On extra hot days, especially after a long walk, sweaty garage workout, or chasing my boys around outside, I crave something cold, refreshing, and truly hydrating. That’s how this homemade Gatorade came to be. I wanted a drink that could replenish electrolytes without all the artificial colors, excess sugar, and mystery ingredients that come with many pre-made options. After a little trial and error, I landed on two simple flavor combos that have completely replaced the bottled stuff in my fridge.
My boys claim they like my Gatorade recipe even better than our favorite store-bought electrolyte drinks, and I have to agree. It’s light, crisp, and just the right amount of sweet. I keep a large pitcher in my fridge at all times, rotating between the two flavors. The citrus version is my go-to after a workout, and the berry option feels more like a fun treat (but still packed with real hydration benefits). It’s one of those recipes I didn’t realize I needed until I had it, and now I make it nearly every week.
Recipe Highlights
Hydrating with natural ingredients: Unlike many grocery store options, my homemade Gatorade is made with basic electrolytes and simple, whole food ingredients to help support hydration after exercise or time in the sun. I also use real fruit juice and pure honey as a sweetener, eliminating the refined sugars and food dyes found in many sports drinks, while still contributing some carbohydrates to fuel my activities.
Quick and easy to make: All I have to do is whisk the all-natural ingredients and chill the mixture in the fridge. With no fancy tools or equipment needed, it’s ready to drink in 10 minutes.
Kid- and adult-approved: Naturally sweet and deliciously fruity, both flavors taste great and have been kid-approved, making it easy to prevent dehydration and reach our recommended daily water intake.
Why Homemade Is Better Than Store-Bought
The reason I started making my own Gatorade-style drinks was because I wanted something that actually supported hydration without all the added sugar, artificial dyes, and preservatives. Most store-bought sports drinks are loaded with ingredients I’d rather not put in my body (or my kids’ bodies), especially when there’s such a simple way to make a better version at home.
When I make this homemade sports drink, I use ingredients like real citrus juice, a touch of natural sweetener from honey, sea salt, and important minerals to help replenish electrolytes. That means every sip works to hydrate, restore my electrolyte balance, and fuel recovery without a sugar high or post-sugar crash.
Main Ingredients
This is what I use to make my homemade sports drink:
- Coconut water: Not only does it provide a sweet, fruity flavor, but coconut water is an excellent source of natural electrolytes, providing calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, minerals which are lost through sweat. I’ve also made it with plain water, but I prefer coconut water for the sweet taste and added health benefits.
- Pure honey: I use this as a natural sweetener to offset some of the tart citrus flavor while adding antioxidants to my homemade electrolyte drink. I’ve also tested it with agave and maple syrup. Both work well, but do change the flavor of the drink slightly.
- LMNT citrus salt: LMNT packets are a staple in my daily routine, providing sodium, potassium, magnesium, and citric acid with natural, delicious flavors. I’ve reviewed each flavor and truly enjoy them all. However, for this recipe, I use the citric salt packets in both flavor options to provide a slightly tart taste that pairs with the other ingredients nicely. Get a free flavor pack of LMNT with any purchase.
Find the ingredient list with exact measurements in the recipe card below.
Make It Fruit Punch Flavored
Both versions of my DIY Gatorade drink start with a base of coconut water, pure honey, and LMNT citrus salt. Then, for the fruit punch flavored option, I add:
- Tart cherry juice: Both fresh cherries and tart cherry juice have been studied extensively for their health benefits, providing antioxidants, phytochemicals, natural melatonin, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber along with a tart cherry taste that contributes to the classic fruit punch flavor.
- Pineapple juice: Pineapple juice provides a boost of vitamin C, manganese, fiber, and B vitamins. Plus, the natural sugars balance some of the tartness of the cherry juice.
- Unsweetened cranberry juice: Great for reducing inflammation, cranberry juice can also promote heart health, reduce the risk of infections, and promote gut health.
Make It Lemon-Lime Flavored
For the lemon-lime flavored option, I opted for a more citrusy flavor, adding the following ingredients to the drink’s base:
- Lemon juice and lime juice: This creates the classic lemon-lime taste while providing an excellent source of vitamin C. I find that freshly squeezed juice results in the best taste, but I have also used bottled varieties in a pinch.
- Orange juice: I use naturally sweetened, pulp-free orange juice for a smooth drink. The sweetness helps offset some of the tartness of the lemon and lime. In addition, orange juice adds vitamin C, folate, potassium, and magnesium, boosting the drink’s hydrating abilities even further.
Chill, Serve, Enjoy
Once the drink is mixed, I pour it into these individual glass bottles or mason jars with lids. This makes it easy for my boys to grab one for a quick refresh. I’ll usually chill it in the fridge for a couple of hours so it’s extra cold. But if I’m in a hurry, I’ll just pour it over ice and enjoy it right away.
I typically sip on this beverage during or right after a workout or a long walk in the sun. It’s also perfect for hot summer afternoons when I just need something cool and hydrating, and it works well to add to my kids’ reusable water bottles for taking to their sports practices. This homemade Gatorade keeps well in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. So, I usually make a batch as part of my weekly meal prep to have on hand throughout the week.
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Homemade Gatorade Recipe
Quick and easy to make, this homemade Gatorade recipe is made with natural ingredients for a hydrating, lower-sugar drink that makes it easy to stay hydrated, even on the hottest days. Includes recipes for two different flavors.
Ingredients
Fruit Punch Gatorade:
- 16 ounces (2 cups) coconut water
- 8 ounces (1 cup) tart cherry juice
- 4 ounces (½ cup) pineapple juice
- 4 ounces (½ cup) unsweetened cranberry juice
- 3–4 teaspoons pure honey
- 1 teaspoon LMNT Citrus Salt electrolytes (1 packet)
Lemon-Lime Gatorade:
- 24 ounces (3 cups) coconut water
- 2 ½ ounces (⅓ cup) fresh lemon juice
- 2 ½ ounces (⅓ cup) fresh lime juice
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) no-pulp orange juice
- 3–4 teaspoons pure honey
- 1 teaspoon LMNT Citrus Salt electrolytes (1 packet)
Instructions
- In a pitcher, glass measuring cup, or jar, add all the ingredients for the flavor you want to make. Stir with a whisk until the honey dissolves.
- Divide the mixture among glass bottles with lids or mason jars with lids. Chill in the fridge before serving or pour over ice.
- Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
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Notes
LMNT is our dietitians’ electrolyte powder of choice. We choose it because it doesn’t contain any added sugar, has zero caffeine, and comes in many delicious flavors. Get a free flavor sample pack of LMNT with this link when you make any purchase. It’s a great way to try to most popular flavors and share LMNT with friends.
The nutrition analysis for ¼ batch or 8 ounces of the Fruit Punch flavor is as follows: 100 calories, 0 g total fat (0 g sat fat), 287 mg sodium, 20 g carb (0 g fiber, 12 g sugar), 0 g protein, 0 mg cholesterol
Nutrition Information
- Serving Size: (¼ batch or 8 ounces of the Lemon-Lime flavor)
- Calories: 67
- Fat: 0 g
- (Sat Fat: 0 g)
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Carbohydrate: 16 g
- (Fiber: 0 g
- Sugar: 12 g)
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Dietary
The photos in this post were taken by Megan McKeehan.
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