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This spicy margarita recipe is made with tequila, triple sec, jalapeño, and freshly squeezed lime juice. It makes a crisp and refreshing drink every single time, with a hint of spice!
Made with only 5 ingredients, this spicy margarita recipe is a fun twist on the classic margarita!
Spicy margaritas are a great balance of tangy lime, smooth tequila, and spicy jalapeño peppers. This unique blend creates a complex flavor that excites your taste buds and senses in a way that traditional margaritas don’t.
You can adjust the level of spice to suit your preferences and experiment with different types of peppers, sweeteners, and tequilas to create endless variations.
If you love spice and are looking for a drink with a little kick, this one’s for you!
More Margaritas
Looking for more margaritas? You got it!
Ingredients
- Jalapeño: My pepper of choice for spicy margaritas. Slice them into rings for muddling. You can remove the seeds for less heat.
- Lime juice: Fresh lime juice adds some brightness and acidity.
- Tequila: I used a blanco tequila but you could use reposado or añejo for a warmer or smokier flavor.
- Triple sec: I used triple sec for this recipe, but you could also use a different orange liqueur like Cointreau or Grand Marnier.
- Sweetener: A little agave nectar, honey, or simple syrup to add some sweetness helps round out all of the tart and zesty citrus flavors.
- For serving: Tajín seasoning, chamoy, fresh jalapeño rings, and lime wheels.
How to Make A Spicy Margarita
Rim: Start by rimming or brushing on chamoy or lime juice around the rim of the glass. Dip the edge of the glass in Tajín all the way around, making sure to get an even coating. You could also just do this on one side of the glass as pictured below.
Muddle: In a cocktail shaker, add the jalapeño slices and muddle them to release their juices.
Shake: Then add tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and sweetener to the shaker. Fill it with ice, secure the lid, and shake for 15 seconds.
Strain and serve: Grab your cocktail glass, fill it with ice, then strain in the margarita and garnish with a lime wheel and a jalapeño ring!
Tips
- Don’t have a cocktail shaker? You can stir all of the ingredients in a separate glass, shake them in a mason jar, or simply pour all of the ingredients into the prepared iced glass.
- Strain the margarita with a fine mesh strainer to avoid getting any small jalapeño bits or seeds into the cocktail.
- Create a simple syrup by dissolving equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat while stirring constantly. Once cooled, it’s ready to be used in cocktails! Using 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water yields enough simple syrup for about 8 spicy margaritas.
Variations
- For a smoky variation of this spicy margarita, swap the silver tequila for your favorite mezcal or añejo tequila!
- Want more heat? Use serrano or habanero peppers for an even spicier kick.
Recommended Tools
Margarita glasses. These are my favorite margarita glasses that I use often.
Cocktail shaker. Essential for mixing and chilling cocktails.
Muddler. Great for gently crushing different ingredients in cocktails, which releases their essential oils and flavors.
More Drinks
Spicy Margarita
Ingredients
- 2-3 slices fresh jalapeño, seeds removed for less heat
- 2 limes, juiced (about 4 tablespoons)
- 2 ounces blanco tequila
- ½ ounce triple sec
- ½ ounce agave syrup (or simple syrup*)
Instructions
- Prepare the glass by brushing or rimming a cocktail glass with chamoy, then dip this portion of the glass into Tajin to evenly coat it.
- In a cocktail shaker, add the slices of jalapeño (you can adjust the amount of jalapeño based on your desired level of spiciness) and muddle them to release their juices and oils.
- Add the tequila, triple sec, freshly squeezed lime juice, and sweetener to the shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, secure the lid on the shaker, and shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds.
- Fill the prepared cocktail glass with ice, then strain the margarita into it, and garnish with a lime wheel and/or jalapeño ring.
Notes
- Don’t have a cocktail shaker? You can stir all of the ingredients in a separate glass, shake them in a mason jar, or simply pour all of the ingredients into the prepared iced glass.
- Create a simple syrup by dissolving equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat while stirring constantly. Once cooled, it’s ready to be used in cocktails! Using 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water yields enough simple syrup for about 8 spicy margaritas.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Photos by Erin Jensen of The Wooden Skillet.
