Best Recipe For Margarita

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!

best recipe for margarita

Margaritas

best recipe for margarita

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Fill the prepared serving glass with ice. Strain in the margarita mix, garnish with a lime slice, serve and enjoy. Cheers!

Classic Margarita Recipe

best recipe for margarita

The classic margarita is an easy to make with tequila, triple sec and lime juice. It’s also easy to remember with a 2:1:1 ratio. Watch the video above to see how quickly it comes together!

Prep: 5min

Total: 5min

Yield: 1

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 245 kcal, Carbohydrate 18 g, Sodium 4 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 10 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 2 ounces tequila
  • 1 ounce orange liqueur (triple sec)
  • 1 ounce lime juice
  • ice
  • 1 lime (for garnish)
  • 1 tablespoon margarita salt (optional)

Instruction:

  1. If you’d like a salt rimmed glass, slice a lime into quarters and rub one of the quarters along the rim of a glass. Spread margarita salt onto a small plate and turn the glass upside down into the salt. The salt should stick to the rim.
  2. To make the margarita, add the tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Give it a few shakes.
  3. Alternatively, you can stir all of the ingredients together.
  4. Add ice to your glass, then pour the margarita into the glass. Garnish with lime wedges.

The BEST Margarita Two Ways!

FAQ

Is Cointreau or triple sec better for margaritas?

Cointreau has a more balanced, well rounded flavor than Triple Sec, which tends to simply taste strongly of sweet oranges. Cointreau has a smoother finish and is a bit higher in alcohol. It is also more expensive. But, it makes the perfect margarita.

What is the best liquor to make margaritas?

Blanco tequila is the go-to for Margaritas. It’s a clear, usually unaged spirit (it’s allowed to rest in barrels for no more than 60 days) that highlights the pure expression of distilled agave.

What makes a margarita taste better?

Swap out some or all of the lime for lemon, grapefruit, blood orange or tangerine juice to change the cocktail’s flavor and color. If you pick a citrus that’s even more tart than limes, add a dash of simple syrup or agave nectar to balance the drink out. Love grapefruit and tequila?

What is the 321 margarita rule?

An easy way to remember how to mix a classic margarita is to memorize the ratio 3-2-1: three parts tequila, two parts good triple sec (like Luxardo Triplum, Cointreau, or Combier), and one part lime juice.

Is triple sec necessary for margaritas?

Can’t you just add a splash of orange juice or something? Not if you want a well-balanced drink. Triple sec, a term used interchangeably with curaçao, is a type of orange liqueur that provides fruity flavors as well as sweet and bitter notes — all of which are essential for a well-made Margarita.

What is a classic margarita made of?

In a cocktail shaker, combine tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice. Fill with ice and shake until thoroughly chilled, about 15 seconds (the bottom of a metal shaker should frost over). Fill glasses with fresh ice and strain margarita into both glasses. Garnish with lime wheels and serve.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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