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    Home » Recipes » Drinks

    Homemade Margarita

    Published: Mar 9, 2019 · Modified: Mar 12, 2021 by Elizabeth · Leave a Comment

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    A margarita in a clear glass with a salted rim.

    This homemade margarita is our absolute favorite. With just a handful of ingredients you’ll be on your way to Happy Hour! In this margarita recipe we make our own delicious mix using lemon and lime juice and a simple syrup.

    A margarita in a clear glass with a salted rim.

    What’s in a Margarita?

    A margarita is a combination of tequila, orange-flavored liquor and lime juice served in a glass with a salted rim over ice.

    Now, those are the basic ingredients, for a sweeter take (which I prefer) use simple syrup combined with the lemon/lime juice to make a margarita mix.

    This margarita recipe is simple to make. Tequila, orange liquor and a simple syrup lemon-lime mix is all it takes. A salt rimmed glass and lots of ice finish off this classic cocktail!

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    How to make homemade margarita mix

    Let’s start with the mix. Forget the store-bought stuff. Making a margarita mix is really easy and doesn’t take very long at all. A margarita mix is essentially a sweet and sour mix.

    Simple syrup combined with lime juice, lemon juice, or both. Here we go for both. I like the sweetness that lemons bring to the party!

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups Water
    • 1 cup Sugar
    • ½ cup Fresh Lemon Juice, about 3-5 lemons, depending on how large and juicy they are
    • ½ cup Fresh Lime Juice, about 4-6 limes, depending on how large and juicy they are

    Make a simple syrup.

    • Heat the water and the sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Keep warming the water until the sugar dissolves and the water looks clear.
    • Use a whisk and stir the mixture occasionally. This will take just a few minutes.
    • Take the saucepan off the heat and let the simple syrup cool a bit. While it cools, juice the lemons and limes
    • Use a strainer to catch any seeds. Combine the lemon and lime juice with the simple syrup and stir well.
    • Place the margarita mix in a sealable container and refrigerate until cold. I like to use a couple of canning jars to store the mix. They don’t take up a lot of room in the refrigerator and you can shake them without worrying about spills.
    • The margarita mix will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days. This recipe will yield about 4 cups of margarita mix.

    What glass to use for Margaritas?

    Margarita glasses are lovely. I think the glass is part of the appeal of this classic drink. If you don’t have margarita glasses, don’t let that stop you! Just use a tall (roughly 12 ounce) glass instead.

    How to Make a Margarita

    Alright, now that we have our mix ready, time to make a margarita! In this recipe we go with Cuervo Gold for the tequila. It’s what we drink, so it’s what we have in stock.  Oh, but I know tequila is a very personal choice, so use your favorite brand.

    For the orange-flavored liqueur we go with Grand Marnier, which is a cognac and orange liqueur. Cointreau and Triple Sec are also two popular orange-flavored liqueurs commonly used in margaritas.

    Ingredients for a homemade margarita displayed on a white wood board.

    Margarita ingredients

    • Ice
    • 1½ ounces Tequila
    • 1 ounce Grand Marnier (or other orange-flavored liqueur)
    • 4 ounces Margarita Mix
    • 1 Lime Wedge, plus more for garnish, if desired
    • Coarse Salt for the Glass Rim

    You will also need

    A cocktail shaker with a strainer

    Make the homemade margarita

    • Add the coarse salt to a small plate. A salad plate works well.
    • Run the lime wedge around the rim of the glass to moisten.
    • Place the glass in the salt and press it gently. The salt will adhere to the rim.
    Ingredients for a margarita displayed, with an empty margarita glass with a salt rim in the front.
    • Fill the margarita glass with ice. Then, half fill the cocktail shaker with ice.
    • Add the tequila, orange liqueur and the margarita mix to the cocktail shaker. Cover the shaker tightly and shake, shake, shake.
    • Strain the margarita into your prepared glass, garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy! Or, make one for your partner then enjoy!
    A close up picture of a margarita with a blue, salted rim, a lime wedge floating in it with a black straw.

    If you need some great food to go with those margaritas?

    • Shredded chicken enchiladas
    • Shredded chicken tacos
    • Churrasco steak with chimichurri sauce

    Rather have appetizer?

    • Fresh salsa
    • Southwestern egg rolls
    • Mini taco bites
    • Beef taquitos
    A margarita in a clear glass with a salted rim.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Homemade Margarita

    This homemade margarita is our absolute favorite. With just a handful of ingredients you’ll be on your way to Happy Hour! In this margarita recipe we make our own delicious mix using lemon and lime juice and a simple syrup.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Prepare the Margarita Mix15 mins
    Total Time20 mins
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Mexican & Southwestern
    Keyword: homemade margarita, homemade margarita mix, margarita on the rocks
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 290kcal
    Author: Elizabeth

    Ingredients

    • 1 Lime Wedge plus more for garnish if desired
    • Coarse Salt for the Glass Rim
    • Ice
    • 1½ ounces Tequila
    • 1 ounce Grand Marnier or other orange-flavored liqueur
    • 4 ounces Margarita Mix

    Instructions

    • Add the coarse salt to a small plate.
    • Run the lime wedge around the rim of the glass to moisten.
    • Place the glass in the salt and press it gently. The salt will adhere to the rim.
    • Fill the glass with ice
    • Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice
    • Add the tequila, orange liqueur and the margarita mix to the cocktail shaker. Cover the shaker tightly and shake well.
    • Strain the margarita into your prepared glass, garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Sodium: 83mg | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin C: 5.2mg
    The nutritional information above is computer generated and is only an estimate. There is no guarantee that it is accurate.This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.

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    Hi, I’m Elizabeth! welcome to Cook2eatwell. Food is my favorite subject; I like to cook food, talk about food, write about food, and most importantly, eat food. Lucky for me, my husband Eddie feels the same way. 

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