Skinny Margarita Recipe: A Low-Calorie Cocktail
To prepare the glass, start by pouring a small amount of salt onto a plate. Moisten the rim of your glass with a lime wedge, some water, or lime juice. Gently dip the moistened rim into the salt, tilting the glass as needed to ensure an even coating. Tap off any excess salt.
Margaritas are, without doubt, one of the most cherished cocktails around the globe. However, they often come laden with carbs and calories, which can be a deal-breaker for those keeping an eye on their calorie intake. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
If you’re on the lookout for a refreshing drink to switch up your cocktail routine, our Skinny Margarita recipe is just the ticket.
Why choose a Skinny Margarita? Well, who wouldn’t love the tangy, sweet, and slightly salty flavours of a classic Margarita? It’s a match made in heaven! Now, what if we told you that you could enjoy all those delightful flavours without piling on the calories?
That’s where our Skinny Margarita Cocktail comes in. With its refreshing taste and a mere 100 calories per glass, it’s guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser at any gathering. Whether you’re hosting a party or simply treating yourself to a quiet evening on the sofa, this tasty cocktail is bound to hit the spot.
The Skinny Margarita recipe offers a low-calorie option for Margarita lovers by replacing the calorie-dense triple sec with agave nectar – a natural sweetener made from the same plant as tequila. The result? A light and refreshing cocktail that will leave your guests wanting more.
To whip up this Skinny Margarita mix, all you’ll need is agave syrup, freshly squeezed lime juice, tequila, orange juice, and a bit of motivation!
Ingredients in Skinny Margarita Recipe
You know it’s a simple recipe when you can count all the ingredients on one hand!
Here’s what you’ll need to make this wonderfully light and refreshing drink:
- 1 ½ ounces of Altos Plata (Blanco) tequila (roughly 3 tablespoons)
- 3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1 large lime)
- 1 ½ tablespoons of freshly squeezed orange juice
- Salt and lime wedges for the rim and garnish
How to Make a Skinny Margarita Mix
It takes just 5 minutes to whip up this delightful refreshment. Give everything a good shake, and your cocktail is ready! Use a jigger to measure out the quantities.
To prepare your glass:
- Sprinkle some salt onto a small plate or use a salt rimmer.
- Wet the rim of the glass with a lime wedge, water, or lime juice.
- Dip the glass into the salt, tilting it to coat evenly.
- Shake off any excess salt.
For a single drink or two:
- Pour all the ingredients (except the salt and lime wedges) into a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and gently shake for about 30 seconds or until the outside feels chilled.
- Strain into your prepared glass, garnish, and enjoy straight away.
For sharing with friends (pitcher style):
- Stir together the tequila, lime juice, orange juice, and agave syrup (leave out the ice).
- Serve over ice immediately, or cover with cling film and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
4 Tips to Make the Best Skinny Margarita Cocktail
If you want to take your Skinny Margarita to the next level, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Use fresh lime juice, not bottled. Freshly squeezed lime juice will give your Skinny Margarita a much brighter, fresher taste compared to bottled lime juice.
- Ensure the tequila is just right. Make sure your tequila isn’t too strong or too diluted. If it’s too weak, your cocktail will lack depth, and if it’s too strong, it could overpower the drink.
- Garnish with fresh fruit. Instead of dried fruit like cucumber or orange slices, use fresh fruit for garnish. This prevents your cocktail from becoming too sweet and adds more variety and flavour.
- Choose 100% agave tequila. This will give your drink a more authentic and refined flavour compared to cheaper brands diluted with water or high fructose corn syrup.
Can I Make Margaritas in Advance?
That’s a brilliant question!
Yes, you can definitely prepare your Skinny Margarita recipe in advance, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
Firstly, while it’s possible to make margaritas ahead of time, they won’t taste as fresh as if they were made just before serving. This is because the flavours need time to blend and develop properly. You can certainly prepare them beforehand, but for the best taste experience, we recommend mixing them up just before serving.
If you’re keen on making them in advance, here are a few helpful tips:
Make sure all your ingredients are fresh—this is key. Stale lime juice or oxidised tequila will affect the flavour.
It’s best to make small batches, such as one pitcher at a time, and aim to consume them within 24 hours of mixing.
Store the margarita mix in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
However, if you’re planning on making margaritas more than two days in advance (for example, for a Cinco de Mayo party), we wouldn’t recommend it. The tequila will lose its freshness if left for longer than two days.
Top tip: Don’t add the ice until just before serving for the best results.
Why is this a Low-Calorie Margarita?
