This refreshing Watermelon Margarita Recipe, made with just three simple ingredients and no added sugars, is guaranteed to be your favorite summer cocktail. Perfect for all your summertime gatherings, grab a watermelon, limes, and a bottle of tequila because today we’re making these beautiful, refreshing, and delicious Watermelon Margaritas!
Watermelon Margarita
I’m a big fan of all margaritas. From classic to spicy, to this beautiful pink watermelon margarita, all margaritas are good margaritas, if you as me.
Today we’re making a simple, 3-ingredient margarita that is all about sweet summer watermelons!
Because who doesn’t love watermelon, right?
Naturally sweetened, there’s no need for extra added sweeteners (unless you want some), this pretty drink takes just 10 minutes to shake together. For best (and fastest) results, grab a blender and citrus juicer, if you’ve got one.
Cheers!
Ingredients in Watermelon Margaritas
There are just three simple ingredients needed to make this watermelon margarita recipe-
Watermelon – For the very best results, I highly recommend making your own watermelon juice.
How to pick a good watermelon:
- Your watermelon should feel heavy for its size – no matter its size.
- Look for the yellow spot where the watermelon was resting on the ground. It should be a creamy, yellowish color and found on only one side of the watermelon.
- Look for sugar spots and pollination points – this is actually the biggest indication of ripe watermelon and best when shown with an image (I’ll update soon). Sugar spots are areas on a watermelon where sugar has seeped through. it may not have been much, so perhaps it has solidified, but if your watermelon is oozing something sticky, that’s because it’s bursting with natural sugars! Pollination points are usually found in the same area as sugar spots. They’re brownish rough patches with dark brownish/black dots in rows. These ugly looking patches on watermelon are actually good things!
- Tap your watermelon. Does it sound hollow? Good.
Freshly-squeezed lime juice. Not the concentrated stuff. If you can get your hands on key limes, even better, but standard limes will work just as well. If you plan on making a big batch of margaritas, I highly recommend a citrus juicer as they really help extract all the juice and save loads of time.
Tequila – Tequila comes in a range of colors from clear to dark amber and a variety of flavors and aromas. There are two main categories of tequila sold- mixtos and 100% agave. When shopping for tequila, you always want to buy 100% Blue Agave Tequila. Trust me. It’s right there on the bottle so there shouldn’t be any confusion. For this particular recipe, I used a Silver, or Blanco, tequila but feel free to use your favorite.
How to make Watermelon Margaritas
A few simple steps are all it takes to make this light and refreshing watermelon margarita recipe.
- Prepare the watermelon juice – You guys will need a blender for this part of the recipe process. Fortunately, blending watermelon (as long as it’s not frozen) does not require the fanciest, most expensive machine out there. To get started, fill a large blender with ripe, cubed watermelon and blend until juiced. At this point, you may wish to strain your blended watermelon through a fine mesh strainer to remove any solids or leftover seeds (this step is completely optional).
- Note – the total amount of juice produced will far exceed that needed to make 1 margarita (2 ounces, or 4 tbsp). Transfer leftovers to a mason jar and keep stored in the refrigerator for a light and refreshing drink or margaritas later in the week.
- Mix the chili salt – Add the chili powder, salt, and sugar to a shallow plate and mix together to combine. Of course, you don’t have to salt the rim of your glass or add chili to your salt mixture. I do it mostly because I think it looks pretty.
- Prepare your glass – Use your favorite cocktail glass (rocks glasses were used to make this watermelon marg) and run a lime wedge around the rim of each glass. Invert your glass and dip the top into the chili salt mixture, tilting the glass slightly to completely coat the surface. Fill each glass with ice and set aside.
- Make your margarita – To make your margarita, add 2 ounces watermelon juice, lime juice, tequila and a scoop of ice to a cocktail shaker (or jar with a lid). Shake vigorously to combine. Taste and adjust. After all, all watermelons taste different and everyone has their own personal preference when it comes to cocktail sweetness – does it need more watermelon juice? Lime juice? Sweetness?
- Would you prefer a sweeter margarita? If so, add a teaspoon or two of your favorite sweetener (agave, honey, simple syrup).
- Serve – Strain your margarita into your prepared glass and garnish with a fresh lime wedge or chopped watermelon, if desired.
How to make frozen watermelon margaritas
Fortunately, making a frozen watermelon slushy margarita is just as easy as making your favorite margarita on the rocks.
With one main difference- you have to plan ahead.
In order to get a frozen watermelon margarita, you need to freeze your chopped watermelon at least 4 hours before you plan to start your party. But, once you have frozen watermelon, there’s not much to it, simply blend and serve.
