A Simple And Best Margarita Recipe
If youve ever ordered a Cadillac margarita, youre probably familiar with Grand Marnier. Im convinced this stuff is what adds the WOW factor to any drink.
This orange-flavored liqueur served in a shot glass alongside a Cadillac margarita adds the perfect sweet touch. I incorporated it into this recipe for added sweetness since we are eliminating a store-bought margarita mix.
For just under $20 at Total Wine, you can buy a bottle of Grand Marnier , and Costcosells an even bigger bottle for under $30, which is a fantastic price compared to other places that sell it for $40.
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 .
Best Tequila For A Margarita
Heres the key to how to make all the types of margaritas above: buy a good tequila! A cocktail is only as good as the alcohol you use. Instead of recommending a specific brand, look for a mid-price range tequila . The price is typically an indicator of quality. The other tip: use tequila reposado instead of blanco! Because its aged, it has a more interesting flavor. Heres the difference between these types of tequila:
- Tequila blanco has been aged less than 2 months and has a strong, straightforward flavor.
- Tequila reposado is aged longer, from 2 to 12 months. It has a more nuanced flavor, with notes of oak and vanilla.
Read more at Best Tequila for Margaritas.
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The Best Margaritas Are Always Consistent
Its imperative with any recipe to measure ingredients accurately, and the same goes when making the best margaritas, AKA BOMB-ASS margaritas.
BECAUSE consistency and precision are key, I ALWAYS, ALWAYS use a measuring shot glass if Im making one or two margaritas. For around $7, you can save yourself disappointment and headaches by investing in this little tool.
If youre making margaritas for a crowd, use a measuring pitcher.
The last thing you ever want is for someone to comment that the drink youve made is too sour or tastes like it has too much sugar. You want to produce the SAME COCKTAIL every time.
Making Your Own Best Margarita Recipe:

1) Lay on the booze. If you like it really boozy, not only can you add extra tequila but you can use Cointreau instead of Triple Sec for the orange liqueur. Cointreau has a higher alcohol content I definitely sip Cointreau margaritas more slowly than Triple Sec ones .
2) Lime-lover? Decide if you love lime or just like it. Love it, add more. Just like it, add less. But you have to do something else either way: After squeezing your fresh lime juice, dip a finger in and taste it. Do you think, whoa! acid! or do you think mmm lime? You see, not every lime is the same. Some are harsher than others. If youve got a harsh one, you might want to add less of it, or counter it with more simple syrup and/or more Triple Sec.
3) Find your sweet spot. The way I determined how sweet I like my own margaritas was to make a marg without any sweetener in it. I made it in a bigger glass than usual to accommodate some vigorous stirring. I took a sip. Whoa Nellie! Sour! I added a teaspoon of simple syrup, stirred and tasted. Better. Not great. Repeat. I got to 3 teaspoons when it was just right for me. A perfect balance of acid and sweet for my taste buds. 3 teaspoons is 1/2 of an ounce, so that works out well for bartender measurements too. Do this experiment for yourself to find your spot. .
5) Get creative! Go out on a limb and add new flavors to you margarita. This Lemon Basil Marg is one of my faves. Of course, you could always go frozen with this Strawberry Margarita.
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What Is The Secret To A Good Margarita
I read so many posts with 100’s of 5 star ratings. So I thought okay these people really have the perfect margarita recipe down! Not exactly..
Here are my tips for the most delicious margarita that tastes just like the one’s I drank travelling!
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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The Best Margaritas Are Not Frozen
Having a frosty, cold margarita is always the GOAL!
Not only does it taste good, but the ice complements the alcohols, sweetener, and lime juice used.
If you dont have an ice maker in your freezer, you can always Instacart a big bag for under $3 or hit up your local grocery store.
When making margaritas for a crowd, its wise to buy a large bag because the freezer ice maker is small, and you dont want to ever run out of ice when youre making the best margaritas of your life!
I know many drink expertsout there would disagree about buying store-bought ice, but when you have the right ingredients and base for a perfect drink, you can afford to simplify some things.
Because the BOMB-ASS margarita recipe is so good, we dont need to worry about getting too fancy with our ice. Trust me, for this recipe, any shaped ice will do.
Now, back to the rocks advice. Margaritas over ice are always better than frozen margaritas because the frozen ones melt faster, resulting in a diluted margarita. Ice cubes melt slower, and if you dont believe me, then at least give this a chance to explain.
What Type Of Tequila For Margaritas
Choosing the best tequila for your margarita is super important. There are plenty of types of tequila that are top shelf and tasty on their own but that do not taste the best in margaritas.
We recommend using a silver, blanco or white variety of tequila for optimal flavor. These types of tequila are transparent much like vodka and are bottled directly after being distilled, so they are either aged for a short period or not aged at all. Here is a list of our favorite tequilas, in order from most to least favorite :
- Skinny Margaritas from Nourish and Fete
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How To Make A Pitcher Of Margaritas:
Detailed instructions are included in the recipe below, but here is a brief overview of how to make pitcher margaritas:
How To Make A Margarita
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How Do You Make A Skinny Margarita
For my favorite skinny margarita recipe, I just make a couple of tiny changes compared to a classic margarita. Replace the Triple Sec with freshly squeezed orange juice for that simple orange flavor without the extra calories. You can also use agave syrup to add a bit of sweetness to your liking. This comes out to less than 200 calories for a large glass of my skinny margaritas!
Say Goodbye To Triple Sec

