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    Home / Recipes / Healthy Drinks

    Watermelon Slushie

    Aug 15, 2016 · Updated: Sep 3, 2023 by Dee Dine · Affliate links disclosure.

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    watermelon slush in a cup with lime slices

    This cooling watermelon slushie, or slush, comes together in 15 minutes with 3 healthy ingredients and is customizable with herbs like mint or basil, and fruits like strawberries. Budget-friendly, made in a blender, the perfect frosty treat for hot days.

    watermelon slush in a cup with lime slices

    This frosty watermelon slushie is a terrific hydrator and tastes just like a cross between a frosty watermelon sorbet and ice cream. It carries the fun of an ice cream truck treat but also packs a powerful nutritional punch!

    Like many of my frozen desserts including my easy frozen grapes, watermelon ice cream, watermelon pizza, watermelon fruit salad, and my watermelon popsicles, this terrifically refreshing watermelon slushie is the best hot weather treat.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This
    • Ingredients
    • Steps to Cut Watermelon
    • Steps to Make Slushie
    • Recipe Tips
    • Make Ahead & Storage
    • Variations
    • FAQs
    • Other Watermelon Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why You'll Love This

    A wholesome treat. This watermelon slush is far healthier than the sugar and preservative laden commercial versions. All it is is watermelon, fruit juice and ice.

    Super easy to make. It takes minutes to make, but only lasts  in slush-mode a short time so make them when you plan to eat them.

    A wildly healthy slush. A slushie made from watermelon is as healthy and hydrating as those expensive hydration drinks. Watermelon is 92% water, and although it tastes sweet, it's actually one of the more low-sugar fruits. One cup carries about 10 grams of sugar compared to, say, peaches which carry 18 grams. And it's loaded with lycopene, an antioxidant that studies show lowers risk of disease.

    Ingredients

    watermelon slush ingredients in bowls


    Watermelon frozen chunks. Chop watermelon into 1-inch chunks, freeze and store in freezer-safe containers. Using this recipe, 4 cups of frozen watermelon cubes should make 2 cups of watermelon slush.

    Lime juice. Use organic bottled lime juice, or juice fresh limes. Or use a different juice.

    Ice. You don't need much but adding just a few solid ice cubes will strengthen the slushy texture without watering it down.

    Steps to Cut Watermelon

    1.Wash the watermelon all over with soap and water, and your hands. Pat the melon dry. Washing prevents contaminating the inside of the watermelon with field dirt.

    2. Cut off both ends of the watermelon.

    3. Remove the rind by standing the watermelon on its side, inserting the knife between the pink meat and the green and white rind, and cutting downward, following the curve. If you have a particularly large watermelon, you may need to cut more sections before removing the rind.

    4. Now cut the rind-free watermelon into chunks, each 1-2 inches in size.

    5. Freeze the chunks on a baking sheet for 30 minutes. Use the chunks for this recipe, and save any left overs for other recipes such as watermelon ice cream.

    steps to cut watermelon

    Steps to Make Slushie

    1.Freeze watermelon chunks the night before.

    2. Add to blender the frozen watermelon chunks, lime juice and ice. If the chunks are stuck together, pry them apart with a fork.

    3. Blend briefly, under 1 minute, so the slush doesn't melt by the hot blender blades. You might have to blend in 15 second intervals and pause to scrap down your blender.

    4. Enjoy right away! Slushies do not keep.

    steps to make watermelon slush

    Recipe Tips

    1.Make sure the watermelon is frozen the night before and covered. Don't leave it exposed in the freezer as it gets freezer burn pretty quickly.

    2. Add the watermelon chunks directly to the blender, don't let them thaw first.

    3. Don't blend for more than 30 seconds at a time so as to not allow heating blender blades to melt.

    4. Prepare to make slushies so you can drink right away as they can't last, even refrigerated.

    5. The quality watermelon you buy will influence the flavor so look for a ripe one, one with a dull sheen, sounds hollow when knocked and has a yellow spot where it ripened in the field.

    watermelon slush on yogurt in jars

    Make Ahead & Storage

    It's hard to make a watermelon slushie in advance because it will melt if you refrigerate it and it will become an icy brick if you freeze it. So plan on enjoying it right away.

    If you must make it in advance, store individual portions in storage containers and freeze. Thaw and blend briefly again, adding a bit of ice to achieve that fresh slushie texture.

    Variations

    It's fun and easy to customize this watermelon slushie.

    1.Add fresh mint or basil leaves for a lovely herbal flavor.

    2. Add ⅛ teaspoon of salt to boost electrolytes to this already hydrating treat.

    3. Add frozen fruits to add a second fruit flavor. My favorite is to add frozen strawberries, but kiwi, cherries and even pineapple all add interesting fruity flavors to this slush.

