Fresh Strawberry Margarita On The Rocks Recipe
This homemade Strawberry Margarita On The Rocks is full of bright strawberry flavor, fresh lime juice, and that classic salted rim flavor that screams summer in a glass. It’s crisp, fruity, not overly sweet, and the kind of cocktail you’ll want to sip during happy hour, backyard BBQs, or whenever ripe strawberries are taking over your refrigerator.
If you love a fresh strawberry margarita, don’t miss my Frozen Watermelon Margarita or Classic Frozen Margarita next! And if you’re building out your bar cart, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in my roundup of 20+ Margarita Recipes for Summer.
Looking for more refreshing drinks? Try my Aperol Spritz, a bubbly Blackberry Mojito, or a frosty Bacardi Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Margarita Recipe
- Uses simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
- Fresh strawberries add natural sweetness and gorgeous color. No syrups or dyes needed.
- Easy to customize: Adjust the simple syrup to taste.
- Works with your favorite orange liqueur-Triple Sec, Cointreau, or even Grand Marnier.
- Can be shaken in a cocktail shaker OR blended for a frozen vibe.
- Easy to make in pitchers for entertaining.
- Easily adapted into a mocktail for anyone skipping alcohol.
- Great recipe for small or large-batch strawberry margaritas.
What Is the Best Tequila for a Margarita?
For the cleanest, brightest flavor, go with a Silver Tequila (Blanco)-also called white tequila. It keeps the strawberry and lime front and center.
A Reposado tequila can also be delicious in this drink, adding just a touch of warmth and complexity from its short aging in oak. If you enjoy subtle notes of vanilla or spices with your fruit margaritas, a reposado might surprise you.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Here’s what you’ll need to make a delicious strawberry margarita on the rocks:
- Tequila. The heart of any margarita. Choose a 100% agave Blanco. I used 1800 Blanco for this rocks recipe, but any good-quality silver tequila works beautifully.
- Triple Sec or Your Favorite Orange Liqueur. Adds citrus sweetness that balances the lime. Substitute with Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or another favorite orange liqueur.
- Fresh Strawberries. Ripe strawberries will give you the best flavor. They bring bold strawberry notes, natural sweetness, and that pretty pink hue. Frozen strawberries work too and help keep the mixture cold.
- Fresh Lime Juice. Freshly squeezed is key-those bottled juices just don’t compare. You’ll need enough for the margarita itself plus a little for the rim of the glass.
- Simple Syrup. Made with equal parts sugar and water. Swap in agave nectar, honey, or a sugar-free sweetener if you prefer.
- Sugar and Salt for the Rim. A mix of granulated sugar and coarse or margarita salt creates the perfect sweet-salty contrast. Use a shallow dish to evenly coat the rims of your glasses.
- Ice: Lots of it. Crushed, cubed-whatever cools your drink quickest.
Full quantities live in the printable recipe card.
How To Make a Strawberry Margarita On The Rocks
Mix coarse salt and sugar in a bowl or shallow dish. Run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass, then dip it into the mixture to create your salted rim.
Rinse the strawberries and remove the stems. Slice larger berries into smaller slices for easier blending. Add strawberries, fresh lime juice, tequila, triple sec, and simple syrup to a blender.
Blend until smooth. Taste the mixture-if your berries weren’t super sweet, add a little more syrup.
Fill your glass with ice. Pour the strawberry mixture over top. Add a slice of lime, a fresh strawberry slice, or a sprig of mint if you’re feeling fancy. This drink is at its peak the moment you pour it.
Expert Tips
- Use ripe strawberries for the boldest strawberry flavor.
- Shake it instead: You can mix everything in a cocktail shaker for a pulpy-but-not-blended texture.
- Adjust to taste: Add more simple syrup for sweetness or extra lime for zing.
- Want a frozen strawberry margarita? Blend everything with ice until slushy.
- Mocktail version: Replace the tequila and triple sec with soda water or a zero-proof spirit.
- For a stronger drink, add an extra ounce (a shot) of tequila.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Frozen berries work perfectly and keep the drink cold without diluting the flavor.
Absolutely-just multiply the ingredients and blend in batches. Keep the pitcher in the refrigerator until serving.
The liquids can be prepped ahead, but wait to pour over ice until serving.
More Fruit Margaritas +
Cocktail Favorites
If you tried this Strawberry Margarita On The Rocks recipe or any other recipe here at The Beverage Snob, please leave a star rating. This helps other readers find their new happy hour favorite. Thank you! 🙂
Strawberry Margarita On The Rocks
Ingredients
- ½ pound fresh strawberries (about 1 cup)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (juice from 1 lime)
- 4 ounces tequila
- 1 ounce triple sec
- 4 tablespoons simple syrup (see note 1)
- 1 cup ice cubes
- lime wedges and additional strawberries for garnish
For the salt rim
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- Combine 1 cup of strawberries, 2 tbsp lime juice, 4 ounces tequila, 1 ounce Triple Sec, and 4 tbsp simple syrup in a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Taste the mixture and add more simple syrup if needed. The amount needed will depend on the sweetness of your strawberries.
- Mix 1 tsp granulated sugar and 1 tsp kosher salt together in a small bowl. Pour the mixture onto a small plate wide enough to fit your glass. Take a lime wedge and run it around the edge of each glass, then dip the rim into the mixture, tapping off any excess.
- Fill the glasses with ice, then pour in the strawberry margarita mixture.
- Garnish each glass with a lime wedge and a fresh strawberry. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use fresh and ripe strawberries for a more intense strawberry flavor.
- The better the quality of your tequila, the better your margarita will taste. Look for 100% agave tequila for a cleaner and smoother taste.
- Freshly squeezed lime juice provides the best flavor.
- Taste your margarita before serving, and add more simple syrup or lime juice if desired.
- Margaritas can be strong, and enjoying them in moderation is important. Make sure to have a designated driver if you plan on drinking more than one.
- To make a nonalcoholic version of a strawberry margarita, you can replace the tequila and triple sec with an equal amount of a nonalcoholic substitute, such as soda water.
- Blend the ingredients with ice until smooth to make a frozen strawberry margarita. Adjust the amount of ice depending on how thick you want your margaritas to be.
