How To Make Homemade Margaritas
The great thing about The Best Margarita Recipe is that you can literally add all the ingredients at once, in a pitcher, and leave it until youre ready to serve.
BUT just in case you need a step by step here it is:
Garnish the glasses with a salted rim, sliced limes or oranges, and serve. Ole!
¡Feliz Cinco De Mayo!
What Inspired This Homemade Cocktail
I love a fresh and cold homemade margarita on a hot day but it’s also delicious for any celebration throughout the year and a must-have for any Mexican themed evening.
I can’t take credit for making this recipe but I do think I’ve perfected it Making these from scratch creates a Margarita that is so much better than one made with syrup mixes. I dare you to disagree!
Vegan? Pair this classic vegan cocktail with these easy vegan birria tacos!
Make A Classic Margarita On The Rocks: 3 Simple Steps
Now that we know the ingredientshow to make a margarita? This simple margarita recipe is on the rocks, meaning that its served over ice. Its incredibly easy to make heres how!
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How To Make A Frozen Margarita
Frozen margaritas are thicker, slushier versions of traditional margaritas. They’re ultra refreshing when it’s hot outside, and whipping them up makes any occasion instantly more festive. Frozen margaritas are great for a crowd, plus they’re even easier to make than margaritas on the rocks.
To make frozen margaritas, you’ll need a blender and plenty of crushed ice. Unlike a margarita on the rocks, we don’t recommend using fresh lime juice in a frozen margarita. Because frozen margaritas require a good amount of ice to blend, you need a tangy ingredient that packs more punch than lime juice.
Frozen lime concentrate, which you’ll find in the freezer section of most grocery stores, has just the right amount of intense lime flavor to stand out in a frozen margarita. Plus, its cold, icy texture will also give your margarita a smoother consistency. Here’s one more thing to love about frozen lime concentrate you can use the empty container as a measuring cup for the tequila.
Do You Really Need Cointreau

The very best margarita recipe, in our opinion, features Cointreau as the orange liqueur. Cointreau has a orange perfume flavor thats well balanced between bitter and sweet, while Triple Sec can have a more harsh flavor. But you can use Triple Sec if its all you have!
Fun fact: triple sec means triple distilled: its actually not a brand name. Cointreau is a type of triple sec: its triple distilled. For more, go to Cointreau vs Triple Sec.
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Classic Margarita Recipe Ingredients
To make this classic margarita recipe, you need 6 simple ingredients:
- Tequila Use any good-quality blanco tequila in this recipe. We like this brand, but feel free to use your favorite!
- Orange Liqueur We like Cointreau. Triple sec or Grand Marnier would work here too.
- Lime juice For the best results, squeeze fresh lime juice right before you make your cocktails. I like my margarita to be pretty tart, so I use an equal amount of lime juice and tequila.
- Something sweet I sweeten mine with agave syrup or homemade simple syrup.
- Salt For the rim of your glass. I use fine sea salt, but kosher salt could work here too.
- And ice! Because a great margarita is always on the rocks.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
What Is The Best Tequila For Margaritas
You can use whatever tequila you like for margaritas, but I prefer to go with cheaper options rather than the best Tequila. Once its mixed in, having the highest quality Tequila wont matter.
That being said, I also dont pick the cheapest Tequila. Go for a good mid-range Tequila and youll be set. Repasado Tequilas are much smoother than Blanco Tequilas, so I prefer that.
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How Can I Make The Best Blended Margaritas
We like our margaritas on the rocks, but this recipe also works well for creating fun and frosty blended margaritas.
In a blender, combine the margaritas ingredients with 2-3 cups of cubed ice. Puree until smooth.
However, if you are looking for a super simple quick frozen margarita recipe, check out these Easiest Frozen Margaritas.
How To Make A Strawberry Margarita And Other Variations
Now that you know how to make a great margarita, let’s switch up the classic recipe. Boost your margarita’s nutrition by infusing it with strawberries, bananas, grapefruit, and cucumber. Or pump up the flavor with unexpected secret ingredients like beer or jalapeños. You can also substitute the tequila in a margarita for mezcal, an intense, smoky-flavored spirit that’s also derived from the agave plant.
