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.

The BEST Skinny Margarita Recipe on the Internet! (2)

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.)

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.

The BEST Skinny Margarita Recipe on the Internet! (5)
The BEST Skinny Margarita Recipe on the Internet! (6)
The BEST Skinny Margarita Recipe on the Internet! (7)

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?

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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)

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

The BEST Skinny Margarita Recipe on the Internet! (10)

How to Make a Skinny Margarita

Erin Indahl-Fink

This simple Skinny Margarita recipe is an amazing way to imbibe without all of the calories and sugar. Fresh, easy and completely delicious!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Drinks and co*cktails

Cuisine Mexican/American

Servings 1 drink

Calories 196 kcal

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

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

You Might Also Like These Recipes

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  • Coconut Margarita Recipe
  • Mango Margarita
  • Pineapple Margarita
  • Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal
The BEST Skinny Margarita Recipe on the Internet! (2024)

FAQs

What tequila is best for skinny marg? ›

Recommended tequila: Use 100% agave tequila labeled white, silver or blanco. I recommend Milagro, Hornitos or Espolón.

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 secret ingredient in margaritas? ›

We'll just tell you upfront: The secret to a tasty margarita is freshly squeezed lime juice (not the bottled stuff) and—here's the real secret—a splash of fresh OJ. That's right. Fresh-squeezed juice from an actual orange (not an orange-flavored liqueur) will produce a cleaner-tasting, more refreshing margarita.

What is the healthiest margarita to order? ›

Order “Skinny” margarita, only it doesn't have fake sugar (you'll have to ask your server/bartender). Ask for light to no agave/simple syrup. Tequila neat/straight up with a lime. Ask to swap in Triple Sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier in place of a margarita mix, sugar, or agave.

What is the difference between a skinny margarita and a regular margarita? ›

A regular Margarita is higher in sugar from sweetened lime juice and orange liqueur. A Skinny Margarita uses natural sweeteners, fresh juice, and little to now orange liqueur to reduce the calorie count. Taste: A Skinny Margarita will taste less sweet, but may have a fresher taste from the fruit juices.

What is the calorie difference between a margarita and a skinny margarita? ›

But with traditional margaritas weighing in at 500-plus calories and more than 60 grams of sugar, many summertime sippers are opting for "skinny" margaritas instead. Kenny Harrison / The Times-PicayuneWhen served according to directions on the labels, nearly all of the lightened-up margaritas have 130 to 160 calories.

Is a skinny margarita really skinny? ›

“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.

What happened to skinny margarita? ›

They've taken the product off store shelves. In a statement released, the company said the Skinnygirl Margarita "had been offered in 16 of Whole Foods Market 310 stores. After discovering that it contains a preservative that does not meet our quality standards, we have had to stop selling it."

What is a Skinnygirl Margarita? ›

Our Skinnygirl® Spicy Lime Margarita is a perfect balance of natural flavors like cool lime and spicy chili, mixed with premium blue agave silver tequila. Pour over ice in a festive margarita glass with a twist of lime. It's a delicious and low-cal way to feel the heat!

What to add to margarita mix to make it better? ›

A splash of fruit juice can also add some more flavor to your margaritas. Grapefruit juice will give a tart, slightly sour flavor, while pineapple juice creates a more tropical-tasting drink. "Citrus-based juices are essential for balancing out the sweetness of a margarita," David Alan told Insider.

Why is it called a dirty margarita? ›

The dirty margarita takes its inspiration from the dirty martini, a classic libation made with strong liquor and a splash of a little something not-so-clear. We swap olive juice for jalapeno brine, making this a drink that packs the heat–and a punch.

What is the best sweetener for margaritas? ›

Agave: If you would like to sweeten your margarita, I recommend adding agave syrup (or simple syrup, or any other sweetener you prefer) to taste. Kosher salt: If you would like to salt the rims of your glasses, run a lime wedge around the rims and then dip them in coarse Kosher salt or margarita salt.

Are skinny margaritas better for you? ›

Many restaurants now offer “skinny” margaritas, which tend to be less calorie-dense because they use fresh fruit juice instead of commercially prepared margarita mix or highly-sweetened liqueur. Thus, a skinny margarita may be a good choice if you're trying to lose (or maintain a healthy) weight.

Is Grand Marnier or triple sec better for a margarita? ›

Can they replace Triple Sec? Both Grand Marnier and Cointreau are excellent replacements for Triple Sec when making a Margarita. In fact, both of these are significantly more expensive and are considered to be better than inexpensive Triple Sec both in quality and taste.

How unhealthy is a margarita? ›

Margaritas can be high in sugar, depending on how they are made. Margaritas made from premade mixes, as well as restaurant margaritas, typically have more sugar than homemade ones. Consuming too many added sugars can lead to unwanted weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease ( 9 ).

What is the healthiest tequila to drink straight? ›

When it comes to tequila, the healthiest option is typically one that is made from 100% blue agave. This means that the tequila is made solely from the blue agave plant, without any added sugars or additives. These types of tequila are often labeled as "100% agave" or "100% blue agave."

What is the smoothest tequila to take shots of? ›

Patrón Silver. There are few tequilas as immediately recognizable as Patrón. And Patrón Silver has earned its reputation as a go-to. When you fill your shot glasses with Patrón Silver, you're getting a smooth and sweet shooter.

What is the best tequila for fitness? ›

You need to be looking for blanco tequila. It's the purest form of the Mexican spirit you can get and crucially it's made from 100 per cent agave.

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