If you think grilling is just for meats and veggies, wait until you try this Grilled Watermelon Skewers with Mint Recipe—it’s a smoky, sweet twist that turns everyday watermelon into a showstopper summer side dish.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Grilled Watermelon Skewers with Mint Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Grilled Watermelon Skewers with Mint Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Grilled Watermelon Skewers with Mint Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Whenever I whip up grilled watermelon, it’s always a hit. There’s something magical about the combo of smoky char, fresh mint, and a splash of lime that feels so fresh and unexpected.
- Quick and Easy: Ready in just 10 minutes, perfect for last-minute sides.
- Unique Flavor Profile: The grilling adds a subtle smoky sweetness that’s irresistible.
- Flexible Garnishes: Customize with feta and honey for a sweet-salty balance.
- Perfect for Summer: Keeps your cookout menu light, refreshing, and crowd-pleasing.
Ingredients & Why They Work
To get these skewers just right, it’s all about choosing firm, ripe watermelon and fresh garnishes that complement the smoky grill flavor. Here’s a little rundown on the essentials and why they’re part of this recipe.
- Watermelon wedges: Look for firm but ripe pieces so they hold up on the grill without turning mushy.
- Olive oil: A light brush keeps your watermelon from sticking and adds a subtle richness.
- Flaky sea salt: Adds a little crunch and highlights the sweetness perfectly.
- Lime wedges: Fresh lime juice brightens and balances the smoky, sweet flavors.
- Chopped fresh mint leaves: Mint gives a fresh herbal pop that’s essential to this dish.
- Crumbled feta cheese (optional): Adds a creamy salty contrast that pairs beautifully with the sweet watermelon.
- Honey (optional): A light drizzle rounds out the flavors with a touch of floral sweetness.
Make It Your Way
One of the best things about this Grilled Watermelon Skewers with Mint Recipe is how easy it is to tweak and make your own. Whether you prefer it simple or with bold, contrasting flavors, there’s room to customize!
- Feta Flavor Boost: I love adding crumbled feta for that creamy, salty bite—it perfectly offsets the smoky sweetness of the grilled watermelon.
- Vegan Option: Skip the feta and honey for a fresh, naturally sweet treat that still shines with mint and lime zing.
- Spicy Kick: For a little heat, sprinkle a pinch of chili powder or cayenne pepper over the finished skewers. The contrast is delightful!
- Herbal Twist: Besides mint, try fresh basil or cilantro for a new herbal dimension that feels just as refreshing.
- Drizzle Magic: Instead of honey, a balsamic glaze adds tangy sweetness and deepens the smoky flavor beautifully.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Grilled Watermelon Skewers with Mint Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Your Grill
First things first, get your grill going at medium-high heat—aim for about 400°F. While it’s heating up, grab a tablespoon of olive oil and lightly brush the grill grates. This simple step works wonders to keep your watermelon wedges from sticking and helps develop those gorgeous char marks that bring out delicious smoky flavor.
Step 2: Grill the Watermelon Wedges
Place the 1-inch thick watermelon wedges directly onto your hot grill. Let them sit for about 3 minutes—keep an eye out for those beautiful dark char marks forming before flipping carefully. Flip onto the other side and grill for another 3 minutes. The watermelon should still be firm and juicy but with a nice smoky kiss from the flame.
Step 3: Cool and Add the Finishing Touches
Transfer your grilled watermelon wedges to a serving platter and allow them to cool slightly for a few minutes. Then squeeze over fresh lime juice—this brightens the flavor and balances the smoky notes beautifully. Next, sprinkle flaky sea salt and scatter chopped fresh mint leaves on top. For an extra pop of flavor, add crumbled feta cheese and a light drizzle of honey, if you like. The savory, sweet, and fresh elements all come together perfectly here!
Step 4: Serve and Enjoy Immediately
Serve your grilled watermelon skewers straight away while still slightly warm or at room temperature. This recipe yields 5 servings and makes a fantastic side dish for any summer cookout, picnic, or casual get-together. Each wedge is packed with smoky sweetness, lime freshness, and minty coolness—pure summer bliss!
Top Tip
Making Grilled Watermelon Skewers with Mint Recipe perfectly every time is easier than you think, especially when you keep a few handy tips in mind. These will help you maximize flavor and get those gorgeous grill marks!
- Choose Firm Watermelon: I’ve found that using ripe but firm watermelon prevents wedges from falling apart on the grill and keeps a nice texture.
- Oil Your Grill Grates: Brushing the grill with olive oil not only prevents sticking but also gives you those beautiful char marks that make the dish look as good as it tastes.
