Easy Homemade Limeade Recipe (Fast & Fresh)

Make the best of this summer heat with a tall glass of refreshing Homemade Limeade. This recipe is super easy, delicious, and cools you down on a hot day. Limeade is made with fresh lime juice, sugar, and water.

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Summertime brings heat, and this Homemade Limeade Recipe seems to quench my thirst. It’s made with only 3 ingredients and comes together in minutes. Perfect for a poolside drink or pack it up for the beach.

fresh homemade limeade picture with text overlay

What is a Limeade Drink?

A limeade drink is a simple drink made with limes, water, and sugar. This easy homemade limeade recipe is a sweet and slightly tart homemade lime drink. It’s served over ice for a refreshing drink on a hot day.

Why This Recipe is Fantastic

I love a good lemonade recipe, especially strawberry lemonade on a hot summer day, but this Homemade Limeade Recipe rates at the top of the list with its simplicity and tastiness.

It’s made with fresh lime juice.
It quenches your thirst on a hot summer day.
Only 3 ingredients are needed for a delicious limeade drink, plus it’s simple to make.
An easy way to beat the heat with a delicious homemade drink.
The best part of this refreshing homemade limeade recipe, it only takes minutes to prepare.
All you need for this recipe are lots of limes, sugar, and water for the perfect drink for the summer months.

This drink is perfect for a pool gathering and goes excellent with jalapeno poppers, honey sriracha chicken wings, or some spicy oven-baked bbq ribs. No matter what you serve to eat, this limeade always hits the spot.

Ingredients Needed for Homemade Limeade

These are super simple ingredients and can easily be found in your local grocery store. As much as I love homemade lemonade, it’s nice to change it up a bit with one of my favorite lime recipes.

See the printable recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and the full recipe.

picture of ingredients for homemade limeade recipe

Limes: To get the freshest taste, use fresh limes. The hardest part of this drink is juicing the limes, but a juicer makes this task simple.

Sugar: Sugar is a must to balance the tartness of the limes. I used regular white sugar for this recipe but use your preferred sugar preference.

Water: You will need water for the simple syrup and to fill the pitcher.

Simple Syrup for Limeade

Simple syrup is a mixture of water and sugar heated to form a syrup. For example, you will need simple syrup for this fresh limeade recipe. Making a simple syrup is an essential step for this limeade. Heating the water and sugar allows the sugar to dissolve before adding it to the pitcher.

To begin, simmer 2 1/2 cups of water and 2 1/2 cups of sugar in a small saucepan. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.

picture of homemade limeade recipe with text overlay

How To Make Easy Homemade Limeade Recipe

This limeade recipe is so simple to make. Once you make your simple syrup, the rest comes together even faster. Juicing the limes is the most time-consuming of this recipe, but having fresh lime juice is worth the effort.

This recipe makes one gallon of limeade.

Make the simple syrup: Simmer 2 1/2 cups of water and 2 1/2 cups of sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
Juice limes: It usually takes about 10 limes to equal 1 1/2 cups of lime juice. Use a handheld juicer to make this step easier to extract the juice.
Make the Limeade: To a large pitcher, add simple syrup, lime juice, and cold water to fill the pitcher. Stir until mixed well. Serve over ice and fresh lime slices.
Store in the refrigerator.

Tips for Juicing Limes

Roll the limes on the countertop before trying to juice them. This will release some of the juice.

Use a handheld juicer. This makes it easier to get the juice from the limes.

Use a countertop juicer. If you have one, this makes the process easy.

Expert Tips for the Best Lime Drink

Add a slice of lime to each individual serving.

Use fancy ice cube trays to add a little extra to your party glasses.

Bottled lime juice would work if you are in a pinch and need lime juice.

Adjust the taste as desired. Add more or less sugar, add more or less lime juice.

For a sweeter limeade, add more sugar.

For a stronger lime flavor, use more lime juice and lime zest.

Try juicing many limes at once and freezing the juice in 1/2 cup measurements. This will make it even faster to make those summertime drinks.

Limeade Variations

Add more lime juice to the mix if you desire a more robust tart (lime) taste.

Make a simple syrup by mixing the water and sugar and bringing it to a simmer until the sugar melts.

Reduce the amount of sugar if so desired, or replace the sugar with your preferred sweetener.

Add some cherry juice for a cherry limeade.

Add some lemon juice to the limeade, then blend with ice for a frozen lemon-lime drink.

Add some club soda or sparkling water to jazz up the limeade a bit.

How to Serve Limeade

This limeade is the perfect addition to backyard summer bbqs or any gathering. This recipe is served anywhere cold drinks are served. The perfect way to serve this drink is cold. Iced cold limeade will become one of your favorite drinks for hot summer days.

Perfect Summer Drink Recipes

Hot summer months call for cool refreshing drinks. Whether you are lounging by the pool, grilling with family, or enjoying a day at the beach, nothing quenches your thirst like a tall glass of limeade. Make summer better with cool drinks within easy reach. Plenty of refreshing beverages are the best way to beat the heat.

Homemade Fresh Lemonade— Homemade lemonade is a classic refreshing drink made using simple syrup and fresh lemons.

Strawberry Lemonade Recipe— An all-time summer favorite. It’s made with a few simple ingredients and comes together in minutes.

Southern Sweet Tea— Classic Southern Sweet Tea is easily made with tea bags, sugar, and water. There is nothing better to quench your thirst than a tall glass of this refreshing summertime treat.

Tools Needed

Pitcher with Lid- Tupperware

Glass Pitcher

Lime Juicer

Citrus Juicer

Summer Grilled Main Dishes

Grilled Hamburgers— This is my super simple go-to grilled hamburger recipe with only 6 ingredients.

Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs— Juicy Grilled BBQ Chicken Legs are delicious, tender, and flavorful. Perfect for summer barbecues and backyard cookouts. So easy you’ll be making these all summer long.

Grilled Buffalo Chicken Tenders— Grilled Buffalo Chicken Tenders are chicken strips grilled and then dipped in a sweet and spicy homemade buffalo wing sauce. They are AwEsOmE!!

Summer Side Dishes

Mexican Corn Salad— Mexican Corn Salad with Jalapenos is the perfect side dish for any night of the week, holiday, or summertime cookout. This recipe comes together super fast and will be chilling in your refrigerator in no time.

Grilled Corn on the Cob— Grilled Corn on the cob with Parmesan screams summertime. Sweet, smoky, charred, and crunchy. As the weather gets warmer, the corn just gets sweeter. Does it get any better?

Strawberry Spinach Salad–This Strawberry Spinach Salad is the perfect salad for lunch, dinner, or as a side. It’s beautiful, colorful, and most of all– delicious! It comes together in minutes and is always a favorite.

Classic Macaroni Salad— Classic Macaroni Salad is a staple and perfect side dish for any potluck, tailgate, or barbecue. It’s easy to make, and everyone will love it. It takes several ingredients which you probably already have on hand. I’m confident your family and guest will love this dish.

Recipe FAQs

Limeade is a drink made with sugar, water, and lime juice. It’s much like lemonade, but limes are used instead of lemons.

Slice your lime in half. Use a handheld juicer to juice the limes. Press the lime to release as much juice as possible.

Cut the lime in half. The best way to juice a lime without a juicer is to press a fork into the center of the lime, squeeze, and twist.

Although fresh limes are the best for making limeade, you can use bottled lime juice in a pinch. The fresh limes add more flavor and are recommended. If using bottled lime juice, choose a good brand.