Celebrate citrus season with simple, gorgeous blood orange margaritas made with only 5 ingredients, including fresh blood orange juice!

two Blood Orange Margaritas with fresh blood orange slices on the rim surrounded by orange sugar, lime and blood orange slices, a copper shaker and a white linen.

If you've been a reader of Lively Table for a while, you know that I'm a margarita snob. And you might be one too, if you've made my famous Skinny Margaritas! For the height of winter citrus season, I love making blood orange margaritas as a beautiful riff on my original recipe.

Why You'll Love Blood Orange Margaritas

This blood orange margarita is such a refreshing twist on a classic favorite. Freshly squeezed blood orange juice adds the perfect pop of gorgeous color and a slightly sweetness. It's just sweet enough if you prefer a more tart margarita like I do, but if you like a little more sweetness, a touch of agave nectar is an easy addition. The bright hue and flavor of the drink just make me happy, and I'm sure they will brighten your day, too!

The Ingredients

Tequila - Use a good quality tequila blanco (white or silver tequila)
Cointreau - Or other triple sec, but Cointreau is my favorite.
Lime juice - Freshly squeezed for the best flavor
Blood orange juice - Also freshly squeezed
Agave nectar - Optional, if you like a little more sweetness
A sugar-orange zest mix for the rim, also optional

four image collage showing steps for making blood orange margaritas.

How To Make Blood Orange Margaritas

Mix sugar and a little zest from one of the blood oranges on a plate.
Wet the rim of your glass with a lime wedge and dip it in the sugar mixture, then fill with ice.
In a shaker with ice, combine tequila, Cointreau, blood orange juice, lime juice, and agave, if using. Shake vigorously.
Strain into the glass filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of blood orange, if you like!

Can I Make a Pitcher?

Absolutely! For a pitcher of 4 margaritas, you'll need 6 oz (¾ cup) tequila, 2 oz Cointreau, 4 oz (½ cup) lime juice, 12 oz (1.5 cups) blood orange juice, and 1 oz of agave nectar. Stir and refrigerate until you're ready to serve.

Are They Make Ahead Friendly?

You can make these margaritas a few hours in advance, but not much more. Fresh lime juice loses flavor as it sits, so fresher is always better.

blood orange margarita with a blood orange slice on the rim surrounded by orange sugar, lime slices and a halved blood orange.

More Top Shelf Margarita Recipes

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Blood Orange Margaritas

Close up of blood orange margarita with fresh blood orange slice on the rim surrounded by orange sugar, lime slices and a halved blood orange.

Print Recipe

Celebrate citrus season with simple, gorgeous blood orange margaritas made with only 5 ingredients, including fresh blood orange juice!

Author: Kaleigh
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 1 drink 1x
Category: cocktails
Method: no cook
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

Scale

Sugar (optional)
blood orange zest
1 ½ oz good quality tequila blanco
½ oz Cointreau
1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
3 oz freshly squeezed blood orange juice
¼ oz agave nectar (if you prefer a sweeter drink)
Ice

Instructions

Pour about 3 tablespoon of sugar on a small plate and mix with a bit of blood orange zest. Wet the rim of a martini or old fashioned glass. Turn upside down onto plate of sugar. Fill glass with ice.
In a cocktail shaker, combine tequila, Cointreau, lime, blood orange juice, and agave if using.
Add ice and shake for about 30 seconds. Strain into glass with ice and enjoy!

Notes

It's best to use lime juice that has been squeezed the same day, as lime juice loses flavor as it sits.

Pitcher Recipe:

Stir together 6oz (¾ cup) tequila, 2 oz Cointreau, 4 oz (½ cup) lime juice, 12 oz (1 ½ cups) blood orange juice, and 1 oz agave (if desired). Add ice and sliced blood oranges just before serving for a pretty garnish. Serves 4.

Keywords: blood orange margarita, margarita with blood orange juice