If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
We don’t care if it’s a so-called “Brat” summer or even a “Midwestern Princess” summer, because in our hearts we know the truth — it’s the summer of the Slushi.
And no we’re not just talking about the 7/11 kind, or the giant movie theater ICEE kind, or the adult classic “Frozen Concoction Maker” from Margaritaville. Ninja recently released their Ninja Slushi drink maker, a streamlined countertop appliance that we’ve been seeing all over our TikTok feeds lately, with everyone whipping up chilled frozen cocktails faster than you can say “salted rim, please.” But unluckily for most of us, the Slushi has sold out three times since its initial drop in July, and it’s nowhere to be found on the shelves, to the point where it now boasts a waitlist of 20,000+. Ninja says it’s even outsold 14 times more than their previous viral darling, the Ninja Creami ice cream machine, so clearly the people are thirsty.
But listen, there’s a reason why we love the popular Key West Margaritaville drink machine (besides having a penchant for loving Yacht Rock and giant, frosty margs) — so how has the Ninja Slushi managed to capture the heart of drink lovers and wannabe Parrotheads everywhere? It’s all about their “RapidChill” tech, promises to turn (almost) any liquid you desire into sippable slush in as little as 15 minutes — no ice necessary. That’s a huge deal given similar machines require huge ice reservoirs, but the Slushi also has the added benefit of having more exciting settings than your average blender, too: slush, spiked slush (i.e. frozen cocktails), frappe, milkshake, and frozen juice. If you want to make a big batch for a party, the Ninja Slushi can also keep drinks cold for up to twelve hours.
Bottom line? It’s user-friendly, speedy — and perpetually sold out. As of right now, the Ninja SLUSHi has another waitlist on NinjaKitchen.com, but the machine will also eventually available for purchase at major retailers such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and Kohl’s.
In the meantime, if you can’t wait to get your slush on, we’ve found the best Ninja Slushi alternatives online that’ll do the trick. From frozen Margaritas for 20 to Coke slushies for one, while it might not be as fun as having your own Slushi, some of the best blenders and frozen drink makers can crush ice, blend fruit, and make some pretty delightful chilled bevvies, too.
BEST OVERALL
Ninja Creami Deluxe
The slush is coming from inside the house, because you might be surprised to find that Ninja’s own Creami Deluxe can already make three out of the five settings from the Slushi — Slushies (of course), Frozen Drinks, and Creamiccinos (their version of a Frappucino). We’ve used the recipe book that came with the machine to make some pretty tasty frozen margs and slushed iced coffees already, along with all the other treat settings. What it makes up for in variety and affordability (less than the Slushi!), it lacks in spontaneity — you’ll have to prep your drink base 24 hours in advance.
BEST FOR FROZEN COCKTAILS
Margaritaville Key West Frozen Concoction Maker
This Margaritaville frozen drink maker has been worthy every penny when it comes to whipping up large batches of cocktails for parties (it was in heavy rotation for making Frozen Banana Daiquiris at our 4th of July BBQ this year), and includes a 36-ounce pitcher that you can use to pour directly into glasses. The extra-large ice reservoir also makes up to 2-1/2 pitchers of frozen drinks, so there’s no need to constantly reload from The Big Ice Bag.
BEST BLENDER
Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender
With a large pitcher capacity, and monster ability to crush through ice and any harder ingredient chunks, the Vitamix E310 is another standout choice for best blender for frozen drinks. Its powerful motor and variable speed control (including a useful “Pulse” feature) means it’s clutch at handling thicker mixture — just add frozen ingredients to your machine and you’ll be enjoying slushies, fruit sorbet and more in seconds. Performance-wise, this blender is definitely a more worthwhile investment if you’re looking to make more than just frozen drinks in the dog days of summer.
BEST SINGLE-SERVE
Classic Cuisine Single Serve Frozen Slushy Maker
The most affordable option (especially if you’re only make a frozen treat for one), at under $25, this Classic Cuisine Slushy Maker is as a well-rated favorite. Similar to the Creami, you’ll need to freeze this slush maker beforehand, but once you add your drink of choice to the chilled cup, all you need to do is stir the drink around to create the desired consistency. It works great for milkshakes, sorbets, and even creating boozy beverages.
