Make the BEST classic margarita in minutes with a few simple ingredients. It's refreshing, zingy, and delicious. Serve it with chips and salsa for the perfect happy hour!
There's nothing better than chips, salsa, and a perfect margarita. Margaritas are truly timeless and it doesn't matter what time of the year it is.
Salt and sour flavors join to create the most refreshing and tangy beverage. The best part: it's so easy to make this drink in the comfort of your own home with a few simple ingredients. It's seriously the easiest drink ever!
Here's what you'll need
Detailed ingredient measurements, instructions, and notes can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page, but here's is a quick summary:
- Tequila: Use a high-quality silver or blanco tequila for margaritas. However, you can also use gold or reposado tequila as well.
- Cointreau: I prefer Cointreau as it creates the best flavor, but you can use any other good-quality orange liqueur. Some other options include Grand Marnier or a Triple Sec, but those can have a harsher flavor.
- Lime juice: Use fresh lime juice. Adjust the amount based on how sour your prefer your drink.
- Coarse salt: To rim the glass. Not only does it look appealing, but the salt also naturally enhances the flavors in the drink.
- Ice: Either cubes of ice or you can also crush your ice in your blender!
- Sweetener (optional): If you're making a margarita with high-quality ingredients, chances are that you don't need any sweetener. But if you prefer your drink on the sweeter side, use simple syrup or agave nectar,
How to make
This margarita couldn't be easier to make!
1. Rim glass with salt: Pour salt on a small rimmed plate. Run a lime wedge around the edge of your glasses and then dip into salt.
2. Mix ingredients in a shaker: Combine the lime juice, Cointreau, tequila, and a few cubes of ice in a shaker. Shake until well combined. If using sweetener, add and shake again.
3. Garnish (optional) and serve: Fill the glass with ice. Using a strainer, pour the mixture into the glass. Garnish with a slice of lime and serve immediately.
Tips for making the best margaritas
- If you don't have a shaker: If you don’t have a shaker, use a mason jar and a strainer! Combine ingredients in the mason jar, close, and shake until well combined. Pour through a strainer into the glass.
- Use high-quality ingredients: Your drink is going to be as good as your ingredients.
- Fresh lime juice: Squeeze your lime juice right before making your drink for the best flavor.
- Salt: If you're going to be rimming the glass with salt, make sure it's course salt. Do not use iodized salt.
- To sweeten your drink: While a classic margarita recipe doesn't include sweetener, feel free to sweeten with either orange juice, simple syrup, agave nectar, or maple syrup.
Serving suggestions
- Chips and salsa or guacamole (or both!): Mango Salsa
- Tacos: Cauliflower Tacos, Crispy Potato Tacos with Chipotle Sauce
- Enchiladas
- Bean dip or queso
- Salad
More easy drink recipes
If you tried this drink or any other recipe, be sure to rate the recipe and let me know what you think. Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more delicious recipes.
Editor’s note: This recipe was originally published on April 18, 2020. Since then, it’s been freshened up with new pictures and more details to help you make the recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces silver/blanco tequila
- 1 ½ ounces Cointreau, (or any other orange liqueur)
- 1 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
- course salt for rim
- ice, cubes or crushed
- slice or wedge of lime, optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Rim glass with salt: Pour salt on a small rimmed plate. Run a lime wedge around the edge of your glasses and then dip into salt.
- Mix ingredients in a shaker: Combine the lime juice, Cointreau, tequila, and a few cubes of ice in a shaker (*see note if you don’t have a shaker). Shake until well combined.
- Garnish (optional) and serve: Fill the glass with ice. Using a strainer, pour the mixture into the glass. Garnish with a slice of lime and serve immediately.
Notes
- If you don't have a shaker: If you don’t have a shaker, use a mason jar and a strainer! Combine ingredients in the mason jar, close, and shake until well combined. Pour through a strainer into the glass.
- Use high-quality ingredients: Your drink is going to be as good as your ingredients.
- Fresh lime juice: Squeeze your lime juice right before making your drink for the best flavor.
- Salt: If you're going to be rimming the glass with salt, make sure it's Kosher salt or any other kind of course salt. Do not use iodized salt.
- To sweeten your drink: While a classic margarita recipe doesn't include sweetener, feel free to sweeten with either orange juice, simple syrup, agave nectar, or maple syrup.
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