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.
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!
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED
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!
SPICY RIMS FOR SPICY MARGARITAS
Before you whip up your cocktail, go ahead and 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. It is insane how delicious this seasoning is in combination with a sip of Spicy Margarita!
To add a Tajin rim to your margarita glass, 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. Use your fingers to press the Tajin against the sides of the glass gently, and voilà! Time to add some ice.
Fill your glass with ice and whip up your Spicy Margarita in the shaker!
HOW TO MAKE SPICY MARGARITAS
To kick off your Spicy Jalapeño Margaritas, the first thing you need to do is 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, add the fresh lime juice, and grab yourself a muddler. Press down on the jalapeño until it appears slightly broken up. If you don't have a muddler, you could use the handle end of a wooden spoon.
Now, you'll add in your tequila, triple sec or orange liqueur, freshly squeezed orange juice, and simple syrup. Add ice to the shaker, seal, and shake for about 30 seconds.
Strain into the prepared glass and enjoy your Spicy Margarita!
6 MORE MARGARITA RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
- Italian Margarita
- Frozen Margarita
- Pineapple Margarita
- Skinny Margarita
- Strawberry Marg on the Rocks
- Frozen Strawberry Margarita
Italian Margarita
Frozen Margaritas
Pineapple Margaritas | SO EASY To Make At Home!
Skinny Margaritas (Less Sugar AND Less Calories!)
Strawberry Margaritas On the Rocks
Frozen Strawberry Margaritas
This Spicy Margarita is super fresh and flavorful, with the perfect amount of heat. Great for adding a little spunk to your happy hour!
- 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) fresh-squeezed lime juice (from about 1 ½ limes)
- 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
- 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) Reposado or Silver tequila
- 1 ounce orange liqueur (Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec)
- ½ ounce simple syrup or agave nectar
- 1 ½ ounces (about 3 tablespoons) fresh-squeezed orange juice (from about half an orange)
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Add ice to a rocks/short cocktail glass or a margarita glass.
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To a cocktail shaker, add lime juice and 2-3 jalapeño slices. Muddle with a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon until broken up.
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Add the tequila, orange liqueur, simple syrup, orange juice, and ice. Shake for 30 seconds.
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Pour over the ice, serve, and enjoy.
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