Every day calls for a Skinny Margarita! In addition to being one of my favorite drink recipes, this simple, four-ingredient cocktail is easy to whip up for a single serving, and you can easily scale this recipe for a crowd.
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If I could only have one cocktail for the rest of my days (a semi-alarming prospect indeed), it would be a fresh margarita.
No mixes, bottled juices, or blender-mixed frozen mumbo jumbo here.
Give me my rim salted, my ice cubes large and in charge, and an extra splash of tequila for good luck.
When made properly—meaning the recipe ingredients include only fresh juices, liquor, and agave or simple syrup—a margarita is one of the most refreshing, satisfying drinks you’ll taste.
Margaritas make me think of sunny, relaxed afternoons outside, beachy vacations, and nights out with my sisters.
I never tire of those feelings, and I certainly never tire of a well-made margarita in a glass with a salt rim.
About This Skinny Margarita
My friends and I have ordered a skinny margaritas at numerous restaurants on numerous occasions, and unless it’s a drink the restaurant already has on its menu, the server usually doesn’t know what we mean.
For our benefit, the server’s benefit, and the benefit of margarita drinkers the world over, I did a bit of digging to determine what exactly makes a margarita recipe a skinny margarita recipe.
The results of my salt-rimmed research, this is what a skinny margarita is comprised of:
- Fresh lime juice
- Fresh orange juice. This is a low calorie alternative to a more calorie-laden orange liqueur (like triple sec).
- Your favorite tequila
- Agave nectar (one of my favorite natural sweeteners).
- Salt on the rim of your glass, of course. And a slice of lime for garnish.
The exact ratio of these ingredients is at your discretion, though most suggested more lime juice than orange juice, equal parts tequila and lime juice, and 2 teaspoons of agave.
I like my margarita to bite me back a bit, so I lean heavier on the lime juice and lighter on the agave, which this skinny margarita recipe reflects.
Please feel free to adjust the recipe to suit your own margarita needs and preferences.
Recipe Adaptations
This Skinny Margarita recipe is also an excellent base for all sorts of flavor variations.
- Skinny Jalapeno Margarita
- Skinny Blackberry Margarita
- St. Germain Margarita
Recommended Tools to Make This Margarita Recipe
- Citrus Juicer. I used a simple citrus juicer like this one for the original recipe photos, but after upgrading to this one, I’m never going back. It’s one of my best purchases!
- Cocktail Shaker. Blends the flavors together and strains them into the glass.
- Jigger. Ideal for measuring.
Don’t wait for the weekend. With little prep time required, this skinny margarita is easy to whip up any day of the week!
Skinny Margarita
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Ingredients
For One, Classic Skinny Margarita:
- Kosher salt & lime wedge, to rim the glass
- 1 ½ ounces silver tequila about 3 tablespoons
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice about 1 large or 1 1/2 small limes
- 1 ½ tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice about 1/2 medium orange
- 1 teaspoon light agave nectar add 2 if you prefer a sweeter margarita
- Ice
For a Pitcher of Skinny Margaritas (5 Drinks):
- 8 ounces silver tequila (1 cup)
- 8 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice (1 cup, from about 5 medium/large limes)
- 4 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice (1/2 cup, from about 4 medium oranges)
- 2 tablespoons light agave nectar or simple syrup, more if you prefer a sweeter margarita
Instructions
- Rim the glass: Pour a thin layer of salt onto a small plate. Rub a lime wedge around the top edge of your glass to moisten it, then dip the glass into the salt so that it sticks, tapping all the way around. Fill the glass with ice and set aside.
- For one (or two) drinks: fill a small cocktail shaker with additional ice. Add the tequila, lime juice, orange juice, and agave. Tightly close and shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds (it's longer than you think).
- Strain into the rimmed glass over the ice. Enjoy immediately.
- For a pitcher: In the bottom of a pitcher, stir together the tequila, lime juice, orange juice, and agave (do not add ice to the pitcher). Serve immediately (prepare the glasses as in Step 1) or place a sheet of plastic wrap over the top of the pitcher and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
Video
Nutrition
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I love this drink and it’s simplicity. I unfortunately did not have any Agave Nectar so I used Simple Syrup. Until I get to the store to get some Agave Nectar would you recommend Simple Syrup or something else?
Thanks Catherine! You likely could use something else, I’ve just only tested the recipe as written. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
Does the ratio of ingredients change if you blend with ice to make a frozen margarita?
Hi Faith! I don’t think they would but I haven’t tried it myself. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it turns out!
Thanks for the tip Doug! I still think this version is pretty good!
That makes sense. I pretty much order “skinny” so that I can get fresh citrus and not that sugary, sweet and sour mix stuff that is terrible. I top my fresh margaritas with a little bit of soda water for an effervescent kick. Love it!
We have made skinny margs for awhile and they are nothing like what you’d get at a restaurant that uses sweet and sour mix. They are truly terrible! Fresh squeezed juices are the only way to go. I now prefer mine with OJ and not the Cointreau. The only problem is, they go down way too fast!
Hi Lori! Haha! So true! ;) Glad you enjoyed it!
I’m planning to make this later today. I know the measurements in the pitcher instructions are wrong – I’m assuming the 24 oz of tequila and lime juice are wrong, but the one cup is right – correct?
OK, I see what happened. I had at first tripled the recipe to 3 drinks, and then saw the pitcher recipe (which it also tripled). Are you sure about the 1 cup of lime juice for the pitcher? Seems excessive. Has anyone else tried this?
Hi Sandy! Yes! I’m sure about the 1 cup of lime juice for the pitcher. Enjoy!
Erin, made them (the pitcher) and they were great! I did add considerable more agave nectar to counteract the tartness. I like them tart – but not that tart😊! Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Sandy! Great to hear! Thank you!
I just made this and I would add more orange slightly and half the lime juice
Thanks for your feedback, Camille.
No lie! This IS delicious. And I thought there was no substitute for Cointreau.
Hi Jessica! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I always make a 47 oz of margaritas and put in freezer for “frozen” margaritas for any pop up occasion/guest. Is there any reason I couldn’t freeze this recipe like that?
Hi Debra! It seems like it could work, I just haven’t tested it out myself. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!
Absolutely spot on cocktail! I’m obsessed with it now!
Yay! Thank you Shannon!
Can someone help. For the pitcher the ounces change but not the cups next to it. 24 ounces of lime juice? Just wondering. Makes sense to follow the ounces and not the cups. Someone needs to change this since it is super confusing.
Hi Tina, I’m sorry for the inconvenience. When you are clicking 1x, 2x, 3x, the way the recipe card works is that the ingredients will change as you increase the serving size. The items in the parenthesis does not and the title doesn’t. This isn’t something I can control, it is how the plugin works. So yes, when you hit 3x it is 24 ounces of lime juice, for 15 drinks. Hope this helps!
Thank you so much for this recipe!! It is amazing! It is SO much better than the “Mix” the serve at restaurants. This will indeed be my go to cocktail for a relaxing evening.
Agree with you on that, Janet! Thank you!