• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
She Loves Biscotti
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Maria
  • My Store
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Appetizers » Grilled Watermelon Steak: A Great Appetizer Recipe

    Grilled Watermelon Steak: A Great Appetizer Recipe

    June 10, 2022 , Updated August 12, 2022 Maria 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    An overhead shot of a grilled watermelon topped with cheese and fresh basil leaves.

    This recipe for grilled watermelon steak makes a great appetizer with a refreshing and tangy taste. Topping it with cheese, balsamic glaze and fresh basil leaves create the best bbq appetizer for your next cookout. 

    Grilled watermelon steaks on white plates..
    Jump to:
    • Introduction
    • Instructions
    • Recipe Variations
    • FAQ
    • Grilled Fruits and Vegetables
    • Recipe origins
    • Recipe

    Introduction

    Yes, that’s right, grilled watermelon!

    Have you ever tried it?

    I assure you that once you do, there is no going back.

    Grilling is a great way to add an extra layer of flavor when cooking meat or vegetables. Fruits can also benefit from being grilled, as they taste even more delicious than you would expect!

    One perfect example is this recipe for grilled peaches. The heat intensifies the sweetness of the fruit by caramelizing the natural sugars.

    It is worth mentioning that we are not cooking the fruit. In this recipe, the watermelon is seared on a very hot grill for a few minutes on each side, giving it a fantastic flavor.

    Garnishing it with cheese is another flavor enhancer. You can use either ricotta salata, feta, or even goat cheese.

    This is not the first time I have paired watermelon with cheese. If you recall, this watermelon feta salad also highlights the wonderful combination of sweet and savory.

    The cheese contributes a salty, almost tangy flavor to the dish. As strange as it sounds, the cheese’s saltiness brings out the grilled watermelon’s sweetness and provides the perfect balance in this dish. 

    This recipe is perfect for an outdoor summer party. It will provide your guests with a refreshing, tangy appetizer or simply irresistible side dish.

    Here is how to make this easy watermelon starter! 

    Grilled watermelon on a white plate.

    Instructions

    This recipe will make a fantastic watermelon appetizer or side dish for four. It’s easy to double or triple the ingredients depending on how many guests you’re hosting.

    Ingredients to make grilled watermelon steaks on a wooden board.

    The first thing we will do is slice the room-temperature watermelon.

    If you have a large watermelon, cut it in half and then again to obtain one quarter. Slice the ends off and the rest of the melon into four 1-inch wide slices. There is no need to remove the rind. 

    Watermelon wedges next to a small bowl of olive oil.

    Place one tablespoon of olive oil in a small bowl. Then, brush it on both sides of the watermelon quarters.

    Slices of watermelon on a grill.

    Preheat the grill (indoor or outdoor) to medium-high heat.

    Place watermelon steaks directly on the grill and sear each side for approximately 2 minutes or until you obtain grill marks. This is a quick process as we are not cooking the watermelon. 

    Remove the watermelon from the grill and allow it to cool down slightly before garnishing each slice with Ricotta Salata or feta cheese (6-8 ounces, separated).

    Then, top watermelon wedges with fresh, torn basil (2 tablespoons, separated), a few pinches of sea salt and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.  This will round out the flavors of this delicious fruit appetizer.

    Just like that, you can create the perfect, no-fuss appetizer for your next get-together with family and friends.

    An overhead shot of a grilled watermelon topped with cheese and fresh basil leaves.

    Recipe Variations

    Different herbs and spices are a great way to customize this refreshing appetizer. For example, replace the basil with mint or cilantro for an altogether different taste! If you like heat, add a few pinches of fresh or dried chile. A sprinkle of smoked paprika also works well.

    FAQ

    How to prevent fruit from sticking to the grill

    To prevent your fruit from sticking to the grill, be sure that you clean out any leftover residue on the cooking grates and brush the fruit with oil.

    What does grilled watermelon taste like

    The taste transformation is fascinating! Cooking watermelon makes the texture a little firmer that tastes slightly less sweet with a hint of smokiness. 

    How to serve

    Grilled watermelon with cheese, basil and a drizzle of balsamic makes the perfect fuss-free appetizer. You can also serve it as a side dish with grilled chicken, 

    Grilled Fruits and Vegetables

    Grilled vegetables on a platter.

    Grilled Vegetables

    Grilling is one of the best ways to cook summer vegetables, and these Italian Grilled Vegetables make an easy summer side dish.

    GET THE RECIPE

    Grilling fruits and vegetables is a simple way to add some variety and flavor when preparing a summer BBQ menu. Be sure to try these recipes for grilled radicchio and grilled fennel. 

