Spicy Margarita Recipe: How to Impress your Friends

What is a Spicy Margarita? A Spicy Margarita is a delightful cocktail made with tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice, but with an added kick from jalapeños, earning it the name Spicy Jalapeño Margarita. The heat from the jalapeños sets it apart from the classic Margarita. This cocktail is ideal for parties—not only because it’s simple to prepare, but also because you can use whatever ingredients you have at hand, as long as you maintain the right balance of flavours. We suggest starting with our recipe and adjusting it to suit your personal taste after a few attempts.

Why try this Spicy Margarita recipe? Because it’s absolutely delicious! Plus, it’s so easy to make that anyone can prepare it at home, avoiding the need to head out for drinks (or end up lost in their kitchen!). And if this cocktail leaves you craving spicy food, it’s the perfect excuse to explore more fiery flavours.

The Margarita is one of the most beloved cocktails in the United States. Despite the debates surrounding its origins, it has charmed drinkers since its creation and gained global popularity, becoming one of the most enjoyed cocktails worldwide.

One variation that has firmly established itself is the Spicy Margarita recipe. It excels where other twists on the classic have fallen short, staying true to the Margarita’s essence while reimagining the timeless combination of sweet, sour, and earthy flavours with a touch of heat.

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Ingredients to Prepare the Spicy Margarita Recipe

The key to crafting the perfect Spicy Jalapeño Margarita lies in choosing the right ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 ounces Tequila
• 1/2 ounce Orange liqueur
• 2 Jalapeno coins with the seeds removed
• 1 Lime wedges
• 1/2 ounce Agave syrup
• 1/2 ounce Lime juice

For garnishing, add:

• Salt rim
• Jalapeno coin

How to Make a Spicy Margarita Recipe

It’s quite easy to prepare this spicy tequila drink if you follow these simple directions:

1. Start by rubbing the rim of a glass with a lime wedge and dipping the rim into salt to coat.
2. Add the jalapeño coins to a shaker and gently muddle them to release their flavour. Combine with tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave syrup, then add ice and shake until well chilled.
3. Strain the mixture into the prepared glass over fresh ice and garnish with a jalapeño coin.

The real key to the Margarita’s heat is using fresh jalapeños muddled in the shaker before adding the other ingredients. With the seeds removed, two jalapeño coins will create a mildly spicy cocktail. For a more intense kick, add as many coins as you dare for an extra fiery Margarita.

Try Our Other Spicy Margarita Version

Tips to Prepare the Best Spicy Tequila Drink

If you want to add some spice to your Margarita, there are a few simple tips to help you make the perfect Spicy Margarita. First, ensure you have plenty of jalapeños on hand. You can find them in the fresh produce section of most supermarkets. They’re easy to chop with a sharp knife, but if you don’t have a cutting board nearby, placing them on a plate and chopping them by hand works just as well.

Next, peel off the outer layer of the jalapeño’s skin. This step helps to reduce some of the heat that might otherwise overpower your drink, and it also provides a tasty snack to enjoy while you’re mixing.

Once peeled, it’s time to slice. Cut each jalapeño into approximately eight pieces—or more or less, depending on how much heat you want in your drink. Adjusting the slices allows you to control the spice level perfectly.

Finally, it’s time to juice. Use a juicer or hand blender to extract as much liquid from the jalapeños as possible. You’ll need just enough juice to combine with tequila and lime juice, creating a total of one cup of liquid. If there’s any leftover pulp, toss it into a food processor for future use.

Garnish your Spicy Tequila Margarita, serve, and enjoy the fiery twist on this classic cocktail!

Spicy Margarita Flavored Versions

This Margarita is always a crowd-pleaser, offering an endless array of flavours to explore. Here are some exciting options to try at home and elevate your cocktail experience. Have fun preparing your own version of Spicy Margaritas:

Spicy Watermelon Margarita

This spicy watermelon-infused cocktail is an ideal choice for toasting on a hot summer day or enjoying at backyard BBQ parties.

1. To make a spicy watermelon cocktail, combine 4 ounces of watermelon juice, 1 ounce of tequila, 1 ounce of triple sec, 2 slices of fresh jalapeño, and ½ ounce of lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled.
2. Serve in a glass with a salted rim, garnished with lemon wheels and jalapeño slices, for a truly refreshing and spicy tequila twist on the classic Margarita.

