This easy watermelon juice recipe is the perfect drink for a hot day — fresh, hydrating, and naturally sweet with no added sugar.
If you love light, refreshing, delicious drinks for hot summer days, don’t miss my Green Tea Lemonade, Hibiscus Tea Strawberry Lemonade, Blueberry Lemonade, or Aguas Frescas.
Refreshing, naturally sweet, and ready in 10 minutes — is it any wonder this one’s a favorite?
I juice watermelons at least a few times a week when they’re in season. It’s one of those drinks that feels too good to be true — smooth, sweet, insanely hydrating, with no extra anything.
Just fruit doing its thing.
It still surprises me how something this simple can taste so good. If you’re craving something cold and clean (but also want it to feel like a treat), this is the perfect drink.
Ideally, the watermelon comes from my garden — but lately, it’s been more farmer’s market or co-op (it’s just that season for me right now). Either way, juicing is the perfect way to use up a big melon… Especially that one you swore you’d finish.
Jump to:
- Why this recipe works
- What ingredients you need
- How to make watermelon juice (step-by-step)
- How to find the best watermelon
- In the kitchen tips
- Health benefits of watermelon
- Unexpected things that make watermelon juice even better
- Substitutions & additions
- Storage & meal prep
- What to serve it with
- FAQ
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why this recipe works
- Over 90% water: Watermelon basically turns into juice on its own. Super hydrating and naturally refreshing.
- Ripe watermelon = sweet juice. If your melon is sweet, your juice will be, too.
- No fancy tools needed: A blender does the trick. Strain if you want it silky, or run it through a juicer.
- Lime, mint, or a pinch of salt: Lime brightens, mint cools, and a pinch of salt after a workout gives you an electrolyte boost.
- Naturally cooling and anti-inflammatory. Perfect after a hot day, a workout, or just… life.
What ingredients you need
- 1 ripe seedless watermelon – The better the melon, the better the juice. Look for one with dull skin and a creamy yellow spot.
- Fresh lime juice (or lemon) – Brightens the flavor and adds zing.
- Fresh mint – Optional, but brings a cooling, fresh vibe.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to make watermelon juice (step-by-step)
Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.
Slice & blend
Slice the into wedges and remove the rind. Chop the red flesh into cubes, and scoop out any visible seeds. Add cubed watermelon to a blender and blend until completely smooth.
Strain (optional)
Optionally, for a smoother juice, pour through a fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag into a large pitcher or jar.
Adjust to taste & serve
Taste your juice and adjust to taste by stirring in any optional additions. Pour over ice and garnish with mint or a lime wedge. You can also rim the glass with Tajín!
How to find the best watermelon
For the best watermelon, I like to go to the farmer’s market or my local co-op. First, I look for its ground spot — it should be deep yellow or cream (white means it’s underripe).
I also look for one that’s symmetrical, heavy for its size, and has dull skin with big webbing. These signs usually point to a sweet one! Serious Eats has a full breakdown if you want a deeper dive.)
In the kitchen tips
- Chill your watermelon first for an instantly cold drink without needing a lot of ice.
- Taste before adding anything. If your watermelon is extra ripe, you may not need lime or anything else.
- Strain it if you like it smooth: A fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag gives you that silky texture, and still such an easy method.
- Salt boosts sweetness: Just a pinch. It brings the flavor out, especially if your melon’s a little flat.
- Try dressing the rim with Tajín. It’s one of my favorite ways to serve this — it adds a pop of chili-lime flavor that makes the juice feel a little fancy and fun.
- Popsicles: Use leftovers for watermelon popsicles. Just pour into molds and freeze.
Health benefits of watermelon
Homemade watermelon juice is packed with nutrients.
- Naturally hydrating
- A good source of potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A and C
- Linked to better skin, hair, and eye health
- It may help soothe sore muscles after a workout
- Watermelon juice fits a Blue Zones way of eating — simple, hydrating, and rooted in whole foods.
- Low in calories but filling—supports weight balance
- May support digestion and, thanks to lycopene, have blood-pressure-lowering effects and help reduce inflammation.
Unexpected things that make watermelon juice even better
Watermelon juice has been a summertime ritual in our house for many years. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:
- I batch-blend half a melon at a time and keep it in a big mason jar — grab and go.
- A splash of coconut water in watermelon juice after workouts — so good!
- Serve over crushed ice in a glass rimmed with Tajín.
- I prep a few jars at once, so we’ve got a quick drink ready during busy mornings.
