Watermelon Margarita

This Watermelon Margarita recipe is refreshing, colorful and so delicious! Cut up a watermelon for the kiddos, and then snag two cups of it for your new favorite cocktail.

close up of a watermelon margarita with salt on the rim and a watermelon wedge on the rim - 3

How to Make Watermelon Margaritas

This is a brief overview of how t make this delicious cocktail. For the full recipe with all of the measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Blend the watermelon. I love my Ninja blender because it comes with a small bullet blender.
Strain the watermelon. This step is optional, but it allows you to get out the pulp, which makes for a smoother and prettier cocktail.
Prepare your glasses. Rub a bit of fresh lime around the rim of the glass. Then dip it in kosher salt.
Combine the ingredients. In a shaker filled with ice, combine the watermelon juice, tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Shake to combine.
Strain the drink. Strain the cocktail into the prepared glasses over ice and enjoy!

watermelon juice being strained through a wire mesh, lined with cheese cloth, into a measuring cup - 4

Straining Watermelon Juice

This step is totally optional. It won’t impact the taste of the margarita, it just makes for a much prettier drink. Straining is really easy, and you can definitely do it with just the mesh strainer . The addition of the cheesecloth is what will really keep your final cocktail from separating. I am a pretty lazy cocktail maker, and I still do this every time because I love the final result.

Cheesecloths are pretty cheap. You can usually buy multiple yards for under $5. They are easy to find in the grocery store sold near other cooking products, or online.

Cheesecloth

watermelon margarita being poured into a glass that is rimmed with salt - 5

Frozen Watermelon Margarita

This recipe is so easy to make into a frozen watermelon margarita.

Freeze the watermelon. Instead of tossing the two cups of watermelon into the blender, place in a single layer on parchment lined baking sheet. Freeze for a few hours.
Blend the margarita ingredients. In a blender combine the frozen watermelon, tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Blend until smooth.
Serve in glasses that are rimmed with salt.

Please note that we are skipping the step of straining the watermelon juice here, so as the drink thaws, it will separate a bit. It will be absolutely delicious , but not quite as pretty.

Ninja Blender

Watermelon Jalapeño Margarita

If you are looking to make this a spicy watermelon margarita, I have the perfect trick for you! A few jalapeños make for a great spicy margarita . There are two ways to do it.

Infuse tequila with jalapeños. The day before you make the margarita, slice up a fresh jalapeño and add it to a cup of tequila. Let it sit for 24 hours and then strain it and use it to make this great recipe. This is the spicier option.
Add fresh jalapeños to your margarita. After you have poured your cocktails, add a few fresh jalapeño slices to your watermelon margarita. This adds just a subtle kick to the drink and is perfection.

two cups of watermelon margaritas with salt on the rim and a watermelon wedge on the edge - 6

Tequila for Cocktails

When looking for a bottle of tequila for this recipe, they’re a few things to keep in mind.

Look for a bottle that says “100% agave.” This is what tequila is made from, and if you buy a bottle that isn’t 100%, you are getting cheap filler.
Buy a mid level bottle, like Milagro Silver. Because we are making a cocktail and not drinking it straight, we can go with a less expensive bottle. I think that Milagro Silver is the perfect mid level bottle.
If you are splurging grab a bottle of Patron. If you want to go high end that would be my pick.
If you are watching your budget buy Sauza. This is a great lower level option.

The Best Margarita Recipe

Triple Sec or Cointreau

When you are buying your ingredients for this cocktail, you want to consider whether you want triple sec or Cointreau for your orange liqueur. The two provide the same thing for the recipe: sweetness and a hint of orange. But Cointreau is a name brand and is a little on the higher end with a higher alcohol content. Triple Sec is sold under many brands and has a lower alcohol content and more sweetness. It isn’t usually a bartender’s pick, but it is great if you are on a budget.

Fresh or Bottled Lime Juice

Generally speaking, I say that you want to use fresh lime juice for recipes. It provides a better taste. That being said, if you are in a pinch, this recipe will be absolutely delicious with bottled lime juice. Don’t skip making this cocktail if you all you have is bottled lime juice.

two watermelon margaritas, one on a tray with lime wedges around them - 7

More Margarita Recipes

I can’t get enough of margaritas, so you know I have more for you!

Frozen Margarita Recipe
Strawberry Margarita
Coconut Margarita
Apple Cider Margarita
Strawberry Mango Margarita
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Ingredients

2 cups watermelon blended and strained to make 1 cup of juice (read more about this here )
3 ounces tequila
1.5 ounces triple sec or Cointreau
1 ounce lime juice
fresh lime wedge
kosher salt

Instructions

Using a fresh lime, coat the rim of two glasses with lime juice. Then dip in kosher salt. Fill with ice cubes. Set aside.
In a large shaker filled with ice, combine watermelon juice (1 cup), tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Shake and strain into the prepared glasses. (Read here on how to make frozen watermelon margaritas and here on how to make spicy watermelon margaritas .)

Recipe Video

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