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This light and refreshing cucumber margarita, made with only 5 ingredients, is a twist on the classic cocktail. It’s perfect for hot summer days or any occasion that calls for a cool, crisp drink!
Cucumber margaritas are one of my favorite cocktails to enjoy on hot summer days. Made with fresh cucumber juice, lime juice, tequila, triple sec, and agave nectar (or your favorite sweetener) these margaritas are one of the most refreshing and light cocktails I’ve ever made – even more than my skinny margaritas!
The trick to making them taste so fresh is the homemade cucumber juice! Here’s what you need:
Cucumber Margarita Ingredients
- Cucumber: Fresh cucumber juice gives this margarita its signature refreshing taste. Use a regular cucumber (not an English cucumber) to get the most juice.
- Tequila: Opt for a good-quality blanco tequila, which is smooth and pairs well with the cucumber and lime.
- Triple sec: This orange-flavored liqueur adds a citrusy depth that enhances the margarita’s overall flavor. You could also use Cointreau.
- Lime juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice is essential for the best flavor. It adds a bright, tangy contrast to the cucumber.
- Sweetener: I used a little agave syrup to sweeten this drink, but you could also use simple syrup or even honey. This adds a touch of sweetness to balance the tart lime and the fresh cucumber. You can adjust the amount to your taste.
- Salt: For the rim of the glass, a salted rim enhances the flavors and adds a traditional margarita touch.
How to Make Cucumber Margaritas
Prepare the glass: Run a lime wedge along the rim of a glass, then dip the rim in kosher salt, flaky salt, or margarita salt.
Make the cucumber juice: Peel the cucumbers and blend them until they’re completely pureed.
Then, pour the puree through a fine mesh strainer and into a bowl to remove any excess pulp. The result is a cool and naturally healthy juice that pairs well with lime juice and tequila!
(Optional) Muddle a jalapeño: Add a slice or two of jalapeño to the glass, and lightly muddle it to release some of its natural oils. This is completely optional, but if you want a little spice, you’ve got to try this!
Mix and serve: Combine the cucumber juice, lime juice, tequila, triple sec, and agave nectar into an iced glass and serve!
Recipe Tips
- Use fresh ingredients: Fresh cucumber and lime juice make a huge difference in the flavor of this margarita.
- Adjust the sweetness: Customize the sweetness by adding more or less agave nectar or simple syrup to suit your taste.
- Salted rim: To get the perfect salted rim, rub a lime wedge around the edge of the glass and dip it in coarse salt.
Variations
Make it spicy! If you’re like me and love cocktails with a little spicy kick, I recommend muddling some fresh jalapeño slices in your glass or pitcher. Just gently press down on the sliced jalapeños a few times with a muddler or the back of a spoon a few times to release the oils.
Add some mint: Muddle a few fresh mint leaves with the cucumber for an extra refreshing taste!
Make it slushy: Turn this into a frozen cucumber margarita by blending all ingredients with ice to make a frozen version.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your cucumber margarita in a chilled glass with a salted rim, garnished with a cucumber slice or lime wheel.
This drink pairs wonderfully with light appetizers like guacamole and baked tortilla chips or a fresh ceviche or aguachile!
More Refreshing Drinks
Cucumber Margarita
Ingredients
For one drink
- ½ cucumber, peeled and diced
- ½ ounce tequila (1 tbsp)
- ½ ounce triple sec (1 tbsp)
- ½ ounce lime juice (1 tbsp)
- 2 teaspoons agave nectar (or simple syrup)
- Lime wedges, for rimming glass
- Kosher salt for rimming glass
- Ice cubes, for serving
For a pitcher of drinks (5 total)
- 2 cucumbers, peeled and diced
- 2 ½ ounces tequila (¼ cup + 1 tbsp)
- 2 ½ ounces triple sec (¼ cup + 1 tbsp)
- 2 ½ ounces lime juice, (¼ cup + 1 tbsp)
- 2 tablespoons agave nectar (or simple syrup)
- Lime wedges, for rimming glasses
- Kosher salt for rimming glasses
- Ice cubes, for serving
Instructions
- Add the cucumbers to a large blender and puree until smooth and completely blended. Pour the juice through a fine mesh strainer and into a bowl or measuring cup to separate the pulp from the juice.
- Add the cucumber juice, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and agave nectar to a pitcher or glass. Stir to combine. Taste and add more sweetener if desired.
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the glass in salt and fill halfway with ice.
- Pour the cucumber margarita into the prepared glass and serve.
Notes
- Make it spicy! If you’re like me and love cocktails with a little spicy kick, I recommend muddling some fresh jalapeño slices in your glass or pitcher. Just gently press down on the sliced jalapeños a few times with a muddler or the back of a spoon to release the oils.
- Add some mint. Muddle a few fresh mint leaves with the cucumber for an extra refreshing taste!
- Make it slushy. Turn this into a frozen cucumber margarita by blending all ingredients with ice to make a frozen version.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Photography by Erin Jensen of The Wooden Skillet.
Would love to see a non-alcoholic variant that includes the wonderful NA spirits from companies such as Lyres and Drink Monday. I will be trying this to see if it works well with either or both of those options. Thanks for this great recipe in a summer of many cucumbers on the vine at our house!
How much cucumber juice per serving? I juiced all my cucumbers and trying to make a large batch!
Hi. How long will the cucumber juice last ?
Hi Charlotte! I would say to keep it for no more than a week so that it stays fresh.
Thank you, those were easy and delicious and extremely refreshing. I made them with both regular and English cucumbers with no difference in the taste. I did lose quite a bit of volume the first time and would suggest wringing the cucumber pulp in a cheese cloth. That way you extract maximum juice with minimum effort!
It is tasty and fresh but the recipe calls for using half the tequila a normal margarita usually has in it. I doubled it.
Such a refreshing cocktail!! We loved it and next time.we will try with the jalapeno:)
Best Margaritas I’ve had/made in a long while!
Can you use a juicer instead of a blender?
Yes!
Such a vibrant color! And bonus because it looks like it wouldn’t be cloyingly sweet.
Yes! I prefer my cocktails on the not sweet side, but you definitely have the option of adding in a little agave or simple syrup so it’s perfect for you tastes. And it’s so refreshing, especially this time of year 🙂