20 Non-Alcoholic Refreshing Drinks for Your Next Summer BBQ
You might already be dreaming about mugs of hot apple cider or pumpkin spice lattes. But we’re not there yet. It’s still cool beverage season, and some refreshing drinks are just what we need to get us through summer’s heat.
This time of year, water alone won’t really cut it. You’ve been guzzling from that reusable bottle all season long, and even the usual tips like adding a squeeze of lime or stirring in some muddled berries may not be bringing you much joy. Plus, plain old water isn’t exactly a fun drink to bring to your next summer BBQ.
DIY drinks like agua frescas, lemonades, flavored iced teas, and even some iced coffees can deliver the invigoration you so desperately need right now. And they’re actually not a lot of work. Most involve blending a few basic ingredients (think fruit or herbs) for a quick minute, or at most, steeping stuff in a pitcher while you’re doing other things (working, sleeping, whatever).
So even if you have a lot going on, you really can be a person who makes their own refreshing drinks. And you totally should! Not only are they hydrating and delicious—they also turn sweaty nonevents like sitting on your porch or a park bench into legit activities that feel cool, comfortable, and fun. Not to mention, they really bring some new life to that BBQ or other outdoor gathering. Here are 20 simple refreshing drink recipes to get you started. Make them all before sweater season starts!
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Jessica Merchant via How Sweet Eats1 2-Ingredient Frozen Strawberry Lemonade from How Sweet Eats
If you’re staring at this pic thinking SLUSHIE!!!, well, you’re spot-on. Because that’s basically what you get when you blend store-bought lemonade with frozen strawberries, and it’s so darn good.
Get the recipe here.
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Dani via Sweet and Sorrel2 Watermelon Juice from Sweet and Sorrel
Watermelon is pretty damn juicy on its own. But you can take it to the next level by turning it into…actual juice. Blending it with coconut water instead of plain H₂O ups the thirst-quenching quota even more. And since it only calls for a spoonful of added sugar, the sweetness isn’t overkill.
Get the recipe here.
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Aaron Hutcherson via The Hungry Hutch3 Southern-Style Sweet Tea from The Hungry Hutch
This extremely delicious sweet tea has just three simple ingredients: Black tea, sugar, and lemon slices (Okay, four if you count the optional mint). Plus, it’s ready in 15 minutes flat. So it’s pretty ideal for lazy late-summer and early-fall afternoons.
Get the recipe here.
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Annmarie via Fit Foodie Finds4 Fruit Infused Water from Fit Foodie Finds
If you like no-recipe recipes, this very easy tutorial shows you how to infuse water with your favorite fruit flavors to up the deliciousness factor. You really can’t go wrong with any fruit, but the blood orange-mint combo is pretty mind-blowing.
Get the recipe here.
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Michelle Blackwood via Healthier Steps5 Mango Lemonade from Healthier Steps
You don’t need to be a mixologist to do DIY mango lemonade. All you have to do is purée fresh mango in the blender and mix it with fresh lemon juice, your fave sweetener, and some H₂O. So tasty, so easy.
Get the recipe here.
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Denise Bustard via Sweet Peas and Saffron6 Fizzy Apple Cider Drink from Sweet Peas and Saffron
We wouldn’t advise drinking apple cider vinegar straight up. (Hello, fire throat!) But when you add just a teeny bit to sparkling water with a splash of lemon juice, the tart, tangy flavor is a total pick-me-up.
Get the recipe here.
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Becky Hardin via The Cookie Rookie7 Homemade Limeade from The Cookie Rookie
Hey, it’s lemonade’s zany little sister in her bright green outfit, here to save your hydration party from total boredom. And you only need 15 minutes to get the whole thing going!
Get the recipe here.
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Lindsay Landis via Love & Olive Oil8 Fruit and Vinegar Shrub Mocktails from Love & Olive Oil
If you’ve never made your own shrub, get cracking before summer is over. All you have to do is marinate fruit in vinegar and sugar, strain the mixture, and stir a spoonful of the sweet-tart flavor concentrate into sparkling water. It’s the tastiest way to use up less-than-perfect fruit!