Mango Margarita Spicy

This type of Spicy Margarita strikes the perfect balance of spicy, sweet, smoky, and salty, making it an excellent choice for outdoor grilling days.

1. For this spicy mango cocktail, place a few slices of charred jalapeño and some chunks of fresh mango into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and muddle thoroughly.
2. Add 4 ounces of mango juice, 2 ounces of tequila, and 1 ounce of lime juice, then shake until chilled.
3. Serve in a glass with a salted rim and garnish with a skewer of mango sprinkled with Tajín, charred jalapeño, and a lemon wheel. Savour the unique combination of flavours in this Spicy Tequila Mango Margarita!

Spicy Pineapple Margarita

A little sweetness, a hint of tang, and a touch of heat make this cocktail the ultimate punch.

1. To create this Margarita, combine 12 ounces of pineapple juice, 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar, and a jalapeño in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for three minutes. Strain out the solids and discard them.
3. Allow the mixture to cool in the refrigerator for about an hour, then stir in 6 ounces of tequila and ¼ cup of fresh lime juice.
4. Pour into 4 glasses with salted rims, and garnish with jalapeño slices and pineapple wedges if desired. Elevate your experience with this delightful Spicy Tequila creation!

Spicy Cucumber Margarita

This spicy cocktail is far from your typical Margarita. It’s a delightful blend of spice, sweetness, and a touch of fizz.

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle together 4-6 cucumber slices, 2 ounces of tequila, 4 fresh mint leaves, ½ ounce of orange liqueur, 2 ounces of fresh lime juice, and 2 teaspoons of honey.
2. Continue muddling until the cucumbers release their juice and are fully crushed.
3. Add 1-2 slices of jalapeño and shake to infuse the flavours.
4. Strain the mixture into a glass with a salted rim, and top it off with ginger beer if you prefer extra spiciness, sweetness, and fizz. This Spicy Tequila-infused cocktail is anything but ordinary—give it a try!

Spicy Grapefruit Margarita

A spicy grapefruit cocktail is always a crowd-pleaser, and it’s one of our favourite Spicy Margaritas.

1. To make this Margarita, combine 2 ounces of lime juice, 2 tablespoons of agave nectar, and 2 or 3 slices of jalapeño in a cocktail shaker. Use a muddler to crush the jalapeño and release its flavour.
2. Add 4 ounces of grapefruit juice and 3 ounces of tequila, then fill the shaker with ice and shake to infuse the flavours.
3. Strain the mixture into a glass with a salted rim and garnish with a small wedge of grapefruit for a refreshing and spicy twist.

Spicy Strawberry Margarita

Sweet with a hint of spice, this cocktail is the perfect refreshing treat after a long week.

1. Combine 1 cup of ripe strawberries and ½ inch of jalapeño in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Strain the mixture and pour it into a cocktail shaker.
3. Add 2 ounces of lime juice, 2 tablespoons of agave nectar, 4 ounces of tequila, and ice. Secure the lid and shake well to mix and chill the Margarita.
4. Serve in two glasses over ice, adding a splash of sparkling water for an extra refreshing touch. Enjoy!

Other Special variations of the Margarita Picante

There are endless flavours you can experiment with to spice up your Margaritas and create an incredible Spicy Margarita Recipe. Beyond the ones mentioned above, you could try a Spicy Blackberry Margarita, Spicy Mandarin Margarita, Spicy Avocado Coconut Margarita, or even a Spicy Jalapeño and Guava Margarita. For those watching their calories, the Skinny Spicy Margarita is also a great option.

If you’re after an authentic Mexican flavour, the Altos variation is the perfect cocktail for you. With just a few ingredients and simple steps, you’ll have this delightful drink ready in no time. This spicy Altos Margarita recipe combines 3 parts silver tequila, 2 parts lime juice, 1 part simple syrup, 1 teaspoon of orange liqueur, and 2 jalapeño coins (seeds removed).

Olmeca Altos tequila is the highlight of this cocktail, bringing its signature herbal agave notes. Made from 100% agave, it’s no surprise that Olmeca Altos is the ideal choice for crafting the ultimate Margarita ‘Picante’.