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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