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Beat the summer heat with any of these delicious summer drinks. They’re quick, easy, and refreshing – perfect for BBQs and parties!

A collage of summer drinks.

Beat the Heat!

We’ve never been the kind of people to make a trip to a soda shop every day to pick up a drink, but as soon as the weather starts warming up here in Arizona, we immediately start craving refreshing drinks.

Sometimes we just want something cold and fruity flavored to cool off in the summer heat, and other times we get a hankering for a smoothie in place of a meal.

Today, we have a collection of all of the best summer drink recipes, which include both flavored drinks—great for serving at parties and BBQs—as well as some smoothies that are light and refreshing.

Serve these cool drinks at a Lemonade Stand or accompanied by this Beverage Station at summer parties!


Our Top 10 Summer Drinks

1 Pink Punch Recipe

Pink Punch Recipe
Total Time: 3 minutes

Recipe Video

This incredibly easy, 3-ingredient vibrant pink punch is a fruity and delicious all-time favorite that you can whip up in minutes!
4.99 from 311 votes
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2 Homemade Lemonade Recipe

Homemade Lemonade Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes

Recipe Video

Refreshing homemade lemonade is made with a simple syrup for the perfect sweet-to-tart ratio. It is perfect for warm summer days, or any day!
5 from 28 votes
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3 Sonic Cherry Limeade Recipe

Sonic Cherry Limeade Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes

Recipe Video

Delicious recipe for Sonic’s Cherry Limeade – tastes just like it! Ingredients include 7-Up, cherries, a lime, and maraschino syrup!
5 from 77 votes
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4 Orange Julius Recipe

Orange Julius Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes

Recipe Video

This refreshing, nostalgic Orange Julius recipe tastes just like the original and whips up in only 5 minutes with a few simple ingredients!
4.98 from 192 votes
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5 Homemade Root Beer

Homemade Root Beer
Total Time: 20 minutes
This do-it-yourself homemade root beer has the perfect touch of fizz and amazing flavor. It's party perfect!
5 from 3 votes
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6 Butterbeer Recipe

Butterbeer Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes

Recipe Video

This butterbeer recipe is a rich, delicious chilled drink with butterscotch flavoring. It's alcohol-free and perfect for sharing!
5 from 86 votes
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7 Horchata Recipe

Horchata Recipe
Total Time: 12 hours 10 minutes

Recipe Video

This horchata recipe is a refreshing, cinnamon-flavored Mexican drink filled with flavor! It's festive and perfect for any occasion.
5 from 32 votes
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8 Shirley Temple Recipe

Shirley Temple Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
Our classic Shirley Temple recipe is a favorite non-alcoholic drink – sweet and vibrant red, perfect for any party and any age!
5 from 12 votes
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9 Ocean Water Recipe

Ocean Water Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes

Recipe Video

Fizzy coconut Ocean Water is easy and refreshing! This copycat Sonic drink is perfect for parties or a hot, summer day.
4.94 from 46 votes
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10 Watermelon Juice Recipe

Watermelon Juice Recipe
Total Time: 8 minutes

Recipe Video

Delicious and refreshing watermelon juice is a favorite drink in the summertime! It takes minutes to make and is perfect for fruit lovers.
4.95 from 35 votes
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More Refreshing Drinks

11 Aloha Tropical Smoothie Recipe

Aloha Tropical Smoothie Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes

Recipe Video

This quick and easy aloha tropical smoothie has just 6 simple ingredients with tropical goodness in every sip!
5 from 47 votes
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12 4th of July Punch Recipe

4th of July Punch Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
This layered Patriotic drink is pure magic! It's not difficult to make, all it takes is Hawaiian Punch, blue Gatorade, and sprite zero.
4.43 from 7 votes
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13 Mint Julep Recipe

Mint Julep Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes
Ready in minutes, this copycat non-alcoholic mint julep captures the magic of Disneyland in one refreshing drink!
5 from 19 votes
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14 Pineapple Banana Smoothie Recipe