Ditch the sugar and still savour this delightful drink with our low-calorie margarita. We’ve swapped out the traditional triple sec and sugar, using just tequila and lime juice—and it’s just as delicious!
This low-calorie margarita is often referred to as a skinny margarita because it’s a lighter version of the classic tequila cocktail. But it’s not only low in calories, it’s also low in carbs and fat.
The ingredients in a typical margarita tend to be packed with calories, which can be a concern for those mindful of their weight or simply looking for a drink that’s light but still full of flavour.
How Many Calories Are There in a Skinny Margarita?
While a standard margarita contains around 200-250 calories per serving, a Skinny Margarita comes in at about 130-180, saving you a fair amount of calories! You can also opt for a natural sugar-free sweetener to reduce the calorie count even further.
The approximate calorie breakdown is as follows:
- Tequila: 100 Kcal
- Lime juice: 10 Kcal
- Orange juice: 15 Kcal
- Agave nectar: 40 Kcal
In addition to being lower in calories, Skinny Margaritas are also low in carbs, making them an ideal choice for anyone following a keto diet.
Variations of the Skinny Margarita Recipe
Once you’ve mastered the classic Skinny Margarita recipe, here are a few exciting variations to try. Enjoy these brilliant cocktail recipes!
Skinny Spicy Margarita
Jalapeños are the perfect way to add a touch of heat to your cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) Tequila Blanco
- ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 teaspoon agave syrup
- 3-4 jalapeño slices – deseeded and thinly sliced
- ⅔ cup crushed ice
- Sea salt, with extra jalapeño and lime slices for garnish
Directions
- Prepare the rim of your glasses as described earlier.
- Add the jalapeño slices and ⅓ cup of crushed ice into a cocktail shaker.
- Use a wooden spoon to muddle the jalapeños, releasing their spiciness.
- Pour in the tequila, lime juice, orange juice, and agave syrup.
- Shake vigorously for 30-60 seconds—it’s a bit of effort, but it’s worth it!
- Strain and serve over ice.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and extra jalapeño slices.
- Enjoy immediately!
Skinny Blackberry Margarita
Blackberries bring a perfectly juicy, low-calorie twist to the Classic Skinny Margarita recipe.
Ingredients
- 6 oz fresh blackberries
- ½ cup tequila
- ⅓ cup fresh orange juice
- ⅓ cup fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon agave syrup or simple syrup*
- 3 tablespoons of sugar for the rim and lime wheels for garnish
Directions
- To make the simple syrup, combine water and sugar (2:1) in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from the heat and allow it to cool.
- In a blender, combine the tequila, blackberries, sweetener, lime juice, and orange juice.
- Blend until smooth.
- Strain the mixture and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Rim the glass with sugar.
- Serve over ice and garnish with a lime wedge and blackberries, if you fancy.
How to Prepare a Frozen Skinny Margarita?
The easiest way to make a Frozen Skinny Margarita is by using a blender. It’s quick, simple, and absolutely delicious. Another variation of this low-calorie cocktail:
First, pour the tequila into the blender. You can add as much as you like, depending on how strong you prefer your drink. The more tequila you use, the stronger it’ll be!
Next, add the ice cubes. Make sure there’s enough space for the ice to move around so it doesn’t melt too quickly and water down your drink. If you need more ice, that’s perfectly fine—frozen margaritas are often tastier than regular ones!
Now add the lime juice and triple sec (or Cointreau). Adjust the amount to your liking, depending on whether you prefer a sweeter or more tangy cocktail. Just keep in mind that too much triple sec (or Cointreau) can make the drink bitter, so balance it carefully!
Once everything is in, blend until smooth and enjoy straight away!
Other Cocktails You Might Enjoy
Have you tried our Prickly Pear Margarita? It’s a vibrant and eye-catching drink that’s perfect for any occasion.
The prickly pear is a cactus native to the southern United States and Mexico. It has been used by Native Americans for centuries as both food and medicine. The fruit of the cactus is covered in tiny spines, making it tricky to pick without gloves, but once you get past them, you’ll be rewarded with a sweet, juicy treat.
This cocktail blends this delicious fruit with tequila and lime juice to create a drink that’s both tart and sweet—an incredibly refreshing combination!
Improve the Skinny Margarita Recipes With a Premium Quality Tequila
All great margaritas have one thing in common – they begin with a high-quality tequila. Think of tequila as the foundation of your drink—the higher the quality, the better your Margarita will taste.
Made with 100% blue weber agave from the Altos highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, our Altos Blanco tequila is the perfect choice for crafting a Skinny Margarita. Even top bartenders swear by Altos Tequila!
