Welcome summertime with a sweet-tart Watermelon Margarita. These absolutely perfect cocktails start with a fresh watermelon simple syrup, lime juice and tequila, with a hint of sweet orange. Add a spicy salt rim (or not) and you’ll be on your way to finding your new favorite summer drink.
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About this Watermelon Margarita recipe
This fruity, tangy tequila Watermelon Margarita drink is always such a hit. After a long day of anything, it’s not a bad idea to indulge in a glass or two of this summer sip. They are a delightful twist on the classic margarita.
Made with a simple syrup from puréed watermelon, lime and a bit of tequila, you know this punch would go over well at any end-of-summer gathering. (You’re totally welcome to skip the tequila, too. We have zero-proof spirits for that!)
And you don’t use all the watermelon, meaning there is enough for you to use for a cute garnish and even more to eat.
Ready for summer yet? This watermelon margarita will definitely be the drink you want all season long, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I’ll show you how to use melons from the farmers market or your garden to whip up these super fresh cocktails.
More margarita recipes: Texas Margarita • Strawberry Margarita • Blackberry Margarita • Frozen Margarita
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Fresh and juicy, they’re made with real watermelon simple syrup for bold, natural flavor.
- A little kick from the spicy salt rim adds heat that balances the sweetness. Skip it or use sugar if you want to!
- Tastes like summer. You’ll love the sweet, juicy watermelon flavor in every sip.
Tools & glassware
For the simple syrup, you’ll need a big knife
To make a margarita or two, you’ll need a basic bar tool set that includes a cocktail shaker *, a Hawthorne strainer * and a jigger * for measuring ingredients. You’ll also want to grab a few plates for preparing the glasses with salt and sugar rims. I also love this acacia salt rimmer * — it makes it so easy to rim glasses!
Margaritas are often served in, well, margarita glasses *, stemmed glasses with big bowls for iced and frozen drinks. They can also be served in rocks glasses *, which are short tumblers like I’ve used here. But don’t stress about the right glassware — it’s margarita night!
favorite margarita glasses
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Ingredients
Here’s your ingredient list for this watermelon margarita recipe — everything should be easy to find!
👇 For full measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card. It’s all there waiting for you!
- Tequila: A blanco tequila, AKA silver tequila, is crisp and has a clear color, perfect for mixing in this yellow cocktail. We like Tito’s and Lunazul lately.
- Orange liqueur: Any clear orange liqueur will work in its place. You can keep it simple with triple sec or go top shelf with Cointreau. (Grand Marnier is delicious but may alter the pretty pink color of this drink.)
- Watermelon syrup: We are making our own watermelon syrup for this one! It’s easy to make with fresh watermelon juice (from your blender or store-bought) plus granulated sugar and water.
- Lime juice: Fresh is best! But keep in mind the store-bought stuff is a bit more tart than fresh lime juice, so you may need to add a little more agave to balance things out.
- Chili lime seasoning: This goes on the rim for a spicy addition! You can also use a simple sugar or salt rim. You can use Tajín or make your own chili-lime seasoning.
Garnishes
Margaritas usually get a lime slice or lime wedge garnish, so that’s perfect here if you want to keep things simple. You could also add a sprig of mint or basil.
You can use watermelon of course, too! Use a melon baller * to make little spheres for a cocktail pick. Or cut a tiny slice and perch it on the edge of the glass.
melon essentials
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Best tequila for margaritas
For the best tequila for a Watermelon Margarita, use a blanco tequila, known for its crisp and clear qualities, ideal for mixing into drinks without changing their color. Tito’s and Lunazul are excellent choices.
Alternatively, a reposado tequila (meaning aged tequila) can add more depth. Most of the well-known brands have one! Also, a smoky mezcal can introduce additional layers of flavor. We like Montelobos, Del Maguey and Casamigos mezcal.
Substitutions & variations
Looking for a twist? These variations make it even more versatile:
- Spicy watermelon margarita: In place of the tequila, use jalapeño-infused tequila, and be sure to use that spicy Tajín rim.
