Watermelon is the ultimate summer food and the perfect fruit to serve at your next party. But if you’re like a lot of people, you struggle with cutting and serving this fruit without making a giant mess. Sure, you could buy it pre-cut, but learning how to cut watermelon for party purposes will give you a new skill that impresses everyone. Plus, nothing beats the flavor of a freshly cut watermelon.
If you’re not confident in your cutting skills, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered. I’m going to share six awesome ways to cut watermelon (with tutorials) and some tasty recipes to try.
How To Cut Watermelon For Party Food in 6 Ways
Cutting a watermelon (without making a mess) is easier than you think. You just need the right technique and the right knife.
I recommend using a cleaver or a good chef’s knife. Watermelons aren’t tough, but they are wide, so aim to get a longer knife. The sharper the knife, the more precise the cuts, but proceed with caution to avoid injuring yourself.
1. Fancy Slices or Wedges
This video proves that it’s not about how you cut the watermelon; it’s how you present it. Cutting your melon into slices or wedges is so simple, and Food Chain TV walks you through each step.
Here’s a rundown of the steps:
- Slice off the ends of the watermelon.
- Stand it upright, and slice the melon in half longways.
- Lay the flat side down on the cutting board, and slice in half longways again.
- Slice the wedge into individual slices.
Essentially, you’re quartering the watermelon before slicing it.
Arranging your slices on a platter with the largest at the back and the smallest in the front will take your presentation to the next level. I recommend using a bright green tray to really make the watermelon’s color pop.
Related: 20 Refreshing Summer Salads to Make for a Crowd
2. Staggered Fruit Bowl
Want to know how to cut watermelon for party bowls? Follow the steps in this video, which creates a neat staggered effect.
It’s not overly complicated. You just need to make a few strategic cuts into your melon and it will be ready to fill with fruit.
You’ll definitely want a cleaver for this cutting technique!
3. Spears
If you want something more practical, this tutorial walks you through the steps of cutting a watermelon into easy-to-eat spears without making a mess.
- Start by slicing off one end of the watermelon.
- Place the flat side down on your cutting board.
- Make 1/2″ slices all the way across.
- Rotate your cutting board 90 degrees and repeat on this side.
- You’re done!
Each spear will be easy for party guests to pick up and eat right from your serving tray. You can stick a skewer into each spear end if you want, but it’s really not necessary. Tongs will work just as well if you’re worried about sanitation.
4. Shark Fruit Bowl
Here’s a cutting technique that will turn your watermelon into a work of art and a serving dish. Tran DTV walks you through each step of transforming your melon into a shark filled with fruit salad.
It’s as simple as cutting an opening for the mouth and using a melon baller to remove some of the interior to make space for the fruit salad. She also uses a smaller knife to cut the mouth’s edges into teeth.
For the eyes, you’ll add blueberries to a toothpick, and you’ll use some of the melon you cut out for the mouth as the shark’s fin.
This is such a fun technique that won’t make a huge mess and will make a big impression when serving guests.
5. Fruit Basket
Here’s another creative way to cut a watermelon for your party, but this one is more involved. You’ll go through the process of cutting your melon into a basket shape and using a melon baller to remove the flesh of the fruit.
Don’t worry – you’ll add the melon back into your basket along with other fruit.
Cutting out the handle is the tricky part, but with a steady hand and sharp knife, you’ll have no issues bringing this fun idea to life.
Chef Billy Parisi walks you through the whole thing to make it as easy as possible. He even shows you how to cut the other fruit you’ll add, like pineapple and honeydew. You can also use any other fruit that you want for this idea.
If you really want to impress everyone, then this is the cutting technique you’ll want to use for your next party.
6. Trees
A quick and practical way to turn your watermelon into the perfect finger food. Strategic cuts and slices allow you to turn watermelon wedges into little “trees,” complete with a “trunk” that acts like a handle.
