Fresh Homemade Margaritas — 🍋🟩💚 Learn how to make a margarita with just three natural ingredients! Nothing fake, neon green, and no sugary chemicals. This is the best homemade margarita recipe I’ve tried and it’s the easiest!
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All-Natural Margaritas … Without a Mix!
If there’s one drink that should be so simple, but somehow turns so complicated, I think it’s a margarita. There’s blended, on the rocks, from a mix that comes in gallon-sized jugs — sometimes with alcohol already added and sometimes without.
Some margaritas are made with just tequila and others with a smorgasbord of other booze added, including triple sec, Cointreau, Gran Marnier, Chambord, and more.
People shouldn’t need to look up how to make a margarita because it shouldn’t be so hard. I’ve gone back to the basics, with the classic margarita ingredients.
Margarita Ingredients
This fresh margarita recipe has no mix or concentrate, and nothing complicated or fussy. No simple syrup to make, no blender to dirty, just three basics ingredients!
Here’s what is in a margarita:
- Lime Juice: I use freshly squeezed lime juice and recommend doing so. In general, paler green limes and those with yellow spots, as well as those with thin skin are juicier than darker-skinned limes or those with thicker skin. Medium/large limes seem to release their juice easier than small limes.
- Agave: It’s sold in nearly all grocery stores these days. I’ve used honey in a pinch, too. If you prefer to make a simple syrup instead, be my guest.
- Tequila: The choice of tequila is up to you.
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
Adjusting the Flavor of Your Margaritas
I prefer my margaritas boldly tart but sweet enough to balance the tartness, and I’m not shy with the tequila. You’ll need to find the exact ratio of ingredients that you enjoy best.
Small changes can have a big effect on taste. Like a half shot glass of lime juice or a small drizzle of agave can really make a difference. Play around with this fresh margarita recipe to find your happy place, pun intended.
You can doctor up the basic mixture as you like by adding other liquors or add a handful of strawberries, put it all in a blender, and you’ve got a frozen strawberry margarita in seconds.
How to Make a Margarita at Home
This is a super simple margarita recipe — trust me, a drink this good doesn’t need any fussy ingredients or extra steps!
Here’s how to make fresh homemade margaritas:
- Squeeze two juicy limes over a cup.
- Then, stir in a little water, agave, and tequila.
- Give your margarita a taste to see if it needs any tweaks.
- If desired, you can strain the margarita at this point to remove any lime pulp, but I personally don’t mind the pulp.
- Add ice to the glass and stir or shake (if you prefer shaken margaritas, make sure to put another glass on top to prevent spills).
Serve With or Without Ice
This is technically a margarita on the rocks recipe since I poured the mixture over ice; feel free to omit if desired. If you choose to serve the margarita without ice, I recommend chilling the tequila in the fridge or freezer, as well as chilling the glasses, prior to serving. You want your margarita to be cold!
Margarita FAQs
I prefer blanco (white) tequila for my margaritas and something like Patron Silver, Don Julio Blanco, or Don Julio 70 are perfect for me, but the choice is yours. Choose a trusted favorite, or ask for help choosing one at your local liquor store. There are SO many tequilas on the market these days and in my opinion, you don’t want and shouldn’t be making margaritas with Clase Azul. Casamigos, great, but save the super top (top!) shelf for sipping and drinking neat.
Yes! Feel free to make a big batch of lime margaritas and keep it for a few days in the fridge. Between the lime juice and the alcohol, homemade margaritas stay fresh for a couple days.
A few readers have asked if they can completely omit the sugar from this recipe. Technically you can, but I prefer my homemade margaritas to have a little sweetness to them to balance out the lime juice.
Like I mentioned above, I measured this recipe in shots but you can just as easily measure it out in parts. So that means 1 part lime juice to 2 parts water, and so on.
I spend a good chunk of the year in Mexico, and the margaritas there are always made with lime juice.
In a pinch, you can make the margarita with lemon juice, but that will obviously change the flavor of the cocktail.
You can salt the rim of your homemade lime margaritas, but I prefer not to. The choice is yours!
Margaritas belong the t family of ‘sour’ family of cocktails.
A Note About Measuring This Recipe
In the recipe section, I referred to the ingredients as shots. Some recipes use ounces, cups, and shots, all in one. Holy confusion after you’ve had a few.
The very average-sized shot glass I use (not a jumbo frat house-style shot glass) holds the same amount of liquid as a 1/4-cup measure, which makes it easy to make the recipe in bulk. X parts this to Y parts that.
While you could technically share the recipe as written, after having one, you’ll want another. So plan on it serving one, nicely. You can sip worry-free since there’s no granulated sugar.
They go down so incredibly easy. Especially on vacation.
What to Serve with Margaritas
Recipe Video
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Homemade Margaritas
Ingredients
- 1 to 1 ½ shots lime juice*
- 2 shots water
- 1 to 2 shots tequila**
- ½ to 1 shot agave nectar, or to taste
- ice, as necessary
Instructions
- Over a large cup, squeeze limes, about 2 medium/large, ripe limes.***
- Add the water, tequila, agave, and stir. Taste and see if you need to make tweaks.
