The BEST skinny margaritas are classic, delicious, refreshing, and made with just a few simple ingredients, the way a margarita should be! This top-shelf recipe is the only margarita recipe you'll ever need!
What would a Cinco de Mayo celebration be without margaritas? Here in Texas, Margaritas are almost as important as Lone Star beer and tacos. You just can't go to a Mexican restaurant without ordering a margarita, and it’s one of the main factors when judging said Mexican restaurant. And when it comes to margaritas, I am VERY picky. I have been known to send margaritas back at restaurants when they inevitably come out too sweet. I come from a family of margarita snobs. I can't help it.
The absolute best margaritas are made with just a few simple ingredients: fresh squeezed lime juice, a high quality tequila, orange liqueur (I prefer Cointreau), and maybe a hint of sweetness. And never from a mix. Never ever. To point you in the right direction, this is my go-to recipe for classic, perfect margaritas.
Why You Need THIS Margarita Recipe
I'm not lying when I say that these are THE BEST margaritas. We get lots of requests for them from friends. Margarita snobs (like myself) and newbies alike love them. They are super simple to make with just 4 ingredients, the way margaritas should be, and are perfectly sweet and tart (not super sweet like many can be!). Trust me when I say, this is the only margarita recipe you will ever need again.
What Makes These Skinny Margaritas?
Admittedly, these are not 'skinny' in the sense that they are low calorie or any of that nonsense. But I've found that at most Mexican restaurants, 'Skinny Margarita' refers to the way this one is made - with fresh lime juice and agave nectar - rather than with a mix. Although sometimes skinny can mean that it's made with artificial sweeteners to lower the sugar content. That is not this recipe.
How To Make The Best Skinny Margaritas
These margaritas are super simple to make.
- Squeeze some limes. I prefer a citrus reamer, though some people like a hand press. (If you're making a lot, KitchenAid also makes a citrus juicer attachment for the stand mixer that I totally impulse bought on sale for such occasions!)
- If you want a salt rim, run a lime wedge over the rim of your glass, then turn upside down onto a plate of salt. Then fill your glass with ice.
- Add lime juice, tequila, triple sec, and agave nectar to a shaker filled with ice (or if you're making a lot of drinks, to a pitcher with no ice).
- Shake or stir, then pour into your ice-filled glass and enjoy!
Tips For Making (And Drinking) Margaritas
- It's best to use lime juice that has been freshly squeezed the day you are making margs. The juice looses it's flavor after sitting a while, so don't do it too far in advance.
- With cocktails this simple, quality ingredients are important. Use a good tequila and triple sec. (I usually use 1800 Silver and Cointreau).
- Adjust the amount of tequila and sweetener to fit your taste. I prefer tart margaritas, so I usually use half of the agave nectar. If you prefer a sweeter drink, you might increase it. If the amount of tequila is too strong for you, decrease it a little bit. Or dilute it with a splash of soda on the top.
- These margaritas are strong. And they taste very good. So pace yourself. And alternate with water. They will knock you on your ass if you drink too many. You've been warned.
What If I Don't Have Agave Nectar?
I love using agave nectar in cocktails because it mixes in so well without any extra steps. But if you don't have any, no worries! You can use simple syrup. To make it, just simmer equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan until the sugar is dissolved (I usually do ¼ cup of each, which will give you 2 oz). Cool the simple syrup completely before using it.
Making Pitcher Margaritas
Having a party? You can absolutely make a pitcher of margaritas (I recommend it, really). First, you'll need a lot of limes. To convert this to a pitcher recipe, just replace 'oz' in the recipe to 'cups'. So you'll mix 2 cups tequila, 2 cups lime juice, 1.5 cups Cointreau, and 1 cup agave nectar or simple syrup (more or less to taste). One pitcher will make about 8-10 drinks. Repeat as needed.
More Margarita Recipes You'll Love
- Blood Orange Margaritas
- Top Shelf Hatch Chile Margaritas
- Apple Cider Margaritas
- Cilantro Lemongrass Margaritas
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the comments!
PrintThe BEST Skinny Margaritas
The BEST skinny margaritas are classic, delicious, refreshing, and made with just a few simple ingredients, the way a margarita should be! This top-shelf recipe is the only margarita recipe you'll ever need!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 margaritas 1x
- Category: cocktails
- Method: no cook
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients
For 2 drinks:
- 2 oz silver tequila
- 2 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1.5 oz Cointreau
- 0.5 oz light agave nectar (or 1 oz simple syrup), more or less to taste
- Ice
- Coarse sea salt
- Lime wedges
For a pitcher (8-10 drinks):
- 2 cups silver tequila
- 2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1.5 cups Cointreau
- ½ cup light agave nectar or 1 cup simple syrup
Instructions
- Use a lime wedge to wet the rims of 2 glasses and dip in salt (optional). Fill glasses with ice.
