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The watermelon slushie is an ultra refreshing summer drink! Made with just three ingredients, it’s a frosty flavor-popping treat that’s ready in minutes.
Why we love this recipe
Here’s an icy treat that’s absolutely ideal for summer. Who needs ice cream when you can have a Watermelon Slushie? Blend ripe melon, lime juice, and a little sweetener and you’ve got one deliciously refreshing sweet puree to sip.
This drink is ultra refreshing for summer, and a hit with adults and kids alike! Our kids go crazy over it, and we love that it’s a healthy-ish treat to satisfy a sweet tooth.
Featured reader comment
“I made this amazing recipe on a hot spring day and it was so refreshing and easy!”
Ingredients for a watermelon slushie
This watermelon slushie is the perfect summer treat because it’s laid-back and no-frills. All you need is 3 ingredients, plus ice! Here’s what you’ll need to have on hand:
- Ripe watermelon: Use only ripe, in season watermelon for this recipe.
- Lime juice: Fresh squeezed lime juice brings a welcome tang and brings out the sweet, tropical flavor of the melon.
- Sugar: Just a hint of sugar heightens the flavors in this drink.
All you’ll do is blend these ingredients until they form watermelon juice, then add ice until a slushie texture forms. Here are a few things to note about the texture!
Achieving the perfect slushie texture
The texture of this watermelon slushie is icy yet loose. It’s not a watermelon smoothie, which has a thicker, creamier texture. Here are a few things to note:
- Want it frostier? You can add a few more ice cubes. But the more ice you add, the more diluted the flavor becomes. Don’t add too much ice! When we tested with 4 cups of ice instead of 3, the flavor was too mild.
- Enjoy right away! The slushie texture is perfect right out of the blender. It does melt quickly, so make sure to enjoy it right after you make it. It doesn’t store well!
How to find a ripe watermelon
The most important thing for a watermelon slushie? Find a ripe watermelon! Don’t even attempt to try this with an unripe melon: no amount of sugar can make up for the lack of flavor. Here’s what to know about finding a good melon:
- Shop in watermelon season. It’s the best way to find a sweet, juicy melon.
- Look for the field spot. Most watermelons should have a patch on the bottom, which is where they were resting on the ground before being picked. If the patch is yellow, the watermelon is ripe (if it’s white, it’s unripe).
Why to drink a watermelon slushie
Why make a watermelon slushie? You might not need convincing, but here’s what we think:
- Watermelon is high in lycopene, an antioxidant, which studies show could help curb your risk of cancer and diabetes as part of a healthy lifestyle. It’s also got loads of vitamins. (Source WebMD: Health Benefits of Watermelon)
- It’s very hydrating. Watermelon is 92% water, so it’s super hydrating!
- It’s frosty and delicious. The best reason? It tastes incredible.
Variation: strawberry slushie
Got strawberries? Try our Strawberry Slushie!
More healthy watermelon drinks
There are so many ways to drink watermelon! Here are our top healthy watermelon drink ideas:
- This Watermelon Water is incredibly refreshing
- Blend up some Easy Watermelon Juice or Watermelon Cucumber Juice
- Enjoy a frosty and sweet Watermelon Smoothie or Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie
Dietary notes
This watermelon slushie recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Frequently asked questions
No need for a seed-picking marathon! Use seedless watermelon for this recipe. Most watermelon slushie recipes blend the entire fruit, seeds and all. The seeds are tiny and don’t affect the texture.
Use only ripe, sweet watermelon for a watermelon slushie. You can adjust the sweetness of your slushie by adding extra sweetener.
Watermelon is a naturally hydrating fruit packed with vitamins and antioxidants. As long as you don’t add excessive sugar or processed ingredients, it’s a healthy and refreshing summer treat.
Watermelon Slushie (3 Ingredients!)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 small or 2 large 1x
Description
The watermelon slushie is an ultra refreshing summer drink! Made with just three ingredients, it’s a frosty flavor-popping treat that’s ready in minutes.
Ingredients
- 4 cups cubed seedless watermelon
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 3 cups ice
Instructions
- Chop the watermelon into cubes. Blend the melon, sugar and lime juice until it becomes liquid.
- Add the ice and blend until a slushie consistency forms (resist the urge over-blend). Split between 4 small or 2 large glasses. If desired, garnish with fresh mint and a watermelon wedge. Enjoy immediately: it does not save well.
- Category: Drink
- Method: Blended
- Cuisine: Drinks
- Diet: Vegan
..on the adulting side, this watermelon slushi could also be a fantastic outside summer yard drink with a little added vodka! cheers!
Awesome delicious simple healthy Watermelon Slushie!
I made this amazing recipe on a hot spring day and it was so refreshing and easy.
It was good but really just tasted like watermelon in a liquid form,
overall ok.
Really it taste like what it’s made out of ? How interesting..
agreed
simple and refreshing
Let us know if you have any questions!
Can you substitute lime juice for lemon juice?
You can! You can use the same amount. Thanks for the question!