15 Overripe Melon Recipe Ideas

It’s easy to be fooled by perfectly ripe melons – you want them to look plump and vibrant and smell like sweet, sweet nectar.

But once you pick up that melon and start to feel it – oh man, that’s when you know you’ve got yourself a disappointment on your hands.

Overripe melons are usually starting to give up the ghost. But don’t toss them out yet.

They still have a lot of sweetness to them. You can use them for savory dishes like melon salsa, or turn them into a refreshing fruit salad.

So, what can you do with overripe melons? Overripe melons have a lot of flavor and can be used in a variety of ways. You can use them in savory dishes such as melon rillettes, melon gazpacho, and melon carpaccio, or in sweet dishes such as melon bread pudding, melon ice cream, and melon sorbet.

They’re also perfect for cooking – especially if you’re looking for a way to use up the last of your produce from your garden.

Try making overripe melon granita, melon smoothie, melon sorbet, and much more.

15 Overripe Melon Recipe Ideas

There are many ways to use overripe melons. You can make melon ball soup, melon ice cream, melon sorbet, and more. And you can also make healthy melon smoothies. They can also be used in place of apples in pies and tarts.

1. Puree a few of the overripe melons for a refreshing margarita

This overripe melon recipe is the perfect party appetizer or starter to any event. Add some simple syrup to sweeten it up, then chill and serve with lime slices and your favorite sparkling wine. You’ll feel like you’ve got a slice of paradise in your own backyard.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/356347389276001430/

2. Add the overripe melons to a fruit-infused vodka drink

If you want to use a fresh, ripe melon as a mixer in a cocktail, here’s how. Puree your melon with simple syrup until smooth, then add rum, tequila, gin, or vodka (See Also: Coconut Vodka Drinks), and stir. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes, then enjoy! Try it with a splash of lemon juice for extra tartness.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/412009065918286122/

3. Make a delicious overripe melon vegan cobbler

This overripe melon cobbler takes a little more work than a typical dessert, but the results are well worth it. Start by making your own no-bake crust: Whisk together oats, flour, almond meal, granulated sugar, and cinnamon; then press into a 9-inch pie dish. Next, add the overripe melon and chopped walnuts. Drizzle with olive oil and honey to finish the cobbler off, and top with a dusting of powdered sugar. Bake at 350 degrees F until the cobbler is firm and golden, about 45 to 55 minutes.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/67131850687144782/

4. Cook up a decadent dessert with overripe melon

A dessert doesn’t get any more delicious than this overripe melon cheesecake! This recipe calls for overripe melon puree and mascarpone cheese, both of which are easily found in your local grocery store.

It’s also the perfect opportunity to try out a new blender. Use it to chop the overripe melon into chunks, then pulse to combine. Fold it into the mascarpone mixture until just incorporated.

Transfer to the bottom of your prepared springform pan, then bake until set, about 40 to 50 minutes. Remove from oven, cover with plastic wrap, and chill in the fridge until ready to serve. Serve with berries, or sprinkle with powdered sugar for a decadent finish.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/31947478597634162/

5. Whip up a refreshing overripe melon smoothie

If you’re craving something fruity but don’t want a traditional green juice, try this refreshing overripe melon smoothie recipe. Blend your frozen overripe melon with a little milk, water, and a few simple ingredients to create this sweet treat.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/145663369204016720/

6. Blend them into frozen yogurt

Overripe melons lend a sweet, slightly tart flavor to all sorts of desserts. Use this recipe to blend them into frozen yogurt—a healthier version of the classic treat, full of protein and probiotics. Simply blend the flesh of your melon with plain organic yogurt, then freeze.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/88875792635940652/

7. Make a super-sweet, creamy salad dressing

A bit more time than using the blender method above, but the results are well worth it. Combine equal parts of mashed overripe melon flesh and organic dairy-free yogurt, add some fresh lemon juice, a pinch of cumin, and a pinch of salt.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/458170962098824423/

8. Make a creamy sorbet that’s refreshing and light

You don’t have to buy a whole ice cream maker for one small serving of this sorbet. You can use your blender instead, simply pulsing in the overripe melon as you would any other fruit. Then freeze and enjoy.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/366550857182147789/

