Dirty Dr. Pepper | An Easy 3-Ingredient Alcohol-Free Drink Recipe That’s Perfect for Summer

Looking for the perfect alcohol-free drink recipe for summer? The Dirty Dr. Pepper is it! It’s refreshing and totally gives off tropical vibes. And best of all, it only has three ingredients. This is one drink you’ll be making over and over again.

The Dirty Dr. Pepper is the perfect alcohol-free drink recipe for summer. It's refreshing and totally gives off tropical vibes. And best of all, it only has three ingredients. This is one drink you'll be making over and over again.

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I can’t believe I waited so long to try this recipe. I actually think it was *the* first alcohol-free drink recipe I ever pinned on Pinterest. Back in the early 2010s. I’ve seen it floating around Pinterest several times since then and each time I’ve thought Man, that sounds so unique–I really need to try it. Here I am. Almost a decade later. I just hope YOU won’t waste a decade without trying a Dirty Dr. Pepper.

I think the name Dirty Dr. Pepper is a bit of a misnomer. After all, when I hear a drink referred to as “dirty” I automatically think it’s going to be alcoholic (hello, Dirty Shirley) or have espresso in it (like a dirty chai latte). The authentic Dirty Dr. Pepper recipe, whose origins are unknown, calls for neither. But, I think you could make this recipe extra dirty by adding 1½ oz of vodka or white rum. I’d say Tropical Paradise Dr. Pepper is a more fitting name, but I suppose it doesn’t roll off the tongue– or pique someone’s curiosity– as much as the original.

While surfing the internet to find the most common ingredient ratios, I also came across a recipe for a Muddy Dr. Pepper which adds a splash of half and half, too. That kiiinda weirds me out, but then again the Colorado Bulldog is delicious and it mixes Coke and half and half so it could be great. I’ll have to try it and report back.

The Dirty Dr. Pepper is the perfect alcohol-free drink recipe for summer. It's refreshing and totally gives off tropical vibes. And best of all, it only has three ingredients. This is one drink you'll be making over and over again.

Full disclosure: I actually used Dr. Thunder. A travesty? Perhaps. Just don’t tell Dr. Pepper. I figured a sign of a truly great recipe is if it works with the store-brand ingredients, too. Actually, nah. That wasn’t my motivation. Good ol’ Dr. T was 25% cheaper than his name-brand counterpart. Your girl can’t pass up a bargain.

If you’re trying to watch your calories, you can buy sugar-free coconut syrup (on Amazon or in the coffee section of your grocery store) and Diet Dr. Pepper. But you’re already skipping the alcohol so in my mind– enough calories saved. Just drink the full-sugar version.

If you’re interested in trying out another alcohol-free drink recipe, check these out:

I actually have a ton of alcohol-free drink recipes– just select the “mocktail” from the “Browse by Liquor” drop down bar on the right hand side of this blog.

If you try this Dirty Dr. Pepper recipe, LET ME KNOW! I wanna know if you love it as much as I do! If you try it with another soda variety, you’ve gotta let me know about that, too. You can comment down below or tag me on Instagram.

Ingredients for a Dirty Dr. Pepper – An Alcohol-Free Drink Recipe

  • juice from half a lime
  • 3/4 oz coconut syrup
  • 5+ oz Dr. Pepper

How to Make a Dirty Dr. Pepper – An Alcohol-Free Drink Recipe

Fill up a tall glass with ice. Add the juice from the lime and the coconut syrup. Pour in the Dr. Pepper. Stir with a paper straw to mix. Garnish with a lime wedge.

The Dirty Dr. Pepper is the perfect alcohol-free drink recipe for summer. It's refreshing and totally gives off tropical vibes. And best of all, it only has three ingredients. This is one drink you'll be making over and over again.

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