Don't get stuck drinking wine when there are so many other delicious options out there! These easy mixed drinks are simple to make at home but have some unique flavors that will elevate your happy hour!
Whether you want to have a dinner party, or just chill with your besties on the weekend and watch Netflix. You'll need tasty cocktail recipes! Browse the list below and find something to shake up at home.
Why These Recipes Work
Some of the mixed drink recipes on this list are classic, while others are super inventive and use fresh fruit and herbs.
The most elaborate piece of equipment you need is a blender and you probably have most of this liquor on your bar cart already.
I strive to keep my home bar small and always look for liquor and modifiers that can be used in a variety of cocktail recipes. This list is great because although it does include some interesting ingredients, most don't require buying any specialty items for your bar.
These easy drink recipes are perfect for any skill level and don't require any special techniques or tools.
Whether you're looking for a cocktail recipe to serve for a party or just to enjoy on a Friday night, you'll find something tasty on this list!
(Shop the things I use over and over on my home bar via my Amazon storefront!)
Easy Mixed Drinks and Cocktail Recipes
The best drinks are easy to make! Invite some friends over and sip one of the easy mixed drinks together. From classic to inspired, these recipes will please your crowd.
With Alizé Peach, canned pineapple chunks and pineapple juice, this cocktail recipe is a great drink idea and is super easy to recreate for a Girl's Night in. It's easy to make several for a crowd and has a fun color that will delight your guests.
This Whiskey Sour party punch is a perfect punch recipe for you to try this year! Whether you're hosting a holiday party or just having friends over, this punch (based on a classic drink) is sweet and full of citrus flavor that is perfectly finished off with a boozy cherry!
Looking for a refreshing cocktail to make that is super easy? Try this tangy Blueberry Ginger Lemonade recipe. A mix of ginger ale (or beer!) and lemonade create a tasty base for your favorite vodka. Fresh berries give it that red, white and blue color that is perfect for several holidays throughout the year. Also add this to your list of favorite summer cocktails!
If you love a White Russian, you will most definitely enjoy a Nutella Martini! Made in a cocktail shaker, this easy recipe includes creamy Chocolate Liqueur, chocolate milk and a Nutella (chocolate hazelnut) rim! This one is perfect for dessert lovers!
I love mimosas and this mango version sounds fruity and satisfying. With just your favorite champagne and a little bit of Mango syrup, this easy mixed drink tastes like fresh mango.
With no special equipment, this Rosé Spritzer is served over fresh ice and is perfect for hot summer days. With just wine and lemon-lime soda, it's an easy cocktail recipe to enjoy when the weather warms up.
This recipe takes a classic drink (The Arnold Palmer - equal parts lemonade and iced tea) and turns it into a long drink to sip on a hat day. With a shot of vodka, this is a super easy recipe.
The Orange Pomegranate Crush is a great cocktail recipe made with a perfect balance of orange juice (and orange-flavored vodka) and orange liqueur (Triple Sec). Finished with pomegranate seeds, this drink is easy to recreate with items you'll find on your home bar.
This Frozen Watermelon Cocktail is one of the best things about summer. Made with fresh watermelon, grapefruit soda, Grand Marnier and rosé wine this is a great way to cool off on a hot day.
Peach and whiskey go together like Laverne and Shirley. This easy mixed drink is refreshing and great to share with friends. Frozen fruit and club soda make it super easy to sip as the sun sets.
Skinny margaritas are my favorite and this blood orange version wants to be in my mouth. This recipe makes a healthier version of the classic cocktail leveled up with fresh blood orange juice. Fresh lime juice and tequila make this an easy recipe to enjoy on long days where you need to cool off.
I love to take simple cocktails and find a way to make them a little more unique. With just two ingredients, this Kombucha Mimosa is full of flavor (thanks to the ginger lemon-flavored kombucha) is so easy. It's one of the best things to serve at brunch parties.
It's one of my favorite desserts and I just know I would love this cocktail recipe too.
I've never had one but I really think I'd love a classic Gin Rickey.
Fresh herbs belong in cocktails. I'm adding this one to my cocktail bucket list.
Floral-infused cocktails are unique and fun for baby or bridal showers.
Strawberry and lime are two of my favorite cocktail flavor combos!
While you can make this Rosé Lemonade as an individual drink, it's just as easy to make by the pitcher! Rosé wine, lemonade and soda water create an easy recipe to drink any time of year.
A vanilla and citrus cocktail that sounds like it can also be dessert. with cake-flavored vodka, fresh orange juice and orange liqueur this original cocktail sounds sweet and delicious.
I'm definitely trying this watermelon sangria this summer! If big batch cocktails are your thing, save this one for later! With white wine, white rum, Triple Sec and Maliu rum, this drink recipe is super boozy. Fresh fruit gives it a tropical feel making it perfect to serve at a cocktail party from the comfort of your own home.
