You can make a simple homemade sports drink for pennies per bottle and control exactly how sweet or salty it tastes. This easy mix uses pantry staples to create a drink with sugar for quick energy, salt for sodium replacement, and optional citrus juice or unsweetened drink mix for flavor.
For long workouts or hot-weather activity, a sports drink works best when it is not overloaded with sugar. A drink concentration around 6% to 8% carbohydrate is commonly used because stronger mixtures can slow fluid absorption, which is why this recipe keeps the sugar level moderate and the flavor flexible. For food safety, keep prepared drinks refrigerated at 40°F or below and use clean bottles or jars when mixing, following USDA refrigeration guidance in their refrigerator safety recommendations.
Ingredients
This recipe gives you three practical ways to make the same style of drink: a full quart, one 20-ounce bottle, or three dry packets for grab-and-go use.
- Basic sports drink: 1 quart water, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon table salt, and flavoring to taste such as orange juice or lemon juice
- 20-ounce sports bottle: 3 tablespoons sugar, 1/8 teaspoon table salt, and 2 to 3 tablespoons juice or 1/3 packet unsweetened drink mix
- Powdered sports drink packets: 9 tablespoons sugar, 3/8 teaspoon table salt, and 1 packet unsweetened drink mix, divided into 3 packets
If you like homemade drink mixes, you might also enjoy Make your own Copycat Lipton Citrus Green Tea for another inexpensive flavored drink option.
Instructions
- For the basic sports drink, pour 1 quart of water into a pitcher or bottle.
- Add 1/3 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon table salt.
- Add orange juice, lemon juice, or another preferred flavoring to taste.
- Stir or shake until the sugar and salt dissolve completely.
- Refrigerate until cold, then shake before serving if any flavoring settles.
- For a 20-ounce bottle, add 3 tablespoons sugar and 1/8 teaspoon table salt to a clean sports bottle.
- Add 2 to 3 tablespoons juice or about 1/3 packet unsweetened drink mix.
- Fill the bottle halfway with water, cap, and shake well.
- Open the bottle, fill to 20 ounces with more water, then cap and shake again.
- For powdered sports drink packets, combine 9 tablespoons sugar, 3/8 teaspoon table salt, and 1 packet unsweetened drink mix in a bowl.
- Mix thoroughly, then divide evenly among 3 small zip-close bags.
- To use, pour 1 packet into a 20-ounce bottle, add water, and shake until dissolved.
Tips for the best homemade sports drink
Use cold water if you want the sugar to dissolve faster with less shaking. If you are mixing a bottle on the go, add the dry ingredients first, then a little water, then the flavoring, and finish with the rest of the water.
Start with the smaller amount of juice if you want the drink to stay lighter and closer to a standard sports drink. Use more juice if you want stronger flavor, but remember that extra juice also changes the sweetness and overall carbohydrate level.
Label dry packets if you are making several flavors at once. Lemon, orange, and berry-style unsweetened drink mixes are the easiest options when you want variety without changing the base recipe.
Variations
- Lemon version: Use 2 to 3 tablespoons bottled lemon juice in the 20-ounce bottle for a sharper, cleaner flavor.
- Orange version: Use 2 to 3 tablespoons orange juice for a softer citrus flavor and a little more body.
- Packet version: Use unsweetened Kool-Aid or a similar unsweetened drink mix when you want shelf-stable packets that travel well.
- Lighter flavor: Use less juice and serve over ice.
If you need another warm-weather budget treat, MYO Lemonade Popsicles is a smart way to use the same citrus flavors in freezer form.
Storage
Prepared sports drink: Store the mixed drink in a covered bottle or pitcher in the refrigerator at 40°F or below. If you use only water, sugar, salt, and shelf-stable flavorings, a conservative estimate is up to 4 days for best safety and quality. If you mix in opened juice, use it within 3 to 4 days. Shake before serving.
Powdered sports drink packets: Store the dry mix in airtight packets or a tightly closed jar in a cool, dry place away from humidity. Because the shortest-lived ingredient is the flavored drink mix and moisture is the biggest risk, a practical unopened shelf-life estimate is about 6 months for best flavor. Once clumping starts, replace it.
Do not leave prepared sports drink at room temperature for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour if the weather is very hot. If you pack it for practice or a beach day, use an insulated bottle and ice.
Serving suggestions
Serve this drink well chilled before, during, or after outdoor activity, yard work, hiking, or sports practice. It also works well poured into ice cube trays, then blended with a splash of water for a quick slush.
