwich with chocolate ice cream on a plate.
      Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich
    • sweet coleslaw in a bowl with ingredients around it.
      Sweet Coleslaw with Maple Syrup
    • lemon créme brûlée topped with blueberries and blackberries cracked open with a spoon.
      Lemon Crème Brûlée
    • A slice of Neapolitan-style big mac pizza with wood fired crust on a white plate topped with lettuce, pickles, onions and big mac sauce.
      Big Mac Pizza
    • Italian sausage sandwich with roasted peppers and onions, drizzled with basil aioli.
      Italian Sausage Sandwich with Peppers
    Summer Recipes

    We Wrote a Cookbook!

    Mindful cooking to make every meal an experience.

    GRAB YOUR COPY

    Popular Recipes

    • Gnocchi in lemon cream sauce in a white pasta bowl on a marble table topped with basil and lemon.
      One-Pot Gnocchi with Creamy Lemon Sauce and Basil
    • Grilled BBQ Jerk Chicken Sandwich on a sesame seed bun with grilled pineapple and coleslaw
      Grilled Jerk Chicken Sandwiches with Grilled Pineapple
    • a bowl of butternut squash gnocchi topped with black pepper.
      Butternut Squash Gnocchi
    • Two sausage, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on an english muffin stacked on top of each other with yolk running down.
      Egg and Sausage Breakfast Sandwich
    • dairy free butter chicken in a shallow silver bowl with cilantro and served with naan.
      Dairy Free Butter Chicken with Coconut Milk
    • Six plates of flourless chocolate cake with whipped cream and sesame seeds
      Tahini and Chocolate Flourless Cake with Honey Whipped Cream
    Popular Recipes

    Footer

    ↑ BACK TO TOP

    Ready to diversify your inbox?

      Chef Sous Chef

      About
      Recipe Index
      Cookbook
      In the Press
      Privacy Policy
      Accessibility Policy
      Contact

      Recipes

      Fusion Food Recipes
      Date Night Recipes
      Dessert Recipes
      Sandwich Recipes
      Salad Recipes
      Pasta Recipes
      Soup Recipes

      Chef Sous Chef Logo with Tagline
      • Instagram
      • YouTube
      • Pinterest

      Disclaimer: If you purchase items through affiliate links, Chef Sous Chef Inc. may receive a commission.
      Copyright © 2018-2025 Chef Sous Chef Inc.

      Rate This Recipe

      Your vote:




      A rating is required
      A name is required
      An email is required

      Recipe Ratings without Comment

      Something went wrong. Please try again.