This 3-Ingredient Watermelon Lemonade will be the star of the summer! The flavor is perfectly balanced with tart lemon and sweet watermelon and you can whip this tasty beverage up in a snap. A blender makes quick work of the watermelon and lemon and helps dissolve the sugar for a smooth, refreshing treat to enjoy all season long.
Lemonade is a classic summer treat, but this version is next level. The watermelon makes a rosy-hued drink that belongs at your bridal showers, pool parties, barbecues, and any other warm-weather gathering. Just like this Basil Lemonade, it's an extra special way to serve a classic sipper in the summer months.
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Ingredients
I include ingredient notes here when I think they'll be helpful, including ways to source, any preparation tips, or why I've chosen a particular ingredient. Be sure to check out the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and their quantities!
- Watermelon - Pick a juicy watermelon that will be full of flavor. Choose one with a yellow "field spot" and wide, dark green stripes. You can use a seeded watermelon if you can find one, just remove the seeds before blending.
- Lemon - The whole lemon will be used for this recipe, minus the peel. Choose one that is heavy for its size. We are getting a lot of seedless lemons in the stores lately, and these make prep a breeze. If you have a standard lemon, remove the seeds before blending.
- Sugar - Granulated sugar adds sweetness without any other flavors that will compete with the watermelon and lemon.
Instructions
Remove the white and green rind from watermelon slices and chop the watermelon into pieces. You need 8 ounces of watermelon, about 2 cups. Cut the ends off of the lemon and use a knife to remove the skin from the lemon from top to bottom.
Once the lemon is peeled, chop it into chunks. We used a seedless lemon here, but this is when you'd want to remove any lemon seeds from the fruit.
Add the watermelon pieces, lemon pieces, and the granulated sugar to a blender.
Blend the watermelon mixture well, for up to a minute, to completely puree the fruit and dissolve the sugar.
Add the watermelon and lemon puree to a carafe or small pitcher. This puree is a lemonade concentrate that is diluted with water for serving.
Add 16 ounces (2 cups) of water to the puree. Stir well and serve over ice.
Substitutions and Variations
The substitutions listed below have been tested in this recipe and work well. If you successfully make any other ingredient substitutions, let us know in the comments!
- Make Sparkling Watermelon Lemonade - Once you have your lemon and watermelon puree, you can add it to sparkling water instead of still water for a sparkling lemonade.
- Swap Lime for Lemon - Watermelon limeade is just as delicious as watermelon lemonade. Slice the peel off enough limes to equal about ⅓ cup of chopped lime pieces. You may have to add a bit more sugar or sweetener to balance out the acidity of the limes. Experiment to find your perfect balance of sweet and tart.
- Cocktails for the Grownups - Use the watermelon and lemon concentrate to make a watermelon cocktail for the grownups. Add 1 ½ ounces of rum, vodka, or tequila to a glass filled with ice. Top off the glass with the lemonade concentrate and stir well to mix.
Equipment
You only need a couple of pieces of kitchen equipment to make preparation of this pretty lemonade a snap:
- Chef's Knife - An 8- or 10-inch chef's knife is an essential tool in any kitchen. IIt makes quick work of breaking down the watermelon and removing the rind. It's also great for slicing off the skin of the lemons.
- Single-Serve Blender - A small blender fits the watermelon, lemon, and sugar in this lemonade concentrate perfectly! It's also a great tool for sauces and marinades that might get lost in a larger blender pitcher. Bullet blenders or smoothie blenders are perfectly sized and offer great power for breaking down ingredients into a smooth puree. You can also use a standard blender for this recipe.
Serving Suggestions
Pour the watermelon lemonade over a glass full of ice. Garnish it with lemon wheels, wedges, or thin watermelon sticks.
Make This Recipe Kid Friendly
This recipe is perfect for summer days and the kids love the pretty pink color and watermelon twist on basic lemonade. Have the kids help! Once you slice the rinds off of the watermelon with a sharp knife, a butter knife will easily cut the watermelon slices into cubes. This is a great way to teach basic knife skills to younger chefs.
Make-Ahead Options
Prepare the watermelon, lemon, and sugar puree ahead of time and store this concentrate in the refrigerator to make a single serving of the watermelon lemonade whenever the craving strikes. The concentrate will last in the refrigerator for up to three days when stored in an airtight jar or carafe.
FAQ
Absolutely! This watermelon lemonade would be a hit at summer pool parties, barbecues, or graduation parties. Use the 1x-2x-3x buttons in the recipe card to double or triple the recipe to serve a crowd. You can also make the concentrated lemonade and store that in the refrigerator without the added water to save space.
Feel free to use your preferred sweetener to make the lemonade. Regular granulated sugar adds sweetness, of course, but it also adds body to the watermelon lemonade which makes it my favorite choice. If you use artificial sweetener, swap it according to the package recommendations. You can also use 3 tablespoons of honey in place of the 4 tablespoons of sugar for a similar level of sweetness.
With a powerful blender, no straining of the watermelon puree is needed. The blender can break down the lemon pulp as well as the watermelon so that the finished lemonade is smooth and sweet. If you find that your blender creates a grainy lemonade, you can strain the concentrated watermelon puree using a mesh strainer.
Summer Favorites
Watermelon lemonade is a perfect way to celebrate summer. If you want a few more seasonal recipe ideas, check out these tasty options:
Savory and Sweet Lemon Recipes
Lemon brightens up all sorts of recipes, from beverages and dessert to savory main dishes. Try any of the recipes below to add that tart and fresh flavor to your menu:
Try It and Share
I hope you try this 3-Ingredient Watermelon Lemonade and enjoy the recipe as much as we do. I want to see your results! Tag your photo with #planeatpostrepeat and mention me @planeatpostrepeat on Instagram or Facebook. I can give you a virtual high five and thank you for cooking one of my recipes! Comment below with any questions and please leave a review so others can find this recipe more easily.
Recipe
Easy 3-Ingredient Watermelon Lemonade
Equipment
- mini blender or standard blender
Ingredients
- 1 lemon
- 8 oz watermelon (about 2 cups of pieces)
- 4 tablespoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- Use a knife to cut off the ends of the lemon. Then slice away all of the lemon peel, leaving only the lemon flesh. Cut this into chunks, removing any seeds.
- Slice the watermelon and remove the white and green rind. Cut the watermelon into small pieces.
- Add the lemon chunks, watermelon pieces, and the sugar to a blender.
- Blend for about one minute, until the lemon is completely blended and the sugar is well dissolved. Transfer the puree to a serving pitcher.
- Add 16 ounces (2 cups) of water. Stir the lemonade well and serve over ice.
Nutrition facts are sometimes provided below and are calculated using an online calculator. With specific brands of ingredients and additions, omissions, or substitutions the nutrition facts may change. We encourage you to use your own nutrition facts calculator to obtain the most accurate nutrition facts for your meal.
Cassie Waltman says
We love to make tis sweet treat all summer long!