Watermelon Mint Lemonade (Chick-Fil-A Copycat)
Published Date: June 1, 2023
Watermelon Mint Lemonade is a simple and deliciously refreshing 3-ingredient drink inspired by the seasonal Chick-Fil-A summer beverage!
Chick-Fil-A Copycat Watermelon Mint Lemonade
This Chick-Fil-A Watermelon Mint Lemonade is the ultimate copycat drink for summer! A fun and fruity twist on the classic, it’s sure to delight your taste buds and your guests!
Now, I don’t know about you guys, but there are three things my kids love:
- Chick-Fil-A
- Fruity drinks (on the rare occasion they get to have them)
- Keeping me busy
Thankfully, this recipe satisfies both their CFA Lemonade cravings while also allowing me to skip the work of homemade lemonade and the cost of a gallon of lemonade 😅
I personally found the restaurant version to be a bit too much. The intensity of the flavors was overwhelming, so I wanted to create a version that was similar but a bit more palatable.
Homemade Watermelon Mint Lemonade
This homemade watermelon mint lemonade combines sweet watermelon juice with a tart lemonade and has a cooling mint finish. The hint of mint is not overly potent but noticeable and enjoyable. It’s truly a refreshing summer treat!
Watermelon Mint Lemonade Ingredients
- Fresh Mint
- Simply Watermelon Juice
- Lemonade
For time and sanity’s sake, I used storebought watermelon juice and lemonade, which made this a quick and easy 3-ingredient recipe that was ready in just a couple of minutes.
I used The Simply brand products, which are easy to find at Target or Walmart, and some other supermarkets.
From-Scratch Variation
If you have the time, you can make this with fresh lemon juice, good Old Fashioned Lemonade, and fresh watermelon juice. Add the watermelon to a blender and blend, then strain it through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any pulp and seeds.
If you go this route, you may want to add additional simple syrup (which you can prepare with the mint leaves for a stronger mint flavor).
How To Make Watermelon Mint Lemonade
Step 1: Muddle the mint in a 12-ounce (or larger) glass. This will release the oils that add flavor to the drink.
Step 2: Add in the lemonade and the watermelon juice.
Step 4: Add ice and garnish. We love garnishing with more mint sprigs, watermelon wedges, and lemon slices!
Pitcher Version
This recipe can easily be scaled up for a large group! Simply multiply the ingredients by the number of servings you plan to serve!
Watermelon Mint Iced Tea
To make this recipe, simply swap the lemonade out with your favorite store-bought or freshly-brewed iced tea! Just note that you may want to use a sweetened iced tea for a sweeter sip! but unsweetened would be lovely and super refreshing too!
Stronger Mint Variation
Combine 1 cup water and 1 cup granulated sugar with a bunch of fresh mint (0.66 ounces) in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, then let lightly simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature before straining and using.
Add to taste, noting that it will also make the drink sweeter. If making without homemade lemonade, you can use this simple syrup in place of regular simple syrup for a more minty finish.
I actually feature my Mint Simple Syrup in my new cookbook, Party Drinks! It makes a delicious lemonade all on its own!
Watermelon Mint Lemonade FAQs
Chick-Fil-A makes theirs with water, lemon juice, sugar, vegetable glycerine, natural flavors (including mint), watermelon juice concentrate, vegetable juice, citric acid, and sea salt.
Since the Simply Watermelon Juice contains real lemon juice and some cherry juice, I would say it’s almost a perfect substitute for the Chick-Fil-A version and way easier than making it from scratch.
Chick-Fil-A’s Sunjoy drink is a mix of lemonade and iced tea. It’s basically an Arnold Palmer. To make a Watermelon Mint version, you can replace half of the lemonade in this recipe with iced tea.
In this case, the watermelon shines, and the mint is more like a smooth aftertaste than the main show.
Pure cane sugar, which is likely simmered with water to make a simple syrup for easy mixing.
You could, but it can be very strong, and a little goes a long way. I really recommend using fresh mint or making mint simple syrup for the best flavor.
Easy Watermelon Mint Lemonade
INGREDIENTS
- 8 fresh mint
- 6 ounces lemonade we use Simply or Newman's Own
- 6 ounces watermelon juice we use Simply brand
- ice
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a large glass, muddle 8 fresh mint leaves to release the oils.
- Pour in 6 ounces lemonade and 6 ounces watermelon juice.
- Stir and fill the rest of the way with ice and garnish with extra mint and watermelon slices if desired.
