Homemade Margarita Mix
To make your own homemade margarita mix, all you need is three simple ingredients—and no alcohol! It couldn’t be easier to make this base for the classic tequila drink at home.
Want to make a margarita at home? Check out my classic margarita, a Cointreau Margarita, as well as this fun twist: Strawberry Margarita!
Making a margarita from scratch is one of the simple pleasures in life. (Hi. Hello. I live in Texas and rediscovered tequila last year. What of it?)
And homemade margarita mix makes making a margarita even easier because all you have to do is add tequila and triple sec!
Truly, the ease of this margarita mix recipe is where it’s at, and I’m partial to the fact that it keeps in the fridge for more than a week.
Why I love this recipe:
Listen. Y’all know I’m all about homemade stuff because it generally has a lot less additives and things that the store-bought stuff has.
While the store-bought brands come in handy when you’re in a pinch, if you have the time to make your own margarita mix, you ABSOLUTELY should.
Here are a few thoughts on why this margarita mix is something you want to make:
- It calls for three simple ingredients. No additives or food dyes, either. (Two if you take a store-bought shortcut!)
- All you have to do is add triple sec (or your favorite orange liqueur, like Cointreau or Grand Marnier) and tequila to make a margarita.
- You can keep it on hand in the fridge for a one-off marg (because you sometimes need one) or you can use it to make a pitcher of margaritas. Either way, it’s delightful!
More tequila drinks to mix at home: Apple Cider Margaritas | Mexican Mule | Cantaloupe Mint Margarita | Mezcal Paloma Recipe | Cherry Lemonade Margaritas | Ranch Water Cocktail | Pineapple Margarita
Need inspiration for a cocktail or a mocktail? Head on over to my Drinks Recipe Index for some ideas!
What you need to make this recipe
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- Citrus juicer or reamer
- Liquid measuring cup
- Fine mesh strainer
- Saucepan (to make the simple syrup)
You could consider using an electric juicer since you need a lot of lime juice to make homemade margarita mix. However, depending on if you’ll use it, I do not suggest this.
What is in margarita mix?
Homemade margarita mix has three simple ingredients—two if you’re using store-bought simple syrup.
Here’s what you need to make it totally from scratch:
- Water — if you drink it from the tap, this is great! You don’t need bottled water to make this.
- Granulated sugar — also known as white sugar, this is our sweetener. I know many margaritas are sweetened with agave, but I prefer this for my margarita mix.
- Fresh limes — a lot of ‘em because we’re squeezing enough to have 1 ½ cups.
Please note that we are not adding lemons or orange juice to this mix. Lime is my go-to for this!
DID YOU KNOW?
Every lime, obviously, is different, but on average, you’ll get about 2 tablespoons of juice out of a single lime. For a cup and a half of juice, you might need close to 12 limes.
How to make homemade margarita mix
First, make the simple syrup. Combine the water and granulated sugar in a saucepan on the stovetop. Heat and stir occasionally until the sugar has completely dissolved into the water. Remove from the heat, and let cool.
If you want to know more about making simple syrup, I wrote an entire post about it.
Next, juice the limes. Place a small fine mesh strainer on top of a liquid measuring cup (or bowl), and juice the limes over it. This way, you’ll catch any seeds or pulp that come out of the limes as you juice them.
Finally, combine the ingredients in a pitcher or a large mason jar. Stir until combined, then refrigerate.
How to make margaritas with margarita mix
Here is how I make a margarita using this homemade margarita mix recipe:
- Rim a glass with salt, and set aside.
- Measure 1 ½ oz. tequila, 1 oz. triple sec and 2 ½ oz. margarita mix into a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously until very cold, then strain and pour into your prepared glass.
- Garnish with a lime wedge, and enjoy immediately.
If you want to make an 8-serving pitcher of margaritas from this homemade margarita mix, combine the following in a pitcher:
- 12 oz. (1 ½ cups) tequila
- 8 oz. (1 cup) triple sec
- 20 oz. (2 cups) margarita mix
Chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours, and serve over ice!
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
Margaritas are a brilliant drink to make for any type of get-together, whether it’s a Mexican Dinner Party, Cinco de Mayo or just a random Tuesday when you want to have friends over for happy hour.
One of the best things about them is you can make them in batches, too, to make your life easier.
Here are a few thoughts on making margaritas with mix for entertaining:
- Juice your limes in advance. Alternately, purchase cold pressed lime juice from the refrigerated section of your grocery store. Yes, it’s more expensive than juicing your own, but it’s significantly faster unless you have an electric juicer.
- Make the simple syrup early, too. This stuff keeps in the fridge for weeks, so you don’t have to make it the day you’re making your homemade margarita mix.
- Double the homemade margarita mix recipe if you’re serving a crowd.
- Let guests mix their own margaritas… or make a pitcher to make pouring even easier!
Frequently Asked Questions
No! This margarita mix is all juice and simple syrup, so it’s alcohol-free.
It’s so easy and once you taste this goodness, you won’t go back to the store-bought variety. Not only is it bursting with tartness and delicious flavor, but it’s significantly cheaper than the pre-made stuff.
Combine 2 ½ oz. margarita mix with 1 ½ oz. silver tequila and 1 oz. triple sec in a cocktail shaker. Shake with ice until cold, strain and enjoy immediately.
Keep it in a sealed mason jar or a pitcher with a lid for up to a week in the fridge.
Yes—but it’s going to take a little more time and effort. Freeze this margarita mix in ice cube trays (they’re generally 1 oz. sized!). Once frozen, blend with tequila and triple sec to make a frozen margarita.
Tips for making the best margaritas with mix
- Your limes will provide more juice if they’re at room temperature. If you keep them in the fridge, take them out and zap them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to get the juices flowing.
- Does your margarita mix taste a bit tart? Add a little more of the simple syrup to sweeten it up. Keep in mind that the Cointreau/triple sec you add to the recipe to make a margarita from mix will add a little sweetness, too, so don’t be too heavy-handed.
- If you’re serving a crowd, consider doubling the recipe so you’ve got more than enough! Also, it keeps in the fridge, so any leftovers wouldn’t go bad.
Homemade Margarita Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup simple syrup homemade or store-bought
- 1 ½ cups freshly squeezed lime juice freshly squeezed (from about 10-12 limes)
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Instructions
- Make the margarita mix
- Make the simple syrup. Combine 1 cup of water and 1 cup of granulated sugar in a saucepan on the stovetop. Heat and stir occasionally until the sugar has completely dissolved into the water. Remove from the heat, and let cool.
- Juice the limes. Place a small fine mesh strainer on top of a liquid measuring cup (or bowl), and juice the limes over it. This way, you’ll catch any seeds or pulp that come out of the limes as you juice them.
- Combine the ingredients in a pitcher or a large mason jar. Stir until combined, then refrigerate.
How to make a single margarita
- Measure 1 ½ oz. tequila, 1 oz. triple sec and 2 ½ oz. margarita mix into a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously until very cold, then strain and pour into your prepared glass.
- Garnish with a lime wedge, and enjoy immediately.
How to make a pitcher margarita
- Find your largest pitcher.
- Pour 12 oz. (1 ½ cups) tequila, 8 oz. (1 cup) triple sec and 20 oz. (2 cups) homemade margarita mix into the pitcher.
- Stir, and refrigerate until cold.
- Enjoy over ice!
Notes
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
I loved the idea of the homemade margarita mix to avoid preservatives and syrups, but this was not good. Too sour