Summer starts early, thanks to this cool Watermelon Freeze.
Say hello to SUMMER, because Taco Bell just released one of our favorite seasonal drinks! Yes, we’re talking about the Watermelon Freeze—complete with candy seeds. It’s time to get seriously excited and run out to grab one. But before you go, read up on things you should know about Taco Bell.
What even is a Watermelon Freeze?
Taco Bell describes the treat as “a frosty, freeze-y watermelon drink with candy seeds that won’t sprout a watermelon patch in your stomach (really, go on and eat ’em)—it’s something that goes great with the sweetness of summer months.”
The T-Bell team also explains why you should fall head-over-heels in love with this particular drink: “In our humble opinion, the Watermelon Freeze is the best thing since sliced watermelon.” It’s the drink everyone wants to be drinking as soon as the temps start rising. (Well, either a Watermelon Freeze or one of these easy mixed drinks.)
Taco Bell made the epic announcement on Twitter. Needless to say, the huge news was met with a whole lot of joy!
If you’re hoping to get your hands on this refreshing and original drink, you’d better act fast. Taco Bell says that the exclusive beverage will only be available at select stores for a limited time. The Watermelon Freeze costs just $2.39—so better get moving!
Watermelon is the most sweet, refreshing and easy-to-love summer snack. (Try our favorite recipes!) It's also a delicious—and enormous—addition to your shopping cart! The heaviest watermelon on record weighed in at a whopping 350 pounds, but I still think that would disappear from my house in under a week.
From now on, the only way I'm eating watermelon is if comes to me as a Watermelon Shark. It's not even a question.The recipe calls for filling it for fruit, but I say you fill it with whatever you think that shark wants to eat. Like chocolate-covered bacon.
…that looks like a watermelon, of course! The recipe for this adorable dessert comes from the blog Bird on a Cake and includes watermelon puree in both the cake and the cream cheese frosting. So, you're essentially eating watermelon… mixed with some cake. It's practically health food.
Just a Taste
Cover It in Chocolate
Freezing watermelon cubes and then dipping them in chocolate is a genius move, if you ask us. Kelly Senyei of the blog Just a Taste rolled hers in sea salt afterward, which sounds amazing, but we could see a whole host of possibilities here. Sprinkles? Mini chocolate chips? Coconut? Colored sanding sugar? Go wild.
Cheers for hot weather! A mocktail is a drink anyone can enjoy and elevates your backyard celebration beyond a cooler full of sodas. A glass of Quick Watermelon Cooler will hit the spot with all your guests—it's sweet, lemonade-y and full of the best flavors of summer.
Summertime and watermelon go hand in hand. My melon sorbet is fresh, fruity and without the gluten and eggs you get in many other frozen desserts. —Rachel Lewis, Danville, Virginia
I entered this recipe in a local fair, and it took first place! This is one of my favorite dishes because all the ingredients (except for the lime juice) came directly from my garden and beehives. —Carolyn Butterfield, Lake Stevens, Washington
Mix cubes of watermelon with bite-sized squares of salty feta, slices of fennel and a little bit of mint, and you'll have a summer-perfect side dish that will make people think you're a pretty fancy cook. (I like to add honey and olive oil, too.) Bonus: You can use the hollow watermelon and make a watermelon keg for another fancy party accessory.
Kids (and adults—who are we kidding?) will love this riff on watermelon. From the paleo blog Meatified comes this super fun recipe for Sour Watermelon Gummies. The sour comes from a dose of lemon juice and the gelatin they recommend is grass-fed.
Shutterstock / Brent Hofacker
Grill It
I can't help but picture grilled watermelon, which is roughly 92% water, dissolving into the slats of a barbecue. But apparently that's not the case! Grilled, watermelon indeed intact and transforms into a smoky and richly flavored side dish. Add your seasoning of choice to wedges—red pepper flakes, lime and honey or a sprinkle of cilantro and sea salt would all be good.
Shutterstock / Amallia Eka
Make It Boozy
There are lots of variations on "drunk watermelon," but you'll get the best results by slicing the top off a watermelon and removing the fruit, cubing or balling it and soaking the pieces in your liquor of choice. (We recommend tequila!) Then, use the empty watermelon as a serving dish. Just keep the kids away from this one.
For anyone who can't get enough watermelon, don't miss this refreshing collection.
Charlotte Grainger is a creative feature writer, with a flair for food, health and lifestyle pieces. Her work has been seen in a number of national publications including Beyond Words Magazine, Reader's Digest and Psychologies. When she’s not typing away, you can find her trying out new recipes or binging Netflix shows— sometimes simultaneously.