- To make margaritas, add tequila, lime juice, Cointreau and agave nectar or simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into ice-filled glasses.
- To make a pitcher, simply stir all of the ingredients in a pitcher (with no ice) and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- To make simple syrup, simmer equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan until sugar is dissolved, then remove from heat and cool to room temperature. For 2 oz of simple syrup, use ¼ cup each. For pitcher recipe, use 1 cup each.
- It's best to use lime juice that has been freshly squeezed the day you are making margs. The juice looses it's flavor after sitting a while, so don't do it too far in advance.
- With cocktails this simple, quality ingredients are important. Use a good tequila and triple sec. (I usually use 1800 Silver and Cointreau).
- Adjust the amount of tequila and sweetener to fit your taste. I prefer tart margaritas, so I usually use half of the agave nectar. If you prefer a sweeter drink, you might increase it. If the amount of tequila is too strong for you, decrease it a little bit. Or dilute it with a splash of soda on the top.
- These margaritas are strong. And they taste very good. So pace yourself. (AKA, please drink responsibly.)
Keywords: skinny margaritas, the best margaritas, classic margaritas, healthy margarita recipe, margarita recipe with fresh lime juice
Tracy says
This is the absolute best margarita recipe ever! I’m a bit of a margarita snob and these margaritas beat any I’ve made OR HAD! Whenever we have friends over, my husband wants me to make these to share and there has never been a time where my friends haven’t said they were the best and always ask me for the recipe. I would love it if you had a strawberry margarita on the rocks recipe using fresh strawberries. I’ve searched your recipes and couldn’t find one. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for this recipe. Easy and delicious!
★★★★★
Kaleigh says
Thank you so much for your comment - you made my day! I will work on a strawberry version! 🙂
Tracy says
I would love that Kaleigh - thank you!
Sara Nolen says
WOW I am so glad I found this recipe!! I absolutely hate margs that are too sweet, and this one was exactly what I was looking for. I have made this several times for friends and family, and everyone has LOVED it! Thank you!
Kaleigh says
I'm so glad you like the recipe, Sara!
Pleb Bartender says
Wtf? This is not a skinny margarita. This is how all non-dive restaurants and bars make normal margs. Skinny denotes no sugar, agave or cointreau.
Kaleigh says
Thank you for your very kind comment! If you had read the post, you'd know that I made note of such already.
Kristina says
I use this margarita recipe on repeat. Simple and strong.
★★★★★
Kaleigh says
Just how we like them! 🙂 Thanks for leaving a review, Kristina!
TJ says
Do you know an estimated amount of calories one drink would have? And can you explain more regarding how the drink would differ if using agave nectar vs homemade simple syrup? Do you feel agave nectar tastes better or is healthier vs simple syrup in the drink?
Thanks! This sounds delicious!!
Kaleigh says
Hi TJ, I don't provide nutrition info for my recipes, but there are several free online calculators you can use. The taste is similar with simple syrup and agave, and it doesn't make a big difference health-wise. I just prefer agave because it's so easy (no extra step of making the simple syrup). But if you don't have agave, simple syrup is great too!
Bob Ginther says
Too much sugar for me. Costco did not have Cointreux. First batch two Diet Seven Ups, 6 oz Kirkland Anejo Tequila, Four large limes, and one good size blood orange. My wife quite happy with Mothers Day experiment. Did not use simple syrup I made for drinks. My son said he would prefer it with a little simple syrup. I wish I had more blood oranges. Only regular for next batch. The blood orange made the drink pink. Hatch chili one looks interesting
★★★
Suzanne Frankenfeld says
Hi Kaleigh
We loved your skinny margaritas!! I do have a question, though, how is your recipe skinny? When i looked at the sugar in agave, it was more that simple syrup.
★★★★★
Kaleigh says
I’m so glad you liked them! They aren’t actually ‘skinny’, but that is the term most restaurants now use to describe margaritas made this way (lime juice and agave nectar instead of a mix), so that’s what I called them!
Candice @ Whole Health Hacks says
Love this! I skipped the margs on Cinco de Mayo this year but this recipe has me thinking I need one asap 🙂
Kaleigh M says
Thanks, Candice! I hope you love it! 🙂