Chick-fil-A Lemonade Recipe

Freshly squeezed lemonade is an iconic drink for a reason, and this copycat Chick-fil-A lemonade is the best of the best! Tart, sweet, and refreshing, this fresh lemonade recipe has just three simple ingredients and is the perfect easy summer treat, especially on those extra hot days.

Can you believe I’ve never had a classic lemonade recipe on my site before? I have Strawberry Kiwi Lemonade and Blue Raspberry Lemonade, but no plain lemonade! And while I love fun variations, sometimes you just want that regular lemonade taste. Complete the Chick-fil-A lemonade experience by serving a glass of lemonade alongside some Air Fryer Chicken Tenders and Waffle Fries, or pair it with some lemony desserts like Lemon Bars or Lemon Cupcakes for an extra dose of lemony goodness.

Why This Recipe Works

• Simple and delicious. The main ingredients in Chick-fil-A lemonade copycat recipe are real lemon juice, water, sugar, and ice. And while some lemonade recipes require you to make a simple syrup, this one doesn’t! It could not be easier, or tastier. The key is to use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor.
• Perfect for any occasion. Lemonade is such a classic and well-loved drink. I think it’s made at appearance at 90% of events I’ve been to. Weddings, birthday parties, baby showers, barbecues, and so on. And of course, it’s basically the only thing I want to drink on hot summer days. Once you take a sip, you’ll see why!

Chick-fil-A Lemonade Ingredients

• Fresh lemon juice: You need a lot of lemons for lemonade, but squeezing them yourself is a MUST. For the most delicious lemonade, bottled lemon juice just won’t cut it. This is true of any juice—freshly squeezed juice will always taste better. Make it easy by using an electric juicer. I use the Breville Citrus Press.
• Water: Fresh lemon juice is too tart to drink on its own, so we water it down. But not too much! This homemade lemonade still packs a punch. 
• Granulated sugar: Real sugar is the best way to get plenty of sweetness in this Chick-fil-A lemonade recipe, but if you are looking to cut back on your sugar intake, it is an adaptable ingredient. I do not recommend substituting brown sugar.
• Ice: Lemonade is best served chilled, but you can definitely skip the ice and just pop your lemonade in the fridge if you plan to serve it later.

How to Make Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

1. Juice lemons. You need 1½ cups of lemon juice. An average lemon typically yields 2-3 tablespoons of juice, so you’ll need to juice between 8-10 fresh lemons. If you have large lemons, you may not need as many, so make sure to measure as you go along. Once you’ve got all the freshly squeezed lemon juice you need, pour it into a large pitcher. 
2. Add sugar. Add sugar to the pitcher with the lemon juice. I like my own version of Chick-fil-A lemonade to be a little sweeter, so I add a heaping 1 cup of granulated sugar. If you prefer your lemonade more tart, add 1 level cup.
3. Add water. Pour 4 cups of cold water into the pitcher and stir all the ingredients together until dissolved. 
4. Add ice and serve. Add 2 cups of ice to the pitcher and serve. If you want to skip adding ice, add an additional 1 cup of water. Taste your lemonade and adjust it by adding more sugar or water until you get that iconic taste right. You can also thinly slice a lemon and throw the slices in for prettiness, but make sure to wash them first.

Recipe Tips

Thin slices of lemon are totally optional in lemonade, but if you want to add them, wash them first! The same way you would wash any fruit before eating it. 

Chick-fil-A also has many famous lemonade variations. While I haven’t tested out any copycat recipes for the different Chick-fil-A lemonade flavors, there are a lot of ways to mix it up with this basic lemonade recipe! After you make the classic recipe, here are a few variations to try next time:

• Berry lemonade: Blend 1½ cups of berries with freshly squeezed lemon juice before adding sugar and water. Straining out seeds and pulp is optional. Use strawberries for strawberry lemonade, blueberries for blueberry lemonade, and so on. You can also use a combination of a few different berries. 
• Cucumber lemonade: Blend 1 peeled and sliced cucumber with water and lemon juice. Strain out the pulp, then add sugar. I find this one particularly refreshing in the summer!
• Melonade: Add 5 cups of chopped melon (watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, or a combination) to your lemonade and blend. Straining out pulp is optional.
• Sparkling lemonade: Add sparkling water instead of regular water.

With any of these variations, you’ll want to taste and adjust the sweetness to your liking. Feel free to get really creative with other fruits and flavors. I think adding extra fruity flavor with peaches, cherries, or pineapple would be delicious!

For a copycat Chick-fil-A frosted lemonade, blend this lemonade with some scoops of your favorite vanilla ice cream!

Make this lemonade into delicious popsicles by freezing it in popsicle molds.

Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing

Make Ahead: Lemonade will stay good in the fridge for 5-7 days. It’s perfect to make in advance, just don’t add the ice until you plan to serve. 

Storing: Store leftover lemonade covered in the fridge. If your pitcher has a lid, great, if not, cover the top with plastic wrap or transfer the lemonade to a different container. 

Freezing: You can definitely freeze lemonade! In fact, if you really want to plan ahead, make two batches of this lemonade and freeze one into ice cubes. Then use the lemonade ice cubes for your lemonade so it doesn’t get watered down! You could also freeze lemonade and use to to make a lemonade slush or lemon ice pops. Yum! Freeze for up to 6 months.

Recipe FAQs

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