Bright and refreshing with just the right kick of heat, this homemade Skinny Spicy Margarita recipe is right on time for warmer weather. Made with just 4 ingredients - tequila, lime juice, fiery jalapeños, and a hint of agave - it's simple enough to shake up anytime the mood strikes. In fact, it might just become one of your new favorite cocktails!
As a gal whose drink of choice is and always has been a margarita, I would never relegate this classic cocktail to one particular season, but when warmer weather is upon us, it just feels especially right. Give me one of these spicy jalapeño margaritas (or a creamy coconut marg), a sunny patio, and a few good friends, and in my mind, it's the perfect happy hour.
Based on my all-time favorite 3-2-1 margarita, this skinny version is a snap to remember - which means it's easy to scale up or down at your whim. It's also incredibly fresh, includes only a handful of natural ingredients, and comes together in minutes!
Why You'll Love This Spicy Cocktail
- True to its name, this healthier margarita recipe clocks in at under 150 calories. Skinny, indeed! And, since it's quite potent (thanks to the 3-2-1 ratio, half of this jalapeño margarita is tequila) you can sip on it slowly without worrying about it tasting watered down.
- Unlike other recipes that use orange juice, my spicy skinny margarita recipe keeps the classic, lime-forward flavor vibe. I also use agave nectar rather than honey - not only is this a more traditional approach (tequila is made from the agave plant, too!), but it also makes these bright cocktails suitable for vegan friends.
- The fact that it's made with no mixes, less sugar, and the perfect ratio of fresh, simple ingredients crowns this the best skinny margarita recipe around. Take a sip - I can almost guarantee you'll agree!
Jump to:
Skinny Margarita Ingredients
- Tequila - You're welcome to use either blanco (silver) or reposado tequila, so long as it's made entirely from agave. (The stuff that isn't is almost guaranteed to give you a hangover the next day, and it doesn't taste as good either!) Blanco tequila has a lighter, cleaner taste, which will allow the jalapeño and lime to shine through more vividly. Reposado has a lovely oaky, caramelly undertone that's slightly more complex and also delicious. Your call!
- Fresh Lime Juice - I've said it before, and I'll say it again: bottled citrus juice can't hold a candle to fresh. Do yourself a favor and spend a few extra minutes to juice fresh limes - you'll be rewarded handsomely in terms of taste if you do.
- Light Agave Nectar - This natural, relatively unprocessed liquid sweetener has the consistency of honey or maple syrup but tastes much more neutral. It's also what I've found most authentic Mexican restaurants use in their skinny margaritas! That said, if you don't have any on hand, you can also use simple syrup.
- Fresh Jalapeños - This is where the heat for this spicy margarita recipe comes from. If you're worried it'll be TOO spicy for your taste, you can easily dial it down to the perfect amount of heat by either a) using fewer jalapeño slices, or b) removing the seeds and white membranes from the jalapeño before slicing and muddling.
- Ice - You'll need ice for the shaker and for the completed drink. If possible, it's a good idea to use filtered water for your ice - I've noticed that funky flavors in tap water can really throw off the taste of a good cocktail.
- Tajín - This chili lime salt (pronounced "tay-HEEN") is a staple in many Hispanic kitchens. It's an easy upgrade on a plain salt rim that's perfect for spicy margaritas!
Helpful Tools for This Recipe
There are a few staple tools that every home bartender can benefit from, even if you only make cocktails once every month or two!
- Cocktail Shaker: Spring for a high-quality one with good insulation (for a well-chilled drink!) and a solid seal (because a shaker that leaks is sure to cause a sticky mess in your kitchen). I recently bought this shaker as a gift for my parents and I'm highly tempted to upgrade my own now too. It has a built in jigger (for measuring) and strainer, both of which you'll also need for this spicy jalapeño margarita recipe.
- Muddler: This is a must-have for any recipe that involves extracting flavors from an ingredient through pressure, like the jalapeños in this drink, the mint leaves in a mojito, or the cucumber slices in this gin fizz. A muddler is essentially just the bartender's version of a spice pestle.
- Citrus Juicer: You'll get SO much more juice out of your lemons and limes if you squeeze them with a simple hand-held juicer. This tool isn't just for cocktails - it'll come in handy anytime you need fresh citrus juice for a recipe!
How to Make a Homemade Skinny Margarita
Step 1: Muddle. Combine lime juice and jalapeño slices in a cocktail shaker and muddle together - enough to break the jalapeño up a bit.
Step 2: Shake. Add tequila and agave nectar along with a handful of ice. Cover and shake well.