    4. Instead of lime juice, feel free to add lemon, orange or pineapple juice, or even vodka for a watermelon cocktail slush.

    FAQs

    Can I add sweeteners to my watermelon slushie?

    You can but watermelons taste sweet already with natural sugars so you might not need it. If you do want to sweeten, I recommend not using refined sugars, so opt for 1 tablespoon of maple syrup or agave.

    Does the watermelon have to be frozen to make a slushie?

    Yes, watermelon needs to be frozen to use it to make homemade slushies. If you use non-frozen watermelon and ice alone, the slushie may be too watery

    How do I pick a ripe watermelon?

    There are several things to look for when choosing a ripe watermelon. Find a heavy one, one with dull finish, a yellow spot to indicate it sat ripening, and the stalk should be dry and yellow.

    Can I use whole limes instead of juice in slushies?

    No, you should use lime juice, not the whole lime. The whole lime skin will ruin the slushie texture.

    spoonful of watermelon slush

    Other Watermelon Recipes

    • watermelon fruit salad with stars
      Watermelon Fruit Salad
    • popsicles standing up in crushed ice
      How to Make Watermelon Popsicles (no sugar)
    • overhead of watermelon pizza slices with bowl of extra yogurt
      Watermelon Fruit Pizza with Yogurt
    • a glass of watermelon juice with lime leaf
      How to Make Watermelon Juice

    If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

    📖 Recipe

    watermelon slush in a cup with lime slices

    Watermelon Slushie

    Created by Dee Dine
    This cooling watermelon slushie, or slush, comes together in 15 minutes with 3 healthy ingredients and is customizable with herbs like mint or basil, and fruits like strawberries. Budget-friendly, made in a blender, the perfect frosty treat for hot days.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved! Rate Recipe
    Prep Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2
    Calories 95 kcal

    Equipment

    • measuring cups
    • blender

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 cups watermelon chunks, frozen
    • ¼ cup lime juice (juice from 2 limes)
    • ½ cup ice

    Optional

    • ¼ cup mint, fresh leaves or basil, fresh leaves
    • ¼ cup strawberries, frozen and hulled
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt to boost electrolytes
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    Prep

    • Make frozen watermelon bricks. Chop watermelon in 1-inch blocks and freeze on baking sheets. Store left overs in a sealed container.

    Make the Slushie

    • Prepare the watermelon slush. Briefly blend up ingredients to make a slush, about 30 seconds. You might have to blend in 15 second intervals and pause to scrap down your blender. Enjoy right away!
      4 cups watermelon chunks, frozen, ½ cup ice, ¼ cup lime juice

    Optional additions

    • If you are adding the mint or basil leaves, and/or frozen strawberries, blend these first, then add the frozen watermelon so you don't melt down the melon.
      ¼ cup mint, fresh leaves, ¼ cup strawberries, frozen and hulled

    Video

    Notes

    1. Make sure the watermelon is frozen the night before and covered. Don't leave it exposed in the freezer as it gets freezer burn pretty quickly.
    2. Add the watermelon chunks directly to the blender, don't let them thaw first.
    3. Don't blend for more than 30 seconds at a time so as to not allow heating blender blades to melt.
    4. Prepare to make slushies so you can drink right away as they can't last, even refrigerated.
    5. The quality watermelon you buy will influence the flavor so look for a ripe one.
    6. To make layered parfaits as pictured: Rinse buckwheat groats and add to a jar, layer on yogurt and chia seeds, then spoon slush on top.
    Using this recipe, 4 cups of frozen watermelon cubes should make 2 cups of watermelon slush.
    Make ahead: If you must make it in advance, store individual portions in storage containers and freeze. Thaw and blend briefly again, adding a bit of ice to achieve that fresh slushie texture.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 95kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 2gFat: 0.5gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 6mgPotassium: 358mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 1737IUVitamin C: 29mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Buy My Two Cookbooks

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    About Dee

    Hey! I'm Dee Dine, and on my blog, I share healthy recipes with wholesome ingredients. I'm also a chocolate and ginger enthusiast, animal lover, an avid blender juicer, and am probably making no bake brownies in my Washington DC kitchen right now. Read about me → »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. simone francois

      July 16, 2023 at 9:04 pm

      5 stars
      Easy

      Reply
      • Dee Dine

        July 16, 2023 at 9:24 pm

        So glad you liked the recipe!

        Reply

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    watermelon slush in a cup with lime slices
    dee dine

    I'm Dee! Welcome to GSG! Eating healthier and lighter, with plenty of fruits and veggies, can be delicious, especially when chocolate and desserts are involved. Here you'll find wholesome recipes that everyone will love. About Dee →

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