19 Pitcher Drinks for Your Summer Gatherings

Big batch drinks to make ahead so you can enjoy the party, too.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Published May 23, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
Pineapple Margaritas for a Crowd make the margarita
Leela Cyd Ross

Hot take incoming: Summer parties are nothing without good refreshments. I'm not talking about a variety pack of soda cans, I'm talking a light and summery drink, something with pieces of fruit floating around in it, something that someone intentionally made and wants everyone to enjoy.

These 19 big batch drinks are truly the key to an amazing summer gathering. There's a wide variety, both with and without alcohol and, because they're easy to make ahead, they give the host (or those assigned to bring a drink) plenty of time the day of to just sit back and enjoy the party. No need to serve them up, just set the jug out with some ice or plant the pitcher in the fridge and let everyone know where to find it. It's that easy.

  • Cucumber Lime Mint Agua Fresca

    Cucumber Lime Agua Fresca

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "My friend Arturo tells me you can take the purée solids and use them as a facial mask!" —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Pineapple Jalapeño Pitcher Margaritas

    Pineapple Margaritas for a Crowd make the margarita

    Simply Recipes / Leela Cyd Ross

    "For this recipe, buy tequila that has been aged for at least two months and is marked "100% de agave." Tequilas that aren’t are often mixed with fermented cane juice and result in an overly sweet, lesser-quality tequila with way more burn on the way down." —Garrett McCord, Recipe Developer

  • Blended Whole Lemon Lemonade

    Homemade lemonade in tall glasses on a tray.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "Selecting thin-skinned lemons for this recipe is key. Thin-skinned lemons are generally smooth and easy to squeeze. If the lemon is hard, it likely has a lot of pith, which will tip the lemonade from pleasantly bitter to grossly bitter." —Sarah Wharton, Recipe Developer

  • Watermelon Pitcher Margaritas

    Watermelon margaritas for a crowd

    Simply Recipes / Leela Cyd Ross

    "For a frosty, thicker treat, freeze the watermelon before throwing it in the blender and skip the strainer." —Garrett McCord, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 19 below

  • Iced Tea

    glasses and a pitcher filled with iced tea

    Simply Recipes / Getty Images 

    "Adding baking soda to your sweet tea might seem like a weird suggestion—some Southerners will find it downright sacrilege. I find that it makes a superior glass of iced tea." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Horchata

    A large mason jar of easy homemade horchata with a cinnamon stick inside is in front of a similar glass and a pitcher of homemade horchata. A small bowl of rice and cinnamon sticks are to the left.

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera

    "Can you add alcohol to horchata? Ab-so-flippin’-lutely! As a matter of fact, those in the know have already bottled alcoholic Horchata! Spiced rum is the best mate to Horchata. It creates a spiked chai-tasting cocktail which I’m so here for!" —Marta Rivera, Recipe Developer

  • Perfect Lemonade

    Two Glasses of Lemonade With Ice and Lemon Slices Next to a Pitcher With More Lemonade, Halved Lemons on the Counter, and a Sage Table Napkin

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker

    "For more intense lemon flavor, grate the zest from one fresh lemon and add to the simple syrup as you're making it. Once the sugar has dissolved in the water remove from heat and let the zest steep in the simple syrup for several minutes, then strain out when you add the simple syrup to the lemon juice." —Elise

  • Grilled Peach Pitcher Margaritas

    Grilled peach margarita on a table with limes and peaches.

    Simply Recipes / Elana Lepkowski

    "If you don’t want peach chunks in your cocktail, no problem! Make this pitcher drink the night before you want to serve it (and hold it in the fridge) which will allow the liquid to infuse with the grilled peach flavor. When you’re ready to serve it, strain the peaches out." —Elana Lepkowski, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 9 of 19 below

  • Raspberry Lime Rickey

    Best ever raspberry lime rickey in two glasses with a pitcher behind it.