9. Fry up a summery vegetable side dish

The combination of crispy fried vegetables and creamy avocado is a classic combo. So why not fry up some veggies and make a creamy avocado salsa? The result is a summery side dish that’s refreshing and full of healthy fats.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/132011832818559916/

10. Make a tropical fruit parfait

You’re going to love this tropical fruit parfait. Toss together fresh pineapple, chopped overripe melon, and fresh blueberries, then pour into a bowl or parfait glass. Garnish with fresh mint leaves for an extra flavor burst.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/291889619598437395/

11. Whip up a super-smooth chocolate milkshake

Overripe melons make a perfect ingredient for a decadent chocolate milkshake—and, just in case you need any convincing, this recipe is 100% dairy-free. Simply blend up ripe honeydew melon with your choice of milk, vanilla, and dark chocolate chips, and pour it into glasses.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/198580664809330842/

12. Make a delicious, no-bake dessert

Mushy honeydew melons can be pureed and frozen into an ice cream-like treat that’s full of healthy fats and fiber. This no-bake dessert recipe is the perfect way to enjoy the melons’ refreshing summer flavor all year round.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/837177018235557342/

13. Make the tastiest fruit sorbet

This homemade sorbet tastes like summer, thanks to its combination of sweet mango and fresh lime juice. With the help of a food processor, you can turn overripe melons into this deliciously refreshing dessert in about 20 minutes.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/514817801162417031/

14. Toss them into a fruit salad

When it comes to a fresh fruit salad, there’s no such thing as too many overripe melons—especially if you’re making a tropical-inspired version. Topped with chopped pineapple, juicy peaches, and even crunchy watermelon rind, this fruit salad will make the most of your melons’ natural sweetness and unique texture.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/18577417203992355/

15. Put them on top of a veggie pizza

Overripe melons make the perfect topping for a crisp vegetable pizza—especially when topped with basil and fresh thyme. This clean eating pizza recipe features squash and kale, but feel free to experiment with other veggies, like zucchini, eggplant, and even bell peppers. Just be sure to keep the total weight of toppings under 400 grams (14 oz.) to ensure a light and healthy pizza.

It’s easy to be fooled by perfectly ripe melons – you want them to look plump and vibrant and smell like sweet, sweet nectar.

But once you pick up that melon and start to feel it – oh man, that’s when you know you’ve got yourself a disappointment on your hands.

Overripe melons are usually starting to give up the ghost. But don’t toss them out yet.

They still have a lot of sweetness to them. You can use them for savory dishes like melon salsa, or turn them into a refreshing fruit salad.

So, what can you do with overripe melons? Overripe melons have a lot of flavor and can be used in a variety of ways. You can use them in savory dishes such as melon rillettes, melon gazpacho, and melon carpaccio, or in sweet dishes such as melon bread pudding, melon ice cream, and melon sorbet.

They’re also perfect for cooking – especially if you’re looking for a way to use up the last of your produce from your garden.

Try making overripe melon granita, melon smoothie, melon sorbet, and much more.

15 Overripe Melon Recipe Ideas

There are many ways to use overripe melons. You can make melon ball soup, melon ice cream, melon sorbet, and more. And you can also make healthy melon smoothies. They can also be used in place of apples in pies and tarts.

1. Puree a few of the overripe melons for a refreshing margarita

This overripe melon recipe is the perfect party appetizer or starter to any event. Add some simple syrup to sweeten it up, then chill and serve with lime slices and your favorite sparkling wine. You’ll feel like you’ve got a slice of paradise in your own backyard.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/356347389276001430/

2. Add the overripe melons to a fruit-infused vodka drink

If you want to use a fresh, ripe melon as a mixer in a cocktail, here’s how. Puree your melon with simple syrup until smooth, then add rum, tequila, gin, or vodka, and stir. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes, then enjoy! Try it with a splash of lemon juice for extra tartness.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/412009065918286122/

3. Make a delicious overripe melon vegan cobbler

This overripe melon cobbler takes a little more work than a typical dessert, but the results are well worth it. Start by making your own no-bake crust: Whisk together oats, flour, almond meal, granulated sugar, and cinnamon; then press into a 9-inch pie dish. Next, add the overripe melon and chopped walnuts. Drizzle with olive oil and honey to finish the cobbler off, and top with a dusting of powdered sugar. Bake at 350 degrees F until the cobbler is firm and golden, about 45 to 55 minutes.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/67131850687144782/

4. Cook up a decadent dessert with overripe melon

A dessert doesn’t get any more delicious than this overripe melon cheesecake! This recipe calls for overripe melon puree and mascarpone cheese, both of which are easily found in your local grocery store.

