Healthy Grilled Lemonade Recipe
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How to Cook It: Grilled Lemonade

Celebrate summer with this seasonal twist on the refreshing drink, which is registered-dietitian-nutritionist-approved to boot.
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Published on August 19, 2024
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As the saying goes, when life gives you lemons, grill them! Wait … that’s not how the saying goes. But maybe it should be!

Making lemonade from grilled fruit is a fun way to celebrate the season and add new flavor to your cup.

What’s more, homemade lemonade (whether you grill the lemons or not) is a smart move for your health. One plus is that it allows you to rein in your sugar intake. If you're a woman, it's recommended that you limit added sugar intake to 25 grams (g) or less per day (if you're a man, aim for 36 g or less), and you can find that much or more in a single glass of lemonade!

 Bottled or powdered lemonade can be an even bigger sugar bomb.

The good news is that when you grill lemons for lemonade it naturally cuts their acidic flavor, making them taste sweeter even before you add sugar. Bonus: Fresh lemons are known to be a rich source of immune-boosting vitamin C — with more than 20 percent of the daily recommended amount per lemon.

 Vitamin C plays essential roles in human health, including aiding collagen synthesis, iron absorption, and protein metabolism.

To give grilled lemonade a try, here’s a simple and delicious recipe.

grilled lemonade
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Grilled Lemonade

Is there anything as refreshing as fresh-squeezed lemonade? How about grilled lemonade?! If you’ve never heard of grilled lemonade, you’re in for a treat. By simply grilling the lemons for a few minutes before juicing them, you’ll add loads of flavor and natural sweetness to your cup, decreasing the amount of added sugar in your glass.

5.0 out of 5 reviews

SERVES

6

CALORIES PER SERVING

77

AUTHOR

Kelly Kennedy, RDN

REVIEWED BY

Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES

PREP TIME

5 min

COOK TIME

5 min

TOTAL TIME

40 min

Ingredients

8 fresh lemons plus more lemons, as desired, sliced for garnish
2 tbsp granulated sugar
⅓ cup pure maple syrup

Directions

1

Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Slice the lemons in half. Pour the sugar onto a small plate or shallow bowl. Press each sliced half of lemon into the sugar to coat it lightly.

2

Carefully place the lemons, flesh side down, on the preheated grill. Cover and grill until the lemons are softened and lightly charred, about 5 to 7 minutes. Use tongs to remove the hot lemons from the grill and then allow them to cool completely. If using lemons for garnish, grill them until charred as well, if desired.

3

Juice the lemons through a fine mesh strainer into a clean mixing bowl.

4

Pour the lemon juice, maple syrup, and 6 cups of cold water into a large pitcher. Stir thoroughly and pour over ice before enjoying.

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving

Serving size1 ½ cups

calories

77

total fat

0.2g

saturated fat

0g

protein

0g

carbohydrates

21g

fiber

0.2g

sugar

16.5g

added sugar

14.9g

sodium

2mg

TAGS:

Heart-Healthy, Mediterranean, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Family-Friendly, Beverage

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Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES

Medical Reviewer

Lynn Grieger is a registered dietitian-nutritionist, certified diabetes care and education specialist, certified personal trainer, and certified health and wellness coach. She completed requirements to become a registered dietitian at Valparaiso University in 1987 and completed a dietetic internship at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Illinois, in 1988. 

Lynn brings her expertise in nutrition, exercise, and behavior change to her work in helping people reach their individual health and fitness goals. In addition to writing for Everyday Health, she has also written for websites and publications like Food and Health Communications, Today's Dietitian, iVillage.com, and Rodale Press. She has a passion for healthy, nutrient-dense, great-tasting food and for being outdoors as much as possible — she can often be found running or hiking, and has completed a marathon in every state.

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Kelly Kennedy, RDN, LDN

Author

Kelly Kennedy is a licensed dietitian-nutritionist with over 14 years of experience in digital media. She previously managed and oversaw nutrition content, recipe development, meal planning, and diet and nutrition coaching at Everyday Health. She developed and reviewed various meal plans, books, slideshows, and online tools, and oversaw the creation of more than 500 unique recipes. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a master's degree from the State University of New York College at Oneonta.

Kennedy enjoys anything that takes her outside, from gardening and playing in the yard with her kids to hiking and even feeding her pet chickens.

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EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Added Sugars. American Heart Association. May 22, 2024.
  2. Beverages, Lemonade, powder. U.S. Department of Agriculture. April 1, 2019.
  3. Lemonade, fruit juice drink. U.S. Department of Agriculture. October 28, 2022.
  4. Lemon juice, raw. U.S. Department of Agriculture. April 1. 2019.
  5. Vitamin C. National Institutes of Health. March 26, 2021.