Spicy Margarita

Jalapeños give this spicy margarita recipe a delicious kick. Tart and refreshing, it's perfect for a happy hour or summer entertaining.

Spicy jalapeño margarita

Meet my go-to spicy margarita recipe! Like a classic margarita, it’s tart and refreshing, but jalapeño peppers give it an extra kick of heat.

This spicy margarita recipe is easy to make. You only need 6 simple ingredients, and it comes together quickly in a cocktail shaker. Enjoy it with tortilla chips, guacamole, and/or salsa at a happy hour, Cinco de Mayo, or summer gathering. Cheers!

Spicy Margarita Ingredients

To make this jalapeño margarita recipe, you need 6 simple ingredients:

  • Tequila – Use any good-quality blanco tequila (aka silver tequila) in this recipe. We like Espolon tequila, but feel free to use your favorite brand!
  • A jalapeño pepper – You’ll add some to the cocktail shaker and use more for garnish. Serrano peppers work here too, but keep in mind that they’re often spicier than jalapeños.
  • Orange liqueur – Cointreau, Grand Marnier, and triple sec all work well here.
  • Freshly squeezed lime juice – For the brightest, freshest flavor, squeeze your limes right before you make your cocktails.
  • Something sweet – I sweeten my spicy marg with homemade simple syrup or agave nectar. If you like, you could use freshly squeezed orange juice for a fruitier twist.
  • And ice! Because a great margarita is always on the rocks.

Find the full recipe with measurements below.

Recipe ingredients - jalapeños, limes, agave, Cointreau, tequila, Tajín, and salt

How to Make a Spicy Margarita

Spicy margaritas are easy to make! Here’s how I do it:

Start by prepping the rim of your glass. I love a spicy margarita with a Tajín rim, but you could make a salt rim if you prefer. Fill a small plate with Tajín or kosher salt, and rub the rim of a rocks glass with a lime wedge. Dip the top of the glass into the Tajín or salt. Fill the glass with ice.

Then, muddle the jalapeño at the bottom of your cocktail shaker. You can use a cocktail muddler or the back of a spoon to gently smash the jalapeño slices to release their heat.

Next, shake the margarita. Add the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave to the shaker with the jalapeños. Fill with ice, cover, and shake until chilled.

Strain into the prepared margarita glass. Taste and adjust, adding more agave for a sweeter flavor, more lime for a tarter one, etc.

Garnish with jalapeño slices, and enjoy!

Jalapeño Margarita Recipe Tips

  • Taste and adjust. Whenever you make a cocktail at home, taste and adjust to find a balance of flavors you love. If you prefer a sweeter drink, add an extra drop of simple syrup or agave. For more tartness, squeeze in extra lime. If you want it spicier, add extra jalapeño slices and let it sit and infuse for a few minutes.
  • If it’s too strong, let the ice begin to melt. If your jalapeño margarita tastes too strong when you first try it, let it sit for a few minutes at room temperature. As the ice melts, it will dilute the drink. If it’s still stiffer than you’d like it to be, top your glass with sparkling water.

Spicy margarita recipe

More Cocktail Recipes to Try

If you love this spicy jalapeño margarita recipe, try one of these refreshing cocktails next:

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Spicy Margarita Recipe

rate this recipe:
4.96 from 45 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Serves 4
This jalapeño margarita is my favorite summer cocktail. It's spicy, tart, refreshing, and so simple to make. Enjoy with tortilla chips, salsa, and/or guacamole.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Prep the rim of the glass (optional): Rub the lime wedge around the rim of a rocks glass. Fill a small plate with Tajín or kosher salt. Dip the glass into the Tajín or salt to coat the rim. Fill with ice.
  • Muddle the jalapeño in a cocktail shaker.
  • Add the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave nectar and fill the cocktail shaker with ice. Cover and shake until chilled.
  • Strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with jalapeño slices and serve.

