The Unexpected Secret Ingredient That Will Make Your Lemonade 10x Better

The Unexpected Secret Ingredient That Will Make Your Lemonade 10x Better originally appeared on Parade .

There are some flavors you just never grow out of, and for me, it's pickles and lemonade . Yes, together!

I have always loved a frozen lemonade with a large dill pickle as a snack on a hot day, so when I saw that NYT Cooking shared a recipe for pickle lemonade , I basically ran to my kitchen.

If you're a pickle girl, this is your sign. This salty-sour-sweet concoction is it! It's refreshing like a classic lemonade, but with an unexpected tang that hits in all the right ways, and it reminds me of the Pickle Lemonade that Popeye's released earlier this year (but you can make this one at home any time you like)!

Related: The Brazilian Way to Make Lemonade 10x Better

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How To Make Pickle Lemonade

You'll need just a few ingredients and about 10 minutes to make this lemonade. The key is using good-quality lemons and bright, clean-tasting pickle juice, preferably from the refrigerated kind, like Grillo's. You don't want overly seasoned brine, anything too garlicky, or a bread and butter pickle brine. Keep it crisp and clean.

When you're ready to make the drink, grab some fresh lemons (about seven large ones, room temp for easier juicing), granulated sugar, filtered and chilled water, dill pickle brine, some lemon slices and pickle spears for garnish, and some ice.

Start by slicing one lemon into thin rounds and setting it aside for garnish. Roll the remaining lemons firmly on your counter to get the juices flowing, then juice them until you have a full cup. Toss the squeezed lemon peels and any leftover lemon quarters into a large jar or pitcher. Add the sugar and muddle it together with the peels for about a minute or two to help release the citrus oils.

Next, pour in your lemon juice and shake or stir until everything is fully dissolved. Add cold water and then stir in your pickle brine. Just start with one cup and taste from there. Give it one last shake or stir, then strain into a clean pitcher.

Pour over plenty of ice, garnish with a lemon slice and a dill pickle spear, and sip like summer is never-ending.

Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to three days (it probably won't last that long).

Related: The Chef-Approved Way to Make the Best-Ever Strawberry Lemonade

3 Twists on the Classic

This fun combo got me thinking of other ways to mix things up. Once you've made the original pickle lemonade, try one of these fun variations to keep your taste buds surprised and dancing all summer long.

• Add a splash of jalapeño pickle brine or muddle a few slices of pickled jalapeño along with the lemon peels. The heat, sweet and tangy combo is unforgettable!

• Replace one cup of the water with sparkling mineral water or club soda just before serving. It adds an extra-refreshing effervescence that's great for parties or sipping on the porch.

• Mix half pickle lemonade with half cold-brewed black tea for a briny twist on an Arnold Palmer. It's bold, earthy and surprisingly sophisticated.

This isn't your grandma's lemonade (unless she was a pickle fanatic, in which case— respect). This is a lemonade for those of us who unapologetically crave a briny snack and a bold drink. It's weird, it's wonderful and it's your new go-to summer sipper.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to garnish my next glass with a lemon wheel and a pickle spear, and I'll probably drink the whole pitcher myself.

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The Unexpected Secret Ingredient That Will Make Your Lemonade 10x Better first appeared on Parade on Jun 11, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.