Skinny Margaritas
Super fresh, skinny margaritas made with fresh lime, orange, agave nectar and tequila. It's truly "The Best Margarita You'll Ever Have."
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on August 30, 2024
Margaritas. I have conflicting feelings about them. On one hand, the mere thought of sipping on a margarita made with the standard supbar restaurant’s powdered sweet-and-sour mix gives me a stomachache.
On the other, the idea of a naturally sweetened, fresh margarita made with real lime juice makes me want to jump up and down. Truly, they are two entirely different animals.
When I was asked to contribute to A Cup of Jo’s “The Best ____ You’ll Ever Have” series, I decided to try my hand at perfecting the real-deal margaritas that I so enjoy.
I took this task very seriously, of course. Copious amounts of tequila were consumed in my quest to create a margarita recipe that stands up to the audacious title of “The Best Margarita You’ll Ever Have.” You’ll find my perfected recipe below!
Watch How to Make Margaritas
After narrowing down the proportions of lime to tequila to sweetener, I invited my friend Emily over to help me finalize the margarita recipe. She happily obliged. We played around with the ingredients, made a big mess, sampled a lot of margaritas, got tipsy and, finally, landed on the perfect margarita.
The secret to the perfect margarita, we discovered, is to skip Cointreau/orange liqueur altogether and replace it with freshly squeezed orange juice. The difference is remarkable.
On Wednesday, to celebrate, I made these margaritas for my friends Alissa and Jordan. I poured the margaritas into their glasses and awaited their reactions. Their eyes lit up on first sip, and each proclaimed, “No really, this is the best margarita I’ve ever had!” It was just what I wanted to hear.
I really couldn’t be more delighted to be featured on A Cup of Jo. Thank you, Joanna! I wish you all a wonderful weekend with many margaritas.
Skinny Margaritas
Super fresh, skinny margaritas made with fresh lime juice, orange juice and agave nectar. The best margarita you’ll ever have!
Ingredients
- Kosher salt or coarsely ground sea salt
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) silver tequila
- 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons/about 1 ½ small limes) fresh lime juice
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons/about ½ of a medium orange) fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon light agave nectar
- 1 lime wedge or round, for garnish
Instructions
- Pour a layer of salt onto a small plate (preferably one just slightly larger than the top of your margarita glass). Slice off a small piece of lime and run the wet edge of the slice along half of the rim of your glass. Dip the top of the glass into the salt at a 45-degree angle and roll it from side to side to catch the salt. Add ice cubes to your glass and set it aside.
- Fill a small cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the tequila, freshly squeezed lime and orange juice and agave nectar. Put on the lid and shake for 30 seconds. Strain the liquid into your glass and garnish with a slice of lime.
Notes
Recommended tequila: Use 100% agave tequila labeled white, silver or blanco. I recommend Milagro, Hornitos or Espolón.
Salted rim considerations: Consider lining the rim of just half your glass with salt so you can control how much salt you taste with each sip (that’s a great tip I picked up from a recent issue of Bon Appetit). If you’d prefer a light sprinkling of salt all around the rim, just pour a very thin layer of salt onto your plate and run the lime slice around the entire rim of the margarita glass. The nutrition information below does not include the salt on the rim because the amount consumed is highly variable (and the salt is optional).
Juicing tips: I’ve found that the easiest way to juice limes is with this hand-held juicer (the yellow one). Citrus at room temperature is easier to juice than cold citrus, so take your limes and oranges out of the fridge an hour in advance. Here’s another tip, from Brenda, a reader: Before you slice the citrus, roll it back and forth on cutting board, pressing slightly. Then cut it in half lengthwise, not across! You will get up to ⅓ more juice that way.
Want to make a pitcher of margaritas? For 10 drinks (about 45 ounces, or 5 ½ cups), combine 2 ½ cups silver tequila, generous 1 ¾ cup fresh lime juice (around 15 limes), 1 ¼ cup fresh orange juice (about 5 medium oranges) and 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon light agave nectar. Mix well, and add ice. Don’t forget to garnish your rims with lime rounds and coarse salt.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
Fun Margarita Variations
Keep in mind that fruit contributes liquid and sweetness, so you might want to reduce the amount of agave nectar found in the original recipe:
- Muddle a few pieces of juicy fruit like strawberries, peaches, watermelon or mango at the bottom of your shaker before adding ice and the other ingredients.