It’s also the perfect opportunity to try out a new blender. Use it to chop the overripe melon into chunks, then pulse to combine. Fold it into the mascarpone mixture until just incorporated.

Transfer to the bottom of your prepared springform pan, then bake until set, about 40 to 50 minutes. Remove from oven, cover with plastic wrap, and chill in the fridge until ready to serve. Serve with berries, or sprinkle with powdered sugar for a decadent finish.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/31947478597634162/

5. Whip up a refreshing overripe melon smoothie

If you’re craving something fruity but don’t want a traditional green juice, try this refreshing overripe melon smoothie recipe. Blend your frozen overripe melon with a little milk, water, and a few simple ingredients to create this sweet treat.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/145663369204016720/

6. Blend them into frozen yogurt

Overripe melons lend a sweet, slightly tart flavor to all sorts of desserts. Use this recipe to blend them into frozen yogurt—a healthier version of the classic treat, full of protein and probiotics. Simply blend the flesh of your melon with plain organic yogurt, then freeze.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/88875792635940652/

7. Make a super-sweet, creamy salad dressing

A bit more time than using the blender method above, but the results are well worth it. Combine equal parts of mashed overripe melon flesh and organic dairy-free yogurt, add some fresh lemon juice, a pinch of cumin, and a pinch of salt.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/458170962098824423/

8. Make a creamy sorbet that’s refreshing and light

You don’t have to buy a whole ice cream maker for one small serving of this sorbet. You can use your blender instead, simply pulsing in the overripe melon as you would any other fruit. Then freeze and enjoy.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/366550857182147789/

9. Fry up a summery vegetable side dish

The combination of crispy fried vegetables and creamy avocado is a classic combo. So why not fry up some veggies and make a creamy avocado salsa? The result is a summery side dish that’s refreshing and full of healthy fats.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/132011832818559916/

10. Make a tropical fruit parfait

You’re going to love this tropical fruit parfait. Toss together fresh pineapple, chopped overripe melon, and fresh blueberries, then pour into a bowl or parfait glass. Garnish with fresh mint leaves for an extra flavor burst.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/291889619598437395/

11. Whip up a super-smooth chocolate milkshake

Overripe melons make a perfect ingredient for a decadent chocolate milkshake—and, just in case you need any convincing, this recipe is 100% dairy-free. Simply blend up ripe honeydew melon with your choice of milk, vanilla, and dark chocolate chips, and pour it into glasses.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/198580664809330842/

12. Make a delicious, no-bake dessert

Mushy honeydew melons can be pureed and frozen into an ice cream-like treat that’s full of healthy fats and fiber. This no-bake dessert recipe is the perfect way to enjoy the melons’ refreshing summer flavor all year round.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/837177018235557342/

13. Make the tastiest fruit sorbet

This homemade sorbet tastes like summer, thanks to its combination of sweet mango and fresh lime juice. With the help of a food processor, you can turn overripe melons into this deliciously refreshing dessert in about 20 minutes.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/514817801162417031/

14. Toss them into a fruit salad

When it comes to a fresh fruit salad, there’s no such thing as too many overripe melons—especially if you’re making a tropical-inspired version. Topped with chopped pineapple, juicy peaches, and even crunchy watermelon rind, this fruit salad will make the most of your melons’ natural sweetness and unique texture.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/18577417203992355/

15. Put them on top of a veggie pizza

Overripe melons make the perfect topping for a crisp vegetable pizza—especially when topped with basil and fresh thyme. This clean eating pizza recipe features squash and kale, but feel free to experiment with other veggies, like zucchini, eggplant, and even bell peppers. Just be sure to keep the total weight of toppings under 400 grams (14 oz.) to ensure a light and healthy pizza.

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/264516178096890520/