How to Make a Margarita

Ever wanted to learn how to make a margarita? Today is the day! This 4-ingredient classic margarita recipe is easy to mix at home. Makes 1 drink but can easily be doubled or tripled.

It’s official, y’all: We’re making MARGARITAS for 2021!

After doing a lot of thinking and soul searching when considering what to make after our Year of Moscow Mules, it was pointed out to me that the drink of 2020 was most definitely a margarita. And you know what? I’m down for that.

While I’ll admit that I’ve had some bad experiences with margaritas and tequila in the past, those days are behind me, and I am all-in for this year of 12 new margarita recipes! And today, we’re starting off with the classic!

Why I love this recipe:

This classic margarita recipe calls for FOUR ingredients, and you might have ‘em at home already.

It’s a solid, basic margarita recipe to start off 2021. (If you’re looking for a fancier margarita, let me direct you to my Cadillac Margarita.)

Also, it tastes really delicious. It’s well-balanced, so you’re not getting a punch in the face from the tequila like you do in some margaritas. It’s nice and smooth, so you can sip it easy all night long. (Or you can drink it a little faster and have a second one!)

It’s a little different than some basic margaritas in the sense that it calls for Cointreau—a higher-end orange liqueur. You can use triple sec if that’s what you have on hand since that’s an orange liqueur, but your end result will taste different. Why? Most triple sec brands have an alcohol content between 15%-30% while Cointreau’s is 40%. (This means it’s got more alcohol in it.) 

Intrigued? I thought you might be!

Other tequila drinks you might want to test out: Apple Cider Margaritas | Mexican Mule | Strawberry Margarita (and a Frozen Strawberry Margarita and a Strawberry Mockarita (Strawberry Virgin Margarita))| Cherry Lemonade Margaritas | Cantaloupe Mint Margarita | Pineapple Margarita

What you’ll need to make a Classic Cointreau Margarita

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• Margarita glasses  (or any ‘ol glasses that’ll fit these margaritas in ‘em)
• Cocktail shaker
• Jigger or mini angled measuring cup
• Citrus juicer or a citrus reamer
• Fine mesh strainer

In addition to these tools, you’ll need just two simple ingredients that you’ve probably got on hand already:

• Silver tequila—a decent tasting one, mmmkay?
• Cointreau—or another orange liqueur (triple sec is an orange liqueur, FYI)
• Limes or freshly squeezed lime juice—I purchase the squeezed kind from the refrigerated section at the grocery store. It’s with the pre-chopped fruit and is worth the splurge. However, you can purchase limes and squeeze ‘em yourself
• Simple syrup—you can make it at home or you can purchase it from the store or online

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How to make margaritas at home

First and foremost, juice your limes. I typically do this over a liquid measuring cup with a fine mesh strainer on top of it to keep pulp and seeds out of the final juice.

Pro tip: You’ll get more juice from your limes if they’re room temperature. If you keep ‘em in the fridge, pop them into the microwave for 20-30 seconds to get those juices flowing!

Also, you’ll want to rim your margarita glass (or regular ‘ol cup) with salt if you’re into that at this point. You can also add ice to the glass, as well, if you want your margarita on the rocks to be extra cold.

Once your limes are juiced and other ingredients are acquired, fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Measure in the silver tequila, Cointreau (or other orange liqueuer), simple syrup and lime juice.

Give it a good shake until the metal of the cocktail shaker is extremely cold, then strain and pour into your prepared margarita glasses.

Enjoy immediately with a lime garnish!

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Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips

Hi, hello. Who hasn’t made or drank a margarita at a happy hour, a homemade Mexican dinner night or even a Cinco de Mayo gathering?

Margaritas at home are so simple because they require few ingredients and even less time to put ‘em together! And this Cointreau Margarita is absolutely worth sharing.

Here are a few tips and tricks to make it as easy as possible:

• Make your simple syrup 1-2 days in advance. Let it hang out in the fridge, and make a lot of it, depending on how many friends are joining you.
• Squeeze the limes an hour or so before guests arrive—or take the store-bought shortcut. Just be sure to get the fresh-squeezed lime juice instead of the shelf-stable kind. It makes all the difference, promise.
• Turn it into a pitcher! After all, if you’re hosting several friends, you might as well make a pitcher so you’re not mixing up margaritas by request throughout the evening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick tips and tricks for making this classic margarita recipe at home

• Prep your ingredients before mixing your drink.
• Turn it into a pitcher drink! Quadruple the recipe (or multiply it by six) to turn this festive mule into a Cointreau Margarita Pitcher.
• Purchase good lime juice. Truly, the combination of the freshly squeezed lime juice paired with the tequila, Cointreau and simple syrup is wonderfully balanced.
• Shake it up! If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, pour the ingredients into a to-go coffee cup or a mason jar, cap and then shake.