When the grill is out and everyone’s enjoying warm and delicious barbecue dishes, that’s the best time to bring out the refreshments. The adults will usually grab a bottle of ice cold beer while the kids would enjoy chilled fruit juice. But for your next barbecue, serve something different but equally refreshing – try these non-alcoholic drink recipes perfect for a backyard barbecue!
Tropical Ginger Sparkler
What you need:
- 1 orange, thinly sliced
- 1 2-inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced
- 4 cups pineapple juice, chilled
- 4 cups ginger ale, chilled
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, stems removed
Combine chilled pineapple juice and ginger ale in a pitcher. Top with orange slices, fresh ginger and basil leaves. Add ice if desired.
Pear-y Refreshing Punch
What you need:
- 1 pear, sliced
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 8 1/2 cups ginger ale
- 2 cups pear juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
In a punch bowl, mix together pear juice, lemon juice and ginger ale. Stir in sugar and top with fresh pear slices. Pour punch in cups with ice if desired.
Limeade A La Summer
What you need:
- 4 cups chilled lemon-lime soda
- 1 cup kiwi, peeled and diced
- 1 cup fresh diced mango
- 1 cup fresh diced pineapple
- 1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 cup blackberries
- 3/4 cup limeade concentrate, thawed
In a pitcher, layer kiwi, mango, pineapple, strawberries and blackberries. Top with limeade concentrate then pour in lemon-lime soda. Stir to combine. Serve immediately.
Watermelon Ultimate Cooler
What you need:
- 1 small seedless watermelon
- 2 cups frozen strawberries
- 2 cup ice cubes
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 3/4 cup sugar
Cut the watermelon in half. Using a spoon, scrape off all the fruit from the watermelon center and place in a blender. Add the strawberries, lemon juice, sugar and ice to the blender and puree until mixture is smooth. Divide the cooler between the 2 empty watermelon halves. Add skewered strawberries and lemon for a fun touch.
Cool Raspberry
What you need:
- 1 gallon raspberry sherbet
- 12 3/4 cups ginger ale, chilled
- 8 cups cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
Pour 1/4 cup of cranberry juice cocktail in 24 (short but wide) glasses. Add 1 scoop of raspberry sherbet to each glass then fill with ginger ale. Serve immediately.
Refreshments are a huge part of a barbecue menu, especially when you’re grilling on a hot summer day. Make sure your guests are relaxed and refreshed – serve them any of these non-alcoholic drink recipes perfect for a barbecue!