That said, here are a couple of tips and pointers to get you started-
- For every 4 cups of frozen watermelon (approximately 1 cup juice), you’ll want 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice and 3/4 cup (or more) tequila.
- Watermelon, when frozen, is like ice. This is fantastic for making slushies, but really hard on cheap blenders. Try to use a high-speed blender with a tamper if you can afford one.
Tips and Tricks
- Spice it up with a few jalapeño slices. Light and refreshing love the surprise of a little heat. Simply add a few jalapeño slices to your cocktail shaker for a fun twist on this pretty summer cocktail.
- Although the margarita is traditionally served in margarita glasses, feel free to serve in whatever suits your personality (like these rocks glasses).
- With such a limited ingredient list, the quality of ingredients is pretty important. This does not mean that you need to buy top-shelf tequila, but 100% blue agave tequila is an absolute must.
- Speaking of an absolute must- fresh lime juice (aka juice that was just squeezed out of limes).
- Shake everything together in a cocktail shaker or even a mason jar with a lid. It’s the best way to get your margarita nice and chilly.
- Why not make a whole pitcher and throw a party? It’s super easy to multiply this recipe and make a big batch for all your family and friends to enjoy. Especially since you will ultimately have leftover watermelon juice which should never go to waste.
- For approximately 4 watermelon margaritas: 1 cup fresh watermelon juice, 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, 3/4 cup tequila
- For approximately 8 watermelon margaritas: 2 cups fresh watermelon juice, 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, 1.5 cups tequila
- Swap the tequila for mezcal for a sweet and smoky surprise.
What to serve with this watermelon margarita recipe
If you’re anything like me, you’ll drink one of these beauties with just about everything. Of course, they may be partial to Mexican or Tex-Mex cuisine, but these watermelon margaritas are so light and refreshing that I find them to be delicious with everything.
My must-have go-to favorites on a warm summer evening would include chips, pico de gallo, and a neverending bowl of the very best guacamole in the whole world. On the beach or on my couch, a margarita in one hand and a bowl of something in the other is me in my happy place.
But what about something a little more? For an easy family dinner, I would suggest my 20-Minute Ground Beef Tacos or Shredded Salsa Chicken Tacos with a side of Homemade Refried Beans, Cilantro Lime Rice, and a great big Fruit Salad or this Couscous Salad with Cilantro Orange Vinaigrette.
The whole family will love it. Even the kiddos will love the fresh watermelon juice (without tequila, of course!)
But what about a big fiesta?
First, I highly recommend making these watermelon margaritas in a giant pitcher rather than individually otherwise you’ll be making cocktails all night. Second, you’ll need food – and lots of it.
In addition to everything listed above, a few of my favorite recipes for entertain include these Easy Chicken Enchiladas, Chicken Mole with Homemade Mole Sauce, Albondigas Soup, and Cilantro Lime Shrimp (because it’s the best shrimp you’ll ever eat).
More margarita recipes,
- Sparkling Passion Fruit and Pineapple Margaritas
- Frozen Pineapple Dragon Fruit Margaritas
- Raspberry Rhubarb Margaritas
- Spicy Orange Margaritas
- Classic Margarita Recipe (How to Make a Margarita)
If you try making this Watermelon Margarita Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.
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Easy Watermelon Margarita
Ingredients
Watermelon Juice
- 1 small seedless watermelon - or half of a larger watermelon
Chili Salt Rim
- 1 tbsp ancho chili powder
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp granulated or brown sugar
For Each Margarita
- 2 ounces fresh watermelon juice
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1.5 ounces pure agave tequila
- Lime - cut into wedges
- Sliced watermelon - to garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the watermelon juice - Fill a large blender with ripe, cubed watermelon and blend until juiced. At this point you may wish to strain your blended watermelon through a fine mesh strainer to remove any solids or leftover seeds (this step is completely optional and may depend on the efficiency of your blender). Note - the total amount of juice produced will far exceed that needed to make 1 margarita. Transfer leftovers to a mason jar and keep stored in the refrigerator for a light and refreshing drink or margaritas later in the week.
- Mix the chili salt - Add the chili powder, salt, and sugar to a shallow plate and mix together to combine.
- Prepare your glass - Using your favorite cocktail glass (I used rocks glasses) run a lime wedge around the rim of each glass. Invert your glass and dip the top into the chili salt mixture, tilting the glass slightly to completely coat the surface. Fill each glass with ice and set aside.
- Make your margarita - To make your margarita, add 2 ounces watermelon juice, lime juice, tequila and a scoop of ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously to combine and chill. Taste and adjust - does it need more watermelon juice? Lime juice? Sweetness? (see notes)
- Serve - Strain your margarita into your prepared glass and garnish with a fresh lime wedge or chopped watermelon, if desired.
