As temperatures rise, fast food chains across the country are rolling out exciting new beverages to help customers beat the heat. From fruity refreshers to creamy frozen concoctions, these drinks offer the perfect way to cool down during scorching summer days.
Whether you’re craving something tangy, sweet, or a little bit of both, these 11 new offerings will quench your thirst and add some fun to your fast food experience.
1. Whataburger’s Prickly Pear Raspberry Refresher
Kicking off Whataburger’s 75th anniversary celebration, this vibrant thirst-quencher combines the unique flavor of prickly pear with tangy raspberries and zesty lemon.
The bright pink hue catches your eye immediately! Available starting July 1st, you can grab this summery sipper in either 16 oz ($3.69) or 20 oz ($3.99) sizes. The natural fruit flavors create a perfect balance of sweet and tart notes.
This refresher marks the beginning of a special anniversary beverage lineup from Whataburger, so fans should keep an eye out for more festive drinks throughout the summer season.
2. Taco Bell’s Agua Fresca Collection
Taco Bell takes summer hydration to new heights with their caffeine-friendly Agua Fresca lineup featuring real freeze-dried fruit and green tea. The trio of flavors includes Strawberry Passionfruit, Dragonfruit Berry, and Mango Peach—each offering a different tropical escape in a cup.
Energy seekers haven’t been forgotten! The collection also includes Rockstar Energy-powered options like Pineapple Lime and Tropical Punch, packing a serious 200mg caffeine punch for those afternoon slumps. Rounding out the collection is the Strawberry Lime Refresca Freeze, perfect for those who prefer their summer drinks in slushy form.
These colorful concoctions bring authentic Mexican beverage traditions to the drive-thru.
3. Chick-fil-A’s Peach Frosted Lemonade
Southern charm meets summer refreshment in this peachy twist on Chick-fil-A’s beloved frosted lemonade. Combining their signature hand-squeezed lemonade with creamy vanilla IceDream and juicy peach flavors, this drink captures the essence of a Georgia summer afternoon.
The velvety texture creates a perfect middle ground between a shake and a slush. Each sip delivers a nostalgic peaches-and-cream flavor profile that’s simultaneously refreshing and indulgent. Available for a limited time, this seasonal specialty has already developed a cult following among Chick-fil-A regulars.
The drink pairs exceptionally well with the restaurant’s classic sandwich offerings, creating the ultimate summer meal combination.
4. Dunkin’s Pink Spritz Refresher
Fizzy, fruity, and fantastically pink—Dunkin’s Pink Spritz Refresher brings a touch of sophistication to your morning coffee run. This effervescent creation combines strawberry and dragonfruit flavors with a splash of coconut milk for a delicate creaminess that cuts through the fruit’s natural tartness.
The light carbonation gives this drink a champagne-like quality without the alcohol. Served over ice with a slice of real strawberry, it’s as Instagram-worthy as it is delicious. Perfect for those seeking something lighter than a frozen coffee but more exciting than plain iced tea.
This refresher proves Dunkin’ is serious about expanding beyond their donut and coffee comfort zone into premium summer beverage territory.
5. Sabrina’s Strawberry Dream Refresher at Dunkin’
Celebrity collaborations hit the beverage world with Dunkin’s limited-time Strawberry Dream Refresher, available from June 25th through August 19th. The creamy strawberry base gets a modern twist with oat milk, creating a silky-smooth texture that dairy-free customers can enjoy.
Topped with a cloud of cold foam, this drink bridges the gap between refresher and dessert. The sweet strawberry flavor evokes memories of summer berry picking while maintaining a light, refreshing quality.
6. Burger King’s Frozen Strawberry & Nerds Drink
Candy lovers rejoice! Burger King’s new slushy collaboration brings playground nostalgia directly to your taste buds.
Choose between a strawberry or blue raspberry frozen base, then watch as it’s topped with crunchy, tangy Nerds candy that creates a playful texture contrast in every sip. The vibrant colors make this drink particularly appealing to younger customers and the young at heart.
As the slushy melts, the Nerds slowly sink, creating an evolving flavor experience from first sip to last. This candy-drink hybrid exemplifies the growing trend of nostalgic flavor combinations in fast food. The sweet-tangy balance makes it particularly refreshing on scorching summer days when ordinary beverages just won’t cut it.
7. Sonic Drive-In’s Sweet-Topped Lemonades
Sonic revolutionizes their lemonade game with frothy, dessert-inspired toppings that transform a simple summer staple into something extraordinary. The new lineup features Classic, Strawberry, and the unexpectedly sophisticated Blueberry Lavender varieties—each crowned with a cloud-like sweet topping.
The contrast between tart lemonade and creamy topping creates a delightful flavor journey.
8. KFC’s Mountain Dew Sweet Lightning Peaches & Cream
KFC jumps on the viral ‘dirty soda’ trend with their exclusive Mountain Dew collaboration that’s causing quite a stir. Sweet Lightning takes the familiar citrus kick of Mountain Dew and transforms it with peach flavoring and a swirl of creamy vanilla that creates mesmerizing patterns throughout the drink. The peach aroma hits you before your first sip, promising a southern-inspired flavor experience.
This unique beverage is only available at KFC locations, making it a destination drink for Mountain Dew collectors and flavor enthusiasts. Marketed as the perfect companion to KFC’s $7 Fill-Ups, this sweet-meets-tangy concoction provides a refreshing counterpoint to the restaurant’s savory fried offerings.
9. Dunkin’s Butter Pecan Frozen Coffee
Ice cream shop flavor meets coffee house functionality in Dunkin’s indulgent summer offering. The Butter Pecan Frozen Coffee blends rich coffee with the sweet, nutty essence of everyone’s favorite premium ice cream flavor, creating a caffeinated dessert-in-a-cup experience.
Tiny butter pecan flavor crystals are blended throughout, occasionally surprising your taste buds with bursts of intense flavor. Topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of crushed pecans, this drink bridges the gap between morning pick-me-up and afternoon treat.
Part of Dunkin’s rotating seasonal frozen coffee lineup, the Butter Pecan variety consistently ranks as a fan favorite that customers eagerly anticipate each summer. The drink provides a welcome alternative to hot coffee during sweltering days while still delivering that necessary caffeine boost.
10. Panera’s Strawberry Basil Lemonade Fresca
Panera’s Strawberry Basil Lemonade Fresca is summer in a cup — a refreshingly crisp and subtly herbal twist on a classic favorite. This seasonal drink blends sweet, sun-ripened strawberries with tart lemonade and an unexpected hint of fresh basil, delivering a balanced flavor that’s both invigorating and elevated.
Unlike overly sugary fast-food drinks, the Fresca has a clean, light profile that feels intentionally crafted rather than artificial. The basil adds a botanical note that cuts through the sweetness, making each sip feel like something you’d find at a boutique café, not a national chain.
Served over ice and bursting with natural fruit essence, it’s a perfect companion for a warm day, whether you’re dining in or grabbing lunch on the go.
11. SONIC’s Picklerita Slush
Sonic’s Picklerita Slush is a bold summer twist that blends tangy lime with briny pickle juice for a sweet-and-sour flavor explosion. Topped with Grillo’s Pickle Chips and bursting Pickle Juice Flavor Bubbles, this icy drink delivers a quirky, refreshing punch that’s both savory and zesty. It’s the ultimate treat for pickle lovers or adventurous sippers craving something different.
Whether you pair it with a burger or sip it solo, the Picklerita brings a surprising balance of tartness and coolness in every sip. Equal parts strange and addictive, it’s Sonic’s most daring—and unforgettable—slush release of the season.
Leave a comment