The BEST Skinny Margarita Recipe on the Internet! (2024)

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Wondering how to make a skinny margarita without a mix? This simple Skinny Margarita recipe is an amazing way to imbibe without all of the calories and sugar. Fresh, easy and completely delicious!

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Your new favorite way to make a Skinny Margarita!

Have you ever been to a bar or restaurant, ordered a margarita and got an ultra-sweet, syrup-y drink? This has happened to me on more than one occasion and because of it, turned me off of margaritas for quite a long time.

Then, one glorious day, my husband decided to make a skinny margarita at home. It’s was like an entirely different drink! No heavy, sugary mix – just fresh lime juice, tequila, Cointreau, and in this case, agave nectar – making the drink low in calories and sugar.

This delicious skinny margarita recipe is wonderfully fresh, simple and depending on how much tequila you prefer, has a nice kick to it.

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How do I make a skinny margarita without a mix?

Start with fresh squeezed lime juice. This is a key ingredient to achieving superior taste. You can buy bottled lime juice, but the flavor will be slightly muted.

How many limes do I need to make a margarita?

You’ll likely need 1-2 limes per drink, so when buying your limes at the grocery store, get several. My recipe calls for 1 oz. of lime juice per drink. You may also want lime slices in your drink and/or for a garnish.

I also use fresh squeezed lime juice in my Blueberry Mojito recipe, which makes a big difference in flavor!

What do I need to make a skinny margarita?

Several limes (estimate 1-2 limes per co*cktail) for lime juice
Agave nectar – (Optional Ingredient) If you are watching your sugar intake or want to reduced the calories in this drink even further, omit the agave. Agave nectar can be found in the baking aisle, near the sugar at your grocery store. It is a natural sweetener, and is perfect in a margarita. You’ll also likely find it in your health food section.
Tequila – get the best quality tequila you can afford. I like Herradura – both gold and silver. If you love a great tequila co*cktail, check out my recipe for a Strawberry Tequila Sunrise over at Real Housemoms.
Cointreau – this is a French citrus liqueur which is important in balancing out the citrus flavors in any margarita.

(For exact amounts be sure to reference the recipe below.)

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What glasses are best for a margarita?

The standard glass for a margarita is a curved, up-style glass like what I used for my Pineapple Margaritas.An up-style glass is more traditional for a blended drink.

Feel free to use a rocks glass (like I did in these photos), as this is a more traditional vessel when enjoying a margarita on the rocks.

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How do I salt rim a glass for a margarita?

To prep the glasses, run a lime wedge around the rims of the glasses. Dip the glasses into kosher or margarita salt. Lastly, fill the glasses with crushed or cubed ice. Add some lime slices to the glasses, if you prefer.

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I’m using Jose Cuervo Margarita Salt for these margaritas. It comes in a convenient round, flat container that makes it useful for rimming the edges of your margarita glasses.

Specialized margarita salt is not required to salt the rim of a glass. Any kosher salt will work well.

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How do I mix a margarita on the rocks?

Fill a co*cktail shaker with ice. If you don’t have a co*cktail shaker, feel free to use a mason jar with a tight fitting lid.
To the ice, add the tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, and the optional agave nectar. Agave nectar is a great natural sweetener and perfect substitute for simple syrup that is in a typical margarita. You’ll still get a sweet, but not overly syrup-y co*cktail when using the agave nectar.
Once you have the co*cktail ingredients in the shaker, secure the lid tightly and shake vigorously. Immediately pour the margarita into the prepared glasses and enjoy right away while cold.

Can I make this a Frozen or Blended Margarita?

Yes, definitely! For a blended skinny margarita, simply add ice to a blender – approximately 1 heaping cup per drink.

Add in the tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, and agave nectar, and blend until the ice is smooth. Pour into prepared glasses.

What are the tools I need to make a Skinny Margarita?

Here are a few tools I have in making a this skinny margarita recipe, as well as many of my other co*cktails. (Amazon Affiliate Links below)

Expert co*cktail Shaker Home Bar Set – a good, stainless-steel bar shaker and the accessories to go along with it are an essential in any home bar. We use our co*cktail shaker just about every weekend, and can be used for a multitude of co*cktails!
This Bellemain Premium Quality Stainless Steel Lemon Squeezer with Silicone Handles has withstood the test of time. We have broke about three different citrus juicers, and THIS one is really durable and has withstood numerous lemons and limes. We love it, and use it all the time!

If you loved this delicious Skinny Margarita recipe, here’s some of my other co*cktail recipes:

Mango Mojito
Peach Margarita
Blackberry Margarita
Watermelon Margarita Recipe
Skinny Malibu Pina Coladas
Mango Margarita
Pineapple Margaritas
Coconut Margaritas
Strawberry Lime Margaritas
Baileys Espresso Martini
Watermelon Coconut Rum Punch
Frozen Raspberry Peach Bellini
Strawberry Lemoncello Spritzers

How to Make a Skinny Margarita

Erin Indahl-Fink

Equipment

co*cktail Shaker The useful glass co*cktail shaker has measurements on the side for easy pouring!
Citrus Juicer This hand-held citrus juicer is fantastic for fresh lime and lemon juice. Great for making co*cktails!

Ingredients

2 oz. Tequila good quality
1 oz. lime juice fresh squeezed
1 oz. Cointreau

Instructions

Fill a co*cktail shaker with ice. Add the tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, and agave nectar. Secure lid tightly on shaker. Shake vigorously.
Run a lime wedge around the rim of a glass, and dip into kosher salt. Fill glass with ice. Pour margarita into glass and enjoy right away while cold.

Notes

For a Frozen, blended margarita: Add 6-8 ice cubes (per drink) into blender. Add tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, and agave nectar (optional, for sweetness). Blend until ice is completely smooth. Pour into prepared glass.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 196kcalCarbohydrates: 10gSodium: 2mgSugar: 8g

Keyword margarita recipe, skinny margarita, how to make a skinny margarita, skinny margarita recipe

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FAQs

What is a skinny margarita made of? ›

1 1/2 ounces silver tequila about 3 tablespoons. 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice about 1 large or 1 1/2 small limes. 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice about 1/2 medium orange. 1 teaspoon light agave nectar add 2 if you prefer a sweeter margarita.

What is the difference between a margarita and a Skinny Margarita? ›

“Skinny” is a term that often refers to a lower-calorie version of an original. In this recipe, the skinny margarita has 100 calories per drink while the total calories of a classic margarita is about 230. By omitting the sugar-rich Cointreau or Triple Sec and adding a little orange juice instead.

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Are skinny margaritas better for you? ›

If you love margaritas but want to keep an eye on your health, skinny margaritas are a great choice. They cut down on sugar and calories without losing the classic taste we all enjoy. You can still have a good time without overloading on extra calories.

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Does a skinny margarita have less alcohol? ›

In addition to the lower sugar content of skinny margaritas, a lower alcohol content is another explanation for their low-calorie status. Most lightened-up margaritas range from about 10- to 13-percent alcohol, while traditional margaritas can be as high as 30 percent.

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What does ordering a margarita say about you? ›

You enjoy your individuality and a good party. You love to dance and are very social and like making new friends. You're the wild and carefree adventure lovers. Let's face it, nothing says “let's party” like a margarita.