✔ Updated · new copycat recipe with step photos
This copycat Chick-fil-A lemonade is as simple as it gets: fresh lemon juice, sugar and cold water. Squeezing the lemons yourself is what makes it taste bright and a little cloudy, just like the cup you get with your nuggets.
How Do You Make Chick-fil-A Lemonade? (Quick Answer)
Squeeze 8 to 10 lemons for 1 1/4 cups of juice. Stir in 1 cup sugar until it dissolves, then add 6 1/2 cups cold water. Pour over ice and serve.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Dissolve the sugar in the lemon juice before adding water. It melts much faster in the acid.
Why You'll Love This Lemonade
- Only 3 ingredients lemons, sugar and water.
- Fresh squeezed bright and a little cloudy.
- No cooking no simple syrup needed.
- Easy to adjust more or less sugar, your call.
- Party pitcher makes 2 quarts.
What Is Chick-fil-A Lemonade?
It's the fresh lemonade Chick-fil-A makes in house from lemon juice, sugar and water. It's tart, sweet and a favorite with a chicken sandwich.
At home you need a citrus juicer, a pitcher and about 15 minutes.
Ingredient Notes
Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.
- Lemons: pick heavy, thin skinned lemons for the most juice.
- Cane sugar: regular granulated sugar dissolves easily in the juice.
- Cold water: filtered water gives the cleanest taste.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Roll the lemons. Pressing them on the counter first gets more juice out.
- Room temperature lemons. Cold lemons give less juice.
- Keep a little pulp. It gives the cloudy look of the restaurant lemonade.
- Diet version. Swap the sugar for your favorite sweetener to taste.
- Frosted lemonade. Blend 1 cup lemonade with 2 scoops vanilla ice cream.
- At our table. Max is head lemon squeezer, and he guards the juicer all summer.
Chick-fil-A Lemonade
8
cups15
minutes0
minutes110
kcal15
minutesA copycat Chick-fil-A lemonade made with only three ingredients: fresh squeezed lemon juice, cane sugar and cold water, stirred until the sugar dissolves and poured over ice. Makes about 2 quarts.
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups fresh lemon juice (from 8 to 10 lemons)
1 cup granulated cane sugar
6 1/2 cups cold water
as needed ice, for serving
optional lemon wheels, for garnish
Directions
- Roll the lemons firmly on the counter, cut them in half and squeeze them on a citrus juicer until you have 1 1/4 cups of juice. Strain out the seeds but keep some of the pulp.
- Pour the lemon juice into a large pitcher, add the sugar and stir with a long spoon for 1 to 2 minutes, until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Pour in the cold water and stir well. Taste and add a little more water if you like it less tart.
- Fill tall glasses with ice and pour the lemonade over. Add a lemon wheel and serve right away, or chill the pitcher until needed.
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Storage
Keep the lemonade covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. Add ice to glasses, not the pitcher, so it doesn't water down.
More Chick-fil-A Copycats
Make a full meal with my Chick-fil-A nuggets and Chick-fil-A sauce, then a peppermint milkshake for dessert. See all my Chick-fil-A recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in Chick-fil-A lemonade?
Just lemon juice, sugar and water. This copycat uses the same three ingredients.
Can I use bottled lemon juice?
You can, but fresh squeezed tastes brighter and much more like the restaurant version.
How do I make diet lemonade?
Replace the sugar with a zero calorie sweetener to taste. Stir until it dissolves.
How long does fresh lemonade keep?
Up to 5 days covered in the fridge. Stir before pouring.
How do I make frosted lemonade?
Blend 1 cup of lemonade with 2 big scoops of vanilla ice cream until thick and smooth.