- You can muddle up fresh herbs, like a couple of basil or cilantro leaves, for garden-fresh flavor or add a skinny slice of serrano or jalapeño pepper for heat. Strawberry basil (not shown) and grapefruit serrano (shown in the photo above, on the left) are both great combinations.
- Add a small splash of fruit juice or even jam/compote to your shaker. Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice is one of my favorites because it cuts through the flavor of the tequila. Pomegranate or cranberry juice would be festive during the holidays.
- For a fruity frozen margarita, blend the basic margarita ingredients in a blender along with 1/2 cup frozen fruit (blueberry margaritas are my favorite, shown in the photo above, on the right) and a few ice cubes. Serve over a couple of ice cubes to slow the melting.
- Have fun with your rim salt. Mix in raw sugar or spices, like ground cinnamon or chili powder, to add an extra layer of complexity to your drink.
Lastly, if you’re looking for a good meal (enchiladas! fajitas!) or snacks (nachos, quesadillas) to complement your margaritas, check out my Mexican recipes. I have more margarita variations here, too!
No wonder I have a girl crush on you! Margaritas always seem intimidating and the mixes are so fake-tasting. I could use one right now (as I try to finish edits on something and my living room is torn up by construction)
I didn’t want to make this with sugar so I added a Splenda packet and omitted the agave.
mmmm…love the orange juice idea. These look like the best margarita I’ve never had – soon to be remedied! :)
I love a proper margarita with plenty of saltiness and sourness, this recipe definitely has me stocking up on tequila!
I can’t wait to try these! I love that you used agave instead of sugar!
I always get the strangest looks in bars/restaurants when I ask if a margarita is made with sweet & sour or lime juice, but they ARE completely different animals. It’s like asking for a glass of just-squeezed orange juice from the tree in my yard and getting powdered Tang instead.
That is exactly what I was trying to say! Perfect simile, I’m glad you agree on the fresh lime juice vs. sweet and sour issue. If those bartenders are giving you funny looks for asking for fresh lime, they don’t know what they’re doing! ;)
O.
M.
G.
I have always been a (Fresh) Margarita lover but gained a new appreciation for the real taste when I went to Central America. I do like the addition of an Orange Liquor but find the Cointreau is too heavy. Have you ever had Gran Gala?
Strangely enough, my friend and I kind of liked the taste of orange liqueur on its own, but definitely did not like the way it tasted in margaritas. I’ve never heard of Gran Gala, though. I do like Citronge (made by Patron) all right.
The orange juice addition is a great idea! I can’t wait to try these out!!
Happy Friday!
xo Kayla
I am all about a fresh margarita, especially in summer. This looks completely refreshing!
It’s really just a holder for the salt for me! They look delish!
Wow…fresh and easy to make – this is amazing and looks delicious! And the variations, can’t wait to try it. I know it’ll be great.
I cannot wait to test this recipe out!!
Mmm what a perfect cocktail for summer nights. Yum!
These margaritas look very fresh and delicious.
I have recently acquired a taste for cocktails, but only homemade ones where I know for sure that there’s no added fakeness in it. this looks super fresh and delicious.
Sounds like this margarita would be right up your alley! I can’t stand fake ingredients or sugary liqueurs, either.
Yum!! Those look absolutely deeeelicious! I live in Santa Fe, where people take their margaritas pretty seriously. I’ve never even thought to make one at home– will definitely be trying your recipe!
I am absolutely in love with your blog, by the way! I’m planning on making your vegan chocolate cherry cake this weekend with some fresh New Mexican cherries I got from the farmer’s market this morning. Yum! Thanks for all of the inspiration– thinking about starting a food blog of my own, and you are definitely a blogger I look up to!
Thank you for your sweet comment, Rachel. I’d love to hear your feedback on the cherry chocolate cake and margaritas, if you get around to making them! And let me know when you start your food blog!
Ingredients are being gathered tomorrow – making!!