Get the recipe here.
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Laura Wright via The First Mess9 Iced Peach Green Tea from The First Mess
Plain iced green tea? Great! Green tea blended with peach and sweetened with a touch of agave nectar and lemon? A million times greater, obviously!
Get the recipe here.
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Maryanne Cabrera via The Little Epicurean10 Cucumber Agua Fresca from The Little Epicurean
Cucumbers are a solid hydration option all by themselves because they’re basically water with some green skin. But if the thought of diving into a whole cuke isn’t super tempting, try blending it with fresh mint, citrus juice, water, and a touch of sugar. So much more fun, right?
Get the recipe here.
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Sarah Leung via The Woks of Life.11 Tamarind Iced Tea from The Woks of Life
Tamarind is tart, tangy, and super satisfying when you blend it with brewed iced tea, lemon, and a pinch of sugar. This easy recipe uses store-bought tamarind concentrate, which is way easier than making tamarind paste from scratch.
Get the recipe here.
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Dani via Sweet and Sorrel12 Homemade Aloe Vera Juice from Sweet and Sorrel
Aloe vera cools nasty sunburn from the outside, and it can cool your whole body from the inside. This drink—a blend of aloe vera gel with coconut water—has cool green vegetal vibes for when you want something a little different.
Get the recipe here.
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Erin Clarke via Well Plated13 Lavender Lemonade from Well Plated
Regular lemonade is good, but lavender lemonade is sophisticated. And that’s how you want to feel when it’s 1,000 degrees and you can’t imagine ever not feeling anything other than sweaty-gross again.
Get the recipe here.
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Laura Wright via The First Mess14 Double Coconut Cold Brew from The First Mess
Cold brew always wins on a sweltering day. But this one wins out over the stuff at the coffee shop because (1) the acidity is tamed with ultracreamy coconut milk and (2) it doesn’t cost $5 or come in a single-use plastic cup.
Get the recipe here.
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Krista Rollins via Joyful Healthy Heats15 Quick & Easy Detox Lemon Cucumber Water from Joyful Healthy Eats
Water steeped with slices of lemon, cuke, and sprigs of mint provides a combo of clean herbal flavor and hydration that will definitely revive you when you’re wilting.
Get the recipe here.
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LaKita Anderson via Simply LaKita16 Blackberry Thyme Mocktail from Simply LaKita
Fruity herbal syrups are a genius way to make seltzer taste super fresh, especially when you’re talking about a no-fail flavor combo like blackberry and thyme. If you have any leftovers, do yourself a favor and drizzle it on vanilla ice cream.
Get the recipe here.
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Eden Westbook via Sweet Tea + Thyme17 Shirley Temple from Sweet Tea + Thyme
Yes, it’s that cherry-flavored drink you used to get when you were eight that always made you feel really cool! And it’s just as good now, especially when you’re looking for something sweet and little celebratory minus the booze.
Get the recipe here.
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Jennifer Lee via Kirbie’s Cravings18 Coffee Soda from Kirbie’s Cravings
Cold brew with a splash of simple syrup is no doubt very good on a hot day. But something about the addition of sparkling water just makes it a bit more exciting, don’t you think?
Get the recipe here.
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Lindsay Landis via Love & Olive Oil19 Magic Butterfly Pea Lemonade from Love & Olive Oil
Ooh, what IS this? Dried butterfly pea flowers give off a naturally blue color when steeped, which turns a magical purply-magenta when you add in an acid like lemon juice. Oh, and it tastes good too!
Get the recipe here.
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Maryanne Cabrera via The Little Epicurean20 Cantaloupe Agua Fresca from The Little Epicurean
If you end up having bought way more cantaloupe than you can possibly eat (it happens), blend it with water, lime, and a teeny bit of sugar to make a cool, sweet drink that’s halfway between a fruit water and a smoothie—and all the way awesome.
Get the recipe here.
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