Classic Margarita
50 Comments
Updated May 01, 2025
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Margarita! The classic margarita is a delicious party staple that everyone should know how to whip up. My recipe is easy to make (and easy to remember the ratios), and doesn’t have any added sugar. Enjoy this classic margarita on the rocks or frozen.
Why You’ll Love This Margarita Recipe
Margaritas are the ultimate party cocktail. But they’re especially popular when Cinco de Mayo hits. The beautiful spring weather in May is a good reminder that it’s time to sit outside, drink a margarita, and relax. Then, when summer arrives, it’s time to grill up some carne asada (or make a large batch of carnitas) and whip up a pitcher of margaritas for your family and friends. And while you can make many variations including a strawberry margarita, mango margarita, and even pomegranate margarita, here’s why you’ll love this recipe:
- It’s the classic bar version: When you go to a bar and order a margarita on the rocks, this is what you’ll get.
- It’s a super easy ratio: You’ll never have a hard time remembering how to make the perfect margarita with the 2:1:1 ratio. More on that below!
- The clean flavor pairs great with Mexican munchies. If you’re looking for appetizers to enjoy while you’re sipping your margarita, I highly recommend my guacamole, ceviche, and pico de gallo recipes. So yum!
Margarita Ingredients
To make this classic margarita you’ll need tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur (also known as triple sec). While a classic margarita is quite easy on its own, I wanted to simplify the recipe even further with an easy to remember 2-1-1 ratio.
- 2 oz of tequila
- 1 oz of lime juice
- 1 oz of orange liqueur
How to Make a Classic Margarita
Salt the rim of your margarita (if you’d like). You can purchase a coarser salt online or at the grocery or liquor store. Generously spread the salt on a plate large enough for the rim of the glass. Run a slice of lime around the rim of your glass. Then place the rim in the plate of salt.
Mix the ingredients together. Shake or stir the tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur together. Alternatively, you can triple or quadruple the recipe in a blender along with ice to make a slushy, frozen margarita.
Pour and enjoy! Pour your classic margarita into your glass over some ice (on the rocks), and you’re all set!
Common Questions
I use a reposado tequila which is aged in a barrel two months to just under a year. Reposado is often considered the perfect tequila for margaritas. Two other types of tequila are joven and añejo. Joven is lighter, aged less than reposado, and cheaper. While añejo is darker, aged over a year, and is more expensive.
Orange liqueur is essentially vodka sweetened with sugar and orange peels. There are many brands of this liqueur on the market, but the most common brands are Cointreau, Curaçao and Grand Marnier.
For this margarita recipe I used Cointreau. It’s the most commonly used, and best orange liqueur for margaritas.
The other two brands are a little different despite their orange liqueur label. Cointreau is considered a triple sec liqueur due to its French origins and mix of sweet and bitter oranges. Curaçao comes from the Dutch Caribbean island of the same name and is considered both a brand and type of orange liqueur. Due to its tropical origins, the oranges for this liqueur are sweeter which is why its not considered a triple sec. Also, from France, Grand Marnier is considered a triple sec and Curaçao hybrid. Unlike the previous brands mentioned, its orange flavor is mixed with cognac.
Delicious Recipes to Enjoy with Margaritas
- Shrimp Tacos – Pan seared shrimp is topped with the tastiest cilantro lime bacon slaw.
- Barbacoa – This slow cooker recipe delivers tender shreds of juicy, spicy beef.
- Carne Asada Tacos – Diced carne asada is topped with guacamole, cilantro, onions, and cotija cheese.
- Steak Fajitas – Sizzling steak and veggies is always a one pan winner.
- Grilled Fish Tacos – Grilled white fish is topped with a light and fresh citrus carrot slaw.
More Margarita Flavors
Looking to switch up your margarita recipe? Give these flavor variations a try. They’re perfect for every season!
- Strawberry Margarita – One of the most popular blended margaritas.
- Mango Margarita – The fresh mango takes this over the top!
- Pomegranate Margarita – A festive holiday margarita.
