Watermelon Vodka Cocktail

This fresh vodka watermelon cocktail is the perfect summer drink. Made with just a few simple ingredients like fresh watermelon and lime juice and ready in 5 minutes!

Some people like to infuse their watermelon with vodka, but I like to make these simple watermelon cocktails instead!

They’re so easy to make, refreshing, and perfect for any summer occasion. They take about 5 minutes to prepare and can easily be scaled to serve a crowd.

They’re made with fresh watermelon, vodka, lime juice and some optional club soda, sparkling water or even sprite if you want them fizzy and extra sweet.

Make a summer spread with these cocktails, homemade Pico de Gallo, a big pasta salad and my lemon pepper salmon. Honestly, that sounds perfect right about now.

Key ingredients

Watermelon: I like (and recommend) using fresh watermelon that we’ll make into watermelon juice, but you are more than welcome to use store bought watermelon juice instead.

The flavor of the homemade version is much richer and sweeter and super easy to make!

Vodka: Any vodka works, I used Tito’s, but you could even use tequila and make these into watermelon margaritas!

While this drink calls for vodka, it’s very versatile and virtually any liquor will work, white rum, tequila etc.

Lime Juice: Lemon juice also works, but I love the combination of lime and watermelon! The tang helps balance out the sweetness from the watermelon.

For the best flavor, I suggest fresh squeezed lime juice! The bottled stuff will work in a pinch, but fresh is best. If you happen to have fresh mint lying around, it makes the perfect addition to this cocktail as well!

Optional Sweetener: The watermelon adds plenty of sweetness on its own, but if you want more, I suggest using honey, agave or making a simple syrup with granulated sugar and water.

Omitting the sweetener will make this a “skinny” vodka cocktail.

How to make a watermelon vodka cocktail

Add the cubed watermelon to a blender and blend until smooth until you get what will be our homemade watermelon puree.

Strain the puree through a fine mesh strainer 2-3 times or until completely pulp free and smooth. Alternatively, run through a nut milk bag if you have one.

Add the watermelon juice (you should be left with 1 cup) to a cocktail shaker with the vodka, lime juice and sweetener if using. Shake with ice.

Pour over more ice and enjoy! Make it fizzy by topping with a splash of club soda or even sprite if you like it sweeter and with extra carbonation.

Can I make it in advance?

This watermelon cocktail will keep in the fridge for about 2 days, but is best served fresh.

If you’re going to make it ahead of time, just hold off on the ice so it doesn’t dilute and give it a good shake before serving since the ingredients will separate.

What kind of watermelon is best?

I recommend using seedless watermelon here. Seedless watermelon does still have small white seeds, but you just want to make sure it doesn’t have the big black seeds.

The watermelon puree will get strained anyway, so if you can only find seeded watermelon, don’t worry!

Can I make a frozen cocktail?

Yes! You can simply use frozen watermelon and blend everything together to create more of a frozen slushy. I’d recommend cutting your watermelon into cubes, then freezing and blending everything together.

Because watermelon is so, well, watery, it will be more of a slushy than a thick frozen cocktail.

Enjoy these summer treats next!

• Blueberry Pie Bars
• Watermelon Margarita
• Blueberry Mojito
• Sheet Pan Salmon

Lastly, if you want more recipes straight to your inbox, be sure to subscribe to my email list. As always, leave and comment and rating below if you enjoy this recipe!