For a budget-friendly summer setup, pair it with simple snacks that carry a little salt and carbs, such as pretzels, crackers, or sandwiches. If you are planning a full day outside, The Perfect Beach Day on a Budget has practical ideas for packing smart without overspending.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Copycat Gatorade: Homemade Thirst-Quenching Sports Drinks
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- Granulated Sugar, 4 lb
- Iodized Salt, 26 oz
- Unsweetened Drink Mix Packet, 0.23 oz
- Orange Juice, 52 oz
- Lemon Juice, 15 fl oz
Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Copycat Gatorade: Homemade Thirst-Quenching Sports Drinks
Yes. Lemon juice gives a sharper flavor and works especially well in the 20-ounce version. Start with 2 tablespoons, taste, and go up to 3 tablespoons if you want more bite. Bottled lemon juice also keeps the flavor more consistent from batch to batch.
Sugar supplies quick carbohydrate energy, while salt adds sodium lost through sweat. Using both keeps the drink closer to the purpose of a sports beverage than plain flavored water. Too much sugar can make the drink heavy and less refreshing, so the ratio matters.
You can, but it will change both flavor and mixing. Honey dissolves easily but tastes stronger and is sweeter by volume, so use a little less than the sugar amount and taste before adding more. Noncaloric sweeteners will not behave the same way because they do not provide the same carbohydrate level as a traditional sports drink.
A safe, conservative estimate is up to 4 days in the refrigerator at 40°F or below, and 3 to 4 days if you add opened juice. Store it in a clean sealed bottle or pitcher and discard it sooner if it smells off, looks cloudy, or has been left out too long.
Yes. The basic formula scales cleanly because it is based on 1 quart of water. For 1 gallon, multiply the quart recipe by 4. Mix in a large pitcher or beverage cooler, stir until fully dissolved, and keep it chilled over ice if it will be served outside.
Small measuring errors make a big difference in a 20-ounce bottle. Level the salt, do not heap the sugar, and measure juice separately. If it tastes too strong, add 2 to 4 ounces of water and shake again instead of trying to fix it with extra flavoring first.
Yes. Freeze it in ice cube trays or freezer-safe bottles with headspace for expansion. Thaw in the refrigerator and shake well before serving because some ingredients can settle after freezing. It also makes a good slush when blended partly frozen.
Small zip-close bags work well for single servings, but a tightly sealed jar is better for a larger batch because it reduces moisture exposure. Add a label with the flavor and the bottle size it makes so nobody turns one packet into a mystery chemistry project.
Yes. About 1/3 packet of unsweetened drink mix works for one 20-ounce bottle. This option is useful when you want portable dry ingredients and no refrigeration until after mixing. It also gives a more stable flavor than fresh juice.
Plain water is fine for routine hydration, but a sports drink is more useful during long, sweaty, or hot-weather activity when you want both fluid and some sodium plus carbohydrate. This recipe is best suited for exercise, outdoor work, or recovery after heavy sweating, not as an all-day casual sip.
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🖨️ Print-Friendly Copycat Gatorade: Homemade Thirst-Quenching Sports Drinks
Copycat Gatorade: Homemade Thirst-Quenching Sports Drinks
Ingredients
- Basic sports drink: 1 quart water 1/3 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon table salt, and flavoring to taste such as orange juice or lemon juice
- 20- ounce sports bottle: 3 tablespoons sugar 1/8 teaspoon table salt, and 2 to 3 tablespoons juice or 1/3 packet unsweetened drink mix
- Powdered sports drink packets: 9 tablespoons sugar 3/8 teaspoon table salt, and 1 packet unsweetened drink mix, divided into 3 packets
Equipment
Instructions
- For the basic sports drink, pour 1 quart of water into a pitcher or bottle.
- Add 1/3 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon table salt.
- Add orange juice, lemon juice, or another preferred flavoring to taste.
- Stir or shake until the sugar and salt dissolve completely.
- Refrigerate until cold, then shake before serving if any flavoring settles.
- For a 20-ounce bottle, add 3 tablespoons sugar and 1/8 teaspoon table salt to a clean sports bottle.
- Add 2 to 3 tablespoons juice or about 1/3 packet unsweetened drink mix.
- Fill the bottle halfway with water, cap, and shake well.
- Open the bottle, fill to 20 ounces with more water, then cap and shake again.
- For powdered sports drink packets, combine 9 tablespoons sugar, 3/8 teaspoon table salt, and 1 packet unsweetened drink mix in a bowl.
- Mix thoroughly, then divide evenly among 3 small zip-close bags.
- To use, pour 1 packet into a 20-ounce bottle, add water, and shake until dissolved.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
nice! thank you very much.
i love this idea!! my daughter is a volleyball player & spend too much on these pre fab sports drinks. i now can make it & recycle 2L plastic pop bottles for her at practice & tournaments!!
Now just to find the right flavor….
if you buy bottled water flavoring packets, these bags of powder do the same thing for a lot cheaper also!
thanks for sharing. this recipe will come in handy. thanks
my kiddos are gonna love this!