By Becky Hardin
Published Apr 17, 2023
Margaritas are a classic drink we all know and love. It’s definitely the favorite cocktail around here, so I created this guide to show you how to make a margarita, plus some of the best margarita recipes to try out. Learn everything you need to know about making the perfect drink, whether frozen, blended, or on the rocks!
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Best Margaritas
Margaritas are my favorite cocktail for any occasion, from Cinco de Mayo to Taco Tuesday . I’ve perfected my recipe, so I want to show you how to make a classic margarita that you can enjoy any time. 3 main ingredients and the best ratio leads to the most delicious drink every time!
And because I love these so much, I’m also sharing all of my best margarita recipes, including frozen margaritas, fruity and spicy margaritas, and some unique flavors I’m sure you’ll love.
What’s in a Margarita?
There are 3 main ingredients in a traditional margarita:
- Tequila: Tequila is the classic alcohol for margaritas, and it really influences the overall quality of the cocktail. So the better the tequila, the better the drink will taste! Keep your tequila in the freezer so your drinks come out cold without extra ice.
- Triple Sec: Triple Sec, Cointreau, or another orange liqueur can be used. This adds a sweetness to balance out the lime and tequila.
- Lime Juice: Fresh-squeezed lime juice will create the best flavor. The tart and tangy flavor is so refreshing.
So if you want to make a classic version, that’s all you’ll need. But of course, you can add all kinds of ingredients to change them up and create different margarita flavors and recipes.
Optional Ingredients
All you need are the basic margarita ingredients mentioned above, but here are a few other things you might want to use for your drinks.
- Ice: Unless you chill your margaritas ahead of time, you’ll want plenty of ice to serve them on the rocks, or to make blended or frozen margaritas.
- Margarita Salt : Salting the rim of your margarita glass is a must! Getting a taste of it with each sip helps balance out the citrus-y flavors. You can also use flavored salts to amp things up.
- Agave Syrup: This is a great way to add a bit of extra sweetness to your cocktail.
- Fresh Fruit: Fresh slices of lime, orange, grapefruit, or another citrus fruit are great for simple garnishing. You can also use berries and other fruits to muddle and mix in, or for more garnish.
- Margarita Mix: If you’re making margaritas for a crowd and want the easiest option possible, you can buy a pre-made mix. Or follow my simple syrup recipe below!
Skinny Margaritas
How to Make a Margarita
Margaritas are actually really easy to make. It’s a simple drink with simple instructions, 3 ingredients, and an easy ratio to remember:
(2:1:1)
- 2 parts Tequila
- 1 part lime juice
- 1 part Triple Sec
If you want a truly classic margarita recipe, follow the directions in the recipe card. It’s really as easy as shaking ingredients together and pouring over ice! This will make a single glass. Double it for an 8 ounce drink.
If you want to make margaritas for multiple people, follow my Pitcher Margarita recipe .
Aperol Margaritas
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!
You can use whatever tequila you like for margaritas, but I prefer to go with cheaper options rather than the “best” Tequila. Once it’s mixed in, having the highest quality Tequila won’t matter. That being said, I also don’t pick the cheapest Tequila. Go for a good mid-range Tequila and you’ll be set. Repasado Tequilas are much smoother than Blanco Tequilas, so I prefer that.
Frozen Margaritas are a tasty cocktail for hot summer days. All you have to do is pour the ingredients into a blender, add ice, and mix. You can keep it icy like a slushie or turn it into more of a blended margarita by blending it until it’s smooth (both are great!).
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 (2:1:1 ratio). 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.
Typically, you can expect a classic margarita on the rocks to run about 400-500 calories for an 8-ounce glass.
Make Homemade Margarita Mix
Homemade margaritas are so easy to make from scratch, so I don’t think pre-made margarita mixes are really necessary. However, you can make your own homemade margarita mix (a simple syrup that’s much better than store-bought stuff) to help prep for parties.
- Combine sugar, orange juice, lime juice, & salt in a saucepan on medium heat.
- Heat for 5 minutes, until sugar is dissolved, stirring frequently.
- Let the mixture cool and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
If you’re planning to host a party, a mix will make the drink-making process much easier! Just combine the syrup with tequila, and you’ll be ready to serve!
Spicy Cucumber Margaritas
The Best Margarita Recipes
Try a classic margarita, a frozen margaritas, pitcher margaritas, spicy or fruity margaritas, or any of these fun and flavorful recipes.
Skinny Margarita Recipe
Margarita Pitcher Recipe
Frozen Margarita Recipe
Spicy Cucumber Margarita Recipe {Cucumber Jalapeno Margarita}
Frozen Strawberry Margarita
Strawberry Basil Margarita
Beer Margarita
Frozen Peach Margarita
Passionfruit Margaritas
Watermelon Margaritas Recipe
Frozen Watermelon Margarita Recipe
Blue Margarita Recipe (Azul Margaritas)
Aperol Margaritas
Apple Cider Margaritas
Blood Orange Margarita
Cranberry Margarita
Roasted Tomato Margaritas Recipe
Skinny Peach Frozen Margarita Recipe
Orange Margaritas
Strawberry Margarita Punch
Blackberry Margaritas (Spicy Margarita Recipe)
Spicy Mango Margarita Recipe
Frozen Cherry Limeade Margarita Recipe
White Wine Margaritas Cocktail
Mulled Wine Margaritas (Christmas Margarita Recipe)
Red, White, and Blue Margarita Slush
Jalapeño Margaritas
Food Pairing Suggestions
Margaritas are one of the best summer cocktails , and it’s definitely the best cocktail to pair with Cinco de Mayo foods , taco recipes , or your favorite Mexican dishes . Of course you have to serve them with tortilla chips , margarita guacamole , white queso , and your favorite salsas (I love avocado corn salsa , this easy blender salsa , and salsa verde ).
Or serve them with chicken tacos , street corn , beef taquitos , salsa verde chicken , or margarita fish tacos . There’s no bad time for a margarita!
Frozen Margaritas
I hope this guide helped you learn how to make margaritas and find some new recipes! Don’t forget to try out some for yourself, your friends, or guests at your next party. And don’t be afraid to get creative with new flavors! A classic margarita is great, but you really can’t go wrong with fruity, spicy, or frozen versions either.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 ounce Triple Sec
- ▢ 1 ounce lime juice fresh squeezed
- ▢ 2 ounces Tequila
- ▢ 1/3 ounce Agave syrup
- ▢ 1 cup ice
Video
Instructions
- Fill up a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. 1 cup ice
- Add the rest of the margarita ingredients and shake 10-15 seconds. 1 ounce Triple Sec, 1 ounce lime juice, 2 ounces Tequila, 1/3 ounce Agave syrup
- Pour the margarita into a glass and garnish with lime wedge (salt the rim beforehand if you want).
Equipment
- Equipment used for Classic Margaritas
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Classic Margarita Recipe
Equipment
- Equipment used for Classic Margaritas
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Triple Sec
- 1 ounce lime juice fresh squeezed
- 2 ounces Tequila
- 1/3 ounce Agave syrup
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Fill up a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. 1 cup ice
- Add the rest of the margarita ingredients and shake 10-15 seconds. 1 ounce Triple Sec, 1 ounce lime juice, 2 ounces Tequila, 1/3 ounce Agave syrup
- Pour the margarita into a glass and garnish with lime wedge (salt the rim beforehand if you want).
Video
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