- If desired, strain mixture to remove any lime pulp, although I don’t bother.
- Add ice generously, and stir or shake (by putting another cup over the top).
- Serve immediately. Recipe is intended for those whom alcohol use is legal, done responsibly, and is appropriate.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Easy Cocktail Recipes:
Beer Margaritas — Summer tastes better with a pitcher of these delightful and refreshing beer margaritas are made with Corona, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, agave, and a sugared (or salted) rim! Cheers to beer-garitas!
Tequila Sunrise — Not only is it pretty to look at, but a Tequila Sunrise is also refreshing, nostalgic, and the grenadine sweetens it up enough that you may not even notice it packs quite a punch!
Tropical Party Punch — This alcoholic punchis one of my all-time favorite party drinks! Feel free to leave the alcohol out if desired. This punch tastes delicious even without it!
Rum Runner — A fruity and tropical cocktail, but not in a strawberry daiquiri doesn’t-do-much kind of way. This delicious Rum Runner recipe (complete with my secret ingredient!) packs a punch that can sneak up on you!
Malibu Sunset — A fun, fruity, easy Malibu drink recipe! Because there’s really no wrong way to do pineapple, orange juice, coconut rum, grenadine, and cherries!
Pomegranate Mojito – Everyone will love this fruity twist on a classic mojito recipe! The tart pomegranates and lime blend beautifully and are paired with simple syrup, mint, and white rum for a refreshing cocktail that’s perfect all year long!
Grilled Strawberry Pineapple Sangria — EASY, light, refreshing, and perfect for your next warm weather PARTY!! Grilling brings out pineapple’s natural sweetness and it’s DELISH!!
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Martini – An indulgent chocolate martini that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, date-night-in, or a girls-night-in! Plenty of chocolate flavor in this festive, fun, and easy martini!
Republished June 28, 2018 and republished May 28, 2021 with updated text.
This looks great, I love margaritas. But with lime prices skyrocketing, I’m having to rethink our typical summer cocktail-which is usually a mojito or a margarita. I’m curious what you’re paying for limes in California? They’re up to .99 cents each here in Maine. And that’s for a small, sad looking little lime. Occasionally I can find them at Target for .69 each but the supply gets cleaned out quickly at that price…
99 cents each is nuts! I made these drinks in Aruba and got about 6-8 small/medium limes for about $2 US dollars. Not all the limes are juicy a couple per bag are total duds but still, I’d say 50 cents each, max.
In CA, honestly I don’t pay that much attention but I’d say 2 for $1 or 3 for 99 cents in the height of the season? Definitely not 69 or 99 cents each like you’re paying! Gah! I’d try an ethnic or non-mainstream grocery store (i.e. a hole in the wall is fine). The produce is always so much cheaper!
Love this recipe!! I also love this line ‘serves 1, nicely’
INDEED. ;)
These photos are gorgeous and I love your simple approach! I just bought some new glasses, and I think this margarita is just the thing to christen them with :)
Perfection! I love the use of agave in this! Simple is often times better, Thanks Averie!
Great photos Averie! This is how I generally make my margaritas too! You now have me craving one :)
That’s great you do it similarly! Great minds…. :)
This is making me want a margarita before lunch! I love the all natural ingredients – no icky neon flavored mixings!
Neon was college, but I’ve moved on :)
This is so much healthier than the usual margarita mixes with all the high-fructose corn syrup. Thanks for posting this delicious and healthy alternative! It’s definitely that time of year.
Thanks for the compliments!
I so totally need one of these. Now would be good. I mean…lemon juice has it’s place in the morning, right??? Pinned of course!
Thanks for pinning and this is one of the lime recipes I told you about. There’s another one too. We need these for Miami!
What a gorgeous, simple drink, and beautiful photos! I have had the sort of week where I may need one of these things in my life tonight (even though it’s only Thursday)
Thanks for all the compliments!
I can’t take drink photos to save my life! This looks stunning, PINNED :)
Normally I make stunt drinks for the camera since I never know how many tries it will take me but these were 100% real :) And I was taste-testing in between set changes. LOL I guess you should try that. It was also 90F in my hot Aruban house and I was kneeling on the floor sweating. Oy vey. The things we do!
Margaritas are my go-to drink and these are PERFECT for cinco de mayo coming up! I love that there are no mixes involved and that agave stands in for sugar. Can’t wait to try these!
This is just how I like my margarita as well, Averie! Nothing fancy, but just simple and basic ingredients! Looks fabulous! :)
Is it bad that I want this margarita, like right now, and it’s only 7:20 in the morning?! This looks so delicious and easy to prepare! Can’t wait to try this one out!
Not bad at all :)
This is exactly how we make our margaritas. I’ll never go back to adding the other junk. This is margarita perfection.
AMEN! :)
Yum, this looks really refreshing! And I laughed so hard reading your post ” Holy confusion after you’ve had a few.” hahahaha.. Thank you for sharing ^^
Jon would love this! He’s not into sweet mixed drinks but loves lime with vodka or tequila. A little agave to mellow things out would be all he’d need. I think I’ll surprise him with a little cocktail when he gets home tomorrow.
Well aren’t you just scoring brownie points left and right then! :) LMK what he says!