Classic Margarita
Learn how to make a margarita with my quick and easy Classic Margarita recipe! With fresh lime juice, this tequila cocktail is crisp, tart, and refreshing – plus it’s easily customizable.
Easy Classic Margarita Recipe
A cold, crisp, sweet-tart Classic Margarita will always be my favorite when it comes to cocktails. With freshly-squeezed lime juice and splashes of tequila and orange liqueur, I can easily shake one up in just a few minutes. And a salted rim is a MUST for me!
Why I ❤️ This Margarita Recipe
I really do believe this is the best margarita recipe out there. Here’s why I think you’ll love it, too:
- Classic recipe. This is a basic margarita on the rocks, the purest form of a margarita when it comes to flavor and presentation. Because sometimes simple is just the BEST!
- Quick & easy. You only need a few ingredients and a few minutes of time to shake one up.
- So refreshing. Fresh, tart lime juice instantly elevates any drink into bright, refreshing territory. This classic margarita recipe is a fun, delicious way to quench your thirst.
- Size up or down. Want just one margarita? See my method for a single serving. Or, go ahead and make enough to serve a crowd with my big-batch margarita recipe! (Both are included in the recipe card at the end of this post.)
Recipe Ingredients
You really only need 3 ingredients to make a traditional margarita! Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredient amounts.
- Tequila – I always use a blanco/silver tequila when shaking up a classic margarita. See my notes in the next section for what is the best tequila to use in margaritas.
- Orange liqueur – Such as Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec.
- Lime – Pleeeeeeease…use only freshly squeezed lime juice! This gives the very best flavor. I also like to garnish with lime wedges or wheels.
- Simple syrup (optional) – If you like a little (or a lot) of sweetness, add some simple syrup. I’ve included a method to make simple syrup in the recipe card notes.
- Coarse salt (optional) – If you like a salted rim. Seriously, though, what’s not to like about that?!
What’s The Best Tequila for Margaritas?
Pick up a bottle of blanco (or “silver”) tequila for the best classic margaritas. This type is clear and typically unaged, giving your cocktail a very clean flavor.
As far as specific brands go, Patrón Silver is the crowd-pleaser of the margarita bunch – although it is a top-shelf tequila, on the pricier side. Some budget-friendly options that are still clean and smooth are Espolòn Blanco (fun bottle label!), 1800 Tequila Silver, and Casamigos.
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How To Make A Margarita
See how to make a classic margarita below. If you want to make a larger quantity, I’ve included that info in the recipe card. You can find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Salt the rim (optional). I love a salted glass rim! Simply run the cut edge of a lime wedge around the rim of a glass, then dip the rim into a shallow dish of salt. Set the glass aside.
- Add lime juice. Pour lime juice into a cocktail shaker or jar.
- Add remaining ingredients. Then pour in the tequila and orange liqueur. If you like a bit of sweetness, add some simple syrup as well.
- Chill. Add ice and cover the shaker tightly. Shake to perfectly chill and dilute the drink.
- Serve. Add fresh ice to the prepared glass, then strain the margarita into the glass. Garnish with fresh lime.
Tips & Variations
I’ve stuck to the basics with this classic margarita recipe. Here are some of my best tips + a few ideas if you want to play around this recipe:
- Use fresh lime juice. For a really great margarita, this truly is a must! This gives you the best, most authentic classic margarita experience. Skip the bottled lime juice and pre-made margarita mix.
- Good quality liquors. In simple drinks like this classic margarita recipe, it’s all the more important to make each ingredient count. Good tequila and orange liqueur will give you the best margarita.
- Salt the rim. I’ve listed this step as “optional” but I believe that every margarita deserves at least a partially dipped rim of salt. If you’ve never had a margarita with a salted rim, I encourage you to at least give it a try.
- Add sweetness. Margarita purists would never add any kind of sweetener. But I do like to add just a little bit – usually 1/4 to 1/2 ounce of simple syrup. You can add as little or as much as you like.
- Shake it, baby! Shaking the drink with ice not only chills it fantastically, but also dilutes it perfectly – otherwise the drink can be overly strong and puckery!
- Add sparkling water. On summer evenings that are especially hot and humid, I like to make a tall, bubbly margarita. Fill a tall glass with ice, strain the margarita mixture over the ice, then top off the drink with chilled club soda or sparkling water.
- Add prosecco. Another way to add some bubbles to a margarita is with my prosecco margaritas recipe. This has been a longtime popular recipe with readers, especially favored for weekend brunching!
- Make ahead: Follow the directions in the recipe card (at the end of this post) for how to make a batch of margaritas in advance. This is great for entertaining, so the mess is cleared away and all you have to do is pour the drink into glasses when your guests arrive!
Serving Suggestions
Sip a margarita on its own – or pair it with other cocktails and/or nibbles!
- Mexican-inspired appetizers. Shake up some cold margaritas to serve with tortilla chips and classic ceviche, classic guacamole, and fresh pico de gallo or easy restaurant-style salsa. Fruity watermelon salsa and pineapple salsa are always a hit, too!
- Mexican main dishes. Margaritas are perfect with dishes like carnitas, easy fish tacos, Doritos taco salad, or taco stuffed sweet potatoes. Some might call pulled pork nachos an appetizer, but we mostly eat it as a meal!
- Grilled mains. Cold margaritas and grilling go hand in hand. Margarita grilled shrimp skewers are a top favorite. Also choose from sugar grilled steak, chipotle honey chicken kabobs, chipotle orange salmon – or my whole grilling section!
- More margaritas! If you want to serve all kinds of margaritas along with your classic margarita, I’ve got you covered! Try a watermelon margarita, strawberry margarita, or a pretty rhubarb margarita.
Can You Make Margaritas In Advance?
Margaritas are a great cocktail choice for making in advance. Just stir it altogether and chill it in the fridge in a sealed container like a large mason jar or sealed pitcher. It’s important that you wait to add ice until you serve the drinks, however. Otherwise, the ice will dilute the cocktail as it sits in the fridge.
More Tequila Cocktail Recipes
Classic Margarita
Ingredients
For a Single Margarita:
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1½ ounces blanco tequila
- 1 ounce orange liqueur (such as Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec)
- simple syrup, optional sweetener (see Notes below)
- lime wedge and coarse salt, optional for rimming the glass
For a Pitcher of Margaritas (12 Drinks):
- 1½ cups freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2¼ cups blanco tequila
- 1½ cups orange liqueur
- simple syrup, optional sweetener
- lime wedge and coarse salt, optional for rimming the glasses
Instructions
- Salt the rim (optional):Fill a small shallow plate or bowl with coarse salt. Run the cut edge of the lime wedge around the rim of a 10 to 12-ounce glass, then dip the rim into the salt. Set aside.
- Make the margarita:Add lime juice, tequila, orange liqueur, and (optional) simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Add ice to half-full. Cover and vigorously shake for 30 seconds to perfectly chill and dilute the drink.
- Serve:Add ice to prepared glass and strain the margarita over the ice. Squeeze a fresh lime wedge over the top and add it to the drink. Enjoy!
Looks like you sipped on the one in the photo ; )
Good stuff!
You don’t miss a thing, do you? I had to be absolutely sure they were good! :-)