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.
I received this recipe in my inbox, this morning and have made it this evening. Its simple, easy and delicious. I couldn’t find the perfect recipe until today, and have tried many. This is the absolute best. Will be my go to recipe. Thank you Averie, for posting this.
Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad this is going to be your go-to margarita recipe!
So good and refreshing.
So good and refreshing.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it was good and refreshing!
I made the large batch for New Years Eve. It was awful. It was so strong I had to throw it out and wasted about $50. VERY disappointed.
Water? Ummmmm, no.
These are a definite go-to. So easy and so good. Thanks!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it’s your go-to!
In response to the complainers above, processed sugar is completely different than sugar from a plant. Anywho, these are freaking amazing. Thank you for the recipe. Sippin as I type…
Thanks for the 5 star review and I appreciate the support and glad you are enjoying!
Agave is sugar. I don’t think it’s fair to say this is “No Sugar”
I make one like this but use fresh squeezed OJ instead of water. Going to try your recipe. Looks delicious!
Sounds delish!
Agave is just a different form of sugar,it’s just lower on the glycemic index so it won’t spike your blood sugar like regular sugar.
Jon (and my sister) love a simple, no frills margarita. These would be good with the steak kabobs you posted the other day (I have all my ingredients for those–can’t wait)! Jon would be thrilled if I sent him out for a nice bottle of tequila. Have a great holiday weekend!
Have a great holiday weekend as well! And yes, when it comes to margaritas, I enjoy simplicity and this one is perfect for keeping things simple but tasty!
Perfect–really tasty!! I am with you on the fresh squeezed limes and good tequila because when you only need a few ingredients, it’s worth it to make sure they are high quality!
Super simple! Looks so refreshing!
Definitely refreshing and perfect for this time of year! Enjoy your holiday weekend!
I made these for happy hour with my girlfriends yesterday, and WOW! Game changer!!! I’ve always complained about the ‘fluorescent’ cocktails you get at certain restaurants, but was afraid to believe something this simple, and all-natural, could taste so perfectly margarita-y. I used two parts water, two parts tequila (100% blue agave), 1 part agave syrup, and 1 part lime juice, and rimmed the glasses with pink sea salt. I am never going back! What a summer this will be – thank you!
Thanks for the awesome comment and glad this is literally a lifetime game changer for you! No need to drink fluorescent stuff when the natural version is better, right! :)
After my quest for the best margarita using many types of tequila, mixers, sweeteners, orange liqueurs I came up with this basic recipe as the best. My biggest discovery was the huge difference between bottled lime juice and fresh squeezed. WOW it knocked me over and will never use other than fresh squeezed.
2 parts 100% agave tequila (reposado or blanco)
1 part fresh squeezed lime juice
1 part agave nectar
1 part water
This is a great recipe! I use the agave with 1 gram sugar and stevia added to it. Thank you for a great recipe, so much better than the corn syrup mix and good for you too.
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you with the agave/stevia mix!
Genius, simply genius. The wife’s on the way to the grocery store as I’m getting ready to make dinner. I shout “Let’s have margarita’s; can you add margi mix to the list?”. She comes back with the 2 liter bottle and complains about the high fructose corn syrup and GMO all over the label. “All the brands had it!” She was right. Began my search for homemade margarita mix and stumbled upon this thing of beauty. Thank you for the simplicity and basics. The chartreuse chemical jug is going back to the store and it’s this recipe forever more! Thanks Averie!
The chartreuse chemical jug is going back to the store and it’s this recipe forever more! <---- That's awesome! So glad you're happy with my version and hope you've been enjoying refills tonight :)