You can just serve your watermelon trees on a platter, or get creative with toppings. Either way, you’ll find that this cutting technique is quick and easy.
It takes just a few minutes to prep your watermelon for serving using the simple technique in this video.
7 Watermelon Dishes Everyone at Your Party Will Love
Now that you know how to cut watermelon for party fun, let’s look at a few delicious ways you can serve it.
These recipes go beyond the usual fruit salad and add interesting ingredients that guests will be talking about for weeks to come.
1. Spicy Watermelon Salad w/Cilantro & Lime
I love this recipe because it’s so unexpected and always impresses everyone.
Along with your watermelon, you’ll need jalapenos, cilantro, lime juice, honey, olive oil and chili flakes. The flavors pair together surprisingly well.
I do recommend making half of your salad with jalapenos for anyone who may not like spicy food.
You can use the first cutting technique on my list to make this dish.
2. Watermelon “Pizza” W/Feta & Balsamic
Watermelon pizza is such a fun way to serve this summer food, and you can use the tree cutting method from the list above to make it.
Each “tree” will be topped with crumbled feta cheese, kalamata olives, mint leaves and balsamic glaze.
You can experiment with different toppings if you want. Some of your “pizzas” can have a sweet yogurt topping, mint leaves and fresh berries.
3. Watermelon Feta Salad
A tasty watermelon and feta salad with blueberries, lime, basil, mint leaves, feta cheese and honey. For this recipe, you can use either cubed or balled watermelon.
Better yet, why not serve this salad inside of the shark or basket fruit bowl I shared earlier? Your guests will love your creativity and the flavors of this salad.
4. Watermelon Tajin Skewer
For this recipe, you can add cubed melon to a traditional bamboo skewer or use the watermelon spears from the tutorial above.
These skewers are super simple to make and have such a unique flavor. Along with your watermelon, you’ll need fresh lime juice, mint, cotija cheese and Tajin seasoning.
Related: 25 Summer Appetizer Ideas Perfect for Kicking Off Parties, BBQs, & More
5. Watermelon & Whipped Feta with Honey & Pistachio
A unique and delicious way to serve watermelon slices that will have everyone asking you for the recipe.
Slice your watermelon into wedges (see the first cutting technique in the previous section) and top with whipped feta cheese. Drizzle with honey, chopped pistachios and fresh herbs like mint and basil.
If you don’t like pistachios, you can use slivered almonds, walnuts or pecans instead. Goat cheese would be a nice alternative to feta as well.
Follow the video below to make this recipe step by step.
6. Grilled Watermelon & Feta Stacked Salad
Feta and watermelon really are the perfect pair, and this recipe really capitalizes on both of these ingredients.
You’ll make little “sandwiches” out of watermelon slices. Between each slice is fresh feta cheese. Top with arugula and balsamic glaze.
I like to add sturdy toothpicks or cocktail forks to these so that they’re easy to transport from the plate.
The trickiest part is grilling the watermelon. You want to grill each slice very quickly (just long enough to char slightly). Aim for about 10 seconds of grilling on each side.
Related: Top 20 Light Summer Dinner Recipes to Keep on Repeat
7. Watermelon Fruit Caprese Salad
If you have leftover watermelon balls, you can make this gorgeous caprese salad that’s filled with delicious fruit.
Of course, you can customize this recipe however you want, but Sizzling Eats uses watermelon, cucumber, blueberries, strawberries and peaches.
You’ll also need fresh mozzarella pearls, mint leaves, sliced basil and balsamic glaze.
And here is another super fun ways to serve the watermelon!
Conclusion
Watermelon is the ultimate summer food and the perfect fruit for any outdoor party. There are so many ways to serve it and slice it. I’ve shared some really fun ways to cut watermelon that will make a great impression on your guests without making a big mess in your kitchen.
Feel free to get creative with any of these ideas and put your own spin on them. Don’t forget to try the recipes above to enjoy watermelon in fun and unique ways.
