Spicy Margarita Recipe

If you're a fan of a little spice and heat, you're really gonna love what fresh jalapeño flavor can do to the classic margarita recipe. This Spicy Margarita is fresh and bright, and comes with just the right amount of kick to add a little pizzazz to cocktail hour! And who doesn't want that?

Spicy Margs are a bit spicy (obviously!) but luckily they are also cold and refreshing, which makes them perfectly balanced. Though if you are someone who is here for the heat, be sure to try our spicy rim idea that you can find down below to really take things to the next level. Check out our cocktail recipes for more refreshing cocktail ideas to add to your lineup!

Spicy Margaritas would be perfect for a backyard cookout or Cinco de Mayo celebration. It's super easy to make, only takes a few minutes, and is the perfect way to add a little spunk to the cocktail lineup. Need some non-spicy options to offer alongside it? Our Homemade Margaritas and Coconut Margaritas are the perfect things!

Spicy Margarita Ingredients

Tequila | You can use blanco tequila (also known as silver tequila) or a nice reposado if you'd like. When choosing your tequila, keep in mind, a good quality tequila will go a long way when it comes to homemade Spicy Margaritas!

Orange Liqueur | Our preference for orange liqueur these days is Cointreau, which is a high-end triple sec product. Cointreau is a bit on the sweeter side, so if you prefer a dry margarita (meaning less sweet) you might want to consider Grand Marnier instead.

Jalapenos | You will need to have fresh peppers on hand for this Spicy Margarita recipe. It was developed with jalapeño peppers, however, if you'd like a little more heat in your Spicy Margarita, you can certainly use serranos instead.

Lime Juice | Make sure you use freshly squeezed lime juice in your homemade margaritas. There really is no substitution for it! You will need about one and a half limes per cocktail.

Orange Juice | We are suckers for freshly squeezed orange juice in a homemade margarita. That little added bit of sweetness and flavor integrates seamlessly with the other margarita ingredients.

Simple Syrup | Simple syrup is a sweetener used for flavoring cocktails. You can make simple syrup at home, or buy it from the grocery store. If you'd prefer to use agave nectar instead, feel free to make that swap for your Spicy Margaritas! 

How to Make a Tajín Rim

Before you whip up your cocktail, get your glassware ready. For this recipe, you can use either a margarita glass or a short rocks glass.

If you're looking to take that Kosher salt rim to the next level, consider using Tajin instead. Tajin is a spice mix made up of salt, lime, and chilies, and a delicious combination with a sip of Spicy Margarita.

The classic route to adding a Tajin rim to your margarita glass is to take a fresh lime wedge with a slit cut across the center of it, and run it along the rim of your glass.

Pour about ⅓ of a cup of Tajin onto a small plate, turn your margarita glass upside down, and swirl the rim all around in the Tajin, and use your fingers to press the Tajin against the sides of the glass gently.

Another quick way to add a Tajin rim to glassware is to pour a few tablespoons of simple syrup onto a rimmed plate, dip the rim of the glass in the syrup, then in the Tajin.

How to Make a Spicy Margarita

To make Spicy Jalapeño Margaritas, slice into some fresh jalapenos. You only need a few jalapeño slices per Spicy Margarita, and you'll probably get about 6 to 8 slices per jalapeño pepper.

Add 2 to 3 jalapeño slices to the bottom of a cocktail shaker along with the fresh lime juice. Use a muddler to press down on the jalapeño until it appears slightly broken up. If you don't have a muddler, use the handle end of a wooden spoon.

Fill the shaker with ice and add the tequila, triple sec or orange liqueur, freshly squeezed orange juice, and simple syrup. Seal and shake for about 30 seconds.

Strain into the prepared glass and enjoy your Spicy Margarita! Do you love to entertain? Be sure to check out our crowd-favorite recipes made for entertaining!

Spicy Margarita Pitcher

When it comes to pitcher recipes, I find it best to skip the muddling and infuse instead. Infusing is simpler, gives you control over the heat, and gets you ahead on hosting day since the cocktail needs to be prepped hours in advance. That's a hostess win-win.

For a pitcher of Spicy Margaritas you’ll need: 

• 1 ½ cups fresh lime juice
• 1 ½ cups tequila
• 1 cup orange liqueur
• ½ cup simple syrup or agave nectar
• 1 ½ cups fresh orange juice
• 2 jalapeños, halved lengthwise

Then, combine the lime juice, tequila, orange liqueur, simple syrup, and orange juice and transfer to a large pitcher. 

Add the halved jalapeños and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours to infuse.

Remove and discard the jalapeños after infusing. Removing them after 2 to 3 hours gives you control over the heat and keeps the margaritas from getting progressively spicier while they sit.

Return the margarita mixture to the refrigerator until ready to serve. 

For a Spicy Margarita Beverage Station

One of my favorite cocktail hacks for hosting a crowd is creating a self-serve beverage station. 

Here’s how you can set one up specifically for Spicy Margaritas:

Rim the glasses with Tajín ahead of time and arrange them on a tray beside the chilled pitcher. Then, set out small bowls of sliced jalapeños and lime wedges for garnish, with a large bucket of ice nearby.

This way, guests can fill their own glass with ice, pour a margarita, and add as much jalapeño or lime as they like.

That keeps you from mixing drinks all night and gives you more time to actually enjoy your guests.

6 More Margarita Recipes You'll Love

• Italian Margarita
• Frozen Margarita
• Pineapple Margarita
• Skinny Margarita
• Strawberry Marg on the Rocks
• Frozen Strawberry Margarita

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  Pineapple Margaritas | SO EASY To Make At Home!

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  Skinny Margaritas (Less Sugar AND Less Calories!)

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