Frozen Margarita

5 from 62 votes

Frozen margaritas are the best kind of margarita! Grab your favorite tequila and your blender to whip up some restaurant-style icy margs at home.

frozen margaritas with tajin rims

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About this Frozen Margarita recipe

My Friday night ritual includes dinner at different taco joints. My husband and I like to mix it up and visit different spots, but one thing that is always the same? Chips & queso and (at least) one round of margaritas.

Our favorite spot by far has amazing street tacos and they always have the best frozen margaritas (and frosé) at the ready, spinning in a big slushy machine behind the bar.

I crave those margaritas, but sometimes I just can’t wait until we can get back there. That’s how I’ve perfected making frozen margaritas at home!

This frozen margarita is a refreshing, icy version of your traditional margarita, a classic cocktail everyone should know how to make. Made with tequila, triple sec, lime juice and a sweet syrup like agave nectar *, these margaritas come together easily in the blender with ice.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  1. Frozen margaritas are an easy recipe to make at home with a blender, ice and margarita ingredients.
  2. They taste just like the ones you can get in a restaurant, full of flavor.
  3. These quaffable drinks are perfect for any occasion like taco night, hot summer afternoons and even Cinco de Mayo.
two frozen margaritas on a white background with limes

More tequila cocktail recipes: Mezcal MuleBloody MariaTequila MockingbirdTequila Sunrise

Tools & equipment

To make these frozen margaritas, you’ll want to haul out the blender. The higher-powered blenders are great for churning through ice, but if you’re patient, most blenders should be able to create slushy margaritas with ease.

You’ll also want to get out a jigger * or measuring cups for pouring the ingredients, and a juicer for getting every last drop of fresh lime juice. (If you prefer, I’ve got more info on using bottled margarita mix * below). And if you’re planning to add a garnish, a knife for limes and a shallow dish or plate for that sugar or salt rim.

Ingredients

You only need a handful of ingredients to make these delicious frozen margaritas in your own kitchen. Here are the simple ingredients to pick up at the grocery store:

  • tequila: I like to use blanco tequila (AKA silver tequila) for my frozen margs. Clear and colorless, it works really well in any margarita recipe.
  • orange liqueur: A clear orange liqueur such as triple sec or Cointreau adds a deeper citrus flavor and a little sweetness. (If you skip this, replace it with more tequila.)
  • fresh lime juice: Juice from fresh limes will give your margaritas the best zesty lime flavor. The bottled concentrate can be helpful, but keep in mind it tastes sourer than fresh juice.
  • agave nectar *: This sweet syrup is made from the agave plant. It pairs beautifully with tequila, which is made from the same plant.
  • ice: You will need a good bit of ice for this recipe (about 4 cups for that classic frozen margarita consistency, you get at restaurants) so be sure to grab a bag at the store if you’re planning to make a lot.

Big batch tip: When I need to make a large batch of frozen margaritas, I will either buy a bottle of organic lime juice or juice a bunch of whole limes with my electric juicer *.

decorative icon of a pitcher. 

make a big batch

This drink is a great one to serve a crowd for a party. Mix it ahead of time without the ice and stash it in the fridge. Stir individual servings with ice when ready to serve.
Use the +/- buttons in the recipe below to multiply the ingredients.

Garnish & rim ideas

Margaritas almost always come with a lime slice or lime wedge for added flavor plus a sweet or salty rim. The rim might be the best part of the margarita. You can have so much fun here!

  1. Salt rims: Salt is traditional because it balances the tartness of the lime and bite of tequila. Sea salt or kosher salt are my favorites for a salt rim. I don’t recommend using regular table salt. Try to use coarse salt, but a flaky salt will be too coarse.
  2. Sugar rims: You can use pure sugar on the rim, or a flavored sugar like lime sugar or strawberry sugar.
  3. Spicy rims: In these photos, I used chili-lime seasoning which adds a little spiciness. I love it for its pretty color and delicious flavor!
  4. Flavored salt rims: Flavored salts can be a fun way to dress up your margaritas. I also love making my salts with citrus zest, like this orange salt or lime salt.

For the lime garnish, cut it horizontally into slices, or from stem to end into wedges. You could also take it up a notch with a dehydrated lime slice.

Best tequila for margaritas

Margaritas call for tequila, which is a transparent spirit made from the Blue Weber Agave plant in Mexico. You can use tequila for more than just margaritas, too. Try it in the Paloma or a Mexican mule. There are a few main types of tequila:

  • Silver tequila for my frozen margs. Clear and colorless, it works really well in any margarita recipe.
  • Gold tequila has added caramel color to make it seem aged, so I don’t usually recommend it, but it will taste just fine if you use it.
  • Reposado tequila, meaning rested, has been aged in oak barrels between two months and one year and acquires a natural caramel coloring from the wood. Its flavor is more complex, and you can either mix with it or sip it straight. It’s more expensive than gold or silver tequila but is still affordable.
  • Infused tequila, like this spicy jalapeño tequila, is an easy way to experiment with flavor.
  • Mezcal is one more choice you can try. It has a smokier flavor than tequila — technically, tequila is a type of mezcal that tastes cleaner than other types of mezcal.

If you see añejo or extra añejo on the label, that signifies it’s a premium tequila that was aged for more than a year (extra is more than three). Like a fine cognac, these are expensive and meant to be sipped straight, so I wouldn’t recommend them for margaritas.

