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Margaritas
Citrusy and slightly sweet, these margaritas go down easy.
Citrusy and slightly sweet, these margaritas are a more refined version of the syrupy-sweet, fake tasting margaritas served at many bars and restaurants. They go down easy — in fact, whenever I make them for a party, I simply cannot keep up with the demand! The trick is to use a good quality, all-natural limeade, such as Newman’s Own. It’s easier than using an artificial margarita mix or frozen concentrate and so much better tasting. A little fresh lime juice is also a must. Salt on the rim of the glass is optional but I definitely recommend it — a little goes a long way in making all the sweet and sour flavors pop.
If you want to prepare a pitcher instead of making individual cocktails, simply adjust the quantities for the number of drinks you need. Mix the limeade, tequila, Cointreau and lime juice in a pitcher, keep cool, then pour into prepared glasses over ice when ready to serve.
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Margaritas
Citrusy and slightly sweet, these margaritas go down easy.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces (1/2 cup) all-natural limeaid, such as Newman's Own
- 1-1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons or 1 shot) Tequila
- 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) orange liqueur, such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier
- 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) fresh lime juice, from 1/2 a lime
- Lime slices, for garnish
- Coarse salt for rimming the glass
Instructions
- Place coarse salt on a small plate. Rub rim of glass with lime wedge and dip in coarse salt if desired. Add ice to glass if using.
- Combine drink ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add some ice and shake vigorously, then strain into prepared glass. Garnish rim with lime slice.
- Note: If you want to prepare a pitcher instead of making individual cocktails, simply adjust the quantities for the number of drinks you need. Mix the limeade, tequila, Cointreau and lime juice in a pitcher, keep cool, then pour into prepared glasses over ice when ready to serve.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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Reviews & Comments
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Perfect!
I love margaritas! And this recipe is a winner! I made it with tequila infused with serrano peppers. Perfect balance of sweet and sour. Instead of a salted rim, I like to sprinkle a little sea salt into the drink. I will be making this again! Thank You!!!
Hi Jenn …
what kind of tequila do you recommend?
Hi Georgia, this is the one I generally use. Hope you enjoy the margaritas! 🙂
Hi Jenn:
When reading your reply to Georgia on 7/4/20, I did not see your choice of tequila listed. I’d love to know as I’ve been wondering which ingredients would produce the best margarita. Great idea to use Newman’s Own Limeade. Thank you!
Sorry, Susan — I forgot to add the link! I use 1800 Silver tequila. 🙂
Delicious!! This is the perfect mix. I love that it’s not too sour. Your recipes amaze me 💚 Do you by chance know of a good Paloma recipe?
So glad you enjoyed these! 🙂 I don’t have a Paloma recipe of my own but this one from Epicurious looks good and gets positive reviews (please keep in mind that I haven’t tried it myself).
Well done 👍 simple and good. Used Grand Marnier and Minute Maid, because that’s what was in the freezer after a hot 🥵 day of yard work most enjoyable.Thank you for sharing.Peggy
Hi, just made the Sangria it was amazing!!!! You have the best recipes. Wanted to try the margarita, however I can’t find limeaid – what can I use as a substitute?
Glad you liked the sangria! If you can’t find it, you can make your own limeade. It’s just a combination of lime juice, sugar, and water. You could make it to taste or look for a recipe online. Hope you enjoy the margaritas just as much! 🙂
Have your cookbook. And have made several of your recipes over the years from this site. Made this today for a family birthday. 2 pitchers gone in 2 hours. Huge hit ! Thank You !
😊
If I wanted to make a big batch of these margaritas for approx 30 people, should I convert the oz. to cups or would you suggest a different set of measurements? Many thanks!
You could really go either way here, Bethany! 🙂
Wonderful recipe! I bought Santa Cruz Organic Limeade since I couldn’t find Newman’s Own and it fits in perfect with this recipe. Perfect for a hot Texas summer after work cocktail. Thanks Jenn!
These taste great! Question- How far in advance can you prepare them before a party?
I’d say you could get away with preparing these up to 24 hours in advance. Enjoy!
YUM! This is a great margarita!
I always follow the recipes closely . I live in Atlanta and I cant find all-natural limeaid, such as Newman’s Own. What is the second you favorite brand?
Hi Edith, Simply Limeade would also work here. You can also make your own limeade. It’s just a combination of lime juice, sugar, and water. You could make it to taste or look for a recipe online.
Hi Jennifer,
Let me start by saying I love your recipes! I was wondering if I could use Simply Limeade instead of Newman’s Own to make your margarita recipe. Unfortunately I can’t find Newman’s Own where I live. I want to make a batch of margaritas for a pool party. Thanks in advance.
Yolanda
Hi Yolanda, Sure, Simply Limeade should work here. You can also make your own limeade. It’s just a combination of lime juice, sugar, and water. You could make it to taste or look for a recipe online. And glad you like the recipes! 🙂
Great Margarita recipe! Great flavor and not syrupy sweet like those made with store bought mixes. I actually add more fresh lime juice than in the recipe and I always make a pitcher full!
Delicious. I would not change a thing.
Hi there – I’m assuming this recipe uses a liquid version of limeade not from contcentrate vs the frozen cans correct?
Yes that’s correct. 🙂
By far the BEST Margaritas! Not too sweet, and not too strong (but strong enough). These are now my fave Summer drink. I used Milagro Silver for the tequila, and Cointreau. Fantastic!!
I’ve been making mine this way as a fledgling bartender many years ago. I also add a splash of fresh-squeezed orange juice and a pinch of kosher salt to the mix, instead of salting the rim of the glasses. It’s the perfect balance of salty and sweet and tart and boozy!