Grab a highball glass or mason jar and make this Strawberry Cucumber Lemonade Punch. With ice cubes keeping everything refreshing, this is a fun drink recipe to make for friends. Lemonade with hibiscus, paired with vodka create a fun drink to serve for any gathering. The fresh cucumber and strawberry infuse this drink with tons of flavor.
With pineapple juice, cranberry juice cocktail, and coconut rum this is a fun drink to make at home. If you like sunset drinks, this layered recipe is perfect for you!
With fresh grapefruit juice, fresh lime juice, tequila, and La Croix grapefruit-flavored sparkling water this easy mixed drink idea is a must-try. Add a salted rim for an even more delicious twist.
I don't drink a lot of soda, but Cherry Coke is my jam! Paired with Crown Royal Vanilla and cherry syrup, this is one of those drink recipes that you will love. Finish with a maraschino cherry for a tasty treat.
Whether you're looking for big-batch cocktails for a dinner party or birthday party, this rum punch is the perfect recipe. With spiced rum and a cinnamon vanilla simple syrup, this drink tastes tropical and is totally memorable.
Anything slushie and named after an adorable pink animal is ok in my book. Orange juice, lemonade and cranberry concentrate give this recipe its fruity flavor. Vodka and lemon-lime soda finish off this slushy, frozen drink that is perfect on a hot day.
Fresh herbs make this super simple cocktail idea a great anytime easy mixed drink. With just vodka and apple juice, it's a super simple cocktail idea.
I LOVE Mai Tais. And since I almost never see them on restaurant menus, I better try to make them at home! With a few different bottles of rum plus Triple Sec and grenadine, this easy recipe packs a punch. There's a good reason Mai Tais are a classic cocktail. YUM!
Level up your classic daiquiri with this tasty mixed drink. With Strawberry Daiquiri mix and rum, this drink gets tons of flavor from muddled basil and fresh strawberries. Grab everything you need from your local grocery store and make these ASAP!
This frozen margarita is a citrusy, refreshing tequila drink that you'll love. It's one of my all-time favorite drink recipes. Grab that bottle of tequila and serve this easy recipe in a chilled cocktail glass.
A Mint Julep isn't just for the Kentucky Derby! Grab that copper mug and make one of these easy classic cocktail recipes to share with friends.
Tips for Making Mixed Drinks
Making mixed drinks at home can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be! Follow these tips for making delicious drinks every time.
- When making easy mixed drinks for others, always do a quick taste test before serving. Use a small spoon or pour a little into a seperate glass to make sure that everything tastes balanced.
- Measure everything. I am a terrible estimator and if you are making drinks for a crowd, you need to make sure that you are keeping the amounts accurate for the best drinking results.
- Use fresh ingredients wherever you can. If a recipe calls for orange juice, squeeze your own if at all possible. Save the bottled ingredients for when you are in a severe time-crunch.
- Use good quality alcohol. While you don't need to break the bank, especially because there are other flavors to mask the subtle flavors of the alcohol, you do want to skip the cheap stuff and buy something you would at least be able to tolerate on its own.
- A pre-chilled glass will enhace your cocktail experience. It will help to keep the temperature down without diluting the drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cocktails are mixed in a few ways and depend on the type of drink you are making. When made in a cocktail shaker, the drink is shaken to combine everything. When served in an old-fashioned, low ball or highball glass, a drink can be mixed with a spoon.
Yes. If you are looking to create your own unique cocktails at home, the basic ratio is 2 parts liquor to 1 part sour (think fresh citrus juice) and 1 part sweetener (like simple syrup or agave). From there you can play around with flavors and figure out how to find a flavor balance.
A typical cocktail recipe will usually have between 1 - 2 ounces of liquor. Often, that is diluted by other drink components. With classic drinks like a gimlet, it is pretty much all alcohol. If you don't love the flavor of liquor start with 1 ounce and add a bit more, tasting as you go, to see if you can find your sweet spot.
Related Cocktail Recipes
- This Classic Margarita Recipe is quick and easy, and in my opinion, the BEST margarita you can drink.
- A Dark and Stormy is an old-fashioned cocktail with just two ingredients: ginger beer and spiced rum!
- This list has 40 2-ingredient cocktails that are super easy to make at home. These are perfect when you have no time and want to exert very little effort.
Or browse my cocktail collections: Easy Cocktails to Make at Home, Moscow Mule Variations, Wine Cocktails, Fireball Cocktails, Cocktails with Bitters, Cocktails Made with Coke.
Easy mixed drinks are great to make for entertaining at home. This delicious list will help you choose what cocktail to make next!
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