Ways to Enjoy Watermelon

Four easy and delicious ways to enjoy watermelon this summer. These simple, healthy recipes are kid-approved!

Watermelon slices and a watermelon popsicle are on a wooden cutting board outdoors near yellow coneflowers.

Little Bear woke me up this balmy summer morning eager to paint. I poured the primary colors into small glass jars for him and watched as he explored with watercolor. The first color he dipped his brush into was red.

I started thinking about how exceptionally beautiful the mountains are in autumn when the leaves turn shades of red — it’s like living in a painting. Then I reminded myself to enjoy this precious moment and try to savor every last drop of this summer.

A toddler enjoys a watermelon popsicle outdoors in the grass. Evergreen trees and a white watering can are in the photo. — This particular summer morning, Little Bear requested to have a watermelon popsicle before breakfast, while we watered the garden.

Ways to Enjoy Watermelon: Simple Watermelon Recipes

This summer we have enjoyed lots of red fruits. While I love making smoothies and einkorn sourdough cobbler with fresh strawberries, there’s something extra special about ripe, juicy watermelons. This healthy fruit has flavored our homemade kombucha, and it was the first food I put in our new dehydrator.

Keep reading to learn four fun ways to enjoy watermelon, from sipping to snacking on it. Each method highlights this sweet seasonal staple. More importantly, each of these ways is super simple, which means more time to enjoy restful moments and soak up the season.

A graphic with the text "refreshing ways to enjoy watermelon" showing two photos of watermelon drinks - a slushie and juice.

Dehydrated Watermelon

Quarter a watermelon, remove the rind, then slice into 1/4″ pieces. Dehydrate at 135 degrees Fahrenheit for about 12-15 hours. Trust me, it it’s worth the wait for this summery snack; it’s like nature’s candy! It’s a great way to preserve summer’s bounty, but it never lasts longer than a few days here on the mountain.

Watermelon Slushies

Make this icy summertime treat by blending cubes of frozen watermelon. (Alternatively, you could skip the freezer and add ice to the blender.) It makes a yummy purée for little ones. I recommend trying it with a little maple syrup or honey and a squeeze of lime juice.

A small glass of watermelon slushie garnished with lime is in the sunlight.

Watermelon Juice

Slice a watermelon and scoop spoonfuls into a blender to create a liquid. If there are seeds or lots of pulp, you can pour it through a fine mesh strainer. It’s a refreshing and nutritious way to stay hydrated in the summer heat. Plus, you can use the juice to flavor other recipes.

Watermelon Popsicles

Simply slice and blend a (preferably seedless) watermelon, then pour the juice into popsicle molds and freeze. I usually make my kids nettle popsicles, so this is a colorful way to switch things up when watermelons are available at the Farmer’s Market.