By Becky Hardin
Updated Sep 22, 2025
Homemade Lemonade is easy to prepare and makes all the difference in the heat of summer. This freshly squeezed lemonade recipe is simple and pure, with only 3 ingredients! I love to serve it on hot days, at summer parties, or any time I need a quick refresher!
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Easy Homemade Lemonade Recipe
I honestly think this homemade lemonade recipe is the BEST! It’s so fresh, so simple, and it only takes three ingredients to whip up a pitcher. I usually squeeze the lemons myself because nothing beats that bright, tangy flavor, but if I’m in a pinch, I’ll grab unsweetened bottled lemon juice and it still turns out great.
On a hot summer day, there’s nothing I love more than pouring myself a glass of ice-cold lemonade—it’s the ultimate refresher. I make it all the time for potlucks, BBQs, or just to keep in the fridge for those afternoons when I need something cool and satisfying. And when I’m in the mood to switch things up, I’ll even make lavender lemonade for a fun little twist.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1¼ cups granulated sugar (if using ultrafine sugar, see note)
- ▢ 4½ cups water divided
- ▢ 1¼ cups fresh-squeezed lemon juice from 5-7 lemons
Video
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, over medium heat, whisk together sugar and 1½ cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and stir often until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool. 1¼ cups granulated sugar, 4½ cups water
- Strain the lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a 2-quart pitcher. 1¼ cups fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- Add 3 more cups of water and the sugar/water simple syrup. Stir well and adjust to taste, if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve. 4½ cups water
- Serve in glasses filled with ice and garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint leaves. Enjoy!
Becky’s Tips
- If you use ultra-fine sugar instead of granulated sugar , you don’t need to make a syrup first. You can just mix everything .
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Homemade Lemonade Step by Step
Make the simple syrup : Whisk 1¼ cups granulated sugar and 4½ cups water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool.
Strain the juice: Strain 1¼ cups fresh-squeezed lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a 2-quart pitcher.
Add water: Add 3 more cups of water and the sugar/water simple syrup to the lemon juice and stir well. Adjust to taste, if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Serve: Serve in glasses filled with ice and garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint leaves. Enjoy!
How to Store
Store leftover lemonade in an airtight container or glass jar in the fridge for 5-7 days. Give it a good stir before serving in case the sugar has fallen to the bottom.
Serving Suggestions
Nothing pairs better with a cold, refreshing glass of lemonade than a batch of gooey s’mores cookies or sweet chocolate sugar cookies . For a savory twist, I also love serving it with corn fritters or a hearty steak sandwich !
more lemonade recipes
Peach Lemonade
Strawberry Lemonade
Raspberry Lemonade
Lemonade Cleanse (Master Cleanse Recipe)
Homemade Lemonade Recipe
Ingredients
- 1¼ cups granulated sugar (if using ultrafine sugar, see note)
- 4½ cups water divided
- 1¼ cups fresh-squeezed lemon juice from 5-7 lemons
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, over medium heat, whisk together sugar and 1½ cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and stir often until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool. 1¼ cups granulated sugar, 4½ cups water
- Strain the lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a 2-quart pitcher. 1¼ cups fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- Add 3 more cups of water and the sugar/water simple syrup. Stir well and adjust to taste, if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve. 4½ cups water
- Serve in glasses filled with ice and garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint leaves. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- If you use ultra-fine sugar instead of granulated sugar , you don’t need to make a syrup first. You can just mix everything .
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