Check out these tasty margarita variations:
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Simple Homemade Margarita Recipe
If theres one drink that should be so simple, but somehow turns so complicated, I think its a margarita. Theres blended, on the rocks, from a mix that comes in gallon-sized jugs sometimes with alcohol already added and sometimes without.
Some margaritas are made with just tequila and others with a smorgasbord of other booze added, including triple sec, Cointreau, Gran Marnier, Chambord, and more.
People shouldnt need to look up how to make a margarita because it shouldnt be so hard. Ive gone back to the basics, with the classic margarita ingredients.
How To Make A Margarita :
Detailed instructions are included in the recipe below, but here is a brief overview of how to make a single-serving homemade margarita:
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How To Make A Margarita From Scratch
This is a super simple margarita recipe trust me, a drink this good doesnt need any fussy ingredients or extra steps! This is technically a margarita on the rocks recipe since I poured the mixture over ice feel free to omit if desired.
Heres how to make homemade margaritas:
See? Making a margarita without mix is so easy!
Best Tequila For Margaritas

For tastiest results, use a blanco, or clear, tequila made with 100 percent agave. This type of tequila has the smoothest, cleanest flavor, and it blends seamlessly with the other ingredients in a margarita.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on tequila, but better quality tequila does build a better margarita. Fortunately, you can find plenty of quality options that will cost you less than $30 for a 750 ml bottle . Avoid mixto tequilas, which may include partial amounts of agave, sugar, food coloring, and other ingredients.
Related:
Read Also: How To Make Your Own Tequila At Home
Where Was The Margarita Invented
There are a number of stories about where the margarita was created. It’s difficult to say which is true. In the book “Imbibe!,” David Wondrich traces its roots to around the repeal of Prohibition. “Margarita” is the Spanish word for “daisy” and this drink belongs to the daisy family of cocktails.
Drinks like the brandy daisy were very popular in the late 1800s and made with any base spirit, including brandy, gin, rum, and whiskey. They follow a formula of spirit, sweetener, orange liqueur, lemon juice, and soda. When tequila started to reach American bars, the tequila daisymade with tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and sometimes sodaappeared. It wasn’t long before it became known as the margarita.
How Much Alcohol Is In A Margarita
This really depends on the recipe and your preferences. My preferred ratio for a great margarita is 2 parts Tequila to 1 part lime juice and 1 part Triple Sec. Thats quite a bit of alcohol in any given margarita .
So for a typical glass, you could expect 3 ounces of alcohol. If you want less alcohol in your drink, simply use a 1:1:1 ratio .
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How To Make A Perfect Salt Rim
Now, lets talk about the glass rim in this classic margarita recipe! The best type of salt to use is kosher salt or flaky sea salt because it has a nice chunky texture. Or try our Homemade Margarita Salt: the orange and lime zest makes the glass look perfectly look festive! Here are our tips to making the perfect rim:
How To Make A Margarita
Whether sipped by the pool, at a fiesta, or just because it’s Tuesday, are a guaranteed crowd-pleasing drink. An instant celebration, this refreshing cocktail of tequila, orange liqueur , and fresh lime juice is typically served in a festive glass with a salted rim. We’ll show you how to make a margarita in several different ways, and share favorite recipes to try.
There are plenty of ways to make margaritas shake them with ice, blend them into a frozen treat, or if you’re in a rush, short-cut your way to success with a margarita mix.
This handy guide shows you three ways to make a classic margarita at home, plus plenty of tasty variations, so you can plan your next cocktail party.
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Make It Even Healthier
For a skinnier version of the same recipe, swap the triple sec and orange juice for 1/4 teaspoon of orange extract instead. You can also substitute the agave nectar with liquid stevia. Just remember that it will not be a 1-to-1 substitution because artificial sweeteners are much sweeter. Try starting with a few drops and adjust to taste.
