Refreshing Watermelon Limeade

This Watermelon Limeade is a tasty twist on traditional limeade and a refreshing drink to beat the summer heat. With sweet watermelon blended with tangy lime, this vibrant beverage is a cool and fruity treat for a hot summer day. And if you prefer a fizzy drink, you can easily make this a sparkling watermelon limeade, too. {If you enjoy watermelon recipes, check out my recipe for this cool Watermelon and Cucumber Salad}.

This summer sure has been a hot one, and spending more than a few minutes outside makes me feel like I’m about to wilt. I’m always looking for ways to stay cool and keep hydrated. For me, sipping on a thirst-quenching beverage is essential so I can enjoy time outdoors, working in my garden, or spending time outside with family. 

And while I drink my share of water and sports drinks during the summer, I like to have a little variety in my beverages. And this Watermelon Limeade is something a little special, maybe even a little fancy. It’s perfect for lounging by the pool, hosting a barbecue, or when you’re simply looking for a summertime treat. 

I tried this recipe out on my family and it was a huge hit. It’s a new family favorite for sure, and I love how easy it is to make with just a few simple ingredients. 

Ingredients for Watermelon Limeade:

Watermelon – Use the juiciest, sweetest watermelon you can find. You can cut up your own watermelon for this, or take a shortcut and buy it already cut into chunks from the store. 

Fresh Limes – While you can use bottled lime juice in this recipe, freshly squeezed lime juice is so much nicer. Plus, if you use fresh limes, you can include the grated lime zest for extra zing!

Honey or Simple Syrup – I love the flavor of honey in this limeade recipe. But you can also make simple syrup from sugar to use instead.

Salt – Just a pinch of any kind of salt is all you need. I like to use Celtic sea salt [affl link]. 

Water – Use regular cold water. Or use sparkling water or seltzer for a sparkling watermelon limeade (this is my personal favorite!).

Ice Cubes – Either crushed ice or ice cubes will work.

Fresh Mint, Lime Slices, and Sugar to Rim the Glass (optional) – These are optional ingredients to use as garnishes. if I’m feelin’ fancy, I like to rub a slice of lime around the rim of my glass and then dip it in sugar before filling it. Then I garnish with a lime slice and a sprig of mint. 

Tips for making this recipe:

Use fresh watermelon. You could use bottled watermelon juice. But when watermelons are ripe and juicy in the summer, fresh is the way to go. Fresh watermelon has no preservatives and tastes so much better in this recipe. If watermelon is out of season, or you want a shortcut, feel free to use bottled watermelon juice.

Blend the watermelon. Use a good electric blender to blend the watermelon thoroughly. I prefer to leave my watermelon juice with the pulp, but if you want your juice to be extra smooth, you can strain it through a sieve. 

Use fresh limes including the zest. Just as with watermelon, fresh is best. Bottled lime juice is OK in a pinch, but fresh lime juice tastes better and you get to use the delicious limey zest, too!

Use good quality honey. If you opt to use honey in this recipe, use a good one. Not all honey is created equal, so use honey that tastes delicious. I like something floral like wildflower honey, but use whatever honey you prefer. 

Adjust the amount of water. My husband likes his full strength with only ice and no added water. I prefer mine with both water and ice. Use more or less water to suit your taste. 

Make it sparkle. I am a big fan of sparkling beverages, so I often use seltzer or sparkling water in this recipe. You can even use flavored sparkling water if you like. But it’s delicious with regular still water, too. The choice is yours. 

Make it frozen. Freeze the watermelon cubes and blend it with the ice to make this a refreshing frozen limeade.

Make it a cocktail. If you enjoy an adult beverage, feel free to add a shot of vodka, tequila, or rum.

Add salt. Don’t skip the salt. Adding just a small pinch of salt will make the flavors pop. 

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So that’s all there is to making this refreshing Watermelon Limeade. If you make it, I hope you love it. And don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram so you don’t miss a post. 

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