The BEST Skinny Margarita Recipe on the Internet! (2024)

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Wondering how to make a skinny margarita without a mix? This simple Skinny Margarita recipe is an amazing way to imbibe without all of the calories and sugar. Fresh, easy and completely delicious!

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Your new favorite way to make a Skinny Margarita!

Have you ever been to a bar or restaurant, ordered a margarita and got an ultra-sweet, syrup-y drink? This has happened to me on more than one occasion and because of it, turned me off of margaritas for quite a long time.

Then, one glorious day, my husband decided to make a skinny margarita at home. It’s was like an entirely different drink! No heavy, sugary mix – just fresh lime juice, tequila, Cointreau, and in this case, agave nectar – making the drink low in calories and sugar.

This delicious skinny margarita recipe is wonderfully fresh, simple and depending on how much tequila you prefer, has a nice kick to it.

The BEST Skinny Margarita Recipe on the Internet! (2)

How do I make a skinny margarita without a mix?

Start with fresh squeezed lime juice. This is a key ingredient to achieving superior taste. You can buy bottled lime juice, but the flavor will be slightly muted.

How many limes do I need to make a margarita?

You’ll likely need 1-2 limes per drink, so when buying your limes at the grocery store, get several. My recipe calls for 1 oz. of lime juice per drink. You may also want lime slices in your drink and/or for a garnish.

I also use fresh squeezed lime juice in my Blueberry Mojito recipe, which makes a big difference in flavor!

What do I need to make a skinny margarita?

  • Several limes (estimate 1-2 limes per co*cktail) for lime juice
  • Agave nectar – (Optional Ingredient) If you are watching your sugar intake or want to reduced the calories in this drink even further, omit the agave. Agave nectar can be found in the baking aisle, near the sugar at your grocery store. It is a natural sweetener, and is perfect in a margarita. You’ll also likely find it in your health food section.
  • Tequila – get the best quality tequila you can afford. I like Herradura – both gold and silver. If you love a great tequila co*cktail, check out my recipe for a Strawberry Tequila Sunrise over at Real Housemoms.
  • Cointreau – this is a French citrus liqueur which is important in balancing out the citrus flavors in any margarita.

(For exact amounts be sure to reference the recipe below.)

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What glasses are best for a margarita?

The standard glass for a margarita is a curved, up-style glass like what I used for my Pineapple Margaritas.An up-style glass is more traditional for a blended drink.

Feel free to use a rocks glass (like I did in these photos), as this is a more traditional vessel when enjoying a margarita on the rocks.

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How do I salt rim a glass for a margarita?

To prep the glasses, run a lime wedge around the rims of the glasses. Dip the glasses into kosher or margarita salt. Lastly, fill the glasses with crushed or cubed ice. Add some lime slices to the glasses, if you prefer.

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The BEST Skinny Margarita Recipe on the Internet! (6)
The BEST Skinny Margarita Recipe on the Internet! (7)

I’m using Jose Cuervo Margarita Salt for these margaritas. It comes in a convenient round, flat container that makes it useful for rimming the edges of your margarita glasses.

Specialized margarita salt is not required to salt the rim of a glass. Any kosher salt will work well.

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How do I mix a margarita on the rocks?

  1. Fill a co*cktail shaker with ice. If you don’t have a co*cktail shaker, feel free to use a mason jar with a tight fitting lid.
  2. To the ice, add the tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, and the optional agave nectar. Agave nectar is a great natural sweetener and perfect substitute for simple syrup that is in a typical margarita. You’ll still get a sweet, but not overly syrup-y co*cktail when using the agave nectar.
  3. Once you have the co*cktail ingredients in the shaker, secure the lid tightly and shake vigorously. Immediately pour the margarita into the prepared glasses and enjoy right away while cold.

Can I make this a Frozen or Blended Margarita?

Yes, definitely! For a blended skinny margarita, simply add ice to a blender – approximately 1 heaping cup per drink.

Add in the tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, and agave nectar, and blend until the ice is smooth. Pour into prepared glasses.

What are the tools I need to make a Skinny Margarita?

Here are a few tools I have in making a this skinny margarita recipe, as well as many of my other co*cktails. (Amazon Affiliate Links below)

If you loved this delicious Skinny Margarita recipe, here’s some of my other co*cktail recipes:

  • Mango Mojito
  • Peach Margarita
  • Blackberry Margarita
  • Watermelon Margarita Recipe
  • Skinny Malibu Pina Coladas
  • Mango Margarita
  • Pineapple Margaritas
  • Coconut Margaritas
  • Strawberry Lime Margaritas
  • Baileys Espresso Martini
  • Watermelon Coconut Rum Punch
  • Frozen Raspberry Peach Bellini
  • Strawberry Lemoncello Spritzers

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How to Make a Skinny Margarita

Erin Indahl-Fink

This simple Skinny Margarita recipe is an amazing way to imbibe without all of the calories and sugar. Fresh, easy and completely delicious!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Drinks and co*cktails

Cuisine Mexican/American

Servings 1 drink

Calories 196 kcal

Equipment

  • co*cktail Shaker The useful glass co*cktail shaker has measurements on the side for easy pouring!

  • Citrus Juicer This hand-held citrus juicer is fantastic for fresh lime and lemon juice. Great for making co*cktails!

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. Tequila good quality
  • 1 oz. lime juice fresh squeezed
  • 1 oz. Cointreau

Instructions

  • Fill a co*cktail shaker with ice. Add the tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, and agave nectar. Secure lid tightly on shaker. Shake vigorously.

