It's Easier (And Cheaper) Than You'd Think To Make Baja Blast Right At Home

Baja Blast is one of those delicious drinks that has a chokehold on its fans. While the mysterious flavor of Mountain Dew's Baja Blast may be up for debate, there's just something about that electric teal color that practically screams "This was made with you in mind," and I'm definitely here for it! Aside from my quirky love of blue drinks, anyone who knows me, knows that drinking or making fruity concoctions is one of my favorite things to do. 

So you can imagine my dismay when Baja Blast is here one day and gone the next. Taco Bell might've made it famous, but for years, the only way to get it was to hit the drive-thru and grab a combo meal. Even when it does show up in stores, it's often for a limited time — then poof, gone again.

Quite naturally, people started experimenting, and it turns out that you can make a pretty convincing Baja Blast right in your kitchen with a few common sodas. All you need is Mountain Dew, a little blue Powerade or Gatorade, and Sprite. Now I won't say it's exactly the same, however, it's close enough to crush the craving — and you won't need to leave your house or buy a chalupa to get it. All things considered, it's a fun experiment that gets you close to the taste without the fast food markup.

Ok, so there's no strict ratio, but a common recipe is about one part Mountain Dew, one part Powerade or Gatorade (Both of them work, so take your pick), and a splash of Sprite to finish. Pour it over ice, give it a swirl, and voilà ... you've got your own fizzy, neon green-blue drink that at least gives you a great approximation to the real deal.

People who've tried this at home have mixed reactions. Some say it's a dead ringer for Baja Blast, especially when served cold and fizzy. Others think the homemade version gets you about 80% of the way there, but lacks some of the sharper tropical notes. I'd say it may depend on the brand of lemon-lime soda or sports drink you use; Even subtle differences in sweetness and citrus flavor can affect the final result. Still, if you're craving that signature taste and don't want to make a Taco Bell run, this version will do the job, at least to some degree.

One of the best parts about making your own Baja Blast at home is being able to adjust it to your personal taste. If you want your drink on the sweeter side, you can add more Mountain Dew. For more of a citrus kick, you could just add extra Sprite — but some people even add a little pineapple juice or lime juice to bring out more of the tropical flavors. It won't be identical to the Taco Bell version, but it might actually taste better depending on what you like.

This drink also works great as a base for slushies or frozen cocktails if you're looking to use it for parties or weekend treats. Just blend it with ice, or freeze the mix into cubes and run them through a blender. It's a quick way to turn a nostalgic flavor into something new and refreshing.

And, while it's not officially branded Baja Blast, mixing your own at home is definitely easier on your wallet. The ingredients are simple to find, and you'll likely have plenty left over to make multiple servings. Lastly, doing it this way is much cheaper than tracking down a six-pack of the Baja Blast bottled stuff or giving in to buying Taco Bell.