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Dive into our collection of the best margarita recipes to make at home, featuring classic, frozen, and fruity variations—all deliciously easy! Learn the ingredients and ratio to make the classic recipe, plus popular riffs on this drink.

Margarita recipes: margarita in glass with pink sea salt.
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Crisp, zingy, and salty, the margarita is one of the most popular cocktails of all time. As two cocktail experts, Alex and I have made the classic margarita recipe more times than we can count—and just about every variation!

Types of margaritas

Here we’ve reviewed our library of cocktail recipes to find our top margarita recipes you can make at home! Because we’re purists, we recommend starting with the classic simple margarita.

Then try all the different types: frozen, spicy with jalapeño, smoky with mezcal, Italian with amaretto, and fruity with strawberry, mango, pineapple, and more. There are so many ways to change up this popular tequila cocktail, and we’re here for them all!

25 best margarita recipes to make at home

🍹Want a recipe for a party? Try a margarita pitcher!

A few more fun margarita recipes

We couldn’t narrow it down! Try these deliciously fun margarita recipes and flavors:

Want to mix up margaritas based on alcohol? Here are a few margarita recipes with a twist:

Best tequila for a margarita

What’s the best tequila for margaritas? A cocktail is only as good as the alcohol you use. Here are a few pointers:

  • Any mid-priced tequila tastes great in a margarita. Look for 750 ml bottles in the range of $22 to $35.
  • Tequila blanco is ideal for margaritas. It has a straightforward agave-centric flavor and spicy finish. Some brands we recommend are Espolon Blanco, El Tesoro Blanco, Patrón Silver, and Casamigos.
  • Tequila reposado (aged) makes a smooth, sophisticated margarita. Tequila reposado is aged 2 to 12 months in oak barrels (reposado means “rested” in Spanish). It has a smooth flavor and notes of oak, vanilla, and caramel. Some brands we like include Casamigos, Milagro Reposado, and Suerte Reposado.
Tequila

Margarita ingredients & ratio

When it comes to margarita recipes, there’s nothing better than a classic margarita! It’s tart, with just the right bite from the tequila and scent of orange from the Cointreau. Many bars and mixes load it down with sugar, but that strays far from the classic cocktail recipe. The margarita recipe for the classic margarita is:

  • 1 ½ ounces tequila
  • 1 ounce Cointreau
  • ¾ ounce lime juice

Tip: Some people like a margarita ratio that is 3, 2, 1: 3 parts tequila, 2 parts orange liqueur and 1 part lime. Alex and I like our margaritas on the tart side, so we use the ratio above. Feel free to experiment and find the ratio that’s right for you!

How to make margaritas at home: step by step

Once you’ve got the ingredients, it’s time to mix up your drink! Here’s how to make margaritas at home:

  1. Step 1: Rim the glass with salt. The salt enhances the sweet and sour flavors in the drink!
  2. Step 2: Place the tequila, Cointreau and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes, and shake until cold.
  3. Step 3: Strain the margarita into a glass, and add ice if serving on the rocks. The margarita is often served in a lowball or Old Fashioned glass, though of course you can use the classic margarita glass too.
Margarita salt

How to make a salt rim

The salt rim is essential to these margarita recipes. The salt enhances the flavors in the drink, and gives it that classic look. Try our margarita salt for a colorful flair with lime zest and orange zest! Here’s how to make a salt rim:

  • Spread on a plate: Spread the kosher salt, flaky sea salt, or margarita salt on a plate in an even layer.
  • Wet the glass with a lime: Take a lime wedge and cut a notch in the middle: then slide it around the rim of the glass.
  • Rim the outside edge only: Tilt the glass so that only the outside edge goes into the salt. Then shake off any loose salt into the sink.

Try clear ice to look like a pro!

❄️ Want a professional look to your margarita recipes? Add clear ice! It will make your drink look like it came from a trendy bar, but you can easily make it in your own home. All you need is a small cooler and 24 hours. Go to How to Make Clear Ice.

Frequently asked questions

What are the classic types of margaritas?

Original Margarita: The foundation – tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur (like Cointreau or Triple Sec), and a salt rim.

Frozen Margarita: A delicious icy version of the classic, perfect for hot days.

Tommy’s Margarita: A purist’s choice, made with just tequila, lime juice, and agave nectar (no orange liqueur).

What are some popular fruity margarita variations?

Strawberry Margarita: Blend frozen strawberries for a burst of sweet and tart flavor.

Mango Margarita: Tropical twist with fresh or frozen mango chunks.

Peach Margarita: A delightful summer option with fresh or frozen peaches.

Watermelon Margarita: Refreshing and perfect for poolside, uses blended watermelon or watermelon juice.

What’s the best tequila for margaritas?

A 100% agave blanco tequila is ideal for many, but tequila reposado also adds interesting flavor notes. Look for a mid-range priced tequila – you don’t need the top shelf for mixed drinks, but avoid the very bottom shelf options.

Salt or no salt?

It’s a personal preference! The salt rim adds a nice contrast to the sweet and tart flavors. (We like it best with salt.)

Frozen or on the rocks?

Frozen margaritas are great for hot weather, while on-the-rocks offers a more sophisticated, classic presentation.

What’s the best way to serve a margarita?

Margarita glasses with a salted rim are classic, but we generally prefer rocks or lowball glasses.

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Best Margarita Recipe

Margarita recipe
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5 from 2 reviews

Dive into our collection of homemade margarita recipes, featuring classic, frozen, and fruity variations—all easy to make at home! Learn the ingredients and ratio to make the classic recipe, plus popular riffs on this drink.

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink 1x
  • Category: Cocktails
  • Method: Shaken
  • Cuisine: Mexican
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ ounces* tequila blanco or reposado
  • 1 ounce Cointreau (or triple sec)
  • ¾ ounce fresh lime juice
  • Kosher salt or flaky sea salt, for the rim
  • For the garnish: Lime wedge

Instructions

  1. Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of flaky sea salt (or for a festive look, use our Margarita Salt).
  2. Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes and shake until cold.
  3. Strain the margarita into the glass with the salted rim. Fill the glass with ice and serve.

Notes

*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons. 

For a margarita pitcher (8 servings): Place 1 ½ cups tequila, 1 cup Cointreau or Triple Sec, and ¾ cup lime juice in a pitcher. Add 3 handfuls ice and stir until cold. Pour into the prepared glasses. 

For a spicy variation, add 3 to 4 jalapeno pepper slices to the cocktail shaker, or go to Jalapeno Margarita.

For a smoky variation, replace half the tequila with Mezcal, or go to Mezcal Margarita.

For a frozen variation, go to Frozen Margarita

For a virgin variation, go to Virgin Margarita.

For fruity variations, go to Pineapple MargaritaStrawberry MargaritaMango Margarita, or more of the recipes above.

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About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

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3 Comments

  1. Hasan says:

    Is that salt putting process mandatory beside the glass? I don’t like salt too much that’s why, I want to avoid it.






    1. Alex Overhiser says:

      You can skip!

  2. Alex Overhiser says:

    Let us know if you have any questions.