Summer Fruit Salad

Celebrate summertime produce by making a Summer Fruit Salad with Watermelon! This easy side dish calls for fresh watermelon, berries and more. And it’s got a zesty fruit salad dressing to bring it all together. This watermelon fruit salad recipe is great to serve alongside breakfast and brunch or even at a potluck!

Overhead of a white plate holding a serving of Summer Fruit Salad next to mint, forks and a geometric blue towel

Fruit Salad.

You either love it or you hate it. And chances are, your feelings on it probably center around the fruit that’s in it, as well as the dressing it’s tossed in.

I’m one of those people who loooooooves using seasonal ingredients to make the best, freshest fruit salad around.

This Watermelon Fruit Salad is where it’s at for the summer months.

Why I love this recipe:

Before we dive in, let me be clear: We’re not using marshmallow fluff in this fruit salad. If you’re looking for a recipe that features that, this isn’t it.

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    If you’re looking for a recipe that’s quick and easy? This recipe is for you.

    This crisp and refreshing fresh fruit salad calls for seasonal fruits with a light, slightly sweet vinaigrette.

    Fresh watermelon is tossed with all the berries (blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries) and grapes. And then we drizzle it with a decadent lime-honey vinaigrette and garnish with fresh mint to take it to another level.

    Whether you serve this alongside pancakes or at a barbecue, your people are bound to be thrilled because this salad is a true taste of summertime.

    Other summer fruit recipes to try: Blackberry Peach Hand Pies | Strawberry Pancakes with Dark Chocolate Drizzle | Raspberry Yogurt Fruit Dip | Ricotta Crostini with Grilled Peaches | Dairy Free Blackberry Cobbler

    Want to host your friends this summer and serve this dish? Head on over to my Outdoor Entertaining Recipe Index for some ideas!

    Bowls of fruit to make fruit salad on marble with a blue towel

    What you’ll need to make this recipe:

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    Let’s talk ingredients!

    In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.

    Here’s what you need:

    • Watermelon — you want the freshest seedless watermelon you can get your hands on it. Use a sharp knife to cut it in a ½” dice for uniformness.
    • Fresh berries — we’re using a combination of blackberries, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries in this fruit salad. Feel free to add more of one and less of another if you like one better than another.
    • Red grapes — my younger daughter chose these for their color. Any type of grape works here if you prefer green grapes or even black grapes. I do not recommend using cotton candy grapes, as they’ll change the flavor of this fruit salad.
    • Lime — we need this for its zest, as well as its juice. Store-bought shelf stable lime juice does not yield the same wonderful citrus flavors, so please juice your own.
    • Honey simple syrup — this is going to provide the sweetness in the fruit salad dressing. I love the honey undertones of it, but you can use regular simple syrup if you don’t have this on hand.
    • Fresh mint leaves — these are part of our garnish and add a lovely pop of color, as well as flavor to the final fruit salad

    Variations on this fruit salad:

    I don’t think you can go wrong adding more summer-centric fruits to this, if you want.

    Here are some ways to do this:

    • Beef up the fruit salad with other melons, like cantaloupe or honeydew melons. Don’t replace the watermelon, but let these other melons add their own flavor!
    • Add stone fruit. Fresh cherries and peaches are a dream when combined with these other flavors!
    • Add some tropical flavor. Diced pineapple and mango would also be lovely.
    Collage showing how to make and mix summer fruit salad

    How do you make Summer Fruit Salad?

    Clean and chop the fruit. This means washing all the berries and slicing the strawberries into bite-sized pieces. You’ll also dice the watermelon and half the grapes. Toss ‘em into a large bowl.

    You can use a melon baller with the watermelon if you’re feeling fancy, but that is certainly not a requirement.

    Make the dressing. In a mason jar, measure in the lime zest, honey simple syrup and lime juice. Shake until combined.

    Dress the fruit salad. Drizzle the dressing on top. Add the mint leaves, too, and toss to combine.

    It’s ready to serve, so enjoy immediately!

    A bowl of Summer Fruit Salad with serving tongs next to a geometric towel

    Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips

    I love a recipe that’s versatile for all times of day. And as someone who’s got kids, I’m all about serving this easy fruit salad recipe morning, mid-day and evening for dessert because, well, who doesn’t want to eat more fruit, especially in the summertime?