Step 3: Prep Your Cocktail Glass. Run a squeezed lime wedge along the outer rim of your glass to coat it with lime juice. While holding the glass horizontally and rotating slowly, shake Tajín over the rim. (Alternatively, you can dip the rim into a salt rimmer or shallow bowl filled with Tajín). Add ice to your glass.
Tip! Choosing a Cocktail Glass
While a traditional margarita glass will definitely work for this recipe, I actually prefer using a lowball or rocks glass. They're the perfect size, better for holding ice, and easier to drink from!
Step 4: Strain the margarita into your glass and garnish with a few extra slices of jalapeño and/or a lime wedge before serving.
Add Your Own Twist!
- Rather than using lime juice as the "glue" for the Tajín rim on your margarita glass, try Chamoy! It's a spicy, fruit-based Mexican sauce that pairs perfectly with the chili salt.
- For a skinny spicy margarita mocktail, try this recipe with a zero proof tequila.
- Don't want to make your skinny margarita spicy? No problem! You can make this recipe and skip the jalapeño for a classic variation.
- Like a bit of bubbles in your cocktails? Add a splash of Topo Chico for some effervescence and a lighter flavor profile.
Tips for Perfect Spicy Margaritas
- Mind the heat. Most of the capsaicin (the compound that makes jalapeño peppers and other chiles taste spicy) lives in the seeds and white membranes inside the peppers. If you want to reduce the amount of spice in your drink, simply remove these parts before proceeding with the recipe. Make sure you thoroughly wash your hands after handling peppers. Accidentally touching your face (especially your eyes!) after coming in contact with spicy pepper seeds is never a fun experience!
- Shake enthusiastically. Mixing your cocktails in a shaker might seem like an extra step, but it's also proper technique for a reason! Shaken cocktails aren't just chilled, but also aerated with tiny little shards of ice that break off as you shake. Consider this the cocktail version of creaming your butter and sugar for cookies - don't skimp on it! You can use a mason jar as a makeshift cocktail shaker if that's all you have on hand.
FAQs
Where a typical margarita is often made with orange liqueur, sweet and sour, or other artificial sweeteners, all of which contribute a significant amount of added sugar and calories, a skinny margarita is usually made with just tequila, lime juice, and a small amount of a more natural sweetener. Popular choices are agave syrup (what this particular jalapeño margarita recipe uses) and/or orange juice. Because of this, the calories in a skinny margarita are typically much lower - this one has less than 150!
Definitely not! I make both my classic margaritas and these spicy skinny margaritas without it, since I personally don't like the orange flavor triple sec adds. That said, feel free to add a splash of fresh orange juice to this recipe if you typically make your margaritas with an orange liqueur.
More Warm Weather Cocktail Recipes
Ready for some sunny happy hours at home? Here are a few recipes that should definitely be on your rotation!
Recipe Card
Skinny Spicy Margarita
Ingredients
- 1 fluid ounce lime juice freshly-squeezed
- 3-4 thin jalapeño slices plus extra for garnish
- 1 ½ fluid ounces tequila blanco or reposado
- ½ fluid ounce light agave nectar
- ice
- Tajín seasoning for garnish
- lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Combine lime juice and jalapeño slices in a cocktail shaker and muddle together.1 fluid ounce lime juice |3-4 thin jalapeño slices
- Add tequila and agave nectar along with a handful of ice. Cover and shake well.1 ½ fluid ounces tequila |½ fluid ounce light agave nectar
- Run squeezed lime wedge along outer rim of serving glass to coat with lime juice. While holding glass horizontally and rotating slowly, shake Tajín over the rim of the glass. (Alternatively, you can dip the rim into a salt rimmer or shallow bowl filled with Tajín). Add ice to glass.
- Strain margarita into serving glass. Garnish with 2-3 fresh jalapeño slices and a slice of lime before serving.
Notes
Ingredient Notes:
- Simple syrup can also be used in place of the agave syrup. The flavor will be slightly different, but still delicious!
- For the best flavor, use freshly-squeezed lime juice and good tequila; some of my go-to brands are Ocho, Fortaleza, and Casamigos.
- Feel free to use less jalapeño - or simply remove the jalapeno seeds before muddling - for a milder cocktail.
- Additional garnish options: Coat rim of glass with Chamoy instead of lime juice, or garnish with salt instead of Tajín.
Make a Pitcher:
- This recipe can easily be scaled to make multiple margaritas or a large pitcher. If making a pitcher, I would recommend muddling the jalapeños with a portion of the lime juice, straining the mixture into your pitcher, and mixing the remaining ingredients together in the pitcher.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate per serving, calculated using standard ingredients. Actual values may vary based on brands used, measurement methods, and more.
Did you make this recipe?I'd love to hear from you - leave a rating and review!
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