Panera Bread Inspired Watermelon and Feta Salad

This Panera Bread inspired watermelon and feta salad is perfect for ripe summer produce! Crisp sliced cucumbers, sweet cubed watermelon, and tangy feta cheese tossed in a homemade sesame vinaigrette. I like to top this salad with lots of fresh herbs and some chopped almonds or pistachios for crunch. This salad is great for a backyard BBQ or summer gathering, its like, flavorful, and refreshing!

Highlights of this salad and why you’ll love it:

• Light and fresh: this salad is a refreshing summer side, perfect for a warm day! Watermelon and cucumbers a tossed in a light dressing that keeps them light yet flavorful.
• Beautiful presentation: this dish is full of vibrant colors and flavors. The contrast between the pink watermelon and the green cucumbers plus the creaminess of the feta creates a beautiful dish. Garnishing with fresh herbs and chopped pistachios adds additional color and texture. This is great served family style on a large serving platter.
• Perfect for summer produce: with watermelon on sale left and right and an endless abundance of cucumbers, this dish is excellent for summer. Plus, if you’re anything like me you have an excess of fresh herbs to use up. This salad is great with mint, basil, thyme, or oregano!
• Simple, no-cook recipe: nothing like keeping your oven off in the summer! This dish doesn’t call for any cooking, but if desired serve along side grilled chicken or steak! If you’re serving this at a summer gathering its great with chicken burgers or brats, or even pizza for a light touch!

Ingredients & Ingredient Notes for the Salad:

If you’ve never tried pairing watermelon with savory flavors, this is your sign to do so! The sweet, juicy watermelon pairs so well with the crisp cucumbers and the saltiness of the feta. Tossed in the salty, spicy, tangy vinaigrette ties everything together perfectly.

• Ripe Watermelon: use you watermelon picking skills to find the best one, anything will work! Check here to find out how to pick the best watermelon. I like to cut my watermelon in small, uniform cubes, about 1″x1″ but it can be cut into any shape or size! Making this for a holiday? Use fun cookie cutters to cut watermelon into fun, festive shapes.
• Persian cucumbers: I love using mini cucumbers, they are always so fresh and crunchy and I like the mild skin. Any kind of cucumber will work, like hothouse cucumbers, English cucumbers, or Armenian cucumbers – seedless cucumbers are best. Thinly slice or finely dice your cucumbers.
• Feta cheese: I like to buy a block and cut into large cubes (I do this for those non-cheese lovers, so they can easily pick around the cheese) or use crumbled feta cheese, marinated feta cheese works great here too. Blue cheese or goat cheese can be substituted.
• Pistachios: I like the crunch and color these add as a topping, they can be omitted if desired. Cashews, pepitas, or almonds can be used as well.
• Fresh herbs: basil and thyme are my go-to herbs here but fresh oregano, Thai basil, or mint leaves are also great additions. I recommend using fresh herbs and not dry herbs.

Ingredients & Ingredient Notes for the Dressing:

• Extra-virgin olive oil: avocado oil or a flavored olive oil can be a substitute.
• Soy sauce: coconut aminos or tamari can be a substitute to traditional soy sauce.
• Red pepper flakes: add more or less as desired, these can be optional.
• Rice vinegar: I like the tanginess this adds, white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or mirin can be a substitute.
• Sesame seeds: add as many as you like! I lovvee sesame seeds and tend to go overboard, so use at your own discretion – these make a great garish as well. I like a mix of white and black sesame seeds.

How to make the Panera Bread Inspired Watermelon and Feta Salad (with step by step instructions):

Let’s talk a little about how to make this watermelon salad (The printable instructions are in the recipe card below.)

Quick Overview:

• Prep all fresh ingredients.
• Combine ingredients for dressing.
• Toss everything together and plate.
• Garnish with fresh herbs and enjoy.

1: Firstly, cube watermelon into even sized pieces, cubes, chunks, or slices. Sliced or dice cucumbers.

2: Secondly, prepare any fresh herbs. In a small bowl combine olive oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine.

3. Thirdly, cube feta cheese. I like to drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, herbs separately for a little extra flavor. You can do this with crumbled feta as well.

4. Fourthly, assemble salad, I like to plate ingredients one at a time, opposed to mixing everything together.

5. Finally, drizzle the dressing over top, garnish with more fresh herbs and chopped pistachios. This salad is best served immediately, it does not hold up well with the dressings. If you need to make ahead of time, prep all ingredients and wait to dress until service.

If you like this Panera Bread Inspired Watermelon and Feta Salad, try these other Panera Bread recipes…

Easy Strawberry Spinach Salad

BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado & Mozzarella

The Cheesecake Factory Copycat Chopped Salad Recipe

Spicy Chopped Thai Chicken Salad (Panera Inspired)

Copycat Zoe’s Kitchen Pasta Salad Recipe

Tools I used for this watermelon cucumber salad recipe:

• Ceramic Plate – a great neutral option for serving salads or pastas, I love the rustic look and muted colors.
• Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls – perfect for mixing the salad, and storing any leftover. I love a set of nesting bowls with lids, they are space saving and can be used in so many different ways! I use the large bowl the most.
• Pint Mason Jar – perfect for shaking up salad dressings, any extra dressing can easily be stored in the fridge.

I love this recipe for summer picnics or to make after a trip to the farmer’s market. The sweetness of the watermelon along with the salty combination of feta cheese and pistachios is so good! Make this on repeat all summer long! Check out these 40 Easy Cucumbers Recipes for the Abundant Summer Harvest to find more inspiration!

Variations and serving ideas:

This salad can be kept as simple as you liked, but it can also be dressed up with more flavors and textures. If I have these ingredients on hand, I like to throw some of these into my salad. Along with some ideas on how to serve this salad, beyond just a side dish!

• Diced or sliced avocado
• Chopped or whole pitted Kalamata olives
• Serve with pita chips or tortilla chips
• Marinated red onions or crispy onion strips
• Cantaloupe or honeydew melon chunks
• Serve alongside grilled shrimp skewers
• Serve over grilled chicken or salmon as more of a “salsa”

Recipe FAQs:

What is watermelon salad made of?

This salad is made of fresh watermelon, Persian cucumbers, feta cheese, fresh herbs, and pistachios tossed in a homemade sesame soy vinaigrette.

What pairs well with watermelon salad?

This salad is a great fresh touch alongside grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, or steak. This is also wonderful with soft pita bread, pita chips, or tortilla chips. I like to turn this into a topping or salsa. In a rush? Serve this alongside Instant Pot Air Fryer Juicy Chicken Breast Recipe, Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Pitas, or Air Fryer Chicken Meatball Bowls!

Can I make my watermelon feta salad ahead of time?

This salad can be made ahead of time, but I do not recommend dressing the salad until right before service. Prep the watermelon, cucumber, and feta – I would keep everything separate until service. The dressing can be prepped and stored in the fridge in an airtight container. Once ready, toss all ingredients together, plate and garnish. Serve immediately – leftover salad does not save well as the cucumbers get mushy over time.

The classic Panera recipe is tossed in a Greek dressing and contains orzo pasta and red onion, I like this sesame vinaigrette for a little twist but Greek dressing could be substituted. Orzo pasta or Farro can be added for a heartier, more filling dish! Make sure to be gentle when combining so nothing get smashed, if adding avocado or “soft” ingredients it can help to add those after tossing.