Made this tonight. Mui bueno! My cookbook just shipped! It’s been a long wait. Super excited! Congrats Jenn what an amazing accomplishment. So cool to see dreams come true!
Thank you, Kerrie! ❤️
These margaritas are amazing!! I’ve made these for my family and I’m now the official family bartender. Thanks Jen for another great recipe!
Is the limeade mix diluted with water before adding it to the rest of the ingredients or used as a concentrate?
No, the limeade does not need to be diluted with water. Enjoy!
We make this whenever we want margaritas! So much better than store bought mix! Thank you!
Happy Fourth of July! We are off to a friends lake house with a cooler full of your goodies….black bean and corn salad, chipotle chicken quesadillas, and a LARGE batch of your wonderful margaritas! I read the reviews and put the drinks in mason jars with a lime slice in each one…what a darling idea from another reviewer! I’m betting I get invited back!!!!!!!! Thanks Jen!
So what kind of tequila do you prefer?
I like Patrón Silver.
Very tasty Margaritas – just enough tequila for a little kick, but not so much that your guests are throwing rocks at each other! We have found our summer drink.
Is there a substitute for the limeade? The container has so much for two people to use up.
We can only drink so many at once, even though they taste amazing!!
Thanks for your time!
Hi Heather, glad you like these! In order to avoid waste, you could make your own limeade. It’s just combination of lime juice, sugar and water. You could make it to taste or look for a recipe online.
NeeD recipe for a large pitcher ASAP
Hi Cheryl, Simply adjust the quantities for the number of drinks you need. Mix the limeade, tequila, Cointreau and lime juice in a pitcher, keep cool, then pour into prepared glasses over ice when ready to serve. Enjoy!
These are delicious! When in season, finish with a squeeze of a fresh blood orange wedge and these go to a whole new level! Jenn mentioned difficulty keeping up with demand, so here’s our tip that works out well for parties: Mix up a huge batch and pour 1 cup servings into individual mason jars – leaves them about half full. We put the lids on and then pile the cute jars into a metal tub filled with ice. All guests have to do is grab a jar, grab a handful of ice and put it in the jar, shake vigorously, toss the cap, and enjoy!
This is my new favorite Margarita recipe. Look no further, so good!
Love this and my son loves the non-alcoholic version
These were fabulous and so easy. Had a girls night with fresh guacamole and Mahi-mahi fish tacos. Love your recipes !
Delicious…..but I have another option that I make regularly. I use one cup tequila, 3/4 cup triple sec, 3/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice, and 3 cans of your favorite nectar. I use mango, peach, pear, whatever is your fancy. Mix, chill, pour over ice.
These were delicious! My husband loves to have a margarita when he gets home from work. Can I make a batch to store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days? Or do they have to be made fresh each time? Thanks!
Hi Mindy, So glad you enjoyed them! It’s fine to make a large batch and keep in the fridge.
Freaking yummy!
Had theses, and loved them! I will never ever buy that pre made stuff again! Will be trying the pomegranate ones soon!
Yum! Enjoyed this recently with sriracha chicken and Black Bean & Corn Salad with Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette.
I’ve made this with Simply Lime (I personally prefer that to the Newman’s) from the dairy/oj section and it was delicious. And super easy and so fresh-tasting. I didn’t have any cointreau so will have to pick that up. And I love spicy margaritas so I’m going to have try one commenter’s suggestion about infusing tequila…..next project!
Is there a non alcoholic version of this? I like the flavor but don’t want to serve alcohol at a luncheon.
Hi Coco, The non-alcoholic version would probably just be limeaid.
This is the perfect ‘rita! Best I’ve ever had!
This is one of the easiest and best tasting margaritas I have made. It’s always a hit and is sooooo much better than the pre-made mixes
It never fails to wow me that people will tell you that foods are healthy (Newman’s Own Limeade) and in the same breath have you combine it with a known lethal human toxin (alcohol). The same dichotomy exists at Trader Joe’s i.e. they sell “health foods” but over a third of their revenue is from alcohol. Don’t get me wrong, I love good margaritas.
Wow, “Don’t-get-me-wrong-Bruce”, your post is confusing… on one hand you insult the blog’s author and on the other hand you say, “love good m…” So, what is your HEALTHY recipe?
At our family reunion last week, the margaritas were flowing. This is such an easy recipe and the best one I have tried.
If you like your margaritas spicy, you can infuse the tequila with jalepenos overnight and it gives it a little kick.
Tried this at my last summer party and was a huge hit! This is by far the most refreshing tasting margarita I’ve ever had!
wow!..,this is great i’ll make this one..,
This drink is so easy to make with this recipe. I can’t get a better margarita going out.
will definitely buy all ingredients to make this….
delicious
I’ve never heard of Newman’s own limeade. I hope my grocery store carries. This looks so yummy. Right now, I could use one of these.
My family and I consider ourselves margarita EXPERTS. These sound delicious. I will definitely try them! Thanks!
was wondering if you could give me a recipe for a pitcherful. When I try to increase it, it’s just not as good. Love it though.
My husband bought tequila for the holiday weekend. This will be perfect!
These are wonderful. Perfect to relax after a long day at work. I’ll definitely be making them again and again. Thanks!
It may not be a traditional margarita, but it sure does look and sound delicious! I’ll have to give it a try on a hot summer night :).
These look great, but I would never use Patron for a Margarita. Why mask the great flavor it has with other stronger flavors? Use something like a Sauza Hornitos for mixing and drink your Patron straight.
YUM! Even at 7:49am. LOL