These look so refreshing! Love the use of agave instead of sugar! YUM!
Your post was awesome!!! :)
Thanks, Shoko! :)
You have ruined me! I can’t have another margarita….only yours! so good. Life changing.
Just think of all the margaritas we can make in my new apartment in a week! I will certainly need three after the moving process…
Hi there! Just wondering why you chose agave? I keep hearing how it’s devoid of any health benefits. I need to get limes and oranges to make this!!!
Hey Zara! I don’t use agave much any more, since I’ve learned more about it. That said, there’s such a small amount in these margaritas that it seems negligible—plus it comes from the same plant as tequila, so it seems like a suitable choice.
I saw your recipe over on A Cup of Joe! It was exciting to see you there! These sound amazing and not-too-sweet — perfect!
YES! This is how I have been drinking my margaritas for many years but sometimes I add a splash of soda water or sparkling water for a little fizz. I’ll also occasionally add a small bit of Grand Marnier instead of the orange juice. The only bad thing is this has ruined me a bit when I go out for Mexican food, very margaritas are ever as good as the ones I make at home.
Ooh another tip, you can make a smoky version with mescal instead of tequila and add a little smoked chipotle powder to the salt. YUM!
Sounds like I need to hunt down some mescal! That sounds amazing, thank you for the ideas!
I just discovered you a few months ago and have been adoring your recipes and your outlook ever since. This natural and simple margarita recipe is one I’ve been wanting for a long time and it was divine! Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic recipes with us. I’m always so excited when there is an email from Cookie and Kate!
Thank you, Donna, your kind words really mean a lot! Glad to hear you enjoy the margarita!
Hi kate- LOVE this idea- we had fresh on our honeymoon in mexico and i’ve been meaning to try and recreate them! Quick question- If we wanted frozen fresh margaritas, do you have any tips? or just to blend the mix with ice in a blender? Thanks so much!
Hey Steph, you should be able to blend it with ice. They won’t have the consistency of a restaurant’s frozen margarita, though. I’d suggest pouring it into cold glasses so they stay frozen a little longer, and maybe even adding an ice cube or two to keep it cold.
I wholeheartedly agree, powdered sweet and sour mixes make me cringe. I was over the top disappointed during a recent trip to Cabo where a hotel served me one instead of natural one! I was in Mexico, the margarita heaven!! Glad to know I am not the only one who is picky! Great post, looks delicious :)
These look just up our alley! We’ll definitely be trying these — thanks for the idea :)
Great recipes. I love them all can’t wait to try them all, tonight we will enjoy the margaritas.
i saw this on a cup of jo and was absolutely taken by how delicious this looks — and i don’t drink! any suggestions on how to easily mass produce this recipe for a big party?
Sorry for the delayed response, PWS—I think you could multiply the quantities given to fill your pitcher (leave room for some ice and stir). Pour into glasses over ice!
Did I miss the calorie count on the drink?
These look really delicious. I’ve generally made margaritas with an equal parts recipe (http://casademilo.com/2012/09/25/the-perfect-margarita/). I’m looking forward to giving these a try, though, and seeing what the extra tequila and orange juice substitution contributes to the drink!
Hope you enjoy the margarita! I had fun playing around with the proportions of tequila/lime/orange. This is the best combination I found!
All you need is grenadine and you’d have a tequila sunrise.
Sounds delicious and natural! Can’t wait to try later….HAPPY NATIONAL MARGARITA DAY!!!
Happy margarita day to you, too, Alicia! Hope you love the margs.
I’ve always preferred fresh juice/barely sweet margaritas — but never thought to use orange juice or agave nectar. These were delicious! For the person who asked about mass producing, it works great to just multiply and mix ahead. I made 16 servings for a party. Squeezed all the fruit the day before (took forever), mixed everything in a glass pitcher the day of, and then set up a station with lime & orange slices, salt, ice, and more agave nectar so guests could assemble their own to taste. Compliments from everyone for your lovely recipe.
Thank you, Julie! I’m so glad you enjoyed the margaritas. I could go for a pitcher right now myself. :)
Tried them. Delicious! I added another Tbsp of oj and 1/2 tsp of agave. Great blog.
