By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 4, 2026
Serves 8
68 cal · 30 min
Watermelon Rosemary Frozen Lemonade
Recipe GLPRdf33f7a9348d6e
A refreshing frozen drink combining sweet watermelon, bright lemon juice, and aromatic rosemary. Fresh rosemary is steeped in a light sugar syrup that infuses the drink with herbaceous flavor. The mixture is blended with chilled watermelon chunks and ice until slushy, creating a sophisticated, naturally sweetened beverage perfect for warm days. Optional vodka adds an adult twist. Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan.
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Ingredients
1 cup water
⅓ cup sugar, or agave nectar or your preferred sweetener to taste
3 fresh rosemary sprigs
⅓ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, or more to taste
2 lbs chilled seedless watermelon chunks
20 ice cubes
⅓ cup vodka (optional)
Directions
In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of water, sugar (or your preferred sweetener), and the fresh rosemary sprigs. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and maintain a gentle simmer for 5 minutes to allow the rosemary to infuse the syrup.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the rosemary syrup to cool to room temperature. The rosemary will continue to steep and release its flavor as the syrup cools. Once cooled, strain out and discard the rosemary sprigs.
Pour the cooled rosemary syrup into a blender along with the chilled watermelon chunks and lemon juice. Blend until well combined and the mixture becomes light and frothy.
Add ice cubes to the blender a handful at a time, blending continuously after each addition. Continue until the mixture reaches a slushy consistency similar to a frozen margarita. The amount of ice needed may vary slightly depending on your blender and desired thickness.
If desired, add the vodka and blend to incorporate. Taste the drink and adjust the sweetness with additional sugar or the tartness with additional lemon juice as preferred.
Pour into chilled glasses and serve immediately while still slushy. Enjoy your refreshing watermelon rosemary frozen lemonade.
Comments
Every ingredient is a staple at Charlotte's major chains—watermelon is cheap and abundant in summer, rosemary is standard in the produce section, lemon juice and sugar require no special trip. Cost per serving is very low, probably under $0.75 when watermelon is in season, driven mainly by ice and vodka which most households already stock. The stated 30 minutes is honest: muddling rosemary, juicing lemon, chopping watermelon, and freezing takes roughly that time, though you need an extra hour if you want it truly frozen rather than just chilled. This is a party drink that reheats poorly but that's the point—it's meant fresh and cold on a hot day, and the rosemary-watermelon pairing has real southern summer appeal for North Carolina.
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