  • Run a lime wedge around the rim of a glass, and dip into kosher salt. Fill glass with ice. Pour margarita into glass and enjoy right away while cold.

Notes

For a Frozen, blended margarita: Add 6-8 ice cubes (per drink) into blender. Add tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, and agave nectar (optional, for sweetness). Blend until ice is completely smooth. Pour into prepared glass.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 196kcalCarbohydrates: 10gSodium: 2mgSugar: 8g

Keyword margarita recipe, skinny margarita, how to make a skinny margarita, skinny margarita recipe

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

You Might Also Like These Recipes

  • Blackberry Margarita
  • Watermelon Margarita Recipe
  • Coconut Margarita Recipe
  • Mango Margarita
  • Pineapple Margarita
  • Baileys Espresso Martini
The BEST Skinny Margarita Recipe on the Internet! (2024)

FAQs

What is a skinny margarita made of? ›

1 1/2 ounces silver tequila about 3 tablespoons. 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice about 1 large or 1 1/2 small limes. 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice about 1/2 medium orange. 1 teaspoon light agave nectar add 2 if you prefer a sweeter margarita.

What happened to skinny margarita? ›

They've taken the product off store shelves. In a statement released, the company said the Skinnygirl Margarita "had been offered in 16 of Whole Foods Market 310 stores. After discovering that it contains a preservative that does not meet our quality standards, we have had to stop selling it."

How to order a skinny margarita? ›

Order “Skinny” margarita, only it doesn't have fake sugar (you'll have to ask your server/bartender). Ask for light to no agave/simple syrup. Tequila neat/straight up with a lime. Ask to swap in Triple Sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier in place of a margarita mix, sugar, or agave.

What is the difference between a skinny margarita and a fat margarita? ›

Both use tequila as their base spirit and include the same amount of alcohol. There may be a very small difference in the amount of alcohol if you omit the orange liqueur, but not enough to notice. Are skinny margaritas better for you? A Skinny Margarita has a lower calorie count and less sugar.

Is there less alcohol in a skinny margarita? ›

In addition to the lower sugar content of skinny margaritas, a lower alcohol content is another explanation for their low-calorie status. Most lightened-up margaritas range from about 10- to 13-percent alcohol, while traditional margaritas can be as high as 30 percent.

What is a Skinnygirl Margarita? ›

Made from premium Blue Agave Silver Tequila (yes, please) and lightly sweetened with agave nectar, the original Skinnygirl® Margarita is STILL delicious and low-calorie (really?). Yes, really. Serve this refreshingly light low-calorie Margarita in a fun glass rimmed with salt, and you and your girls are good to go!

What is the difference between skinny margarita and Skinnygirl Margarita? ›

Skinnygirl Margarita

A tart variation on the skinny, with extra tequila and lime, and just a splash of orange liqueur for contrast. Get the Skinnygirl Margarita recipe.

Why was Skinnygirl Margarita discontinued? ›

“Which is why it is carried in stores nationwide and continues to fly off the shelves.” Frankel's statements arrive after numerous reports last week that the Whole Foods natural grocery stores pulled the SkinnyGirl Margarita products off the shelves when it deemed the product contains unnatural ingredients.

Are skinny margaritas better for you? ›

Many restaurants now offer “skinny” margaritas, which tend to be less calorie-dense because they use fresh fruit juice instead of commercially prepared margarita mix or highly-sweetened liqueur. Thus, a skinny margarita may be a good choice if you're trying to lose (or maintain a healthy) weight.

Can you ask for a Skinny Margarita at a bar? ›

The “skinniest” option is a classic Margarita without any syrup at all. If you want a sweeter version without adding too many carbs, add some Xylitol simple syrup to avoid the sugar and calories of Agave. So if you're not sure what you're ordering, just talk to your bartender!

Does Texas Roadhouse have skinny margaritas? ›

from Texas Roadhouse.

Does Chili's have skinny margaritas? ›

Teremana™ Blanco Tequila shaken with fresh sour, topped with splash of soda.

What does it mean when someone orders a skinny margarita? ›

While all bartenders have their own way of preparing the co*cktail, the typical move is to follow their specs for a classic Margarita and either decrease or omit the sweetener, such as simple syrup or agave nectar, or the orange liqueur.

Is Cointreau or Triple Sec better in margarita? ›

The classic margarita calls for Cointreau (plus good silver tequila and fresh lime juice). Because its flavor is uncomplicated by spice notes, Cointreau is very adaptable in blending, and shakes up beautifully with clear spirits as well as with brandies, and darker, aged liquors.

Does a skinny margarita have more alcohol? ›

A skinny margarita has less alcohol per co*cktail than a regular margarita. It has a total of 1 ounce of alcohol per co*cktail since it's made only with tequila, and a Classic Margarita has a total of 3 ounces of alcohol, 1.5oz of tequila, and 1.5 ounces of orange liquor.

Does skinny margarita have sugar in it? ›

Skip the sugar and still enjoy this delicious beverage with our low-calorie margarita. We've replaced the traditional triple sec and sugar with just tequila and lime juice—and it's just as tasty! The low-calorie margarita is called the skinny margarita because it's a skinny version of the classic tequila co*cktail.

Can you ask for a skinny margarita at a bar? ›

The “skinniest” option is a classic Margarita without any syrup at all. If you want a sweeter version without adding too many carbs, add some Xylitol simple syrup to avoid the sugar and calories of Agave. So if you're not sure what you're ordering, just talk to your bartender!

What's the difference between a skinny margarita and ranch water? ›

Unlike a margarita, Ranch Water doesn't have any orange liqueur (like Cointreau) or agave.

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