Skip to Content

Mexican Watermelon Salad (Watermelon with Tajin)

Sharing is caring!

This Mexican watermelon salad recipe with tajin, Cotija cheese, and cilantro is a delightful, refreshing dish!

It's got the chili lime tajin seasoning, which adds some heat and citrus flavor but is mellowed out by the crumbly Cotija.

This is an excellent side salad or light lunch. It's best with juicy summer watermelon!

Mexican watermelon salad in a large white bowl on a colorful napkin.
Jump to:

Watermelon and tajin are one of my favorite flavor combinations! The kicky lime seasoning mix is a classic addition to a slice of watermelon, so I knew I had to add it to use it in a salad recipe.

I've used tajin before on grilled cantaloupe - it's delicious on all sweet fruit if you like a sweet and savory combo!

I've mellowed out the salad with a sprinkle of Cotija cheese with a lovely creamy, crumbly texture.

Half a watermelon, tajin seasoning, cut up limes, chunk of cotija cheese, a jalapeno, a small bowl of olive oil, and a small bunch of cilantro.

Ingredients for Watermelon with Tajin

Watermelon - You'll need ½ a small, seedless watermelon or ¼ of a large watermelon. Your melon should be a dark green color on the outside and be heavy for its size (meaning it's very juicy).

Tajin Seasoning - You'll use 1 tablespoon of tajin seasoning - a delightful blend of chili, lime, and sea salt.

Cotija Cheese - You'll use 2 ounces of finely crumbled Cotija cheese. Cotija is a Mexican cow's milk cheese that has a similar texture to parmesan.

Olive Oil - You'll use 1 tablespoon of olive oil as a topping. Use the best olive oil you have - this is when you can break out the extra virgin!

Limes - You'll need 2 teaspoons of freshly squeezed lime juice as well as some lime wedges for serving.

Cilantro - You'll need 2 teaspoons of finely chopped fresh cilantro. I love chopping cilantro really small - it ensure you'll get a little in each bite!

Jalapeno (optional) - If you'd like some extra spice, you can finely sliver about ¼ of a jalapeno pepper.

Graphic showing the steps of making a Mexican watermelon salad.
Mexican watermelon salad in a white bowl.

More Watermelon Recipes to Try

If you love this recipe, check out some of our other favorite ways to use watermelon!

Sliced watermelon topped with cotija, tajin, and cilantro in a large white serving bowl.

Tips for Making this Recipe

Links on some posts are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Specialty Ingredients - For this recipe, you'll need Tajin Seasoning, which is a Mexican chili lime seasoning. You can buy it online or find it at almost any grocery store.

Storing Tips - You can store this recipe in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you find the watermelon has dried out, drizzle it with a little more olive oil.

Diet/Allergy Alternatives - If you'd like this recipe to be vegan or dairy-free, leave off the Cotija cheese and add more herbs.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Connect with us on Instagram and share your photos or leave us a rating.

Yield: 4 servings

Mexican Watermelon Salad Recipe

A Mexican watermelon salad with jalapenos.

This delicious and refreshing watermelon salad with tajin, cotija cheese, and jalapeno is so easy to make!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Additional Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • ½ small seedless watermelon
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon tajin seasoning
  • 2 ounces Cotija cheese, finely crumbled
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped cilantro
  • ½ lime, sliced for serving
  • optional - ¼ of a jalapeno, finely sliced

Instructions

  1. Place the watermelon cut side down on a cutting board. Run a knife from the top to the bottom in strips to cut the rind off.
  2. Cut the watermelon into 1-inch thick plates then slice into triangles.
  3. Arrange the sliced on a large plate or tray.
  4. Drizzle with olive oil and lime juice.
  5. Sprinkle with tajin seasoning and Cotija cheese. Add the cilantro and optional jalapenos.
  6. Serve with lime wedges.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 101Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 758mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 3g

Cindy Richter

Wednesday 14th of June 2023

This salad is so refreshing and delightful. Don't be afraid of the jalapeno...it was not spicy and added just enough flavor and color to make the watermelon extra delicious. I will serve this again and again this summer!

Skip to Recipe