This crowd-pleasing watermelon lemonade is refreshing and the ultimate summer drink! This recipe yields a huge pitcher, so it’s perfect for summer barbecues, parties, and picnics. Made with fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and seedless watermelon, it’s exploding with watermelon flavor.
In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and lemon peel. Bring to a simmer over medium-heat and cook, whisking occasionally, until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 5 minutes.
Remove pan from heat and set aside to cool for at least 1 hour before use. Once cool, strain through a fine-mesh strainer and discard lemon peel.
Use at once, or cover and store in the refrigerator until needed, up to 2 weeks.
For the Watermelon Lemonade:
Place the watermelon in a blender or food processor and pulse until well pureed. Pour through a fine mesh strainer and into a large bowl.
In a large pitcher, combine the simple syrup, watermelon juice, water, and lemon juice. Stir well to combine and chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
When ready to serve, fill tall glasses halfway with ice. Pour the watermelon lemonade on top of the ice, and garnish each glass with a tiny wedge of watermelon, a lemon slice, and a sprig of fresh mint, if using. Serve at once!