I hope you enjoyed this margarita recipe! If you give it a try, let us know in the comment bow below how it turned out. Your review will help other readers!
Classic Margarita Recipe
Description
Video
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker A must for the best margaritas!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tequila
- 1 ounce orange liqueur (triple sec)
- 1 ounce lime juice
- ice
- 1 lime, for garnish
- 1 tablespoon margarita salt (optional)
Instructions
- Salt the glass. If you'd like a salt-rimmed glass, slice a lime into quarters and rub one of the quarters along the rim of a glass. Spread margarita salt onto a small plate and turn the glass upside down into the salt. The salt should stick to the rim.
- Mix it together. To make the margarita, add the tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Give it a few shakes. Alternatively, you can stir all of the ingredients together in a glass.
- Serve. Add ice to your glass, then pour the margarita into the glass. Garnish with lime wedges.
Lisa’s Tips
- Make sure to use fresh limes for the lime juice and not bottled lime juice. The flavor difference is huge.
- If you’re making a large batch and serving margaritas outdoors, I recommend this break resistant pitcher (and it’s big!).
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Recipe originally posted May 2019, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!
All of this food and drink sound delicious. The only thing I miss is that you didn’t have a recipe for a large pitcher. I entertain a lot and would love to make a pitcher of these margaritas.
PS, Love your cookbook Lisa!
I’ll keep my eye out for a great pitcher to use!
I don’t drink that often, so my family and friends were so impressed when I made this margarita for them. They seriously said it is better than the ones they’ve gotten out at restaurants! This drink is perfect for a party or gathering and will impress your guests. This recipe is so easy to follow and will make you feel like a professional mixologist!
What a compliment! Happy to hear this margarita recipe was a hit with everyone, Liz.
This is by far the simplest and best tasting margarita. Personally, I prefer a 1-1-1 ratio, using a cocktail shaker rather than on ice. Anyone else cringe when seeing a green margarita served? A tell tale sign of powdered margarita mix 🤢
Exchange tequila for vodka, leave off the salt. Now you have my favorite drink… a kamikaze.
Thank you Lisa. Love your recipes.
Sounds like you’ve got your margarita down, Jackie! And gosh, it’s been ages since I’ve had a kamikaze, but now you reminded me of some old days, haha.
Hi Lisa. I can’t find the video here. I see the words VIDEO, but no video. I can’t seem to click anywhere to get it.
Hi Gretchen – do you have an ad blocker turned on? If so, that blocks the video as well.
The recipe sounds amazing and I can’t wait to make these in the spring. It’s winter here in Montreal so we’re not drinking anything outside ( maybe mulled wine). What glasses did you use to make your margaritas, they’re perfect. Can I get them on Amazon?
Hi Laura – Hope you enjoy this margarita recipe! As for the glasses, they are not available anymore, so I’ll try to find a replacement :)
thanks for the 2-2-1 rule.
Glad you found that helpful, Dave!
So refreshing! I made a large batch and as a non-drinker, I made this a mocktail, and substituted the tequila and orange liqueur with frozen limeade, pulp-free orange juice, freshly squeezed lemon juice, (plus a couple of tsps of orange bitters). Margarita salt on the rim is a must for me!
Love how you made this into a mocktail, Libby!
WOW, this truly was one of the best margaritas I’ve ever had. We did add about 2 ounces of blue agave to each margarita to cut the tartness of the lime along with a lot of ice. I agree with others that letting it sit with the ice a little bit so it gets cold, makes it even better. Will never go back to bottled mixes after making these!
Happy to hear you enjoyed this margarita recipe Linda!
The SI (metric) conversions are incorrect. If you’re using volume, such as fluid ounces, though labeled incorrectly here as just ounces, a unit of force, i.e. weight, the conversion should be volume to volume, not volumes to mass. Therefore, a volume of 2 fl. ounces is 59.15 mL, not 56.7 g. For recipes many use 30 mL= 1 fl. ounce as an easy and close enough conversion. Likewise, another easy and close enough conversion is 1 tbsp = 15 mL, and 1 tsp = 5 mL. An ounce (force, aka weight) is 28.350 g, usually rounded to 30 g for small amounts where the slight difference is not critical.
