Dehydrated Watermelon is one of the most delicious and healthy snacks that you can make. Also called Watermelon Jerky, this recipe is simply made from 100% watermelon. It is naturally vegan, gluten-free, and sweet with no added sugars.

bowl of watermelon jerky in a white bowl.

Dehydrated watermelon isn’t crispy like you would think. Rather, it is pliable and bendy, kind of like beef jerky, but with a sweet flavor. This recipe is made without any preservatives or added sugars.

Watermelon is a nutritious fruit. They are rich in beta-carotene, antioxidants, and fiber. They are a summer fruit, although here in California we can find them at the farmers’ markets through November.

I love to use extra watermelon in my Watermelon Banana Smoothie, but I also love to dehydrate it.

Contents hide
1 Why You Need This Recipe
2 Recipe Steps
3 Recipe Tips & Substitutions
4 Recipe FAQs
5 Other Healthy Watermelon Recipes You Might Like
6 Don’t Miss These Dehydrator Guides
7 Dehydrated Watermelon Recipe

Why You Need This Recipe

  • Sometimes you can buy a watermelon so big that it’s hard to eat it all. This recipe for homemade Watermelon Jerky is a great way to use up any extra watermelon before it goes bad.
  • If you’re trying to cut back on added sugars, try this healthy snack that has no added sugars at all, but is still very sweet and satisfying. Read my full article on how to cut back on sugar and my list of sugar free foods.
  • Watermelon is budget-friendly and is on my list of clean eating foods.

Recipe Steps

Step One

The first step to making dehydrated watermelon is to start with a fresh watermelon. Cut it in half and then cut each half into quarters. From that point, you can cut the fruit off the rind and slice the watermelon flesh into 1/2-inch slices.

sliced fresh watermelon.

Step Two

Lay the watermelon slices on your dehydrator sheets, leaving a little bit of space between each piece so the warm air can circulate.

watermelon slices on a dehydrator sheet.

Step Three

Set your dehydrator to 135 degrees F for 12 hours. You can check on the watermelon jerky after about 10 hours to see how it’s doing. It should have dried out to be very thin, but still pliable.

If you don’t have a dehydrator and want to dehydrate watermelon in an oven, you can set it to the lowest temperature (200 degrees F or lower). It will take up to 16 hours to fully dehydrate.

watermelon jerky in a bowl ready to eat.

Recipe Tips & Substitutions

  • Make sure to use a watermelon that is naturally sweet. Taste a bite before you go to the effort to dehydrate the whole thing.
  • Use a seedless watermelon so you don’t have to pick out the black seeds. Don’t worry about the white seeds as they will shrivel up in the dehydrating process.
  • Want more healthy snack ideas? Check out my list of the best gluten-free and dairy-free snacks. You may also like my recipe for Dehydrated Pineapple.

Recipe FAQs

What kind of dehydrator do you recommend?

I use a full-size Sedona Express with stainless steel trays. For a more budget-friendly option, try the Nesco Snackmaster.

Can I dehydrate watermelon in an oven?

If you don’t have a dehydrator and want to dehydrate watermelon in an oven, you can set it to the lowest temperature (200 degrees F or lower). It will take up to 16 hours to fully dehydrate.

Other Healthy Watermelon Recipes You Might Like

Don’t Miss These Dehydrator Guides

How to Dehydrate Carrots (Homemade Carrot Chips)

How to Dehydrate Green Beans

How to Dehydrate Pineapple

Apple and Flax Dehydrator Crackers

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

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dehydrated watermelon jerky in a bowl

Dehydrated Watermelon Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews
Print Recipe

Dehydrated Watermelon is one of the most delicious healthy snacks that you can make. Also called Watermelon Jerky, this recipe is simply made from 100% watermelon. It is naturally vegan, gluten-free, and sweet.

  • Total Time: 12 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 10 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 seedless watermelon

Instructions

  1. Wash the outside of the watermelon and pat it dry.
  2. Cut the watermelon in half and then cut the halves into quarters.
  3. Carefully cut the watermelon off the rind. Then, cut each slice of watermelon into 1/2-inch pieces.
  4. Lay each watermelon piece on a dehydrator tray. Dehydrate the watermelon for 12-16 hours at 135 degrees F.
  5. Check on the watermelon after 12 hours to make sure it is very thin but still pliable.

Notes

  1. Store the dehydrated watermelon in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
  2. You can also seal the watermelon jerky in an air-tight container for up to a month.
  3. If you don’t have a dehydrator and want to dehydrate watermelon in an oven, you can set it to the lowest temperature (200 degrees F or lower). It will take up to 16 hours to fully dehydrate.

Keywords: how to make watermelon jerky, how to dehydrate watermelon

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