Instead of using Triple Sec or something similar, I like to start with a mixture of equal parts tequila and freshly squeezed lime juice, about 2 ounces each for a single serving. Then, if I have some in the fridge, I add sweetness in the form of simple syrup. Agave works well too, because its neutral sweetness won’t overpower the flavors of the citrus and tequila and is a great substitute for simple syrup in most recipes, not just cocktails. Start with about a tablespoon of sweetness per cocktailyou can always add more, but you can’t take it away. Add a splash of fresh orange juice and lots of ice.
Next, give it a big shake. You made this in a cocktail shaker right? It’s OK if you didn’tjust give it a confident stir. Alternatively, you can use a mason jar. Run a lime wedge along the rim of a rocks glass, and dip in coarse salt if that’s your thing. Fill the glass with more iceall the way to the topand pour your perfect personalized margarita over the top. Serve with an extra lime wedge for squeezing. All you need now is a bag of limes, a couple of oranges, and a sunny spot to drink up. ¡Salud!
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Whats The Secret To A Good Margarita Recipe
Lime juice is key for making the best margaritas. AND, since juicing limes can be time-consuming and expensive, I always buy lime juice by the gallon. It stores well and its cheaper.
To keep your margaritas budget-friendly, check out First Street 100% juice. It sells by the gallon for just under $7 compared to most lime juice brands that sell by the gallon for close to $30.
If you need to purchase a smaller amount, sells a pack of two 32-ounce bottles, but youre paying a higher price. I cook quite a bit with lime juice, and I put it in my water a couple of times a day also, so I dont mind storing the gallon.
Healthline wrote a fantastic article on the benefits of lime water for skin, weight loss, and your digestive system if you need some extra incentive to purchase the gallon.
The Best Margarita Recipe
The Best Margarita Recipe is the favorite in our house. Its simple and packed with flavor.
It should be mentioned it could also be called Knock You Naked Margaritas because they are strong!
These babies are boozy and limey, yet still balanced with a hint of sweetness and salt. We typically make them by the pitcher , although this particular day we had homemade margaritas for two in a cocktail shaker.
We usually invite friends to share. .
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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!
The Best Frozen Margarita Recipe
With this amazing frozen margarita, make the simple classic recipe or use Grand Marnier to make an epic cadillac margarita.
The Best Frozen Margarita Recipe:
If youre looking for an incredible homemade frozen margarita recipe, this blend is epic! You can make a Classic Margarita with this recipe or use Cointreau and Triple Sec and make a Cadillac Margarita. Either way, this frozen margarita recipe will be a winner! I realized earlier this year that a stunning frozen margarita recipe was alarmingly absent from the site. So, here it is!
How To Make A Frozen Margarita:
To make a really incredible frozen margarita, ditch the margarita mix. Yeah, yeah, I knowthose mixes are great for convenience. But, they make pretty average margaritas! And, the mixes typically use low quality ingredients and cheap sugar. Until somebody shows me an awesome quality pre-mixed margarita, Im going to continue to say that, Life is just too short to drink sub-standard margaritas made from crappy margarita mix.
Until the day when a margarita-mix-super-fan proves me wrong and rocks my world, Im gonna say, always assemble your ingredients from scratch to completely control the quality and flavor of every aspect of your margarita.
Frozen Margarita Ingredients:
Use high quality tequila, fresh lime juice , Cointreau or high quality Triple sec , and pure maple syrup or other natural sweetener. You can, of course, use regular cane sugar. But why?
How To Make Lime Salt:
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Dont Salt The Entire Rim
Like your Margaritas with salt? Season away, but take care when rimming the glass. Excess flakes will inevitably fall into your cocktail, throwing off its flavors and balance.
Cocktailers like industry legend Dale DeGroff advise salting a segment of the glass rim instead of its entirety. It prevents your drink from ever getting too saline, and gives you the option of taking a sip with or without a mouthful of salt.
Generally speaking, if we do a rim we do half a rim, Don Lee, partner, Existing Conditions in NYC, says. That way everyone has the option. Make sure you are only salting the outside of the rim of the glass, too, Lee says.
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 At Home
Once youve got the ingredients, youre good to go! Heres how to make margaritas at home the single drink method:
Want to make 8 servings at once? Try our instead! Its even easier.
Dont Forget The Lime Juice

I highly recommend using fresh lime juice when making margaritas. It simply has a fresher and more balanced tart flavor than bottled lime juice.
If you do decide to use bottled store bought lime juice as a shortcut , try to use the kind that is not from concentrate. Santa Cruz Organic pure lime juice is a great option!
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Use A Cocktail Shaker
This cocktail can be stirred in a pitcher, but take a hint from mixologists and use your cocktail shaker if you have one. Only cocktails made purely of spiritslike Manhattans and martinisare meant to be stirred to preserve the clarity of the alcohols. Cocktails made with fruit juices, egg whites or cream should be shaken to thoroughly blend and give the drinks a little froth.
How To Make A Classic Margarita
To make this classic margarita youll need tequila, lime juice and orange liqueur . While a classic margarita is quite easy on its own, I wanted to simplify the recipe even further with an easy to remember 2-1-1 ratio.
- 2 oz of tequila
- 1 oz of lime juice
- 1 oz of orange liqueur
Shake or stir these ingredients together and then add ice . Alternatively, you can triple or quadruple the recipe in a blender and add ice to have a frozen margarita as well.
What type of tequila should you use? I used a reposado tequila which is aged in a barrel 2 months to just under a year. Reposado is often considered the perfect tequila for margaritas. Two other types of tequila are joven and añejo. Joven is lighter, aged less than reposado and cheaper. While añejo is darker, aged over a year and is more expensive.
You many also want to include salt on the rim of your margarita. You can purchase a coarser salt online or at the grocery or liquor store. Generously spread the salt on a plate large enough for the rim of the glass. Run a slice of lime around the rim of your glass. Then place the rim in the plate of salt. Pour your classic margarita in a glass and youre all set!
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