- For homemade popsicles, pour into molds and freeze for simple, kid-friendly summer treats.
Substitutions & additions
- Lemon instead of lime — tangy and bright. A squeeze of lemon juice goes a long way, though — especially if your melon’s not peak sweet.
- Mint or basil — both work beautifully.
- A tiny piece of ginger — if you want a little extra zing.
- Coconut water — for an extra hydrating twist.
- Extra sweetness? Add a medjool date or a touch of maple syrup when blending.
- Try a squeeze of orange or pineapple juice for a tropical twist.
Storage & meal prep
- Fridge: Keeps for up to 2 days in a sealed jar. I store it in mason jars with lids so it’s easy to shake up before serving.
- Freezer: Pour leftovers into an ice cube tray. Once frozen, you can toss the cubes into smoothies, sparkling water, or even blend them into a quick slushy.
- Batch prepping: Blend half a melon now and save the rest for later in chopped form — makes grabbing a quick blend so much easier.
What to serve it with
This juice is perfect on its own, but it also goes really well with simple summer meals like 7-Layer Taco Dip, Garlic Lovers’ Pasta, or Chickpea Salad Sandwiches. So yummy!
FAQ
You can use seeded watermelon too — just scoop out the black seeds before blending. The small white seeds are usually fine to blend and don’t affect the flavor or texture much. If you’re using a juicer, it’ll likely filter most of them out. Seedless is just a little easier and faster.
Yes! A juicer works great for this recipe, plus, you get a smooth juice without any straining.
Absolutely! Yellow and orange watermelons are just as hydrating and sweet, with a slightly different flavor — often a bit more mellow or honey-like. They make gorgeous juice and can be used just like red watermelon.
Add a squeeze of lime or lemon, a medjool date, maple syrup, or a splash of orange juice to balance things out. A tiny pinch of salt also brings out the natural sweetness.
You can juice the white part of the rind, especially if you’re using a juicer, but avoid the thick green skin unless it’s organic and well-scrubbed. But it has a more bitter, vegetal taste. It’s good for you, but if you’re looking for a sweet juice, the rind will alter the taste somewhat.
Yes, the watermelon rind, the white part (just under the green skin), is rich in citrulline, a compound that may help your body recover after workouts and support circulation. It’s not as sweet as the red part, but if you’re juicing, it’s a great way to use more of the fruit and reduce waste.
I can’t wait for you to try this watermelon juice recipe! If you make it, tag @becomingyouwithjulie on Instagram — I’d love to see yours! And if you have a sec, a quick comment or rating helps more than you know. Thanks so much for being here! 💛
📖 Recipe
Watermelon Juice Recipe
Equipment
- Nut milk bag optional, or fine mesh strainer
Ingredients
- 1 ripe seedless watermelon, about 6 pounds
- Fresh lime or lemon juice, optional, for brightness
- A few fresh mint leaves, optional, for coolness
- Pinch of sea salt, optional, for sweetness balance
- 1 medjool date or a splash of maple syrup, optional, if your melon isn't very sweet
Instructions
- Slice the watermelon into quarters, then again into smaller wedges. Remove the rind and chop the red flesh into cubes. Scoop out any visible seeds.
- Add watermelon chunks to a high-speed blender and blend until completely smooth. (If using a juicer, skip blending and run the chunks through directly.)
- Optionally, for a smoother juice (optional), pour through a fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag into a large pitcher or jar.
- Give it a taste and stir in any optional additions (like lime, mint, salt, or sweetener) to balance it just how you like it. If adding a medjool date, toss it back in the blender for a quick reblend until smooth.
- Pour over ice and garnish with mint, a lime wedge, or Tajín on the rim for fun.
Notes
- You can juice the white part of the rind - especially with a juicer. Skip the thick green peel unless it's organic and well-scrubbed. Just know the rind isn't sweet and will change the flavor.
- Want more juice for tomorrow? Use a larger melon (10–12 pounds).
- Leftovers keep in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
Julie Gaeta is a plant-based recipe creator, certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and mom of nine who's been plant-based for over 20 years. She's cooked approximately 4,382 pots of beans and can't vacation without her juicer and pasta pot. Her work has been featured in HuffPost, Yahoo, YourTango, and other major outlets. She helps others simplify wellness and feel good again through her blog, coaching, and weekly newsletter.
Julie Gaeta says
This is one of my go-tos on a hot day. I always make sure I have a watermelon on hand, because it's just that good! Sometimes I blend, sometimes I juice it, both work great! I like to make a little extra because it goes fast. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend—it's so good!