Side Dish Sundays: Chili Lime Watermelon Salad. AKA, the Only Way I Want to Eat Watermelon This Summer.
You’re only 15 minutes (!!) away from chili lime watermelon.
And I think you should try it ASAP. It doesn’t get more summery that this.
To say that I am freaking over this snack/side dish would be an understatement. It has SO much flavor, it’s super refreshing, it’s weirdly satisfying and it checks all the sweet and savory boxes. I’m in major love. Or at least in lust.
And you can eat it whenever you want. Even for breakfast! Have it with a side of scrambled eggs, eat it for lunch dessert, have it as an afternoon snack (I wouldn’t kick a chilled glass of rosé out of bed…) or even as a side dish with dinner. Incredible, right?!
Run run run and go try this TODAY. You guys are just going to love it as much as I do.
I originally set out to recreate my hot honey pineapple wedges with watermelon. But I wasn’t feeling the hot honey with the melon… so I went in another direction. Just a little sprinkle of chili powder takes these bites over the edge. They are fantastic!
(As a side note, the hot honey WOULD also be excellent on these watermelon cubes, but I’m taking out a step because SUMMER. It’s too hot to do anything aside from sit in the sun and eat cold watermelon cubes.)
Over the last few years, one of my favorite summer snacks (or heck, even summer dinner side dishes) has been watermelon with lime zest and fresh lime juice. It’s delicious and fabulous in hot weather. It also (slightly?) reminds me of a watermelon margarita!
You can’t go wrong with that.
What I love to serve with chili lime watermelon:
I’m obsessed with having this on the side of basically… anything. But I really love when the entire meal is light and summery too. Here are some of my favorites below!
This incredible summer panzanella.
I adore this cheeseburger chopped salad.
And this chipotle chicken cobb salad!
Or this summer BBQ quinoa salad.
Delish guacamole turkey burgers.
These adobo shrimp fajitas.
These summer shrimp zoodle bowls.
BBQ shrimp and lime avocado toast.
- 4 cups cubed watermelon
- 1 pinch of salt
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 lime, zest grated and juiced
- 3 tablespoons crumbled cotija cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
- Place the cubed watermelon in a large bowl. Sprinkle with the pinch of salt and the chili powder (using more if you wish!). Toss well. Squeeze on the lime juice and top with the lime zest.
- Add the crumbled cotija cheese and cilantro. Serve immediately!
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
Because how can you even pass up that bite?!
Have you tried Tajin? Recently discovered it – you can get it on Amazon. A chili lime seasoning, and it’s AMAZING on watermelon. Also great on grilled corn!
yessss i have and loved it! i definitely should order a bottle!
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So trying this! My summer fruit obsession is watermelon cubes with lots of tajin (or, in a pinch, Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Seasoning!) so I know I’m going to love it. To be fair, I’ll slather tajin on any summer fruit (fresh mango cubes? pineapple? all of the above!) but w/ watermelon it is just the BEST combo. So salty! So sweet! Such a good kick of spice!
love that! thank you dominique!
Made this last night for dinner as a side and we liked it alot. The first time I make a recipe, I always follow the directions as written. What I will do the next time I make this is add a bit more chili powder. This was so refreshing and the chili powder made the watermelon taste even sweeter – go figure!
so glad you liked it! thanks chris! xo
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This looks amazing! I see it says serve immediately – do you think this could be prepared in advance? If not, what portions might be done last minute – would it work to skewer up some melon cubes, and then just add the powdered chili, lime juice and sprinkle of cotija day-of?
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