All you need are 3 ingredients to make my favorite margarita recipe! Instructions included for how to make a single serving margarita or pitcher margaritas for a crowd.
This famously sweet, sour and salty drink will forever and always be my all-time favorite cocktail. But while I adore just about any kind of margarita — frozen or on the rocks, tequila or mezcal, fruity or spicy or fizzy or creamy, you name it — a classic margarita cocktail in my book simply cannot be beat.
By contrast to many of the diluted, super-sweet, and sometimes fizzy huge mugs of margaritas that are often served in restaurants around the world nowadays, a traditional margarita is actually a strong, tart cocktail made with three simple ingredients — good-quality tequila, orange liqueur, and freshly-squeezed lime juice. This simple margarita mix is incredibly quick and easy to make, either for a single serving or a larger batch for a crowd. And it is downright delicious served on the rocks, with or without a salted rim.
I have become quite partial over the years to making margaritas with mezcal instead of tequila, which I highly recommend if you love a good smoky cocktail. And if you feel like spicing your drink up a bit, I’ve also included tips below for how to make a spicy salted rim or muddle a few chile peppers into your drink — so good!
Bottom line, if you love margaritas as much as I do, take a moment to read through my tips below and memorize this simple recipe. Then let’s make a round of margaritas together. Cheers!
Margaritas
My favorite margarita recipe is made with just 3 easy ingredients! See instructions below for how to make a single serving or a big pitcher for a party.
Prep: 5min
Total: 5min
Yield: 1
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 ounces silver tequila
- 1 ounce orange liqueur (Cointreau, Grand Marnier or Triple Sec)
- 3/4 ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
- optional sweetener: agave nectar or simple syrup, to taste
- ice
- lime wedge and coarse salt for rimming the glass
- 3 cups silver tequila
- 2 cups orange liqueur (Cointreau, Grand Marnier or Triple Sec)
- 1 1/2 cups freshly-squeezed lime juice
- optional sweetener: agave nectar or simple syrup, to taste
- ice
- lime wedges and coarse salt for rimming the glasses
Instruction:
- Run a lime wedge (the juicy part) around the top rim of your serving glass. Fill a shallow bowl or plate with salt, then dip the rim until it is covered with your desired amount of salt. Set aside.
- Add tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice and a few ice cubes to a cocktail shaker. Cover and shake vigorously for about 10 seconds. Give the mix a taste and stir in a teaspoon or two of sweetener if desired.
- Fill the prepared serving glass with ice. Strain in the margarita mix, garnish with a lime slice, serve and enjoy. Cheers!
Margarita
The secret to the perfect margarita is the right ratio of tequila to triple sec. This recipe works for both a margarita on the rocks and a blended margarita.
Prep: 5min
Total: 5min
Yield: 2 serving(s)
Ingredients:
- 1/4 c. kosher salt or coarse sea salt
- Lime wedges, for glasses and serving
- 4 oz. blanco tequila
- 2 oz. triple sec
- 1 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
- Ice
Instruction:
- Place salt on small shallow plate. Rub rims of 2 rocks or margarita glasses with lime wedge, then dip into salt to coat.
- Divide tequila, triple sec, and lime juice between prepared glasses and stir to combine. Top with ice and garnish with lime wedges.
Classic Margarita Recipe
This classic margarita recipe is as simple as it gets. When you just want to make a quick and easy margarita for yourself, this is the go-to recipe.
Prep: 5min
Total: 5min
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 254 kcal, Carbohydrate 18 g, Sodium 4 mg, Sugar 16 g, servingSize 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce Triple Sec
- 1 ounce lime juice (fresh squeezed)
- 2 ounces Tequila
- 1/3 ounce Agave syrup
- 1 cup ice
Instruction:
- Fill up a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
- Add the rest of the margarita ingredients and shake 10-15 seconds.
- Pour the margarita into a glass and garnish with lime wedge (salt the rim beforehand if you want).
