closeup of a spicy jalapeno margarita topped with three jalapeño slices on a white marble surface

Spicy Jalapeño Margaritas

These spicy jalapeño margaritas are not only a necessity for the tequila lover in your life, they’re a perfect match for your favorite taco recipes and will make the ultimate patio-drinking cocktail this summer.

overhead view of jalapeño margaritas on a white marble surface

Cinco de Mayo is upon us, and while I had big plans to do a whole margarita week complete with a new margarita recipe everyday, life got in the way. Between fielding comments from dairy free egg haters (see my latest are eggs dairy post for details), and packing for my week at Everything Food Conference, I just didn’t have enough time to taste test all the margarita recipes.

I did however, get the chance to mix up a few spicy jalapeño margaritas to go with the Instant Pot carnitas recipe we’ve been eating on a regular basis lately.

Why I love this jalapeño margarita recipe

Beyond just the spicy kick of jalapeños, I’ve taken things up another notch by using my favorite add in of all time, St. Germain (because I’m so fancy). The herbaceous flavors in the elderflower liqueur pair so well with the heat of the jalapeños, while still providing the same sweetness level that a triple sec or agave add to the margarita.

Close up of a jalapeno margarita in a rocks glass.

If you don’t have, or don’t want to use, St. Germain, feel free to use classic triple sec or Cointreau (like I did in my red sangria recipe). Either way, this jalapeño margarita will be great.

Here’s what you’ll need to make them

cocktail shaker pouring a jalapeño margarita into a cocktail glass rimmed with salt

How to make a spicy jalapeño margarita

Rim your glasses with salt and fill them with ice so they’re ready to go when your drinks are ready. If you want to prep this ahead of time, obviously hold off on the ice.

Fill your cocktail shaker with ice, tequila, St. Germain (or triple sec), and lime juice. Add about 3 jalapeño slices (you can do more or less depending on your desired spice level).

Shake the margarita until the outside gets really, super cold. You want it to be so cold that it’s almost hard to hold.

Strain into cocktail glasses. You could also use classic margarita glasses if you have them, but I’m guessing you don’t because they are a little unnecessary for the average person, no matter how much you like margaritas. If you have them, use them. 

overhead view of jalapeño margarita recipe on a white marble surface, with text overlay that reads "spicy jalapeno margaritas"

FAQs about spicy jalapeño margaritas

What is the secret to a good margarita?

A good margarita is a homemade margarita! Making them from scratch allows for a little less sugar than a bottled mix. The fresh juices have more natural acidity to balance out the tequila making for a much smoother margarita.

Can you use store bought lime juice for Margaritas?

Absolutely! Bottled lime juice is great to have on hand at home for all sorts of cocktails. I usually grab a few fresh limes when I go to the grocery store but always have a bottle of lime juice in the fridge.

Why does my margarita taste bitter?

As with all fresh citrus juices, some can be a little more acidic than others making your drink taste a little bitter. Add a pinch of salt or sugar to your cocktail to help level out the acidity.

Serve this margarita with:

More margarita recipes:

closeup of a spicy jalapeno margarita topped with three jalapeño slices on a white marble surface

Spicy Jalapeño Margaritas

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 2 margaritas
Spicy jalapeño margaritas are a necessity for the tequila lover in your life, they also make the ultimate patio-drinking cocktail for summer.  This easy recipe is made with lime juice, fresh jalapeños and St. Germain for a fun twist on the classic tequila cocktail. 

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces 1/2 cup tequila
  • 4 ounces 1/2 cup lime juice
  • 3 ounces elderflower liqueur
  • 3 – 4 sliced jalapeños (plus more for garnish)
  • Fresh limes (for garnish)
  • Ice

Instructions

  • Rim margarita glasses with salt and fill with ice.
  • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add margarita ingredients. Shake until very cold.
  • Strain into prepared glasses and garnish with jalapeños and fresh limes.

Notes

If you don’t have St. Germain or elderflower liqueur, you can substitute triple sec or other orange liqueur.

Nutrition

Calories: 307kcal Carbohydrates: 23g Protein: 0.4g Fat: 0.1g Sodium: 2mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 18g Vitamin C: 42mg

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