    If you’re planning to share this recipe with friends this summer, I think that’s a brilliant idea because it makes a decently large fruit salad!

    Here are a few tips and tricks to make it as easy as possible:

    • Pre-chop and clean all your fruit. You can do this up to a day in advance. Be sure to pat the berries dry before storing in the fridge so they hold their shape.
    • Make the dressing in advance, too. Simply shake it in a mason jar and pop that into the fridge. Keep it cold, then drizzle on top of the fruit salad right before serving.
    • Customize it to your tastebuds. If you don’t love blueberries as much, consider adding raspberries in place of them. The beauty in this fruit salad is that all these summer fruits play nicely together, so you can mix and match them based off what you like.
    A plate of berry fruit salad with watermelon in front of a jar of honey

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How do you make simple fruit salad?

    This simple fruit salad is featuring a lot of wonderfully fresh berries, grapes and watermelon. You can mix and match the berries, depending on what you like best.

    How do you keep fruit from browning in a fruit salad?

    Since we’re using a combination of berries, watermelon and grapes, we do not have to worry about this because none of these fruits brown.

    Do I have to use a seedless watermelon in this recipe?

    If you want to use a regular watermelon with seeds, you sure can, though I will say this recipe is easier to make if your watermelon is seedless. That way, your family and guests won’t be spitting seeds out as they eat the fruit salad.

    Close up of Summer Fruit Salad in a white bowl

    Quick tips for the best fruit salad with watermelon:

    • How to store fruit salad: Place in an airtight storage container. Keep in the fridge for 2-3 days. The fruit will become softer as it sits in the dressing.
    • Prep it in advance. Clean, slice and chop the fruit early. Store it in the fridge covered. Make the dressing early, too, and store in a mason jar in the fridge. Toss together when it’s time to eat.

    What to pair with this recipe:

    Serve this Watermelon Salad recipe alongside Buttermilk Pancakes and other breakfast items.

    Let it be a highlight at a backyard barbecue! It plays well with recipes like Memphis Style Ribs (Dry Rub Oven Baked Ribs Recipe), Instant Pot BBQ Baked Beans and Classic Potato Salad.

    Here’s how you can make it…

    A plate of berry fruit salad with watermelon in front of a jar of honey

    Summer Fruit Salad with Watermelon

    Erin Parker, The Speckled Palate
    Celebrate summertime produce by making a Summer Fruit Salad with Watermelon! This easy side dish calls for fresh watermelon, berries and more. And it’s got a zesty fruit salad dressing to bring it all together. This watermelon fruit salad recipe is great to serve alongside breakfast and brunch or even at a potluck!
    5 from 1 vote
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 148 kcal
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 1 minute
    Total Time 16 minutes

    Ingredients
      

    Fruit Salad

    • 2 cups watermelon 400g, diced in ½” cubes
    • 6 oz. blackberries 170g
    • 16 oz. strawberries 454 g, sliced
    • 6 oz. raspberries
    • 8 oz. blueberries
    • 2 ½ cups red grapes halved (16 oz.)
    • 1 tablespoon fresh mint for garnish

    Fruit Salad Dressing

    As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Instructions
     

    • Clean and chop the fruit. Wash all the berries. Slice the strawberries. Dice the watermelon and half the grapes. Add to a large bowl, and set aside.
    • Make the dressing. In a mason jar, measure in the lime zest, honey simple syrup and lime juice. Shake until combined.
    • Pour the dressing on top of the fruit salad. Garnish with the mint leaves.
    • Toss to combine, and enjoy immediately!

    Notes

    How to store fruit salad: Place in an airtight storage container. Keep in the fridge for 2-3 days. The fruit will become softer as it sits in the dressing.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 148kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 2gFat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 4mgFiber: 7gSugar: 26g
    Keyword barbecue sides, bbq side dishes, bbq sides, berry fruit salad, easy fruit salad, easy side dish, fruit, fruit salad, fruit side dish, fruits, homemade fruit salad, quick side dish, side dish, side dish recipe, side dishes, summer side dish, versatile side dish, watermelon fruit salad
    Course Side Dishes
    Cuisine American
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    A woman with dark curly hair wearing a black tank top in front of a white wall

    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her

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