If you have one, mix your favorite tequila into these frozen margs. My favorite budget tequila brands right now are Sauza, Espolon, El Jimador and Lunazul, but there are tons more out there. For top-shelf margaritas, try Don Julio, Patron or Milagro.

decorative icon of a margarita.

Don’t miss Tequila 101 where you can learn more about which bottles to buy.

a lime wedge garnishing a margarita

Substitutions & variations

Here are some simple ways to tweak this recipe to fit your needs:

  1. Margarita mix: You may use store-bought or homemade margarita mix (which is similar to sour mix, so that works too). Since it is already sweetened, skip the simple syrup if you make this swap. The amount of mix you add should equal the amount of lime juice plus the amount of syrup mentioned in the recipe.
  2. Sweetener swaps: You have two main options for your homemade frozen margaritas. One is simple syrup, which is clear and very easy to make at home with sugar and water. The other is agave nectar, which adds a little color to the margarita as well, but not much, especially when blended with lime juice and ice. A homemade honey syrup would also be nice.
  3. Top shelf frozen margs: Use a higher-end tequila like Don Julio, Patron or Milagro. Triple sec and curaçao are low-cost versions of orange liqueur, but for a more top-shelf choice, go for either Grand Marnier or Cointreau.

Flavored margaritas

  • Other flavors: Dress your margs up with more flavors like jalapeño simple syrup or strawberry syrup. You can also mix in fresh or frozen fruit, like these strawberry margaritas.
  • Blue margaritas: Or swap the orange liqueur for blue curaçao, which is orange-flavored, to make these into frozen blue margaritas.
  • Frozen beeritas: Top your frozen marg with a Mexican lager like Tecaté or Corona to make it a frozen beerita.
  • Skinny margarita: Use a splash of orange juice instead of orange liqueur, and use less sugar syrup to make this low-calorie.
a chile lime seasoning on the rim of a margarita glass

How to make frozen margaritas

Here’s how to make these easy blender margaritas:

  1. In a high-speed blender, combine the tequila, lime juice, triple sec, simple syrup and ice. Blend until smooth.
  2. If desired, rub a wedge around the outer rim of four glasses and roll in salt or sugar.
  3. Pour in margarita mixture. Garnish each with a lime slice or a lime wedge.
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Tips & tricks

  1. Fresh ice is ideal so it doesn’t carry any of your freezer’s funky aromas.
  2. Use fresh lime juice if possible for the zestiest, most authentic margarita flavor.
  3. Be creative by experimenting with adding fruit, flavored syrups or different types of rim salts and sugars.

Non-alcoholic frozen margaritas

If you wish for that tequila flavor without the alcohol content, use a zero-proof spirit with the vibes of tequila to make frozen virgin margaritas. Instead of orange liqueur, use orange juice or a zero-proof orange liqueur like Lyre’s Orange Sec *.

a frozen margarita with a lime wheel garnish

Food pairings

Margaritas hail from Mexico, so they go beautifully with all kinds of Mexican food.

Start off with some chips and salsa, with a bowl of green chile queso and guacamole to go with it. Homemade tortilla chips take it over the top.

For the main dish, serve them with your favorite Mexican or Tex-Mex foods like pork tacos, enchiladas and elote.

FAQ

What is the best tequila for frozen margaritas?

A mid-shelf tequila blanco, or silver tequila, is ideal for traditional lime margaritas. It is clear and colorless, yet crisp in flavor.

Can I use bottled lime juice instead of fresh?

Yes, you can replace the fresh lime juice with bottled lime juice, but you may need to add a little more sweetener as it can be more tart than fresh juice.

Can I use margarita mix?

Definitely! Since bottled mix is sweetened, you don’t need to add any extra sweetener.

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frozen margaritas with tajin rims

Frozen Margaritas

Yield: 4 cocktails
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ice cold and perfectly balanced, these restaurant-style frozen margaritas are the perfect treat for any occasion!
5 from 62 votes
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ingredients

  • ¾ cup silver tequila
  • ½ cup fresh lime juice from 4 to 6 limes
  • ½ cup triple sec or Cointreau
  • ½ cup simple syrup or agave nectar
  • 4 cups ice

instructions

  • In a blender, combine the tequila, lime juice, triple sec, simple syrup and ice. Blend until smooth.
  • If desired, rub a wedge around the outer rim of four glasses and roll in salt, sugar or chili-lime seasoning. Pour in margarita mixture and serve, garnished with lime slices.

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nutrition information

Yield: 4 cocktails

amount per serving:

Serving: 8ounces Calories: 316kcal Carbohydrates: 43g Protein: 0.2g Fat: 0.1g Saturated Fat: 0.04g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g Sodium: 40mg Potassium: 72mg Fiber: 0.1g Sugar: 41g Vitamin A: 15IU Vitamin C: 9mg Calcium: 17mg Iron: 2mg
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About Susannah

Susannah Brinkley Henry is the founder of Feast + West, a cocktail blog featuring creative, budget-friendly drinks and hosting ideas. A graphic designer with bartending school training, she shares cocktails, mocktails, appetizers and desserts for easy, stylish entertaining. Her work has been featured by Southern Living, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post and Mashable, and she was a finalist in the Saveur Blog Awards. Susannah is also a publisher on MSN and has appeared on local news segments sharing seasonal drinks. She lives in Charlotte, N.C., where she brings Southern charm and global inspiration to every pour. Read more.

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Comments

  1. Supriya Kutty says

    These margaritas are my favorite now while searching for its steps to try it out U came across this post by you and I really liked making it. I have bookmarked it and also shared it with my friends so that even they try it out.

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