Enjoy the refreshing taste of this classic margarita made with simple ingredients. No mix required! This simple margarita recipe is sure to become your favorite! Made with fresh lime juice, agave to sweeten, and a combination of tequila and triple sec. This cocktail is easy to make at home!
All about this margarita…
These Classic Lime Margaritas are the perfect cold, refreshing cocktail to serve with all your favorite Tex Mex meals! The fresh burst of citrus pairs perfectly with the rich flavoring of Cheese Enchiladas or Birria Tacos. These margaritas are:
- Quick: only 5 minutes is needed to shake the ingredients together for a restaurant quality homemade margarita.
- Fresh: using freshly squeezed lime juice makes all the difference!
- Easy: only 4 ingredients are needed to make the drink itself.
Ingredients Needed:
Notes on Some Ingredients:
- Tequila– silver or reposado are traditionally used in margaritas. However, you can use any type of tequila that you enjoy.
- Orange Liquor- either Triple Sec or Cointreau are good options.
- Lime juice– fresh squeezed is the best way to go!
- Simple syrup or Agave– this creates a sweeter margarita. It is optional, you can enjoy a margarita without it, but I much prefer my cocktails to have a bit of sweetness to balance the tart punch of the lime juice.
- Kosher Salt or Sugar– another optional ingredient. Use either to rim your glass.
How to Make (step-by-step):
- Step 1: Add some ice to your cocktail shaker. This will make your drink nice and cold. Then combine the ingredients into the cocktail shaker. Pour in the tequila, triple sec, and fresh lime juice. Give it a shake!
- Step 2: Taste and add sweetener as desired. Instructions for a simple syrup or agave follow.
- Step 3: Add some ice to your prepared glass and pour! Keep the strainer on your cocktail shaker so that the drink is strained while you pour it in. Then garnish with a lime wedge.
Expert Tips:
- Lime Juice: Fresh juice is always going to be best when making cocktails. Bottled juice has additional sweeteners and flavors added to it. Plus you want to have some limes on hand for using to rim the glasses and adding as a garnish.
- Rim: use what you would prefer, if you want a salted rim, use a good coarse salt. For a sweeter drink, a coarse sugar works well. Or you can of course not rim the glass if preferred.
- Prepare ahead of time: if you are expecting guests and want to pour margaritas all around, follow the instructions in the recipe card below for preparing a pitcher! Simply multiply the ingredients by the amount of servings you are wanting, this can then be stored in the refrigerator and brought out to pour when needed, simply give the pitcher a stir.
FAQ’s:
There are two types of alcohol in a classic margarita, tequila and an orange liquor. The most common ones used are Cointreau and Triple Sec. Tequila is typically a silver tequila, which is a clear option. Reposado is a great option for a margarita also.
A typical, sweetened margarita is made with approximately 3-3.5 ounces of liquid. Of which, 2.5 to 3 ounces is alcohol.
Margaritas are traditionally served as a strong cocktail in a small rocks glass rimmed with coarse salt and garnished with a lime wedge. Frozen Margaritas will be a blended version, of a slushy consistency traditionally served in a margarita glass.
More Cocktail recipes:
- Mango Margarita
- Champagne Margarita
- Bellini Margarita
- How to Make a Frozen Margarita with Real Fruit
If you tried this recipe please leave a comment and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below! Thank you so much!
Recipe first published May 4, 2018. Updated March 11, 2021 with new images and information. Recipe is unchanged.
Photography by the talented @KJandCompany.co
