Happy Labor Day! Do you have any final end-of-summer festivities planned for today? My mama recently shared this recipe with me for the perfect refreshing summertime drink: an easy-to-make Watermelon Cooler that kids and grown-ups alike will find cool and refreshing.
This drink nicely solves the problem of what to do with all that leftover watermelon after you buy a huge one for your summer picnic. And its light, refreshing taste makes it a fun and tasty way to help kiddos stay hydrated in summer heat, thanks to watermelon’s naturally high water content.
So if you’re looking for something different to cool off with on this unofficial last-day-of-summer, give this refreshing beverage (or one of the variations listed at the end) a try!
Originally published September 3, 2018; last updated July 2026.
Watermelon Cooler
Prep time: 5 min* Total time: 5 min Makes approx. 1 quart
*The 5 min. prep time for the beverage itself assumes that you’ve already cut the watermelon into chunks, removed the seeds, and chilled it in the refrigerator.
What you’ll need:
- 6-8 cups watermelon chunks, seeds removed, chilled (refrigerated or slightly frozen)
- Approx. 1/2 c. lemon juice (more or less to taste)
- Approx. 1/4 c. loosely packed mint leaves (more or less to taste)
The basic idea:
- Purée the watermelon in the blender; for best results, add 2 c. to start and add in more a little at a time.
- As you add more watermelon, add in the lemon juice and mint leaves.
- Serve immediately (garnished with a sprig of mint, if you like); if you don’t drink it all right away, put the rest in the refrigerator until you’re ready to consume, then pulse in the blender just before pouring.
Adding the mint and lemon juice
Mix it up:
- It’s best to start with a seedless watermelon, but still be sure to check carefully for seeds as you cut the melon into chunks.
- You can use any color watermelon you like – the familiar red version, or the harder-to-find yellow or “pink lemonade” (pale pink) variations. For this batch, we used some pale pink melon from my mama’s own garden! (And mint from her backyard, too!)
- The drink as described above is non-alcoholic and thus kid-friendly. If you’re making it just for grownups, you can add 2 oz. (1/8 c.) white rum per 8-oz serving (1/2 c. per blenderful), if you like. My mama and I tried adding white rum to our glasses when we made a pitcherful the other night, and it was quite tasty – imagine a delicately-flavored watermelon daiquiri.
- You can add a little ice during the blending process if you really want to, but that will dilute the flavor, so I don’t recommend it. Instead, consider freezing at least some of the watermelon before you start.
- Instead of lemon juice, try it with lime juice. Or consider experimenting with other herbs (rosemary, lavender, etc.) and/or other “adult” additions.
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Yummmmmm
It totally is! Enjoy!
This looks good! I would love to give this a try. Watermelon is definitely refreshing that’s why my sister and I really love it.
Fantastic recipe! Watermelon is my favourite fruit ❤ and I have watermelon at home now! Going to make this drink tomorrow for sure.
This really does sound delicious. I know I would love a try and the mint sounds like the perfect accent to the watermelon flavor. Yummy!
Oh I have a half watermelon in the fridge that needs using! Perfect time to blend it up and make something delicious!
Watermelon sounds great in any drink, meal, dessert… this drink sounds so refreshing and super delicious
This looks so good! Will definitely try because we’ve been forecast a few rogue hot days in the next week, so this should keep the family cool!
My thoughts exactly! Our weather has FINALLY cooled off a bit but we are still enjoying this drink, thanks to my mama’s garden’s abundance of watermelon! 🙂
I love watermelon anything so this is definitely right up my alley! Will whip this recipe up in memory of the few remaining weeks of summer
Enjoy it while you can! 🙂
Oh, this looks super yummy. I will definitely have to try this. I love trying new recipes!!
Enjoy! SO refreshing! 🙂
Watermelon is a great refreshment. A watermelon and mint drink recipe is really worth a try. Thanks for sharing ^^
You’re welcome! 🙂
This watermelon cooler looks so tasty! I’d totally add rum to it too. It’s perfect for the end of summer.
Absolutely! 🙂
I am really trying to curb how much I drink alcohol so I am happy I cam across this virgin recipe. Looks Delicious and refreshing 🙂
This is definitely a refreshing non-alcoholic option, then! 🙂
That looks delicious! I love watermelon, and this drink seems like the perfect way to hang on to summer!
It IS! 🙂
What a refreshing drink! We have an abundance of watermellons in greece this time of the year and this is exactly what I was looking for! awesome!
So glad this post found you at the right time – enjoy! 🙂
YES! I love pureed watermelon but won’t have thought to add mint to it! This sounds like the perfect end of summer drink!
The mint was my mama’s idea, and it is definitely the finishing touch! 🙂
This looks perfect for those hot and humid summer days. I like that you can add different kinds of alcohol to jazz it up. That sprig of mint should take it up another notch.
Considering trying tequila next :)…
We had a wonderful long weekend. It was super hot and this would have been perfect. We still have some summer left though so lots of opportunities for this refreshing drink!
Enjoy it while the heat lasts! 🙂
Wow, this looks so simple and delicious! I do love watermelon myself but my boys don’t so I don’t like to buy it much — hate to be wasteful! I love mint in my drinks too! Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome! Enjoy it!!!
Yum, this sounds delicious! I love watermelon and we have so much mint growing in the garden, this is a perfect way to use some of it. It’s definitely still hot enough here to say it’s still summer and this is a great summer drink!
Haha, it just FINALLY cooled down here in the last few days, but we have a huge watermelon in the fridge (another from my mama’s garden, that she chopped up and left for us during her recent visit) so this drink will be an after-school treat for my girls today! 🙂