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "Once you master the raspberry version, you can use other fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or cranberries." —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

  • Strawberry Lemonade

    Blender strawberry lemonade served in a glass and in a pitcher with lemon slices and strawberries set around it.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "Look for strawberries that are red all the way through. They will be the sweetest and juiciest, which will make your strawberry lemonade taste like strawberries." —Sarah Wharton, Recipe Developer

  • Pitcher Frozen Margaritas

    Best frozen margarita in a blue rimmed glass with limes in front and another glass and linen behind it.

    Simply Recipes / Elana Lepkowski

    "If you’re batching a large amount of frozen margaritas, you may want to save some time by buying high-quality bottled lime juice instead of juicing a bunch of limes. Both are very similar and when frozen, both mellow in flavor. However, using fresh squeezed lime juice will result in a flavor that is more floral and zestier." —Elana Lepkowski, Recipe Developer

  • Thai Iced Tea (Cha Yen)

    Glass of Thai Iced Tea (No Milk Added), and in the Background More Glasses of Thai Ice Tea (With Milk Added)

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "If you decide to brew Thai tea by adding your own spices, I recommend using Ceylon tea, which you can find at many Asian specialty stores or on Amazon. I love the natural golden hue that Ceylon tea offers when brewed. If you do not have Ceylon tea, you can use English breakfast or Darjeeling tea." —Lany Phlong, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 13 of 19 below

  • Mixed Berry Sangria

    Mixed Berry Sangria

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "For the red wine, I recommend buying a cheap bottle for this recipe, frankly. We'll be mixing it with so many other flavorful ingredients that even a lower-quality wine will taste great, and the quality of a more expensive wine would go unappreciated." —Garrett McCord, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Limeade

    Minty Limeade

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "Before juicing each lime, roll it back and forth a few times on your countertop, applying a little pressure. This will encourage more of the juice to release." —Elise

  • Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Iced Tea)

    Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea) Served with Ice and a Lime Slice Next to a Small Plate of Sliced Oranges and Limes and a Pitcher with More Jamaica

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

    "You can find the dried hibiscus flowers at almost any Mexican market (look for "flor de Jamaica"), or you can order them online." —Elise

  • Arnold Palmer

    Two Glasses of Arnold Palmer With a Lemon Slice, Next to a Bowl of Lemons, a Citrus Reamer, and Lemon Wedges

    Simply Recipes / Elana Lepkowski

    "Tea plays a starring role, and you have many options. Standard iced tea is made with black tea. This could be an Assam—my personal favorite—or a Ceylon or Darjeeling—these are among the most popular unflavored black teas and will give you a classic flavor." —Elana Lepkowski, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 17 of 19 below

  • Watermelon Lemonade

    Whole lemon and watermelon lemonade in tall glasses and garnished with lemon and watermelon.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "You want to buy watermelon that is heavy for its size, sounds hollow when you thump it lightly, and has a dark yellow field spot (an area where it was resting in the field.) Some say if the skin is dull then that’s another good sign the melon will be sweet." —Sarah Wharton, Recipe Developer

  • Hibiscus Spritz

    Horizontal view of two side by side tall glassed with hibiscus cocktails inside. Ice cubes are inside the glass and a lime wedge sits on the lip of each glass with additional lime wedges to the right of the glasses. Partial view of a bowl of dried hibiscus in the background to the right of the second glass.

    Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

    "I like to use a mid-range vodka for my spritzes. There is no need to use a high-end vodka because the flavor of the hibiscus syrup dominates the flavor of the vodka. Don’t use a super cheap vodka either. For me, I like Tito's vodka, which is pretty much always in my liquor cabinet." —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

  • Ginger Peach Rum Punch

    Ginger Peach Rum Punch in Three Glasses Next to a Pitcher of More Punch, Ginger Beer, Ice Tongs, and Nutmeg

    Simply Recipes / Elana Lepkowski

    "For this recipe, you could use yellow, white, or donut peaches, or any variety of nectarines, as long as they are ripe! Skip canned peaches, as they have added sweeteners or preservatives." —Elana Lepkowski, Recipe Developer

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