5-Ingredient Cocktail and Drink Recipes for Your Easiest Happy Hour Ever

Spiked Watermelon Lemonade
Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

These 5-ingredient recipes are here to prove that you don't need a fully stocked bar in your home to enjoy a refreshing cocktail. You can transform just a few simple ingredients, many of which you probably already have on hand, into delicious drinks for an at-home happy hour. These cocktails, spritzers, slushes, and punches will bring a festive sparkle to your evenings and weekends. Plus, we've included several non-alcoholic drinks for kiddos and those that prefer a booze-free happy hour, that are just as refreshing. Many also have easy swaps that will enable you to make both cocktails and mocktails from the same ingredients, so there will be an easy drink to suit every guest. From the best Texas Ranch Water to twists on classic drinks like a Mint Julep Slush and more, here are our easiest 5-ingredient drink recipes of all time.

01 of 20

Ranch Water

Texas Ranch Water Cocktail
Getty Images/Lauren King / EyeEm

Recipe: Ranch Water

We can thank Texas for this dressed-down margarita that will become your go-to summertime cocktail.

02 of 20

Salty Dog Cocktail

Salty Dog Cocktail
Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Salty Dog Cocktail

If you prefer a not-so-sweet cocktail, grapefruit juice makes sure this drink is fresh and tart.

03 of 20

Moscow Mule

Moscow Mules

Recipe: Moscow Mule

This cocktail recipe just requires a few stirs, so we guarantee you can't mess it up.

04 of 20

French 75 Cocktail

French 75
Southern Living

Recipe: French 75 Cocktail

The key to this easy cocktail is making sure the ingredients are well combined using a cocktail shaker. You'll want to shake until your fingers are almost numb.

05 of 20

Vodka Cherry Limeade

vodka cherry limeades in glasses on a tray
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist:Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Vodka Cherry Limeade

With a few fresh limes and some cocktail bar staples, this colorful sipper can be poured and stirred in a matter of minutes. We like a corn-based vodka because it has a slightly sweeter flavor.

06 of 20

Mint Julep Slush

Mint Julep Slush
Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Mint Julep Slush

Instead of serving this mint julep over ice, we made it even more refreshing by blending it together with the rest of the ingredients.

07 of 20

Strawberry-Mint Tea

Strawberry-Mint Tea
Alison Miksch; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

Recipe: Strawberry-Mint Tea

This Strawberry-Mint Tea is great on its own or as a mixer.

08 of 20

Lemon Drop Martini

Lemon Drop Martini
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

Recipe: Lemon Drop Martini

Adding sugar to the rim gives this martini a finish that's reminiscent of lemon candy.

09 of 20

Pineapple-Coconut Fizz

Pineapple-Coconut Fizz
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Pineapple-Coconut Fizz

Even though this drink had an impressive presentation, it's so easy to pull together with just three ingredients.

10 of 20

Key Lime Daiquiris

Key Lime Daiquiris
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

Recipe: Key Lime Daiquiris

If you can't find Key limes in your grocery store you can use regular Persian limes, but definitely use them if possible.

11 of 20

Rum Swizzles

Rum Swizzles
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Thom Driver; Food Stylist: Tina Stamos

Recipe: Rum Swizzles

One sip of this rum-based cocktail will instantly transport you to the Caribbean, which makes sense as it is sometimes referred to as Bermuda's national drink.

12 of 20

Homemade Cherry Limeade

Homemade Cherry Limeade
Southern Living

Recipe: Homemade Cherry Limeade

Use this recipe to make a batch drink when you're having guests. Just make sure not to make it too far ahead of time, as the soda can go flat.

13 of 20

Cucumber-Honeydew Cooler

Cucumber-Honeydew Cooler
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Cucumber-Honeydew Cooler

If you prefer to make this cooler as a mocktail, you can substitute the gin for lime-flavored seltzer water.

14 of 20

Pink Cadillac Margaritas

Pink Cadillac Margaritas
Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pink Cadillac Margaritas

As the name implies, these unique margaritas are pink in color. Make this margarita your signature cocktail at your next get-together.

15 of 20

Strawberry Piña Coladas

Strawberry Pina Colada
Photographer and props: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Strawberry Piña Coladas

Upgrade your next homemade piña colada with the addition of fresh strawberries.

16 of 20

Classic Transfusion Cocktail

Transfusion Cocktail
Getty Images/JB325

Recipe: Classic Transfusion Cocktail

While this cocktail is particularly popular on the golf course, you can enjoy it on the porch too.

17 of 20

Lemon-Basil Spritzer

Lemon-Basil Spritzer
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Lemon-Basil Spritzer

Make the most of your herb garden with this thirst-quenching spritzer.

18 of 20

Sparkling Punch

Sparkling Punch
Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Sparkling Punch

From happy hour on the porch to a celebratory shower, this pretty pink punch won't disappoint.

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Lemon-Mint Sparklers

Lemon-Mint Sparklers
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Lemon-Mint Sparklers

Make the Lemon-Mint Syrup a week ahead, and keep cold. Chill the club soda, too, but mix the drink just before serving to keep it nice and fizzy.

20 of 20

Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktail

Summerttime Cocktail
Chris M. Rogers

Recipe: Honeysuckle-Watermelon Cocktail

We used Mississippi's Cathead Honeysuckle Flavored Vodka to give the cocktail a delicate floral note, but plain vodka works too.

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