A Spicy Jalapeño Margarita is the perfect summertime drink. This upgraded marg is made with tequila, agave, fresh lime juice, and of course the star- that jalapeño. It's just the right balance of sweet and spicy, and is sure to "heat up" happy hour!
I'm claiming this spicy margarita as the unofficial drink of the summer. It's sweet heat is not only smooth and refreshing, but is sure to leave your tongue tingling with every sip.
You only need 5 ingredients, less than 5 minutes, and a few shakes of the cocktail shaker to make this drink. It's as simple as 1,2,3, and it's a good thing because I guarantee you'll be making this drink every weekend.
If you like sweet AND spicy margaritas, my spicy pineapple marg is for you!
Whether it's a Cinco de Mayo party, a birthday, or just a summer BBQ, these jalapeno margaritas are sure to be the hit of the party. Sweet, sassy, and sure to bring the heat, this drink will be your new favorite!
Be sure to also check out my avocado margarita and recipe for a pitcher of margaritas!
Key Ingredients Needed
*the full ingredients list and measurements can be found in the recipe card below*
- Tequila: For these spicy margaritas, you'll want to use tequila blanco. It's also known as silver tequila.
- Cointreau: This is a brand of orange flavored triple sec. It adds a bright, citrus flavor that pairs so well with the jalapeno.
- Lime juice: It's best of you use fresh lime juice because bottled is much more concentrated, and doesn't taste as fresh.
- Agave: We need a little bit of sweetness to balance out the spicy and tone down the kick of tequila. I don't like my margaritas too sweet, but you can always add more agave if you prefer a sweeter one.
- Jalapeno: How could we make a spicy margarita without the main ingredient?! Fresh jalapeno adds the perfect amount of heat that will have your tongue tingling with every sip!
How To Make A Spicy Jalapeno Margarita
STEP ONE: Rim a chilled lowball glass with agave, then dip is in Tajin.
STEP TWO: Muddle the jalapeno together with the agave in a glass and add ice.
STEP THREE: Add tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 10-15 seconds. Strain into your prepared glass, garnish with a jalapeno slice and fresh lime, then enjoy!
🥂Need to sharpen your hostess skills? Check out my BEST tips for entertaining friends!
How To Muddle Jalapenos Without A Muddler?
You don't NEED a muddler. The idea is to smash ingredients together and in this case, release the flavors and heat of the jalapeno.
I find a great alternative is to use the back of a wooden spoon to smash things down.
What's The Best Tequila To Use For Margaritas?
For margaritas, it's very common to make them with Tequila Blanco (silver). It's the purest version of tequila, and is always smooth and flavorful. Reposada tequila is also very popular these days as well as anejo tequila.
Popular tequila brands that wont break the bank:
- Casamigos
- Espolòn
- Patron
- Altos
- Don Julio
Remember, you don't need to splurge on top of the line tequila for margaritas. Those prices are for sipping neat.
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Making In Advance
I LOVE making large pitchers of margaritas in advance for when entertaining a large group of people. You can do that with this recipe as well.
To make muddling in a pitcher easy, add the agave and jalapeños (times 2 or 3 depending on your pitcher size) to the pitcher and use a wooden spoon to muddle/smash it all up. Then add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
WAIT to add the ice until last minute. I suggest having an ice bucket on the side for guests to use as needed. Garnish the pitcher with lime wheels and jalapeno slices.
Aleka's Best Drink Tips
- Muddle!- In my opinion, the best flavor is extract from fresh jalapenos that have been muddled. That allows the jalapeno to release its juices and the flavor to mix better with the drink.
- Taste test- When making a drink for yourself, it's always best to taste test so you can get it perfect! Add more or less of a certain ingredient so this margarita is exactly how you prefer it.
- Rim the glass: Not only is it a fancy presentation, but it also adds flavor to your drink! I like to run a circle of agave around the rim and dip it into Tajin.
- Add ice!- While you can drink this cocktail neat, I think it's a bit too strong. I like to add ice to help balance all the flavors.
- Don't forget the apps- Do you really expect me to hand you a margarita recipe and NOT suggest you have some snacks with it?! Not my style! Try this 7 layer taco dip, chicken flautas, or even air fryer nachos for a quick, delicious bite.
Suggested Tools For Perfect Margarita Making
These tools can be used for MANY popular cocktails. They are a great investment!
Frequently Asked Questions
It was invented in the early 2000s by a man named Julio Bermejo, who owned a Mexican restaurant in San Francisco.
Technically, you can. However, I don't suggest it because the bright, fresh flavor just isn't there with bottled.
Yes! If you're serving a large crowd, a pitcher of margaritas is always a good option.
For 12 servings, you'll need 3 cups of tequila Blanco, 1 ½ cups Cointreau, 1 ½ cups lime juice, 6 jalapenos, and ¾ cup of agave.
If you'd like to make a frozen margarita, instead of mixing the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, just blend them all with ice until you reach your desired consistency.
These are the perfect, boozy, yet refreshing drink for summer!
More Cocktails You'll Love
📖 Recipe
Jalapeno Margarita
Equipment
- Jigger
- Lowball or margarita glass
- Muddler
Ingredients
- ½ Jalapeno (sliced into rings)
- ½ Ounce Agave syrup
- 2 Ounces Tequila Blanco
- 1 Ounce Cointreau
- 1 Ounce Fresh lime juice
- Tajin (for rimming the glass)
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Let us email it to you, so you can come back to it later!
Instructions
- Rim your glass with agave, then dip in Tajin
- Muddle the sliced jalapeno and agave syrup together in the bottom of your glass, and set aside.
- To a cocktail shaker, with ice add the tequila, Cointreau, and fresh lime juice. Shake well for 10-15 seconds.
- Fill your prepared glass with ice, strain the tequila mixture into the glass, then garnish with jalapeno slices and a lime wheel and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Muddle!!- In my opinion, the best flavor is extract from fresh jalapenos that have been muddled. That allows the jalapeno to release its juices and the flavor to mix better with the drink.
- Taste test- When making a drink for yourself, it's always best to taste test so you can get it perfect! Add more or less of a certain ingredient so this margarita is exactly how you prefer it.
- Rim the glass: Not only is it a fancy presentation, but it also adds flavor to your drink! I like to run a circle of agave around the rim and dip it into Tajin.
- Don't forget the apps- Do you really expect me to hand you a margarita recipe and NOT suggest you have some snacks with it?! Not my style! Try this 7 layer taco dip, chicken flautas, or even air fryer nachos for some Mexican pairings!
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