This refreshing margarita recipe is quick, easy, and sure to become one of your favorite cocktails! Quality tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur give this recipe incredible flavor. Perfect for cinco de mayo or anytime you want a cold and delicious cocktail. Serve with fresh lime slices!

Classic Margarita Recipe

It’s no secret that I love a good cocktail… especially when the weather starts warming up! Which is why I’m always adding new cocktail recipes to my recipe box. And with cinco de mayo right around the corner, I can’t think of a better cocktail than a classic margarita!

This classic cocktail recipe is cold, crisp, and utterly refreshing! But most importantly, it’s ready super fast… just 5 minutes fast! Because who wants to be messing around in the kitchen too long on a gorgeous sunny day? So bust out your margarita glasses and cocktail shaker let’s make some margaritas.

What is in a Margarita?

• Hot Water: You’ll combine hot water with honey or agave syrup, which creates a simple syrup of sorts.
• Honey or Agave: Either work fine, choose which you prefer based on availability and/or taste preference. Add more for a sweeter cocktail. This can also be omitted for a “skinny margarita”. But it’s such a small amount I don’t suggest it.
• Fresh Lime Juice: Please do not use bottled lime juice! Freshly squeezed lime juice tastes a million times better and won’t give you that nasty heartburn most bottled citrus juices give.
• Tequila: At the end of the day, any tequila will work. But Ising a quality tequila, preferable a blanco tequila, will give you the best flavor.
• Orange Liqueur: Cointreau or Grand Marnier are my tops picks. They’re pricier but last forever and are worth the splurge. I don’t suggest using triple sec, but in a pinch, it will technically work.
• Orange Juice: This is my secret ingredient that’s 100% optional, but totally recommend. A tiny splash of freshly squeezed oj cuts the bitterness and adds just a little something special to this margarita recipe.
• Ice: It doesn’t matter if you use regular ice cubes, crushed ice aka nugget ice, or those fancy giant cocktail ice cubes. Just make sure you have some form of ice on hand to chill your drink. And have double the amount of ice you think you’ll need. Trust me.
• Margarita Salt: If you prefer a salt-rimmed glass, you’ll need margarita salt. You can add the salt by running a lime wedge around the top rim of a margarita glass. Then dip the rim into coarse salt… or sugar! This is optional, but does make an extra lovely presentation.
• Lime Slices:

How to Make a Margarita

1. Grab your Margarita Glasses: If you’re going to add salt or sugar to the rim of your cocktail glass, this is a good time to do so.
2. Make the “Simple Syrup”: Combine the hot water and sweetener in a cocktail shaker and whisk to combine. If you’re skipping the sweetener, you can skip the water too.
3. Add in the Margarita Ingredients: Once everything is inside the cocktail shaker, do your best bartender imitation and shake vigorously to combine!
4. Garnish and Serve: Fill your glass with ice, top with the margarita mix, and garnish with a lime twist or wedge. Sip and enjoy every last drop of your delicious cocktail!

What if I don’t have a Cocktail Shaker?

• If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, don’t fret. Because I’ll teach you how to make a margarita without one.
• You can make a homemade cocktail shaker using a mason jar – or any other glass jar with a lid. 
• If you don’t have a mason jar or glass jar, you can even use a clean water bottle as long as it has a tight fitting lid. Pretty much any clear jar or bottle with a lid will work.
• Add your ingredients to your makeshift cocktail shaker, top if off with ice, close the lid and shake.

I need a Pitcher of Margaritas

If you’re serving a crowd and need a pitcher of margaritas, I’ve got your back! Here’s how to adapt this single margarita recipe into a big batch:

1. Combine 1 cup of honey with 1 cup of hot water. This is your big-batch simple syrup. Mix until well combined.
2. Add 1 and 1/2 cups of tequila, 1 cup of orange liqueur, 1 cup of freshly squeezed lime juice, and 3/4 cup orange juice.
3. Mix well, take a little taste test, and adjust the flavor as needed. If it’s too bitter or strong, you can also make extra “simple syrup” and stir it in. Just combine more water and honey.
4. If it’s not strong enough, you can add more tequila and orange liqueur. And if it’s not citrusy enough, add more fresh lime juice.
5. I suggest serving your pitcher of margaritas with lots of ice on the side, plus lime slices. You could also put out some lime wedges and different salts for your guests to use. A little salted rim bar? Yes, please!

Best Tequila & Orange Liqueur

Feel free to use whatever brands you love, but here are a few of our favorite tequilas and orange liqueurs:

• Casamigos Blanco Tequila
• Patron Silver Tequila
• 1800 Silver Tequila
• Grand Marnier Orange Liqueur
• Cointreau Orange Liqueur

Tools Needed for This Recipe

• Margarita Glasses: Obviously any glass can be a “margarita glass”. But we love these fun tumblers or classic marg glasses.
• Citrus Squeezer: This stainless steel lemon and lime squeezer gets daily use in my house house! Perfect for getting freshly squeezed lime juice for cocktails or other recipes like key lime pie!
• Cocktail Shaker: A cocktail shaker isn’t a must-have tool for shaking up your favorite cocktail recipes, but it sure is helpful. This one is sturdy and leakproof.

Like a Salted Rim?

• You’ll need some Margarita Salt! This Habanero Honey Flavored Salt is CRAZY DELICIOUS but here’s a classic margarita salt option, too.
• And of course, you could always use coarse sugar if you prefer a sugar rim.
• I don’t suggest sea salt or kosher salt because it’ll melt as soon as it touches the lime juice.

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More Margarita Recipes for Cinco De Mayo

• Frozen Blackberry Margaritas
• Pineapple Jalapeno Pitcher Margaritas
• Cranberry Ginger Margaritas
• Spicy Jalapeno Margaritas for a Crowd
• Easy Pomegranate Margaritas

Best 5 Minute Margarita Recipe

Ashley Manila

Made with freshly squeezed lime juice, orange liqueur, tequila, and just a touch of honey, this is the Best 5 Minute Margarita Recipe you’ll ever make! One of the most popular cocktails in the world, and perfect for those hot Summer days! So without further ado, let’s make my perfect homemade margaritas!

5 from 7 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Drink

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 1 Margarita

Ingredients

 

• 1 Tablespoon hot water
• 1 teaspoon honey or agave (be sure it's a liquid honey, not the thicker raw variety)
• 1.5 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 ounces tequila
• 1.5 ounces Cointreau or Grand Marnier
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed orange juice (optional)
• Ice

Instructions

 

• Place hot water and honey or agave in a cocktail shaker and whisk vigorously to combine. 
• Add in the lime juice, tequila, orange liqueur, and orange juice. Shake vigorously to combine. 
• Fill a glass with ice. Pour the margarita on top of the ice, garnish with a lime twist or wedge, and serve at once. 

Notes

• If you prefer a salt-rimmed glass, running the flesh of a lime wedge around the top rim of your glass. Then fill a rimmed plate or shallow bowl with salt, and dip the rim of the glass into the salt until it is covered with salt. Set aside while you make your drink.
• If you use Grand Marnier, your margarita will have a slightly more orange hue. 

 

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