This easy Watermelon Margarita recipe combines the tang of fresh lime juice and the sweetness of ripe fresh watermelon to create the perfect summer cocktail. The balanced watermelon flavor is refreshing and not too sweet which makes these fresh watermelon margaritas a great drink to sip on a hot summer day.
Whether you are poolside or having a dinner party, homemade salsa, easy guacamole and freshly made tortilla chips are the best pairing for a perfect margarita. Now you have a fiesta!
Fresh Watermelon Margarita
I love a classic margarita with salt on the rim of the glass and a lime wedge whether it’s poured over ice cubes, blended or frozen. During the warmer months a frozen margarita is always welcome, especially on a hot day but, during watermelon season having a perfect refreshing drink like this watermelon margarita is a must.
This watermelon margarita recipe is made with fresh ripe watermelon, juiced in a blender or food processor. Don’t let that stop you from making this easy recipe. Homemade watermelon juice is easy and takes a few minutes to make.
If you have extra fresh watermelon juice, this watermelon martini recipe is another fun cocktail to make during the summer months.
What’s In a Margarita?
The key ingredient of a classic margarita is tequila although these days, mezcal has become a popular choice. Fresh lime juice and Triple sec, a type of orange liquor, are the other ingredients needed to make this popular cocktail. For a sweeter drink, an added sweetener like agave syrup or simple syrup is used.
A margarita can be served poured over ice cubes in a salted rim glass, or served blended or frozen. Some bars and restaurants buy pre-made margarita mix which is then combined with tequila.
Fresh Watermelon Margarita Ingredients
For exact quantities, please read the recipe card below.
- Seedless Watermelon or Watermelon Juice: You can make fresh watermelon juice at home easily and quickly. All you need is fresh watermelon and a blender or food processor. Small personal-watermelons yield about 4 cups of juice.
- Limes: For a great tasting drink, great ingredients are a must and nothing can compare to freshly-squeezed lime juice. Throw the bottle stuff away!
- Tequila: TTequila blanco (white tequila) aka silver tequila is a good option. You can also mix drinks with reposado tequila, which is aged in oak barrels for as little as two months and up to a year.
- Triple Sec: Other options include Grand Marnier or Cointreau which are high quality orange liqueur with a more pronounced, yet balanced orange flavor.
Optional Ingredients:
- Agave Nectar or Simple Syrup: Since the only sweetener used in this recipe comes from the natural sugar of sweet watermelon you can add an extra sweet touch by using agave nectar or simple syrup. If your watermelon is fully ripe and sweet, most likely you won’t need any added sugar.
- Salt: I think the best part of a margarita is the salt on the rim of the glass! You can use margarita salt (which is just salt), Kosher salt or sea salt. A mix of salt and dried chili pepper or any other flavored salt, add both flavor and color to this already delicious drink.
- Garnishes: What better way to make a drink special than by using a garnish! Lime wedges or lime slices, lemon slices watermelon wedges, frozen watermelon cubes are my favorite option for this watermelon cocktail recipe.
Equipment Needed:
- Glasses, these glasses are shipped to you with “frustration-free packaging” which I had no idea existed but I want!!
How Do You Make Watermelon Margaritas?
This fresh watermelon margarita recipe is super easy to make. For detailed instructions, check the recipe card below.
- Make Watermelon Juice: This requires absolutely no effort! To make fresh watermelon juice at home, place seedless watermelon cubes or chunks in a blender and turn it on!
- Strain: For best results, strain the juice through a fine mesh strainer, pressing on the solids (I may, or may not have skipped this step in the past). If you don’t want to pass the juice through a fine-mesh sieve, you can skip this step but you will have to stir your drink once in a while as the solids will settle at the bottom of the glass. For a smoother drink this step is a must.
- Prepare your Glasses: I like to chill cocktail glasses in the fridge or freezer for about 15 minutes before serving the drink. This is an optional step. Place the salt in a shallow dish or saucer (and Tajin or chili powder if making chile-salt). Wet the rim of the glass with a lime wedge and dip the glass into the salt, coating the top edge.
- Combine Ingredients in a Cocktail Shaker: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the watermelon juice, lime juice, tequila, triple sec, and agave nectar or simple syrup (if using).
- Shake, Strain and Serve: Shake until frothy and well chilled, at least 1 minute. Strain into the prepared glasses and garnish with watermelon wedge or lime slices.
What Tequila Should I Buy For Margaritas?
Unless you enjoy headaches, always buy good quality tequila. Price doesn’t always equate to quality though.
Make sure you choose a tequila that says “100% agave” or “puro agave“. Tequila oro or mixto is a lower quality spirit mixed (or cut) with inferior cane products and sometimes artificial coloring. In other words, no bueno!
- Tequila Blanco or Silver is a great option for mixing margaritas (and the most popular). Blanco tequilas have the purest taste of agave. This type of tequila is not aged in wood barrels and has the least impurities.
- Tequila Reposado (anejo tequila) is also a good option to make margaritas. This type of tequila is aged in oak barrels for up to a year. Reposado ( is a favorite among many bartenders as it has a more complex flavor.
Best Watermelon Margarita Tips For Success
- Check the sweetness of your watermelon. If you like sweet drinks, you may want to add agave syrup or simple syrup to the mix.
- For your reference, a personal-sized watermelon (4 to 6 pounds) yields about 4 cups of watermelon juice.
- You can store homemade watermelon juice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- Make spicy watermelon margaritas by using jalapeño tequila. You can garnish the drink with jalapeño slices.
- For your convenience, purchased already cubed watermelon or slices at the supermarket.
- Instead of salt, add sugar to the rim of your glasses for extra sweetness.
Take A Look At These Other Delicious Drinks:
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Watermelon Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
Watermelon Juice
- 3 cups cubed seedless watermelon
Chili-Salt For the Rims
- You can use Coarse Kosher salt Tajin or a combination of 1 part chili powder mixed with 1 part Kosher salt
- Lime wedges
Watermelon Margarita
- 8 ounces 1 cup watermelon juice
- 2 ounces 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 4 ounces 1/2 cup tequila (silver or blanco)
- 1 ounce triple sec or Grand Marnier
- 1-2 ounces agave nectar or simple syrup optional depending on the sweetness of the watermelon
Garnish
- Small watermelon wedges or lime slices
Instructions
To Make the Watermelon Juice:
- To make the watermelon juice, put the watermelon cubes into a blender. Blend until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on solids.
Prepare the Glasses:
- Chill two margarita glasses in the freezer for 15-30 minutes. Place the salt (Tajin or Chili salt) in a shallow dish or saucer. Wet the rim of the glass with a lime wedge and dip the glass into the salt, coating the top edge.
Make Margaritas:
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the watermelon juice, lime juice, tequila, triple sec, and agave nectar or simple syrup (if using). Shake until frothy and well chilled, at least 1 minute. Strain into the prepared glasses and garnish with watermelon wedge or lime slices.
Simple Syrup:
- You can make simple syrup by combining equal parts of water and sugar. Heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely. Cool before using. Simple syrup can also be made in the microwave. Microwave 30 seconds at a time stirring in between each interval. It should take about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes total.
Recipe Notes
- You can use regular Kosher salt to rim the glasses as well as a combination of Kosher salt and Tajin for a little spicy kick!
Nutrition
Farmer’s Market Week is always the first week in August. Whether you have a great local farm stand or market, are a member of a CSA or purchase your fruits and vegetables at the supermarket, follow our Pinterest board, for great recipes including those for appetizers, drinks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and more.
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