 

56 comments

4.96 from 45 votes (21 ratings without comment)

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Mary
    09.20.2024

    4 stars
    I made this twice. It tasted realt good, after adjusting the amount of jalapeno. However, I fail to understand how I can make 3.5 oz of liquid serve 4 people. I’ve doubled the recipe and serves 2 people, using martini glasses.

  2. Diedre
    09.01.2024

    4 stars
    This recipe is good but I was so confused at first because it says 4 servings. It’s one serving!

  3. Andrew
    07.19.2024

    Did the recipe change? It seems different this time when I made it

    • Susan
      08.01.2024

      It totally did! I was wondering the same thing- I sort of miss the original

      • Mikaela
        09.09.2024

        What do you recommend changing about this one where you thought the old one was better?

  4. Jason
    05.04.2024

    5 stars
    Excellent marg recipe and the optional lighter version with sparkling water was perfect. Thanks so much for posting this!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      05.10.2024

      Hi Jason, so glad you loved it!

  5. Brian
    05.04.2024

    5 stars
    Soaked the peppers in the tequila, smoked salt rim, served over large ice cube. (Was spicy! And delicious!)

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      05.10.2024

      Hi Brian, so glad you enjoyed the recipe!

  6. Kim
    01.19.2024

    5 stars
    I’m a little bit obsessed with this spicy margarita. I added Tajin to the rim and used a splash of ginger beer instead of soda water and sugar syrup, and it was incredible! I also went with the comment and soaked the jalapenos in the tequila – what a game changer. Thanks for sharing!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      01.19.2024

      Hi Kim, I’m so glad you love the recipe! Great idea to add the ginger beer.

  7. PRao
    07.08.2023

    5 stars
    I have made many many margaritas, and this is my favorite way to make a jalapeno margarita. Super easy recipe and it is delish. I would soak the jalapenos in the tequila way longer – I add at least one whole jalapeno, if not 2. We like our margarita spicy!

  8. Crystal
    08.14.2022

    5 stars
    Quick, easy, and tasty. Just what I like in a marg recipe 🙂

  9. Sarah
    04.17.2021

    5 stars
    this is the best margarita recipe I’ve tried! I love topping it off with some seltzer water!

  10. Kelly
    07.17.2020

    5 stars
    I’m not usually one for leaving reviews, but this recipe is so good that I went through a margarita making phase (don’t worry, I had roommates to share them with) and made this recipe so many times that my dermatologist said I should try to cut back. Yes, my dermatologist, since all the juice from squeezing fresh limes + sun exposure had caused discoloration on the sides of my hands! I took a month off to confirm lime juice was the cause, but now I’ll be back to marg making, just in a healthier dosage this time 🙂

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.18.2020

      hahaha, best comment of the day! I’m so glad you’ve been loving them so much. Maybe invest in a lemon squeezer? 🙂

  11. Lacie
    07.14.2020

    5 stars
    Tried the orange juice instead of simple syrup and it was a great substitute. Highly reccomend for a less sweet margarita.

  12. Amber
    06.20.2020

    5 stars
    I strained the fresh lime juice before adding to limit the pulp and keep the drink clear. They were amazing!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      06.20.2020

      I’m so glad you loved them!

  13. Michele
    05.05.2020

    5 stars
    Great recipe Easy to follow and delicious

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.15.2020

      Hi Michele, I’m so glad you loved them!

  14. Nancy
    04.27.2020

    5 stars
    Great recipe except I found this to be one serving lol

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.03.2020

      ha ha 🙂

  15. SK
    04.09.2020

    5 stars
    Awesome recipe!
    So easy to make and delicious! I added some fresh basil to the tequila along with the jalapeno.
    This one is a keeper!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      04.14.2020

      I’m so glad you loved it!

  16. faye
    03.25.2020

    so GOOD! this is the BEST jalepeno margarita Ive EVER had! Thank you!
    #survivingCOVID19

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      03.29.2020

      Ha, yay! I’m so glad you loved it 🙂

  17. Teri
    02.23.2019

    5 stars
    My new friend. I even primed the rim with jalapeno juice and lime before a dip in the salt.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      03.01.2019

      Hi Teri, I’m so glad you loved these!

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Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.