Jalapeños give this spicy margarita recipe a delicious kick. Tart and refreshing, it's perfect for a happy hour or summer entertaining.
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.
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.
More Cocktail Recipes to Try
If you love this spicy jalapeño margarita recipe, try one of these refreshing cocktails next:
- Ranch Water
- Mojito
- Paloma
- Or any of these 20 Easy Summer Cocktails!
Spicy Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ jalapeño pepper, sliced, plus more slices for garnish
- 1 ounce blanco tequila
- 1 ounce orange liqueur, like Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or triple sec
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice, plus a lime wedge for the glass rim
- ½ ounce agave nectar, simple syrup, or freshly squeezed orange juice, plus more to taste
- Ice
- Tajín or kosher salt, optional, for the glass rim
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.
I love the drink, but it barely filled my 10 oz glass. I had to quadruple the ingredients to fill it up. Is that the right approach, or am I doing something wrong?
So Good!!
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.
This recipe is good but I was so confused at first because it says 4 servings. It’s one serving!
Did the recipe change? It seems different this time when I made it
It totally did! I was wondering the same thing- I sort of miss the original
What do you recommend changing about this one where you thought the old one was better?
This definitely changed! I specifically remember it being about 1/4 cup of tequila when I made this over the summer…..bummer because that recipe was perfect for 4 people.
Excellent marg recipe and the optional lighter version with sparkling water was perfect. Thanks so much for posting this!
Hi Jason, so glad you loved it!
Soaked the peppers in the tequila, smoked salt rim, served over large ice cube. (Was spicy! And delicious!)
Hi Brian, so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
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!
Hi Kim, I’m so glad you love the recipe! Great idea to add the ginger beer.
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!
Quick, easy, and tasty. Just what I like in a marg recipe 🙂
this is the best margarita recipe I’ve tried! I love topping it off with some seltzer water!
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 🙂
hahaha, best comment of the day! I’m so glad you’ve been loving them so much. Maybe invest in a lemon squeezer? 🙂
Tried the orange juice instead of simple syrup and it was a great substitute. Highly reccomend for a less sweet margarita.
I strained the fresh lime juice before adding to limit the pulp and keep the drink clear. They were amazing!
I’m so glad you loved them!
Great recipe Easy to follow and delicious
Hi Michele, I’m so glad you loved them!
Great recipe except I found this to be one serving lol
ha ha 🙂
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!
I’m so glad you loved it!
so GOOD! this is the BEST jalepeno margarita Ive EVER had! Thank you!
#survivingCOVID19
Ha, yay! I’m so glad you loved it 🙂
Delicious!
My new friend. I even primed the rim with jalapeno juice and lime before a dip in the salt.
Hi Teri, I’m so glad you loved these!