By Becky Hardin
Updated Aug 29, 2025
I love all margaritas, but I have to admit, this Blood Orange Margarita is at the very top of my list. The sweet-tart flavor of fresh blood orange juice blends perfectly with tequila and lime for a cocktail that’s smooth, refreshing, and just the right balance of bold and citrusy. Add in that striking ruby-red color and a salty rim, and it’s a drink that truly satisfies all the senses—bright, zesty, and absolutely irresistible.
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Easy Blood Orange Cocktail Recipe
I’m raising a toast to fresh blood oranges, zesty lime juice, and my favorite tequila this weekend (or honestly, any day that ends in “Y”). With just a few simple ingredients, I can shake up a margarita that feels totally Instagram-worthy—and even better, it tastes as good as it looks.
For me, this recipe hits the perfect balance of sweet and tart citrus flavor, but what I love most is how easy it is to make it your own. If I’m in the mood for something spicy, I’ll muddle a few jalapeño slices in the bottom of my glass before adding ice, or rim the glass with chili-lime seasoning for that extra kick.
You might notice I skip the usual orange liqueurs like Cointreau or Triple Sec. That’s intentional—I find blood oranges are so bright, floral, and complex on their own that those additions tend to overpower the flavor. This way, the blood orange really shines through, and trust me, it makes all the difference.
Tips for Beginners
- No juicer, no problem . If you don’t have a juicer, cut the limes and blood oranges in half, and squeeze over clean hands to catch seeds before they fall into your drink.
- Tequila of choice. I prefer gold tequila for its woody, deeper flavor, but you could use reposado or blanco/silver.
- Fresh squeezed is best. While you can use bottled store-bought blood orange juice, freshly squeezed lime juice is a must! If you do go the store-bought route, make sure the juice is 100% juice and unsweetened.
- Add seltzer after shaking. Do not add the seltzer to the cocktail shaker. It will cause the cocktail to fizz and leak.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 3 oz. gold tequila
- ▢ 1 oz. fresh lime juice from 1 lime
- ▢ 1 oz. fresh blood orange juice from ½ blood orange
- ▢ 1 oz. simple syrup
- ▢ 1 oz. sparkling water
- ▢ lime wedge for rimming
- ▢ margarita salt or coarse sea salt, for rimming
- ▢ blood orange slices optional, for garnish
- ▢ mint leaves optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Run a lime wedge along the rim of your glass and dip into margarita salt. margarita salt, lime wedge
- In a shaker with ice, combine the tequila, lime juice, blood orange juice, and simple syrup. 3 oz. gold tequila, 1 oz. fresh lime juice, 1 oz. fresh blood orange juice, 1 oz. simple syrup
- Shake well for 15-20 seconds or until the shaker feels chilled. Pour over your prepared glass with ice.
- Top off the drink with sparkling water. 1 oz. sparkling water
- Garnish with a blood orange slice and mint if desired. Enjoy! blood orange slices, mint leaves
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Blood Orange Margaritas Step by Step
Prepare the glass: Run a lime wedge along the rim of your glass and then dip the glass into margarita salt.
Prepare the margarita : In a shaker filled with ice, combine 3 oz. gold tequila, 1 oz. fresh lime juice, 1 oz. fresh blood orange juice, and 1 oz. simple syrup.
Shake the shaker well for 15-20 seconds or until it feels chilled. Pour over your prepared glass with ice.
Pour in 1 oz. sparkling water.
Serve : Garnish the glass with a blood orange slice and mint if desired. Enjoy!
How to Store
To store a blood orange margarita for later, combine the tequila, lime juice, blood orange juice, and simple syrup in a glass and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to enjoy your margarita, add this mixture to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake it up, then add the seltzer.
Serving Suggestions
This great recipe is just the starting point for your next girls’ night, parents’ night, or taco night! I recommend pairing it with your favorite tortilla chips and my white queso recipe and birria tacos —the smooth citrus will balance out the spicy, rich flavors of these dishes. Fill a large pitcher with this great cocktail and set it out alongside mini fried taco pizza pockets for a game-day feast. For an afternoon pick-me-up, you can pair this with the sweet, smoky flavors of a grilled peach salad .
more fruity margaritas we love
Frozen Cherry Limeade Margarita Recipe
Spicy Mango Margarita Recipe
Strawberry Margarita Punch
Skinny Peach Frozen Margarita Recipe
Blood Orange Margarita Recipe
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
- 3 oz. gold tequila
- 1 oz. fresh lime juice from 1 lime
- 1 oz. fresh blood orange juice from ½ blood orange
- 1 oz. simple syrup
- 1 oz. sparkling water
- lime wedge for rimming
- margarita salt or coarse sea salt, for rimming
- blood orange slices optional, for garnish
- mint leaves optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Run a lime wedge along the rim of your glass and dip into margarita salt. margarita salt, lime wedge
- In a shaker with ice, combine the tequila, lime juice, blood orange juice, and simple syrup. 3 oz. gold tequila, 1 oz. fresh lime juice, 1 oz. fresh blood orange juice, 1 oz. simple syrup
- Shake well for 15-20 seconds or until the shaker feels chilled. Pour over your prepared glass with ice.
- Top off the drink with sparkling water. 1 oz. sparkling water
- Garnish with a blood orange slice and mint if desired. Enjoy! blood orange slices, mint leaves
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