- Watch the Grill Time: Grilling each side for about 3 minutes is just right to get smoky sweetness without making the watermelon mushy—less is more here!
- Don’t Skip the Garnishes: Adding fresh lime juice, mint, flaky sea salt, and optional feta and honey balances flavors and gives the dish a refreshing, layered taste.
How to Serve Grilled Watermelon Skewers with Mint Recipe
Garnishes
Fresh garnishes elevate this dish beautifully. I love topping the skewers with chopped fresh mint leaves, a squeeze of lime juice, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for pops of brightness and crunch. For a creamy contrast, crumbled feta cheese adds a lovely salty bite, and a drizzle of honey brings a touch of sweet harmony. Feel free to customize these garnishes to suit your taste!
Side Dishes
These skewers shine as a refreshing summer side dish alongside grilled chicken, seafood, or even spicy barbecue ribs. They also pair superbly with crisp green salads, quinoa bowls, or a light couscous salad. Serving them at your next cookout will surely wow your guests with an unexpected smoky-sweet treat.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftover grilled watermelon, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It’s best enjoyed within 2 days to keep its texture and flavor fresh.
Freezing
Freezing isn’t recommended for grilled watermelon wedges as the texture degrades significantly once thawed. To keep the best eating experience, enjoy the skewers fresh or refrigerated short-term.
Reheating
If you want to reheat, a quick pass on a medium-high grill for 1-2 minutes per side will refresh those smoky grill marks without overcooking the watermelon. Serve immediately after reheating for the best taste.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! A grill pan on your stovetop works well. Just be sure to preheat the pan to medium-high heat and brush it with olive oil before adding the watermelon wedges.
Nope! Both feta and honey are optional. They add wonderful salty-sweet notes, but the skewers are delicious on their own with just lime, mint, and sea salt.
Brushing the grill grates with olive oil before grilling and using a clean, hot grill helps prevent sticking. Also, avoid moving the watermelon wedges too soon so they form proper grill marks and release easily.
You can cut and skewer the watermelon wedges ahead of time, but grilling just before serving keeps the best texture and flavor. If needed, grill in advance and reheat briefly on the grill as described.
Final Thoughts
Grilled Watermelon Skewers with Mint Recipe is one of those effortlessly delightful dishes that makes summer cookouts feel extra special. With its smoky char, juicy sweetness, and bright, fresh garnishes, it’s a beautiful balance of flavors that everyone will love. I hope these tips and ideas inspire you to fire up your grill and give this refreshing twist on watermelon a try—you might find it becoming your new favorite summer side!
Print
Grilled Watermelon Skewers with Mint Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Grilled Watermelon is a smoky, sweet, and juicy summer side dish featuring watermelon wedges charred to perfection on the grill, then garnished with fresh lime juice, mint leaves, flaky sea salt, and optional feta cheese and honey for a delightful balance of flavors.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 10 wedges watermelon, triangles, 1-inch thick
- Olive oil, for the grill, about 1 tablespoon
- Flaky sea salt, to taste
For Garnish and Serving
- Lime wedges, for serving, about 5 wedges
- Chopped fresh mint leaves, for garnish, about 2 tablespoons
- Crumbled feta cheese, optional, about ¼ cup
- Honey, optional, about 1 tablespoon
Instructions
- Preheat Grill: Preheat your grill to medium high heat, roughly around 400°F. Lightly brush the grill grates with olive oil to prevent sticking and promote nice grill marks.
- Grill Watermelon: Place the 1-inch thick watermelon wedges directly on the hot grill. Grill each side for about 3 minutes or until you see char marks forming, flipping carefully to avoid breakage.
- Cool and Garnish: Transfer the grilled watermelon wedges to a serving platter and let them cool for a few minutes. Squeeze fresh lime juice over the wedges, then sprinkle flaky sea salt and chopped fresh mint leaves on top. Add crumbled feta cheese and a drizzle of honey if desired for extra flavor balance.
- Serve: Serve immediately as a refreshing, smoky side dish perfect for summer cookouts and gatherings.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm watermelon for the best texture when grilling.
- If you don’t have a grill, you can use a grill pan on the stovetop as an alternative.
- Adjust the amount of honey and feta cheese to your taste or omit for a vegan option.
- Grilling intensifies the watermelon’s sweetness and adds a smoky flavor—don’t skip this step.
- Flaky sea salt works best for a pleasant crunch and flavor burst.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 wedge
- Calories: 60 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Leave a Reply