The Best Margarita Recipe Is The One Customized To Your Tastes
A traditional margarita recipe is special in the pantheon of classic cocktails. Like the venerable daiquiri, the drink is primal enough that it can be made from commonly found ingredients yet has enough complexity to offer endless possibilities for riffing and customization. The basic recipetequila with triple sec and fresh lime juiceis forgiving for beginners but has enough room for experimentation that seasoned pros can add their own touches of flair.
There are a lot of riffs and variations of the popular cocktail , but as long as you have ashaken drinkwith tequila, lime, and orange liqueur, you are safely in Margaritaville. As someone who likes a more spirit-forward margarita, my go-to recipe is:
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How To Make A Margarita With Margarita Mix
If you have the time, make your margaritas from scratch. But if you’re in a hurry or if you’re making margaritas for a large crowd, using margarita mix can be a valuable shortcut. While you’ll miss the fresh lime flavor of a homemade margarita, you’ll be able to fill a pitcher in a fraction of the time.
Of course, not all margarita mixes are created equal. Avoid mixes that are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and other artificial ingredients. Instead, look for margarita mixes made with real lime juice, cane sugar, or agave syrup. With better quality ingredients in the mix, your margaritas will taste closer to the real thing.
What Makes A Margarita Skinny

Melissas skinny margarita recipe is considered skinny because its lower in calories, sugars and carbs than traditional . Melissa points out that the typical 8-ounce restaurant margarita has about 450 calories when its served on the rocks. This version is only 130 to 180 calories, depending on if you add any sweetener. Whoa! This light libation also has around 17 grams of carbswhich is less than half of the amount in the classic house margarita.
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Why I Love This Recipe:
Listen. Yall know Im all about homemade stuff because it generally has a lot less additives and things that the store-bought stuff has. While the store-bought brands come in handy when youre in a pinch, if you have the time to make your own margarita mix, you ABSOLUTLEY should.
Here are a few thoughts on why this margarita mix is something you want to make:
- It calls for three simple ingredients. No additives or food dyes, either.
- All you have to do is add triple sec and tequila to make a margarita.
- You can keep it on hand for a one-off marg or you can use it to make a pitcher of margaritas. Either way, its delightful!
Need inspiration for a cocktail or a mocktail? Head on over to my Drinks Recipe Index for some ideas!
The Best Margarita Recipes
Make some margaritas for Taco Night! Check out the full Taco Tuesday Guide for more tips, ideas, and recipes.
I hope this guide helped you learn how to make margaritas and find some new recipes! Dont forget to try out some for yourself, your friends, or at your next Cinco de Mayo party. And dont be afraid to get creative and try new flavors! A classic margarita is great, but you really cant go wrong here.
Meet Becky Hardin
Becky woke up on her 30th birthday and realized she didn’t know how to cook, anything! She started The Cookie Rookie as a way to document her journey to learn how to cook, one recipe at a time! The Cookie Rookie is a place to find easy recipes that anyone can make, and everyone will love!
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What Is In Margarita Mix
Homemade margarita mix has three simple ingredientstwo if youre using store-bought simple syrup.
Heres what you need to make it totally from scratch:
- Granulated sugar
- Limesa lot of em because were squeezing enough to have 1 ½ cups.
Every lime, obviously, is different, but on average, youll get about 2 tablespoons of juice out of a single lime. For a cup and a half of juice, you might need close to 12 limes.
How To Make Homemade Margarita Mix:
- Create a simple syrup by boiling water and sugar.
- Mix with freshly squeezed lemon juice and lime juice.
Yes! Thats it.
One important note: For the most flavorful margarita mix, I recommend using freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice. Fresh is beyond compare!
With your mix prepared, I assume youre ready for a cocktail.
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On The Rocks Or Blended
True margarita aficionados drink their margaritas on the rocks. I learned this decades ago from the look a bartender shot me when ordering a blended margarita. He explained that they only served margaritas on the rockswhich made me promptly want to melt into the floor. But once I had that margarita on the rocks, Ive never gone back. You get to taste your quality ingredients instead of mostly ice. If youve only had blended margaritas, this recipe is a great opportunity to try it on the rocks.