Pineapple Banana Smoothie Recipe
Total Time: 7 minutes
A quick & simple Pineapple Banana Smoothie is a family favorite!! It's a perfect meal or a refreshing snack.
4.98 from 39 votes
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15 Fruit Smoothie

Fruit Smoothie
Total Time: 5 minutes

Recipe Video

Our favorite fresh and easy fruit smoothie takes minutes to make. It is filled with kiwi, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, and more!!
5 from 181 votes
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16 Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie Recipe

Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie is quick, delicious and so refreshing. With only 4 ingredients, it makes for a healthy meal or snack!
4.98 from 44 votes
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17 Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
Frozen strawberry lemonade takes minutes to make. With a pop of pineapple, it's a refreshingly tasty summertime drink!
4.63 from 8 votes
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18 Best Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

Best Strawberry Lemonade Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes
This best strawberry lemonade is a perfectly balanced blend of sweet strawberries and tart lemons guaranteed to brighten your day!
5 from 5 votes
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19 Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe

Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes
This Strawberry Banana Smoothie is delicious and made with ingredients you probably have on hand – bananas, strawberries, yogurt and milk!
5 from 28 votes
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20 Peach Smoothie Recipe

Peach Smoothie Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes

Recipe Video

A Peach Smoothie has the most deliciously bright flavor. With a pop of orange, you've got the perfect breakfast or lunch!
4.77 from 17 votes
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21 Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie Recipe

Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
5 minute Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie is a thick and delicious drink filled with all the flavors of a strawberry cheesecake!
5 from 15 votes
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22 Peach Mango Smoothie Recipe

Peach Mango Smoothie Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
A tasty 5-ingredient smoothie, perfect for breakfast or a cool refreshing drink on a hot summer day. With peaches, mangos, peach yogurt, and Orange Peach Mango juice, the flavor is undeniably delicious!
5 from 9 votes
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23 Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie

Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie
Total Time: 3 minutes

Recipe Video

Salty & sweet peanut butter and banana smoothie makes a satisfying breakfast or afternoon snack, packed with protein and flavor!
5 from 16 votes
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24 Orange Juice Smoothie Recipe

Orange Juice Smoothie Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
Best-loved Orange Juice Smoothie using Florida Orange Juice is super tasty. The kids LOVE the taste of oranges & strawberries!
5 from 13 votes
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25 Watermelon Smoothie Recipe

Watermelon Smoothie Recipe
Total Time: 6 minutes
Naturally sweetened Watermelon Smoothie is refreshing and under 100 calories! It's the perfect healthy treat to satisfy that sweet tooth.
4.41 from 5 votes
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26 Kale Smoothie Recipe

Kale Smoothie Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
Let’s lighten things up this month with this fresh kale smoothie! It’s packed with delicious healthy ingredients that will make you feel energized all day long.
4.91 from 11 votes
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27 Best Green Smoothie Recipe

Best Green Smoothie Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
This quick and easy 5 minute Best Green Smoothie Recipe is fresh and YUMMY! It is filled with fruit goodness & vitamin-rich spinach.
5 from 4 votes
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28 Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipe

Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes

Recipe Video

Frozen hot chocolate only takes 3 ingredients and a few minutes to make! Top it off with whipped cream and chocolate curls for a real treat.
5 from 101 votes
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About Kristyn

Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!

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5 Comments

  1. Chris says:

    Love the colours throughout the drinks. Will make sure too try each and everyone of them….

  2. Cassie Chance says:

    I love all of these drinks. Cant wait to make them all.

  3. Sue says:

    I was the cook for my church’s girls camp and brought up the strawberry lemonade for the special Friday night dinner. Big hit!

  4. Joy says:

    Love so many of these!! We make your pink pineapple drink ALL the time!! It’s our absolute favorite!! I’ll be making your pina colada drink this week!

  5. Olivia says:

    Such a great place to serve up the best drinks! A drink for every occasion. Love it!