Watermelon Mocktail
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This watermelon mocktail is the drink I keep coming back to all summer long. It takes just 15 minutes and 4 ingredients to make, and the whole family enjoys it. Kids love the sweet, fruity flavor, and you’ll love that it’s naturally sweetened and so refreshing.
I don’t drink much alcohol, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy a fun and refreshing drink! Especially on a hot summer day, I really love to have a tasty non-alcoholic drink in hand.
This watermelon mocktail has become our go-to for backyard afternoons by the pool, and it’s one my boys actually get excited to help me make. Blending the watermelon helps me out, but it’s also one of their favorite jobs.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I made this and made a small change… I blended up a slice of jalapeno with the watermelon. It was awesome!
–Melissa
Why This Mocktail is a Must-Make
Watermelon is one of the most hydrating fruits out there, which makes this the perfect summer drink for the whole family, kids included! It’s naturally sweet, so there’s no need to add sugar or simple syrup unless you want to, and the fresh lime juice gives it just enough brightness to keep it from being too sweet.
The best part is it comes together in about 15 minutes with just four ingredients. You can blend the watermelon juice ahead of time and keep it in the fridge, so it’s ready to pour whenever someone needs to cool down.
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my important mom-tested cooking tips for making this watermelon drink! I’ve made this countless times to save you from a failed attempt.
- Use seedless watermelon, not seeded. Even a few stray seeds can make the texture gritty after blending, and no one wants to bite down on that in a drink.
- Taste the watermelon before you blend it. If it’s not very sweet, add a small drizzle of honey to the blender.
- For a smoother consistency, strain the blended watermelon through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. Doing this gets rid of the pulp, making your drink smooth and delicious!
- Don’t over-muddle the mint! A few gentle presses is all it takes — if you crush it too much, it turns bitter and can overpower the whole drink.
- Add the seltzer last, and right before serving. If you mix it in too early, you’ll lose all the bubbles and end up with a flat drink.
Ingredients and Substitutions
You only need a few summer staples to make this refreshing mocktail.
Seedless watermelon is the star of the show, and there’s a big selection available in the summer! The Kitchn has an article with tips for picking the best watermelons.
For lime juice, freshly squeezed is always best here; the bottled stuff just doesn’t have the same brightness.
You’ll also need a handful of fresh mint leaves for muddling, and seltzer to top it all off. I like to use unflavored, but lime or watermelon-flavored sparkling water is great for a double whammy.
Drink Variations
Want to make a watermelon cocktail? Add 1 ounce of vodka to each glass and stir well to combine.
Fresh basil would be a nice, extra herby addition to this mocktail. You can also add in some cucumber for an extra refreshing flavor. Or make this mocktail extra fruity with fresh orange juice or strawberries. This raspberry mocktail is a nice option, too!
If you want your drink to be a little sweeter, add in some honey or simple syrup.
How to Make the Watermelon Mocktail
This is a summary of the steps. For the full instructions, see the recipe card! ⬇️
Jump to Recipe- Start by making the watermelon puree. Add the cubed watermelon and fresh lime juice to your blender. Pulse a few times to break up the big chunks, then blend on high until completely smooth.
- Place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl and pour the blended watermelon through it, using a large spoon to help it along. This only takes a minute and makes the drink so much smoother, but you can skip it if you’re in a hurry.
- Add 6-8 mint leaves to a small pitcher and muddle them gently. A few soft presses with a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon is all you need.
- Pour the strained watermelon drink into the pitcher with the mint. Refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.
- When you’re ready to serve, fill the glasses halfway with ice and pour the watermelon drink over the top until each glass is about two-thirds full.
- Top off each mocktail with seltzer and garnish with a fresh mint sprig and a slice of lime. Add a straw and enjoy your mocktail!
Make it kid friendly: Set up a little mocktail station with the watermelon juice, ice, and seltzer and let the kids pour their own glasses. You can also freeze the watermelon juice in popsicle molds for a fun treat on extra hot days!
Watermelon Mocktail FAQs
Mint and citrus juice, like lime or lemon, enhance the flavor of watermelon. This mocktail uses both, making the watermelon bold and delicious! It also makes this beverage extra refreshing.
Watermelon is not only very hydrating, but it is also great for the immune system, is known to improve digestion, and is full of antioxidants. It's also high in potassium and other vitamins and minerals that are great for your health!
Time Saving Tip
The juice keeps in the fridge for up to two days, so this is a great step to do ahead of time when you're prepping for a party or a busy afternoon by the pool.
Serving Suggestions
For picnics and pool parties, I recommend serving it with some air fryer tortilla chips and corn salsa or mango guacamole.
For cocktail hour, you could whip up some easy appetizers like blue cheese stuffed olives or this watermelon salad recipe.
Want some other refreshing drinks to make? Another favorite in the summer months is mango dragonfruit lemonade, and my kids love a cold mango smoothie!
After you make it, please leave a comment and star rating below to let me know how it went!
Watermelon Mocktail
Ingredients
- 6 cups seedless watermelon cubed
- 2 limes juiced, plus another cut into slices for garnish
- 6 sprigs fresh mint
- 12 ounces unflavored seltzer
Instructions
- Add the diced watermelon and lime juice to a blender. Pulse to break up large chunks, then blend on high until smooth.
- Place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. Strain the watermelon lime juice through it, using a wooden spoon to mix and scrape the bottom of the strainer occasionally, to help it strain faster. Note: This step helps make the drink smooth and ensures there isn't any gritty texture, but you can definitely skip it if you'd like.
- Add 6-8 mint leaves to a small pitcher and muddle it gently without over-mashing, about 3-4 times. Pour the watermelon drink into the pitcher and refrigerate until you're ready to serve.
- Fill 12-ounce drinking glasses half full with ice. Pour the mocktail over the ice until the glasses are each about 2/3rds full. Top off each glass with seltzer. Garnish each watermelon drink with a lime slice, sprig of fresh mint, and a straw.
Notes
- To make a watermelon cocktail, add 1 oz. of vodka to each glass.
- To boost the flavor of the drink, use watermelon flavored sparkling water instead of unflavored seltzer.
- Store the watermelon lime juice separately from the seltzer in a pitcher or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When ready to serve, give it a shake, pour over ice, and top with seltzer.
Nutrition
2026 Update: This recipe is still a favorite of ours! It's been updated to simplify the cooking instructions and include extra cooking tips. We hope you love it as much as we do!
this drink was alright but overall it was solid 3
I made this and made a small change… I blended up a slice of jalapeno with the watermelon. It was awesome!
Hi Melissa! I absolutely love that idea. My favorite thing ever is sweet + spicy. Thanks for sharing! -Laura