    Recipe origins

    As an avid collector of recipes, and much to my husband’s dismay, I have boxes and boxes of food magazines stored in my garage. This recipe is inspired by one I originally clipped from a Bon Appétit magazine, dating back to 2005. Thanks to the power of the internet, the original recipe can be found here.

    The original dressing consisted of lime juice and olive oil. Over the years, I have made a simple recipe even simpler. Just before serving, I drizzle the balsamic glaze over the grilled watermelon. That’s it. I have also excluded the pine nuts included in the original recipe.

    I encourage you to adapt this recipe to your personnel preferences. My family and I love ricotta salata, but if you prefer, either feta or goat cheese works well in this recipe.

    Each bite of this easy, refreshing and delicious bbq watermelon recipe will give you a burst of flavor.

    Do you have other grilled watermelon recipes that you enjoy? Let me know in the comment section below. 

    THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community, where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

    Ciao for now,

    Maria 

    WELCOME! Sign up for my FREE NEWSLETTER for more delicious recipes, tips and updates!

    ★★★★★ If you have made this grilled watermelon appetizer recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

    Recipe

    A grilled wateremlon steak topped with feta cheese and basil leaves.

    Grilled Watermelon Steak: A Great Appetizer Recipe

    This recipe for grilled watermelon steak makes a great appetizer with a refreshing and tangy taste. Topping it with cheese, balsamic glaze and fresh basil leaves create the best bbq appetizer for your next cookout. 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Save RecipeSaved! Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 4 minutes
    Total Time: 14 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 194kcal
    Author: Maria Vannelli RD
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 4 slices watermelon rind on, about 1 inch thick (room temperature)
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
    • 6-8 ounces Ricotta Salata or feta cheese 175 – 225 grams
    • 2-3 tablespoons basil fresh, torn
    • a few pinches of sea salt
    • 1-2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
    • extra basil leaves for garnishing if desired

    Instructions

    • Heat grill pan on high heat.
    • Brush the sides of the watermelon lightly with the olive oil.
    • Once the grill pan is hot, sear each side of the watermelon for 1-2 minutes.
    • Place watermelon on serving dish and allow to cool slightly.
    • Crumble cheese over top of grilled watermelon.
    • Sprinkle with basil leaves and pinch of sea salt.
    • Drizzle each slice with balsamic glaze just before serving.
    Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon’t miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

    Video

    Notes

    Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 
    *adapted from recipe found in Bon Appetit magazine
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 39mg | Potassium: 364mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 1870IU | Vitamin C: 23.2mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 0.8mg
    SIGN UP for Email updates!YES! Send me FREE RECIPES!

    This post was originally published on July 1, 2017 and republished on July 27, 2019 and again on June 10, 2022 with updated content and photos. Thanks for sharing.

    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    • Reddit
    • Email

    Filed Under: Appetizers, Side-Dish and Vegetables, Vegetarian

    About Maria

    Maria Vannelli is a registered dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ur pal val

      February 16, 2018 at 8:20 pm

      5 stars
      I have never tried grilled watermelon. I love the flavor combination with the ricotta salata. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Maria

        February 17, 2018 at 4:54 pm

        My pleasure! The grilled watermelon is surprisingly refreshing. Hope you get a chance to try it. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

        Reply
    2. Barbarito-Levitt Paula

      July 01, 2017 at 8:24 pm

      I have made several variations of watermelon and salty cheese salads, but never grilled the watermelon. This sounds like a summertime go to salad and I look forward to preparing it. Grazie!

      Reply
      • Maria

        July 03, 2017 at 6:35 am

        It is definitely a great conversation starter! Thanks for dropping by Paula ♥

        Reply

    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

    Maria from She loves biscotti

    Hi, I'm Maria! a dietitian and full-time content creator. Join me as I share traditional Italian recipes from my youth to modern twists on classics using fresh and seasonal ingredients.

    More about me →

    Subscribe and Follow

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    Italian Easter Recipes

    • Braided Easter loaves on a cooling rack.
      Italian Easter Sweet Bread Recipe: Pane di Pasqua
    • A slice of ricotta pie dusted with icing sugar and decorated with a slice lo lemon.
      Ricotta Pie: Perfect for Easter!
    • Rice ricotta Easter pie in a cake stand surrounded by oranges and lemons in the background.
      Rice Ricotta Easter Pie
    • Italian Easter Grain Pie on a cake stand.
      Pastiera Napoletana: Italian Easter Grain Pie
    Banner of sites featuring She Loves Biscotti including Buzzfeed, Huffpost, etc.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About
    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 She Loves Biscotti

    Copyright © 2023