- Virgin watermelon margarita mocktail: Use a zero-proof spirit that mimics tequila, like Seedlip Grove 42 * or Ritual tequila alternative *, in place of the tequila. For the triple sec, use some orange juice or a non-alcoholic orange liqueur like Lyre’s Orange Sec *. (This watermelon agua fresca is a great mocktail option too.)
- Frozen watermelon margarita: Blend with 1 cup ice per cocktail for a frozen version.
Instructions
Making watermelon margaritas is quick and simple — let’s get started! First, we start with an easy watermelon simple syrup.
If using fresh watermelon, slice it into cubes and place them in a blender. Pulse until smooth. Strain out the solids with a fine-mesh strainer *. Use a spatula * to push the liquid through the mesh.
In a medium saucepan, warm the watermelon juice over medium heat. Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Do not boil. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Stir in the lemon juice.
Storage: Store in a food-safe, airtight container for up to 3 weeks. If it ever appears cloudy, it’s time to toss it.
In a cocktail shaker * filled with ice, add tequila, triple sec, watermelon syrup and lime juice. Shake well.
Pour some chili-lime seasoning on a plate. Rub a lime wedge around the edge of a rocks glass * or margarita glass *. Roll the rim of the glass in the seasoning to coat the rim.
Add ice to the glass and pour in the cocktail through a strainer. Garnish with a piece of watermelon and a lime wedge.
Tips & tricks
- Use seedless watermelon for smoother blending and less mess.
- Quality ingredients matter in a cocktail and a good bottle can make a big difference. For best results, go for a mid-price tequila like Tito’s or a top-shelf tequila like Patron.
- Shake all the ingredients really well, until the shaker is ice-cold in your hands.
Food pairings
These watermelon margaritas would be perfect for all kinds of occasions! It’s never a bad time to have a margarita, IMO! But of course, there are a few margarita-appropriate holidays each year: Cinco de Mayo on May 5, National Margarita Day on Feb. 22 and National Tequila Day on July 24.
They’d be great for your weekly taco nights, especially Taco Tuesday or a margarita night, along side some tortilla chips and green salsa or a big tray of steak nachos.
These are also fun for poolside and beach sipping, bachelor/bachelorette parties and summer cookouts. Serve them with some cute watermelon cakes or a batch of boozy margarita bars. If you have extra watermelon, use it to make a watermelon salad.
FAQ
Definitely! Substitute the tequila for a non-alcoholic tequila alternative. I like Seedlip Grove 42 and Ritual tequila alternative. For the triple sec, you can omit it or use orange juice.
For sure! This is a great recipe to make into a pitcher of margs or a watermelon margarita punch.
One batch of the syrup makes about 1¼ cups syrup, which is enough for about 10 cocktails. When you multiply the recipe by that much (use the +/- buttons in the recipe card below for another number), you’ll also need 1¾ cups tequila, ½ cup triple sec and 1¼ cups fresh lime juice. Stir everything together in a large pitcher, and chill until ready to serve.
More watermelon drink recipes
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Watermelon Margarita
ingredients
Watermelon Syrup
- 1 cup watermelon juice or ½ pound fresh watermelon
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice optional
Watermelon Margarita
- 1½ ounce blanco tequila
- ½ ounce triple sec
- 1 ounce watermelon syrup
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 2 tablespoons chili-lime seasoning or coarse sea salt, for the rim
- 1 piece watermelon for garnish
- 1 wedge lime for garnish
instructions
Watermelon Syrup
- If using fresh watermelon, slice it into cubes and place them in a blender. Pulse until smooth. Strain out the solids with a fine-mesh strainer *. Use a spatula * to push the liquid through the mesh.
- In a medium saucepan, warm the watermelon juice over medium heat. Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Do not boil.
- Remove from heat and let cool completely. Stir in the lemon juice.
- Store in a food-safe, airtight container for up to 3 weeks. If it ever appears cloudy, it’s time to toss it. Makes about 1¼ cups.
Watermelon Margarita
- Pour some chili-lime seasoning on a plate. Rub a lime wedge around the edge of a rocks glass * or margarita glass *. Roll the rim of the glass in the seasoning to coat the rim. Add ice to the glass.
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add tequila, triple sec, watermelon syrup and lime juice. Shake well.
- Strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with a piece of watermelon and a lime wedge.
notes
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