How To Make The Best Frozen Margarita
This Frozen Margarita Cocktail is the perfect slushy drink for a hot summer day! Made with just a few simple ingredients like tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup, this classic cocktail has the perfect balance of flavor. With a slushy texture and a refreshing taste, it’s guaranteed to cool you down and make you feel like you’re on a tropical vacation.
The Margarita, a timeless Mexican cocktail is perfect for any occasion, from Cinco de Mayo to casual get-togethers. With its delicious flavor, it’s no surprise that the frozen margarita is one of the most popular cocktails! I love to sit back and relax with a Strawberry Margarita when it is strawberry season.
I love the blend of tart lime and sweet syrup mixed with tequila and a salted rim. This cocktail recipe is always a hit whether you’re throwing a party or just need a refreshing pick-me-up.
Explore over 20 Best Margarita Recipes For Summer You Can Make At Home.
For more refreshing cocktails, check out my Perfect Aperol Spritz Recipe 3-2-1, Bacardi Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri, and Blackberry Mojito.
💗 Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Simple recipe: This classic frozen margarita recipe requires just a few simple ingredients and can be whipped up in a matter of minutes – it’s such an easy recipe!
- It’s refreshing: The slushy texture and lime flavor make this frozen margarita the perfect drink for hot summer days. It’s guaranteed to cool you down.
- It’s delicious: With the perfect balance of tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup, this frozen margarita is a tasty treat.
- It’s a classic cocktail: The frozen margarita has been a popular cocktail for decades, and for good reason. It’s a timeless classic that is loved by many.
- It’s perfect for entertaining: This homemade margarita can easily be scaled up to make a large batch for entertaining. It’s a crowd-pleasing cocktail that is sure to be a hit at your next party or gathering!
- It’s customizable: You can adjust the ingredients to make your drink as strong or as weak as you like.
- This margarita is great for parties, treating yourself after a long day at work, or for sipping on a hot summer day.
🍊 Ingredient Notes + Substitutions
The ingredient list for this cocktail is small – and you can easily find everything at your local grocery store (or liquor store).
- Tequila – Tequila is the base spirit in a margarita. Blanco tequila (Silver tequila) is my favorite to use in margaritas. My favorite tequila to use in all my favorite margarita recipes is 1800 Blanco tequila.
- Triple Sec – Triple Sec is a sweet, orange-flavored liqueur with a citrusy flavor and sweetness. If you don’t have triple sec, you could use Cointreau or Grand Marnier, similar orange-flavored liqueurs. You could even use a splash or orange juice.
- Lime Juice – Lime juice is a key ingredient in a margarita, providing the tartness that balances the sweetness. Freshly squeezed lime juice will give you the best flavor.
- Simple Syrup – I used homemade simple syrup, a mixture of sugar and water heated until the sugar dissolves, creating a sweet liquid perfect for cocktails. You could also use agave syrup, honey, or a low-calorie sweetener to make it keto-friendly – a skinny margarita!
- Ice Cubes – Ice cubes create a slushy texture.
- Salt – The salt on the rim of the glass adds a nice contrast to the sweetness of the margarita. You can use kosher salt, pink Himalayan sea salt, or coarse salt. I also like to use a 50/50 mixture of coarse sea salt and cane sugar. 🙂
See the printable recipe card for quantities and a full list of ingredients.
🍸 How To Make A Frozen Margarita
First, rim your favorite cocktail glass with salt. To do this, take a lime wedge and run it around the rim of the glass. Then, dip the glass upside down in a small plate of salt to coat the rim.
Add the tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and simple syrup to a blender. Add 2 cups of ice cubes. Blend on high speed until you have a slushy consistency.
Taste the margarita and adjust the sweetness or sourness as needed by adding more simple syrup or lime juice.
Pour the frozen margarita into your salt-rimmed glass.
Garnish the margarita with a lime slice or lime wedge and serve immediately.
💭 Expert Tips
- If you want to make a large batch, double or triple the ingredients and blend them in batches in the blender.
- Use fresh lime juice for the best flavor.
- Taste the margarita as you go along, and add more simple syrup if you want it sweeter or more lime juice if you want it more sour.
- A high-speed blender is the best tool for making a frozen margarita. It will give you a smooth and consistent texture.
- Use enough ice to make it thick and slushy but not so much that it becomes too thick to drink. If you want your drink to be less thick, use less ice.
- If you want to make a virgin frozen margarita, simply swap out the tequila and triple sec with an equal amount of a non-alcoholic alternative, such as soda water, extra lime juice, or simple syrup.
- Since margaritas can pack a punch, consuming them in moderation is crucial. If you intend to have more than one, ensure you have a designated driver.
🧾 Recipe FAQs
Frozen margaritas are best enjoyed immediately after blending, so I do not recommend making them ahead of time.
While tequila is the traditional liquor used in margaritas, you can experiment with other spirits, such as rum or vodka. Remember that this will result in a different flavor profile and may no longer be a true margarita.
It only takes about 5 minutes to mix up a frozen margarita.
If you don’t have a blender, you can use a food processor or a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice instead and strain it into a glass to serve.
If you want to make a virgin frozen margarita, simply swap out the tequila and triple sec with an equal amount of a non-alcoholic alternative, such as soda water, extra lime juice, or simple syrup.
If you tried this Frozen Margarita recipe or any other recipe on our website, please leave a star rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and let us know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thank you! 🙂
How To Make The Best Frozen Margarita
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 2 ounces tequila
- 1 ounce triple sec
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 2 ounces simple syrup *see note below
- coarse salt for rimming the glass
- lime wedges for garnish optional
Instructions
- Rim your favorite cocktail glass with salt (if desired). To do this, take a lime wedge and run it around the rim of the glass. Then, dip the rim of the glass in a plate of salt to coat it.coarse salt for rimming the glass
- Add ice, tequila, lime juice, triple sec, and simple syrup to a blender.2 cups ice cubes, 2 ounces tequila, 1 ounce triple sec, 1 ounce fresh lime juice, 2 ounces simple syrup
- Blend on high speed until smooth and slushy.
- Pour the mixture into a salt-rimmed glass.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and serve immediately.lime wedges for garnish
Notes
- If you want to make a large batch, double or triple the ingredients and blend them in batches in the blender.
- Use fresh lime juice for the best flavor.
- Taste the margarita as you go along, and add more simple syrup if you want it sweeter or more lime juice if you want it more sour.
- Use enough ice to make it thick and slushy but not so much that it becomes too thick to drink. If you want your drink to be less thick, use less ice.
- Since margaritas can pack a punch, consuming them in moderation is crucial. If you intend to have more than one, ensure you have a designated driver.
