This post may include affiliate links.
This watermelon lemonade recipe is easy and bursting with sweet-tart flavor! It’s ready in 10 minutes and perfect for barbecues, picnics, and pool days.
When it comes to summer drinks, there’s nothing better than a big pitcher of fresh squeezed lemonade. Lemonade with real lemons has tangy sweet flavor that’s unparalleled. Here’s a summery spin for barbecues and picnics that’s even better than the classic: watermelon lemonade!
Grab a ripe, juicy melon and it’s absolute perfection paired with citrus. I have this weird obsession with watermelon drinks in the summer (like a margarita, mule, smoothie, and juice), and this is one of my favorite.
Ingredients in Watermelon Lemonade
Many lemonade recipes call for simmering a simple syrup on the stove. But we prefer no-cook lemonade that you can blend up in minutes. (Assuming you do, too!) All you need for this recipe are a few simple ingredients and a blender:
- Ripe watermelon: A sweet, in-season melon is required here (more on picking a good one is below).
- Fresh lemon juice: Juice squeezed from real lemons gives it that bright tang (never use bottled juice here).
- Granulated sugar: Just enough to round out the tartness. You can swap in honey, agave, or maple syrup.
- Water and ice: The ice does double duty, chilling the pitcher instantly so there’s no wait time.
How To Find a Ripe Watermelon
It might go without saying, but only make this watermelon lemonade when you know you can get the best ripe fruit! Making it out of season is not recommended. Here are a few tips for picking a great melon:
- Shop in watermelon season. Buy your melon during watermelon season, or you’ll end up with a tart version of this fruit. (We’ve done it, and it’s not pretty!)
- Look for the field spot. Look for a lighter spot where the watermelon rested in the field: it’s called a field spot. If the field spot is white, it’s unripe; if the spot is yellow, it’s ripe.
How to Make Watermelon Lemonade
All you have to do for watermelon lemonade is blend a quick watermelon juice, strain it, and then add the remaining ingredients and blend again. Here’s what to know about the process (jump to the recipe below for quantities):
- Blend the watermelon first, then strain it. Chop the melon, blend it to a liquid, then pour it through a fine mesh sieve. Straining helps to make the watermelon juice into a clear liquid.
- Add the lemon juice, sugar, and ice, then blend again. This second blend dissolves the sugar and folds everything together. Pour into a pitcher, stir once, and taste.
Pro Tip
Blending the ice at the end is a quick way to make a chilled pitcher of lemonade, no chill time required! It’s a hack so you don’t have to wait hours for it to cool in the refrigerator.
How to Make a Big-Batch Watermelon Lemonade Pitcher
The watermelon lemonade recipe makes 4 servings at once. If you’re making it for a party, we’d recommend making a double recipe. But keep the following in mind:
- You’ll need a large blender, or to make it in 2 batches. We use a large high speed blender, and it was completely full when we made the 8 serving pitcher.
- Double the quantities: click the 2x button! It’s on the recipe below, across from the word “Ingredients”.
How to Store Watermelon Lemonade
Watermelon lemonade is best the day you make it, but you can store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days. If it separates, give it a good stir before drinking.
Variations on Homemade Lemonade
I’ve made just about every homemade lemonade variation! Here are some others you might enjoy:
- Classic: Make Fresh Lemonade or add bubbles for Sparkling Lemonade.
- Berry: Mix up Strawberry Lemonade, Blueberry Lemonade, Raspberry Lemonade, or Pink Lemonade
- Veggie or Fruit: Go for Cucumber Lemonade, Mint Lemonade, Basil Lemonade, Peach Lemonade or Ginger Lemonade
- Boozy: Make Vodka Lemonade, Bourbon Lemonade or Spiked Lemonade
Dietary Notes
This watermelon lemonade recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
It tastes juicy and mellow from the melon, and bright and tangy from the lemon. It’s less sharp than lemonade and more refreshing than watermelon juice (in my opinion, it’s the perfect combination!).
Yes. Puree the watermelon in a food processor, or mash very ripe melon through a fine mesh sieve with the back of a spoon to extract the juice, then stir in the lemon juice, sugar, and cold water until the sugar dissolves.
You can. You can also use maple syrup or agave syrup. I would use a 1:1 swap.
Easy Watermelon Lemonade
This watermelon lemonade recipe is simple and bursting with sweet-tart flavor! It’s ready in 10 minutes and perfect for barbecues, picnics, and pool days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 drinks 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Blended
- Cuisine: Lemonade
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 4 cups* cubed ripe seedless watermelon (about 1/2 8-pound watermelon)
- ¾ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (3 to 4 large lemons)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups ice
- Ice and fresh mint, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Chop the watermelon. Place it in a blender and blend until liquid. Strain the liquid with a fine mesh sieve back into the blender.
- Juice the lemons. Add the lemon juice, sugar and ice and blend again until smooth. Pour into a pitcher. Serve garnished with watermelon and lemon slices, and a few additional ice cubes. Leftovers store up to 3 days refrigerated.
Notes
*For a large pitcher of 8 servings, double all ingredients (press the 2x button). You’ll need a large blender, or to make it in batches.
how long does this drink last
I would drink within 24 hours.
I would like to make a Watermelon drink for about 40 peoples they are all Seniors and so at cocktail hour I have some with liquor and some without. I was wondering about freezing a slushie with watermelon is this possible and how much of what would I need
Thanks
That sounds great but we haven’t tested it out as a slushie so I’m not sure. You could try basing it on this: https://www.acouplecooks.com/watermelon-slushie/
Could I use raw honey in place of the sugar?
Yes! I’d start with a little less and add it to taste since it’s such a strong flavor.
Let us know if you have any questions!