This post contains affiliate links.
The second the temperature climbs above 90 degrees, I start craving one thing: watermelon. It’s juicy, refreshing, naturally sweet, and somehow makes even the hottest summer day feel a little more manageable.
This watermelon smoothie is my go-to when I want to cool off, stay full, and keep working toward my health goals without overthinking it. Blended with simple, nourishing ingredients, it tastes like a summer treat while still delivering the hydration, fiber, and protein. This is one of my most-reached-for refreshing summer drinks — light, hydrating, and ready in under 5 minutes.
What's in this post
Why You’ll Love It
Summer is overflowing with nutrient-dense produce. Take advantage of these ruby red, antioxidant-rich ingredients!
- Ready in 5 minutes. Toss everything in the blender, hit blend, and you’re sipping a refreshing smoothie in less time than it takes to slice the fruit. You can also check out my recommended smoothie blenders for the creamiest results.
- Hydrating and refreshing. Watermelon’s high water content helps support hydration, while lime adds a crisp, citrusy finish that keeps each sip light and energizing.
- Packed with real benefits. Strawberries and cherries bring fiber and antioxidants for heart and immune support, while watermelon delivers lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to heart health and cellular protection.
Love watermelon? You’ll also want to try my Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie, or browse more easy smoothie recipes, including plenty of banana-free smoothies and smoothies for kids.
Watermelon Smoothie Ingredients
- Watermelon (fresh, chopped). Choose a heavy melon with a creamy yellow field spot for the sweetest flavor. Seedless makes prep quicker, but either works. This is how I cut melon.
- Strawberries (fresh or frozen). Look for bright red berries with green tops and no white shoulders. If using fresh, freeze extras at peak ripeness for future smoothies, or portion them into frozen meal prep smoothie packs so they’re ready to blend anytime.
- Cherries (fresh or frozen). Deep red cherries are usually the sweetest and richest in antioxidants. If buying fresh, pit and freeze them on a sheet pan so they’re ready to blend.
- Lime (fresh, peeled). Pick a lime that feels heavy for its size and has a slight give when squeezed. Lime adds a little zest and bite to make it extra refreshing.
- High-quality protein: Blend in chia seeds and collagen peptides for a protein boost along with some healthy omega-3’s and fiber to create a balanced smoothie.
November 9-13, 2026
Jen’s Free Soup Challenge
I’d love for you to soup it up with me! For 5 days, I’ll send you a daily veggie-packed soup that’s easy enough for a busy weeknight and makes enough to freeze and pull out all winter.
How to Make a Watermelon Smoothie
- Add ingredients to the blender. Place the chopped watermelon, frozen strawberries, frozen cherries, peeled lime, plant-based protein powder (if using), and chia seeds into a high-speed blender.
- Blend until smooth. Blend on high until the smoothie is completely smooth and creamy. Add a splash of water if needed to help it blend.
- Serve and enjoy. Pour into glasses and sprinkle extra chia seeds on top, if desired. Sip right away for the freshest flavor and best texture.
Want perfectly smooth results every time? Check out how to make a smoothie for simple blending tips before you start.
Recipe Tips
- Since watermelon is over 90% water by weight, you don’t need to add any extra liquid or ice to this smoothie.
- Use seedless watermelon for this recipe. No need to spend all day picking out watermelon seeds!
- Using frozen cherries and frozen strawberries rather than fresh ones yields a cool and frosty drink. If using fresh, add ice cubes to the blender.
- Serve this smoothie immediately after making it. The longer it sits, the more the watermelon separates from the other ingredients.
More Watermelon Smoothie Recipes
If you loved sipping my watermelon smoothie, then check out my favorite fruit smoothies and recipes with watermelon to cool down on a hot day:
- Watermelon Popsicles are such a simple summer win.
- Summer Melon Smoothie is a medley of summer melons and a hydrating sweet treat.
If you make this watermelon smoothie, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if you’re interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.
My watermelon smoothie blends cherries, watermelon, strawberries and lime. It’s super refreshing and antioxidant-loaded!
Yes! When using any kind of melon in a smoothie, I cut back on the amount of liquid. Watermelon contains enough water on its own that you don’t need any more liquid. Also, don’t forget to remove the seeds!
Watermelon acts as both the liquid and fruit in a smoothie. If you freeze the watermelon, be sure to add extra liquid to help it blend well.
Recipe Card
Juicy Watermelon Smoothie
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups watermelon chopped
- ½ cup cherries frozen
- ¼ cup strawberries frozen
- ½ lime peeled
- 2 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 serving collagen peptides
Instructions
- Place the watermelon, cherries, strawberries, lime and chia seeds in a blender.
- Blend on high until smooth, 45 to 60 seconds. Add the collagen and blend on low just to combine. Pour into a glass and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- Prep Tip: Use seedless watermelon if you don’t have time to pick out the seeds.
- Vegan Swap: Swap the collagen for a serving of homemade protein powder.
- Lower Sugar: Swap the cherries for blueberries or raspberries, or try other low sugar fruits.
- Storing: Best fresh. The chia seeds thicken it as it sits, so if you store it in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 24 hours, shake well and add a splash of liquid before drinking.
Nutrition
Serving: 16 oz | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g | Trans Fat: 0.03 g | Sodium: 118 mg | Potassium: 664 mg | Sugar: 30 g | Vitamin A: 1799 IU | Vitamin C: 56 mg | Calcium: 190 mg | Iron: 3 mg
You’ll want it later
Save this recipe
Drop your email and I’ll send it to you.
Share with a friend
This was a refreshing smoothie! Used whey protein powder that I had on hand and did not peel the lime. It added some bitterness, but that toned down some of the sweetness.
Way to make it your own!
I found it to be very good but I should have peeled my limes a lot better, the white pulp didn’t grind up very good.
S0 glad you enjoyed it!
Finally had time to make this smoothie. Very tasty – The only change I made was using 1/4 of a whole unpeeled lime. Leaving the peel on added a bit of bitterness that I like to balance the sweetness of the fruits. I was surprised by how creamy the smoothie was.
So glad you enjoyed the smoothie!
I’m always looking for new things to pour into my picky eater, and this one was a total winner! (And using my favorite spring fruit, cherries, it was a hit with me too – so refreshing!)
Yay! That is a win!
Yummy combination!
I bought a watermelon early in the season that didn’t have much flavor, so I cubed and froze the cubes. Another thing I have been making with that is refreshing summer drinks: watermelon, frozen grapes (since my watermelon was not very sweet), mint leaves, and a splash of lime juice. If the watermelon is frozen, you have to add water a bit at a time until it blends. This makes it more watery, but I’m using it as a drink, not a meal, and it’s a good way to utilize a bland watermelon.
That is a great idea!