Thanks, Jennifer! So glad you enjoyed the margaritas. I might have to make one before the day’s over. :)
So how many lemons yields one serving? And oranges? Making a pitcher for a party and making a grocery list!
Hi Sigrid, you’ll want to use limes (not lemons), about one big lime per drink (you might be some extra to be safe). And about 1/2 of an orange per drink.
Kate, we made some margaritas tonight and they were really good. We liked them with a little more orange juice, but other than that we kept your proportions. Thank you. Looking forward to making some of your Mexican food recipes. We’re not vegetarians but we love to find good vegetarian dishes, and our daughter is grateful when we do.
Thank you, Fred! I’m glad you enjoyed the margaritas. I made several for friends last night! Hope you enjoy the Mexican recipes.
This is wonderful!!! Just made it!!!
Thank you, Allana! Cheers!
I am always looking for good margarita recipes and I really liked the fresh ingredients you use. I will try this recipe today.
Thanks!
the wife told me about this recipe and printed it out so I made a run to the liquor store and grocery store this afternoon and then fixed a few tonight. Very Good !!
I have also been perusing some of your other ideas so will be trying other recipes
Hey Jax, thanks for your comment! I’m glad to hear that you two enjoyed the margaritas. I hope you enjoy the other recipes as well!
I love your margarita Viva USA
I try this recipe is refreshing and delicious :-) Will be my favorite drink for the summer thanks for sharing salud!!!
Thanks, Mel!
I thought I’d try my first ‘skinny’ margarita. All I can say is Wow! I generally don’t like the fake taste of margaritas but this hits the spot! Thank you!!
Vickie, glad you enjoyed the margarita! The difference between fresh and artificially flavored margaritas is really night and day!
I hope everyone realizes there must be a typo here. I highly doubt this drink has 184 carbs and if it does, since carbs are 4 calories per gram then it has over 700 calories. Based on the ingredients thus is clearly a typo.
Hey Carla, I’m sorry for the confusion. The formatting of the nutrition facts is a little difficult to read, but it says 184 calories, not carbs.
Hi Kate. I think you’re hot. Thanks for sharing.
Is it just me, or does it say “1 calories” ?
Sorry Ignore that, I saw somebody else’s answer! :)
Sorry about that, the formatting is confusing! I’ll try to fix it soon.
Hi Kate!
I JUST made your natural margaritas for my 4th of July Party last night and they were amazing. Thank you so much for posting a pitcher recipe – my guests were clamouring for more and it was the first drink we ran out of. I’m now sharing your recipe with everyone I know :)
Lisa
Lisa, thank you! So glad the margaritas were popular at your party. Now I’m craving one!
Yum. Perfect. And I didn’t even have to go to the store for anything. And, I love your recipes! I have made so many… We are raising my son veg and he loves them too. Although he’s gonna have to wait to try this one for about 18 more years. ;)
Awesome, thanks Alex! Glad you appreciate the recipes. :)
Best Margs I’ve ever had. I crush some jalapeños at the bottom of my mixer to give it an extra kick. Clean and refreshing drink. I normally shy away from tequila (she and I had a falling out in college) but I can drink these margs all day.
Yes! Glad to hear it. Your jalapeño version sounds right up my alley. Tequila and I get along great. Bacardi rum, on the other hand… never again.
The margarita recipe is great! The only addition I made was to add two drops of liquid stevia to sweeten it just a bit more.
I didn’t have any orange juice but I had some apple juice and decided to use this instead. My craving for a margarita was huge so I improvised. It turned out to be one of the best margaritas I’ve ever tasted.
I used the following ingredients: 2oz reposado tequila, 2oz apple juice, 1oz lime, 1 tbspn agave&honey, a pinch cinammon&salt, a little cilantro, ice and shaked it all until it was nice and frothy.
What an amazing drink! Next time I’ll add a slize of jalapeño too!
Marb, thanks for sharing your drink with me! I want to try it ASAP! Oaky reposado tequila with apple juice and lime sounds amazing. It reminds me of my pear nectar and resposado tequila drink, which I think you would enjoy as well! https://sooka.info/2011/holiday-cocktail-pear-and-resposado-tequila/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E