This Watermelon Margarita Recipe is made with just three simple ingredients and no added sugars. Perfect for all your summertime gatherings, cookouts, and parties.
It is no secret that tequila is my favorite liquor or that margaritas are my favorite cocktail. From classic margaritas to spicy orange margaritas all margaritas are delicious if you ask me.
Today we’re making this super simple, 3-ingredient margarita that is all about sweet summer watermelons! Because who doesn’t love watermelon, right?
Naturally sweet, there’s no need for extra added sweeteners (unless you want some). All you need is watermelon, lime juice, and tequila.
The results are,
Refreshing
Sweet
Simple
Fast
Boozy
Summery
and oh so pretty!
The best part? This pretty drink takes just 10 minutes to shake together. For even faster results, grab a blender and citrus juicer, if you’ve got one.
Cheers!
How to Make Watermelon Margaritas
1. Prepare the fresh 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.
Simply 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 – You only need 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) of watermelon juice per cocktail. Expect to have leftover watermelon juice unless you plan to make a large batch of this yummy drink.
2. Mix the chili salt
This is optional. I do it mostly because I think it looks pretty.
3. Prepare your glass
If you plan to salt the rim of your glass, 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 cubes and set it aside.
4. Make your margarita
To make your margarita, add the watermelon juice, lime juice, tequila, and a scoop of ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously to combine. Taste and adjust.
All watermelons taste different and everyone has his or her own personal preference when it comes to cocktail sweetness – does it need more watermelon juice? Lime juice? Sweetness?
5. Serve
Strain into your prepared glass and garnish with a fresh lime wedge or chopped watermelon, if desired.
Frozen Watermelon Margarita
In order to make a frozen watermelon margarita, you need to freeze the chopped watermelon at least 4 hours before you plan to start your party. Fortunately, once you have some frozen watermelon, there’s not much to it, simply blend and serve.
That said, here are a couple of tips and pointers to make a batch a batch,
- 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
- Add a few jalapeño slices to your cocktail shaker and make this a spicy watermelon margarita!
- 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.
- Swap the tequila for mezcal for a sweet and smoky surprise.
Make a big batch.
It’s super easy to multiply this recipe and make a big batch for all your family and friends to enjoy.
- For 4 watermelon margaritas: 1 cup fresh watermelon juice, 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, 3/4 cup tequila
- For 8 watermelon margaritas: 2 cups fresh watermelon juice, 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, 1.5 cups tequila
Looking for more delicious margarita recipes? Try these reader favorites:
- 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)
Have you tried making this Easy Watermelon Margarita Recipe?
Tell me about it in the comments below! I always love to hear your thoughts. And tag me #theforkedspoon on Instagram if you’ve made any of my recipes, I always love to see what you’re cooking in the kitchen.
Easy Watermelon Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
Watermelon Juice
- 1 small seedless watermelon (or half of a large watermelon)
Chili Salt Rim (optional)
- 1 tbsp ancho chili powder
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar or brown sugar
For One Margarita
- 2 ounces fresh watermelon juice
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1.5 ounces 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 them 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 them aside.
- Make your margarita - To make your margarita, add 2 ounces of watermelon juice, 1-ounce lime juice, 1.5 ounces of 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.
Jessica's Notes
- 1 ounce = 2 tbsp
- Pick one that feels heavy for 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. Sugar spots are areas on a watermelon where sugar has seeped through. 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.
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
loved the idea of this recipe but I added 2 parts cointreau to every three parts tequila as every margarita recipe I have ever followed has done this. I also used frozen watermelon instead of ice cubes. Thank you for sharing something that will cheer up my summer.
Agreed James, Cointreau is a must for a Classic Margarita, which is my go-to recipe on a regular basis 😀
The Cointreau adds the sweet to the original Margarita, which isn’t needed in this recipe with the watermelon.