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.)

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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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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

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

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

You Might Also Like These Recipes

  • Blackberry Margarita
  • Watermelon Margarita Recipe
  • Coconut Margarita Recipe
  • Mango Margarita
  • Pineapple Margarita
  • Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins
The BEST Skinny Margarita Recipe on the Internet! (2024)

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 tequila is best for skinny margaritas? ›

Best Tequilas For Margaritas
  • Jose Cuervo Tradicional.
  • Casamigos.
  • Cazadores Anejo or Blanco.
  • Espelon Silver.
  • Herradura Silver.
Feb 21, 2024

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 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 does it mean if a margarita is skinny? ›

A skinny margarita is a low-calorie version of a regular margarita. Instead of using orange liqueur like triple sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier, a skinny margarita uses fresh orange juice and a small amount of agave nectar.

Is there a lot of sugar in a skinny margarita? ›

A skinny margarita is a healthier version of a traditional margarita. It's typically low-calorie and lower in sugar than a regular margarita. My version uses fresh orange juice instead of sugar-filled Triple Sec and fresh lime juice for the zing that margarita mixes usually bring (without all the added sugar).

What's the difference between a margarita and a skinny 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 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 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.

What is in a skinny girl margarita? ›

ingredients
  • 2 ounces clear premium tequila, Bethenny prefers Patron Silver (count 1, 2 while you pour, no need for measuring)
  • 12 lime, juice of.
  • splash Grand Marnier or bols triple sec.

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.

What is a substitute for triple sec in a margarita? ›

Triple sec is an orange-flavored liqueur that is commonly used in margaritas. If you don't have triple sec handy, you can substitute with another good-quality orange liqueur like Grand Marnier or Cointreau.

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.

Can you ask for a skinny margarita at a bar? ›

The “skinniest” option is a classic Margarita without any syrup at all. If you want a sweeter version without adding too many carbs, add some Xylitol simple syrup to avoid the sugar and calories of Agave. So if you're not sure what you're ordering, just talk to your bartender!

Did Bethenny invent the skinny margarita? ›

Frankel created a pre-packaged margarita line, named Skinnygirl Margarita, in 2009, which led to Frankel founding the company Skinnygirl and the co*cktail line, Skinnygirl co*cktails.

What's the difference between a regular margarita and a skinny 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.

Does a skinny margarita have less alcohol? ›

A skinny margarita has less alcohol per co*cktail than a regular margarita. It has a total of 1 ounce of alcohol per co*cktail since it's made only with tequila, and a Classic Margarita has a total of 3 ounces of alcohol, 1.5oz of tequila, and 1.5 ounces of orange liquor.

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