Hope this helps!
I wondered why measurements of liquid were in grams. Thank you for your articulated explanation.
Perfect Margarita 👏
Quite good, added 1 part blood orange. Excellent
Fabulous recipe…foolproof!!
I always make 3 at a time just like the other reviewer does, with 1 part water…I usually add a use tons of ice, and let it sit for a moment….I find the colder it gets the better it tastes!
I always use Cointreau…
Thanks…
Very tasty!
Good base recipe but needed a little sweetness, I added agave this time. I might try adding orange juice for sweetness instead. The ratios seemed to be pretty good.
Was craving a margarita on a hot day and this delivered! I had a classic one to start with, absolutely delicious. For the second one I muddled a strawberry at the bottom of the cocktail shaker and did a sugar rim instead of salt. So refreshing, thanks for a foolproof recipe from a cocktail making novice.
Ok but I find the best ratio to be 3-2-1-1.. 3 parts Tequila 2 parts lime juice 1 part agave 1 part orange liqueur.
Great Recipe! Tell me about your glasses???
Best Margarita EVER!!!
Happy to hear you loved this margarita recipe!
Is there a way to convert this to a big batch pitcher for a party? Would appreciate any measurements you recommend.
Thanks!
Just add as many servings to a pitcher :)
I added a very small amount of organic agave into it and it was wonderful! Love this recipe!
Hi Lauren- Glad you loved it! :)
This recipe is PERFECT!!! I would only suggest making it in a larger portion versus 1 at a time due to the flavor/alcohol profile. I’ve made 3 at a time and 1 at a time and the best resulted from the larger portion. I also add 1 part/oz water to mine. I’ve tried a few recipes to include agave, OJ, margarita mix and this one exceeds with flying colors.
Hi Jason – Thrilled to hear you’ve found a winning margarita recipe :) And yes! You can’t go wrong with a pitcher of this, so thanks for the measurements!
Easy and delicious. We like to add a little grand marnier.
Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed this classic margarita :)
Made these with tacos last night – absolutely perfect! They were better than any margarita I’ve had at a bar before, I think it’s the fresh lime juice that really makes it. The 2-1-1 ratio makes it easy to remember how to make when you’ve had a few too 😉 thank you!
Hi Rosie – That’s amazing! Homemade cocktails are always the best, especially with home cooked meals :)
These recipes look soooo delicious. We generally don’t eat Mexican but I’m going to try these recipes. It makes it easier after watching a video. Do you have recipes for non alcoholic driinks that can be served up to company? Love your posts,Lisa.❤️
I don’t have any non-alcholic drinks on my site (yet), but you could easily convert this margarita. Just use sparkling water (for the vodka), fresh lime juice (or limeaid) and orange juice (for the triple sec). It’s a great mocktail! Hope you enjoy some of my other Mexican recipes as well Julia! :) x
The perfect margarita! Love how you broke down the different orange liqueurs, that really helped me because I had no idea what to buy to make it. But using the Cointreau was a great choice, it came out so good!
Wonderful! I’m happy you loved the recipe Eden and found the post helpful. It does get confusing with all the different orange liqueurs sometimes. :)
Great styling of your photos! In honor of Game of Thrones, we made a “Blue Dragon” which is essentially a margarita with blue curaçao. I made it from memory and so glad I see from your recipe that I got it right. Thanks for the help!
Oh that sounds amazing! I think I’ll have to make that margarita version next. :)
Great video. Now I’m craving a margarita!
I’m glad you loved the video Jill (and yes, it can definitely be enticing!). Haha. ;)
The perfect margarita, just how I like it – with no extra sugar!
Agree! There’s no need for extra sugar with this recipe. It’s fresh, citrusy and crisp! :) Thanks Courtney.
These photos are so beautifully done, and I cannot wait to make this ASAP! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much Kate! I hope you enjoy the margarita. :)