If you're craving a margarita, but not necessarily the calorie count that comes along with it, these Skinny Margaritas are the cocktail your waistline has been waiting for. Skinny Margaritas are naturally sweetened and made from real ingredients. Perfect for the calorie-conscious!
By simply swapping out two traditional ingredients for healthier options, we are cutting way back on the amount of sugar in these margs. And the best part about these trade outs? They don't feel like a sacrifice at all.
You don't have to worry about your drink tasting "diet-friendly" if you know what I mean.
As if you needed another reason to make these your go-to cocktail, they are super quick and easy to throw together and there are no hard-to-find ingredients. All in all, it's a cocktail you can feel good about serving (and drinking!) at your next ladies' night.
Looking for more awesome, refreshing cocktail recipes to try? Bookmark our light and bubbly Ranch Waters in your internet browser for next time!
SKINNY MARGARITA VS. REGULAR MARGARITA
A Skinny Margarita is a low-calorie, low-sugar margarita. It boasts all the same flavors of a margarita, only no orange liqueur/triple sec, no simple syrup, and no mixes or bottled juices.
You might be somewhat shocked to find just how much sugar and calories are contained in your standard margarita.
One ounce of triple sec alone (a margarita main ingredient) contains right around 11 grams of sugar -- that's half of your recommended daily sugar intake in one, single cocktail.
SKINNY MARGARITA INGREDIENTS
- Tequila
- Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
- Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
- Agave Nectar
ABOUT THE TEQUILA
As far as tequilas go, the calorie count doesn't differ much regardless of whether or not you use a Reposado or Silver tequila. Silver tequilas will have a mild and slightly herbal quality to them, while Reposados are a bit heavier in flavor with notes of vanilla, brown sugar, and oak.
One more noteworthy thing about choosing a tequila for a Skinny Margarita is this: you will be able to taste it.
The sweeteners in these low-cal margs are far less pronounced, which means there's a lot less for your tequila to hide behind. If ever there were a time to splurge on a better bottle, it's now.
FRESH LIME JUICE (NON-NEGOTIABLE FOR SKINNY MARGARITAS!)
Another differentiating factor between a Skinny Margarita Recipe and your standard, restaurant margarita is the lack of processed juices and pre-made, bottled mixers.
For a Skinny Margarita, it's fresh-squeezed lime juice, and only fresh squeezed lime juice, all the way. You will need about 2 limes per cocktail for this recipe.
ORANGE JUICE OVER TRIPLE SEC
To replace the triple sec, the Skinny Margarita calls upon freshly squeezed orange juice.
One ounce of orange juice weighs in much more modestly at about 2.5 grams of sugar. By simply subbing in fresh orange juice for the triple sec, you're saving yourself nearly 9 grams of sugar per serving!
You will need to account for about 1 orange per cocktail.
If you're not too worried about it and prefer a triple sec, I consider the Cadillac Margarita to be the opposite of the Skinny. Highly recommend if you're willing to spend a little more!
AGAVE NECTAR VS. SIMPLE SYRUP
Another calorie culprit in your standard margarita recipe is the simple syrup. To fix this, the Skinny Margarita calls upon agave nectar instead.
Simple syrup is equal parts granulated sugar and water that has been combined over heat until the sugar has liquefied. It's a mixture that is very commonly used to sweeten hundreds of cocktails and beverages.
Agave nectar is a natural sweetener derived from the agave plant; the same plant from which tequila comes.
Per serving, agave nectar has a significantly lower glycemic index number than table sugar and is lower in calories. In addition to this, it's also 1.5 times sweeter than sugar, meaning you can use less of it and achieve the same "sweetness factor."
Ditching both the simple syrup and triple sec, and using instead a combination of fresh-squeezed orange juice and agave nectar, the Skinny Margarita saves you major calorie and sugar points.
Looking for more drinks that are lighter on the carbs? Try our Blueberry Cocktail next!
HOW TO MAKE SKINNY MARGARITAS
- Have ready a glass filled with ice.
- Measure out your tequila, lime juice, orange juice, and agave nectar in a measuring pitcher or cocktail beaker.
- Stir to combine.
- Pour over ice, garnish with a lime wedge, and enjoy!
Homemade margaritas are so much easier to make than you'd think!
You don't need any special equipment or measuring tools to make them, and you can totally get by with the bare minimum:
- measuring pitcher,
- a Margarita or Rocks glass (which is just a fancy label for a short, 8-ounce-capacity glass),
- and the ingredients.
You'll find your measuring pitcher comes especially in handy for cocktails thanks to those ounce-marker measuring lines.
The only other kitchen accessory that I would highly recommend if you're making lots of Skinny Margaritas is a citrus juicer. You'll get much more out of your limes with this tool in hand!
Love a good marg? Try our Italian Margarita next!
HOW TO ADD A SALT OR SUGAR RIM
The first thing you need to know about adding a sugared or salted rim to a margarita glass is it must be done before the ice goes in. (Check out our full post on Sugar Rims for more details!)
Pour about a ⅓ cup of granulated sugar or Kosher salt onto a small plate, and shimmy the plate a bit to spread out the sugar or salt.
Then, run a lime wedge with a slit cut in the center of it along the rim of your glass.
Turn the glass over and circle it around on the plate, using your fingers to press the sugar or salt onto the sides of the glass. Then, turn the glass over, add ice, pour that Skinny Margarita mix right in, and enjoy! The salt rim is a great addition to Best Margaritas at well!
6 MORE COCKTAIL RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
- Mexican Martini
- Strawberry Margarita (On the Rocks)
- Watermelon Margarita
- Frozen Strawberry Margaritas
- Margaritas At Home
- Fizzy Blood Orange Margarita
Mexican Martini Recipe
Strawberry Margaritas On the Rocks
Watermelon Margaritas Recipe
Frozen Strawberry Margaritas
Homemade Margaritas
Blood Orange Margarita
Skinny Margaritas are the perfect drink for guilt-free sipping. Naturally sweet, made with real ingredients, and absolutely delicious!
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) Reposado or Silver tequila
- 1 ½ ounce (3 tablespoons) fresh-squeezed lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) fresh-squeezed orange juice (about 1 orange)
- Scant ½ ounce (just under 1 tablespoon) agave nectar
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Add ice to a rocks/short cocktail glass or a margarita glass.
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In a separate beaker or measuring pitcher, combine the tequila, lime juice, orange juice, and agave nectar. Stir until well-combined.
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Pour over the ice, serve, and enjoy.
