Okay, watermelon pizza sounds like something someone says right before everyone at the table gets quiet.
But this grilled watermelon pizza is sweet, smoky, salty, and sharp in the best summer snack way.
The watermelon gets brushed with a little onion brine and olive oil, then it hits the grill until it is juicy and lightly marked.
After that, it gets piled with pickled red onion, creamy blue cheese, pecans, and tiny basil leaves, which is a whole lot of flavor for one big round of fruit.
This would be fun for cookouts, 4th of July snacks, backyard dinners, or any day where regular appetizers feel a little too buttoned up, and it would fit right in with Caprese Salad Stuffed Zucchini Boats, Roasted Pears with Brie Pistachios, and Grilled Stuffed Jalapenos.
Why Grill Watermelon?
Grilling watermelon dries the surface a bit, warms the fruit, and gives it a smoky edge that can handle salty toppings.
Keep the rind on the round while it grills because it helps the slice stay sturdy.
Grab These For The Watermelon Pizza
How To Make Grilled Watermelon Pizza
1. Slice the red onion
Thinly slice the red onion so it can soften fast in the vinegar mixture.
A thin slice matters here because the onion goes right on top of the watermelon later.
2. Make the quick onion brine
Pour the red wine vinegar into a bowl.
Add the sugar and kosher salt, then stir until the mixture looks mostly dissolved.
3. Soften the onions in the brine
Add the sliced red onion to the vinegar mixture.
Toss the onion and let it stand for 15 minutes so it turns bright, tangy, and way less sharp.
4. Cut a thick watermelon round
Cut one thick round from a seedless watermelon.
Keep it about 3/4 inch thick so it can sit on the grill without folding up on you.
5. Strain the onions and save a little brine
Strain the onions over a bowl so you can keep a bit of the pink brining liquid.
Measure 2 teaspoons of that brine for the brushing mixture.
6. Whisk the brine with olive oil
Add the extra virgin olive oil to the reserved brine.
Whisk it together until it looks glossy.
7. Brush the watermelon
Brush the brine and oil mixture over the watermelon round.
Coat both sides so the fruit gets a little shine before it hits the heat.
8. Grill the watermelon
Place the watermelon round on a hot grill.
Grill it for 3 to 4 minutes on one side, then flip it and grill the other side until it looks juicy and lightly marked.
9. Add the pickled onions
Move the grilled watermelon to a board or serving plate.
Spread the pickled onions over the warm watermelon in a loose layer.
10. Add blue cheese and pecans
Crumble the creamy blue cheese over the onions.
Sprinkle the chopped pecans on top for crunch.
11. Finish with basil
Scatter small basil leaves over the top.
It looks cute, sure, but it also makes the sweet salty thing feel fresher.
12. Slice into wedges
Cut the watermelon round into wedges like pizza.
Serve it right away while the watermelon is still warm and the toppings are sitting pretty.
Why This Weird Little Pizza Works
The watermelon is sweet and juicy, the onions are tangy, the blue cheese is salty, and the pecans bring crunch.
So yeah, it is not regular pizza, but it does have that slice and share feeling.
Serve It Like This
Serve it as an appetizer while the grill is already hot.
It also makes a fun side for burgers, grilled chicken, or a snack board that needs one loud little centerpiece.
Make Ahead Notes
You can pickle the onions before the watermelon goes on the grill.
Wait to grill, top, and slice the watermelon until right before serving, because the fruit gets juicy fast once it sits.
Watermelon Pizza Answers
Does grilled watermelon taste sweet or savory?
It is still sweet, but the grill gives it a smoky edge and the toppings push it toward savory.
Can I use feta instead of blue cheese?
Creamy blue cheese gives this bite its salty punch, but feta would keep the same idea if blue cheese is not your thing.
Do I need to remove the rind before grilling?
Keep the rind on because it helps the watermelon round hold together on the grill.
Can I make this without an outdoor grill?
A grill pan works as long as it gets hot enough to mark the watermelon and warm the fruit.
Should this be served hot or cold?
Serve it warm, right after grilling and topping, so the sweet smoky flavor is still there.
Grilled Watermelon Pizza
This grilled watermelon pizza is topped with quick pickled red onion, creamy blue cheese, chopped pecans, and basil for a sweet, smoky, salty appetizer.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 8 wedges
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 seedless watermelon round, about 3/4 inch thick
- 2 teaspoons reserved onion brining liquid
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ounce creamy blue cheese, about 1/4 cup crumbled
- 2 tablespoons chopped toasted pecans
- 2 tablespoons small basil leaves
Instructions
1. Combine red onion, red wine vinegar, sugar, and kosher salt in a bowl.
2. Toss and let stand for 15 minutes.
3. Cut one 3/4 inch thick round from a seedless watermelon.
4. Strain the onions and reserve 2 teaspoons of the brining liquid.
5. Whisk reserved brining liquid with extra virgin olive oil.
6. Brush the mixture over both sides of the watermelon round.
7. Grill watermelon 3 to 4 minutes per side, until warm, juicy, and lightly marked.
8. Transfer grilled watermelon to a board or serving plate.
9. Top with pickled onions, blue cheese, and chopped pecans.
10. Sprinkle basil leaves over the top.
11. Cut into 8 wedges and serve right away.
Notes
- Keep the watermelon rind on while grilling so the round stays sturdy.
- Use a thick watermelon slice so it can hold the toppings.
- Add the toppings after grilling, not before.