Ninja Slushi XL review: This frozen drink machine is the ultimate party hack

As someone who lives on the East Coast, I embrace each season deeply. I like warm chai lattes in fall, piping-hot toddies in winter and anything frozen once temperatures start rising. So when my editor asked if I'd test-drive Ninja's virally famous frozen drink machine, the Slushi, I — like a kid at the pool on a hot day — couldn't wait to dive in. It turns out my excitement was warranted: This $350 slushie maker is well worth the price.

I review a lot of countertop appliances (like cold brew makers and iced coffee machines ), usually solo. But for this Ninja Slushi XL review, I decided to make it a communal activity, rallying family members and friends to join the party. I used the smart frozen drink maker to churn out and serve Taco Bell-inspired soda slushies, Dairy Queen-worthy milkshakes and frozen sangria for those 21 and older. Keep scrolling for more on what went into making these delicacies, and ultimately why I'm calling the Ninja Slushi XL one of the must-have appliances for this summer. (It may even replace your Ninja Creami !)

Ninja Slushi XL review for 2026

What I liked about the Ninja Slushi XL

✅ It's user-friendly.One thing I appreciate about Ninja products is their user-friendliness, and the Ninja Slushi XL is no exception. It came with a quick-start guide, plus stickers highlighting important sections and reminders. Aside from my needing to attach the included drip tray, it arrived fully assembled. With the auger (mixer) and clear outer tank secured and the machine plugged in, all I had to do was pour cold liquid into the designated slot at the top, then press the button for my desired drink setting. Once the machine was ready, a small digital display read "enjoy," and I just pulled on the lever to serve my creation.

✅ It's versatile:The Slushi XL has six drink settings, each optimized to different temperatures and consistencies. There's Slush (for regular sodas and juices), Spiked Slush (for alcoholic beverages with an ABV between 2.8% and 15%), Spiked Slush Max (up to 20% ABV), Milkshake (for shakes and frappés) and Frozen Juice (for natural juices). The machine also offers a SlushAssist mode that automatically detects the liquid type in the tank and adjusts the temperature and freeze time accordingly (though this can take 10 to 15 minutes). While one of the beauties of this frozen drink maker is that you can set it and forget it, there's also a digital dial with 15 temperature settings for making your beverage warmer (more liquid) or colder (thicker), depending on your preference.

✅ It's efficient:The Ninja Slushi XL's tank lets you churn out up to 128 ounces (or 16 eight-ounce cups) of icy-cold beverages at a time, typically in under an hour. I tested the timing by making 24 ounces each of three different types of drinks:

• Soda slushie (filled to the lower fill line, set to the Slush function): 29 minutes

• Frozen sangria (filled to the max fill line, set to Spiked Slush): 34 minutes

• Vanilla milkshakes (filled to the max fill line, set to Milkshake): 30 minutes

My fellow testers and I found the slushie and milkshake to be at a desirable texture about 10 minutes before the machine signaled they were ready, so you may not even need that much time if you're in a hurry or prefer a thinner texture.

✅ It's low-maintenance.The Ninja Slushi XL doesn't require ice and is designed to preserve a drink's temperature and texture for up to 12 hours. When you've devoured every last sip of your icy-cold beverage, it's also super easy to clean. Fill the tank with enough water to cover the auger, then press "Rinse Cycle." Then remove the outer tank, auger and drip trays for hand-washing and wipe the metal cylinder under the auger with a damp towel.

✅ It's fun!It might be stating the obvious, but I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that the Ninja Slushi XL is an excellent party trick. I set it up on my parents' deck for the frozen sangria, and what would have been a typical evening felt like a special occasion — even the neighbors wanted in! My tween niece and I had a Baja blast (sorry, couldn't help it), making Mountain Dew slushies, and my stepdad was first in line for the milkshake, inquiring about my "secret recipe."

What I didn't like about the Ninja Slushi XL

❌ It's heavy.At 38 pounds, the Ninja Slushi XL is not for the weak. I was able to carry it on my own, including up deck steps, but I wouldn't plan to move it around a lot if you can help it. The downside to having such a high capacity is that this machine is also large, nearly 20 inches tall and 17 inches long. It will require a good amount of counter or storage space (but it's still much more streamlined than what you typically see bartenders using).

❌ It doesn't do hot liquids or solids. If you want to make a frappé or another frozen coffee beverage (perhaps a frozen espresso martini?), you'll need to chill the espresso before adding it to the machine. Unlike with an ice cream maker , you can't add any solids to the Ninja Slushi XL, such as chocolate chips or other mix-ins. (To get around this, I used a spoon to swirl crushed Oreos into a few of the milkshakes after I poured them. This compromised the texture only slightly and was easy peasy.)

❌ It's a sugar fiend.For your drink to freeze properly, it must contain a total sugar content of 4% to 4.5% by weight (roughly 11 grams of sugar per 8-ounce serving). If it doesn't, the machine will display an "add sugar" alert. I didn't run into this during testing because I didn't use low-sugar drinks like diet soda. But if you do, the brand recommends adding 1 tablespoon of liquid allulose per 4 ounces of liquid.

❌ It's pricey.At $350, the Ninja Slushi XL is definitely a splurge, but it could be a worthwhile investment, especially if you love to buy slushies, milkshakes and frozen cocktails. And if you host a lot of people, it's a no-brainer because it serves as a drink maker and entertainment in one!

How I tested the Ninja Slushi XL

I put Ninja Slushi XL's through its paces by whipping up three frozen drinks with very different bases: 

• Soda slushie:I used Mountain Dew Baja Blast to create a Taco Bell-inspired Baja Blast Freeze and test the Slush setting. 

• Frozen sangria:I used bottled Yellow Tail Sangria to test the Spiked Slush setting.

• Milkshake:Following a recipe in the included recipe book, I used a mixture of 2½ cups chilled whole milk, ½ cup chilled heavy cream, ½ cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract to test the Milkshake setting.

Ninja Slushi vs. Ninja Slushi XL

The original Slushi made waves when it launched in 2024, and Ninja has since introduced several models with larger capacities. Here's a side-by-side look at the Slushi vs. the Slushi XL:

Is the Ninja Slushi XL worth buying?

She's a little bougie and definitely has a sweet tooth, but the Ninja Slushi XL is a worthy investment for someone who enjoys frozen drinks and will use this machine regularly. With long-term use, you may even save money on trips to Playa Bowls, ice cream shops and the like. Though I felt a little intimidated by the machine at first, I couldn't believe how easy it was to use and clean, and how quickly it churned out a range of drinks to icy, creamy perfection. And judging by how enamored my mom's neighbors were, I can imagine this would be a hit at any gathering!

We receive complimentary samples of some products and purchase others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.