There’s nothing more refreshing than a sweet and tangy strawberry lemonade slush, and with the Ninja SLUSHi machine, you can make it smooth, icy, and perfectly frozen—without any ice or blending! This recipe combines the bright citrusy kick of fresh lemon juice, the natural sweetness of strawberries, and a touch of simple syrup to create a deliciously cool drink that's perfect for summer days, backyard gatherings, or just when you need a frozen treat.
Plus, it’s easy to customize! Want it sweeter? Add more syrup. Prefer a tart kick? Squeeze in extra lemon juice. Be sure to read my How-to Guide and Honest Review of the Ninja Slushi Machine here.
You will also love my Ninja Slushi Chick-fil-A Frosted Lemonade, Ninja Slushi Lemonade, Ninja Slushi Daiquiri, Ninja Slushi Margarita, Ninja Slushi Wendy's Frosty, Ninja Slushi Coffee Frappé (Vanilla Caramel), and Ninja Slushi Vanilla Protein Shake.
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
Each ingredient plays an important role in achieving the perfect texture, flavor, and consistency. Here’s why each one is necessary:
- Strawberry Lemonade Drink Mix Packets – Here's where the flavor comes from. This provides instant flavor and sweetness, ensuring the slushie has a bold, fruity taste without needing to blend multiple juices.
- Chilled Water – Keeping the water cold before mixing speeds up the freezing process in the machine, reducing the overall slush-making time. Room-temperature water would take longer to reach the ideal slushy consistency.
- Frozen or Fresh Strawberries – Frozen strawberries help thicken the slush and add natural fruit flavor without watering it down. Fresh strawberries also work, but they won’t contribute as much thickness unless you pre-freeze them.
- Lemon Juice – Here's how to really get the lemonade flavor. The acidity in lemon juice balances the sweetness and enhances the overall refreshing, tart flavor of the slush. Without it, the drink might taste overly sweet or flat.
- Simple Syrup or Sugar – This is crucial because the Ninja SLUSHi machine requires at least 4% sugar content for proper freezing. If the mixture doesn’t contain enough sugar, the machine may trigger a low-sugar alert and won’t form the right slush consistency. Simple syrup blends more easily, but granulated sugar works too if stirred well.
How to Make Ninja Slushi Strawberry Lemonade Slushies
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- In a blender combine strawberry lemonade drink mix, chilled water, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Blend until smooth.
- Lift the bail handle and remove the vessel.
- Pour the prepared mixture into the vessel, staying between the MIN (16oz) and MAX (64oz) fill lines.
- Reattach the vessel and secure it by lowering the bail handle.
- Turn on the machine and select the “Slush” mode for a classic frozen texture. Adjust the temperature setting based on how thick you want your slush.
- The freezing process takes 15–45 minutes, depending on the sugar content and temperature of the liquid. It took mine 25 minutes.
- The machine will mix and chill your slush automatically.
- Once ready, place a cup under the self-serve spout and pull the handle to dispense your homemade strawberry lemonade slush.
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Frequently Asked Questions/FAQs
Yes! However, using frozen strawberries helps thicken the slush. If using fresh, consider freezing them beforehand for a better texture.
This could be due to low sugar content. The Ninja SLUSHi™ requires at least 4% sugar in the mixture to freeze properly. Add 1-2 tablespoons of sugar or simple syrup per cup and restart the cycle.
Reduce the simple syrup or sugar and add extra lemon juice for a more tart slush.
Yes, but ensure alcohol makes up less than 20% of the total liquid for proper freezing. Use the "Spiked Slush" setting.
It takes 15-45 minutes, depending on the sugar content and starting temperature of the liquid. Pre-chilling the mixture can help speed up the process. Mine took 25 minutes using chilled water.
Yes, but fresh lemon juice provides a brighter, fresher flavor. If using bottled, choose 100% lemon juice with no added preservatives.
Yes! Just ensure the mixture stays within the MAX FILL (64oz) line in the machine.
How to Store Leftover Slush
The Ninja SLUSHi keeps drinks frozen for up to 12 hours inside the machine. If storing separately, freeze leftovers in an airtight container and let them thaw slightly before serving. You must keep the machine running for it to maintain the frozen consistency for up to 12 hours. The machine continuously agitates and chills the mixture to prevent it from turning into a solid block of ice. If you turn it off, the drink will gradually melt.
For longer storage, transfer leftovers to a sealed container and freeze—though you may need to let it thaw slightly and stir before serving.
Substitutions and Variations
Keep in mind when adding sweeteners, you should add 1-2 tablespoons for the machine to work properly.
- Basil
- Pineapple Juice
- Honey
- Agave Syrup
- Maple Syrup
- Lime Juice
- Flavored/Sparkling Water
- Coconut Water
- Cucumber
- Kiwi
- Blueberries
- Bananas
Ninja Slushi Strawberry Lemonade Slush
Want to save this recipe for later?
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.
Ingredients
- 2 Strawberry Lemonade drink mix packets Each packet should need at least 8oz of water.
- 32 oz water Chilled
- 2 cups frozen or fresh strawberries Optional, will add more strawberry flavor.
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice Optional, will add more lemon flavor. 2 tablespoons-¼ cup. Adjust to suit your taste. ¼ cup is 1-2 lemons.
- 1-2 tablespoons simple syrup or sugar; I used 2 tablespoons. Add more to suit your taste.
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until well combined. You can also use an immersion blender.Alternatively, if you aren't adding strawberries, simply combine the ingredients. There's no need to blend.
- Add the mixture to the Ninja Slushi Machine. Power on the machine and press Slush.
- Allow the machine to churn and freeze the mixture until the machine beeps to signal the cycle is finished. You can adjust the thickness of the mixture using the side panel. The Slush should take 20-30 minutes.
- Pull the lever on the spout to dispense the drink. Serve.
Notes
- Adjust the temperature setting based on how thick you want your slush.
- Use less water for more flavor. You can also add more fruit, sweetener, etc.
- I love to chill my serving glasses beforehand to keep the drinks extra cool.
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Jennifer says
I've been trying to figure out how to make this sugar-free using this machine. Thanks for all of these tips!