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4.79
/5
5 minutes minutes
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By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 04/29/2020
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Our classic margarita recipe is the ONLY one you need. Just 4 simple ingredients and you’ll have a crisp and refreshing co*cktail that rivals any restaurant!
Have your own Cinco de Mayo party at home! For an alternative drink, try my Frozen Honeydew Jalapeno Margarita. For some amazing food, try my Ultimate Beef Barbacoa, Chicken Chimichangas, Queso Dip, Salsa Verde, 7 Layer Dip, and Baked Mexican Rice!
If I had to pick one co*cktail to have for the rest of my life… no hesitation… it’d be a margarita! I love them on the rocks and frozen, big and small, and anytime.
There’s just something so amazing about the crisp, tart/sweet flavor, I can’t get enough of.
No lie, a local Mexican restaurant here has a grande sized margarita that is legit the size of a fishbowl. I’ve conquered that bad boy, no problemo!
So I knew I needed to have a classic margarita recipe here on the site, but I wanted one that uses all fresh ingredients… none of that bottled mix stuff. Nothing against it, but I think fresh always tastes best.
I found the winning combination! This recipe is for 20 servings (basically a large pitcher), but can easily be downsized to whichever amount you need.
In the printable recipe card towards the end of the post, if you hover over the servings number, a slider will appear. Toggle that slider any which way you choose, and the recipe card will automatically calculate how much of each ingredient you’ll need!
Bear in mind, it only changes the oz measurements, not the cups, as those were written in after the fact to make things easier for some readers.
So no need to head out to a Mexican restaurant for your margarita fix… let’s have a fiesta!
HOW TO MAKE MARGARITAS
- Add tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and syrup to pitcher. Stir well to combine, then chill until ready to serve.
- Rim glasses with lime juice and salt, if desired. Alternately, you could do a sugar rim, or add a bit of lime zest… it’s up to you!
- Fill co*cktail shaker 2/3 full of ice. Pour enough margarita mixture in so that it just covers the ice.
- Shake for about 10 seconds. Don’t be shy, shake fairly vigorously! Just make sure the shaker lid and cap are on before shaking.
- Pour into glasses and garnish. Repeat with remaining servings. I like to replace my ice after a few uses.
ADDITIONAL COOKING TIPS
- USE FRESH LIME JUICE – I know it’s a hassle, but fresh lime juice tastes infinitely better than the bottled stuff!
- USE A co*ckTAIL SHAKER – I tried testing this recipe straight from the pitcher, and even when the pitcher and contents were chilled, they didn’t taste quite as good as when poured into a co*cktail shaker and shaken over ice.
VARIATIONS OF THIS RECIPE
- SMOKY – if you like a smoky tasting drink, try using mezcal, or half mezcal and half tequila. Mezcal is tequila’s smoky, earthy cousin. It’s a little pricier than tequila, but delicious if you like smoky foods/drinks.
- SPICY – try adding a slice or two of jalapeno or habanero to your margarita as a garnish!
- SWEET – try adding a splash of pineapple, watermelon or orange juice to your drink! To give it a slightly different texture, add all the ingredients to a blender and blend. It won’t be frozen, but a bit frothy!
- FROZEN – rather than using regular ice cubes that just water down your drink, I like to combine the lime juice and simple syrup and freeze them into ice cubes! Then add those to a blender along with your chilled tequila and orange liqueur and viola… frozen margaritas that are allll flavor!
MAKING MARGARITAS AHEAD OF TIME
I like to mix up my pitcher about 4 hours before I want to serve them. That way it’s nice and chilled already, and doesn’t melt the ice in the co*cktail shaker as quickly.
You can also slice up your limes ahead of time, and get your glasses and salt ready to go.
STORAGE
Leftover margaritas should be refrigerated in an airtight container and consumed within 4-5 days.
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR THIS RECIPE
- Margarita Glasses – I didn’t use them in this photoshoot, but if you want a classic glass, here they are.
- Large co*cktail Shaker – this holds 30 oz!
- Citrus Juicer – this makes juicing all those limes a bit easier.
BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN TO CHECK OUT OTHER READERS’ COMMENTS FOR TIPS AND REVIEWS.
AND DON’T FORGET, IF YOU’VE MADE THIS RECIPE, LEAVE A COMMENT AND PLEASE GIVE IT A STAR RATING LETTING ME KNOW HOW YOU ENJOYED IT!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Classic Margaritas
4.79 from 14 votesAuthor: The Chunky Chef
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
Calories: 210
Servings: 20 (a pitcher)
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Homemade Classic Margarita recipe using just 4 simple ingredients. You'll want to ditch that bottle of mix in no time.
Ingredients
- 30 oz tequila (reposado or silver are my faves) (approximately 3.75 cups)
- 20 oz orange liqueur (Cointreau is my fave) (approximately 2.5 cups)
- 15 oz fresh lime juice (a little bit less than 2 cups)
- 5 oz simple syrup (approximately 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp)
- lime slices/wedges
- salt for rimming glasses
Instructions
In a large pitcher, combine tequila, orange liqueur, and fresh lime juice. Stir in simple syrup.
Refrigerate until ready to serve. Rim glasses with a bit of lime juice and salt if desired. Garnish with lime wheel.
Fill co*cktail shaker 2/3 of the way full of ice. Pour in enough margarita mix to cover the ice, put the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously for 10 seconds or so.
Pour into prepared glasses. Repeat, using fresh ice after a few uses, for remaining servings.
Drop a lime wedge or slice of lime in each glass if desired.
Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!
Chef Tips
- My preferred tequilas are Patron Reposado or Silver, they’re smooth and make for a great margarita!
- Grand Marnier or triple sec will work as the orange liqueur as well.
- Simple syrup amount is completely up to you.
- Recipe can be made using liquid stevia for a reduced sugar alternative. Exact amount needed will vary.
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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Meet The Chunky Chef
Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!
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Reader Interactions
4.79 from 14 votes
Leave a Comment
Lucinda J Boyd says
FYI – on the simple syrup – 3 ounces is less than 1/2 cup, 4 ounces equals 1/2 cup. That may be why some people find it too sweet.
Reply
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Lucinda, I think you may have adjusted the serving amount, as this recipe calls for 5 oz of simple syrup, which I’ve listed as being roughly equivalent to 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp 🙂 Unfortunately the notes after each ingredient don’t change with the slider.
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DR RAS says
Too sweet. Cut the simple syrup.
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The Chunky Chef says
Yes you can certainly do that, which is why I mention right below the recipe that the simple syrup amount is up to you.
Sonja Arenja says
“What is a simple syrup in this recipe? What is it made of?”
Reply
The Chunky Chef says
Simple syrup is a mixture of equal parts water and granulated sugar that have been cooked down into a loose syrupy consistency. You can also purchase simple syrup in most grocery stores in the aisle with the co*cktail mixes, and things like bitters.
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Tina says
These margaritas were very strong. I had to water them down and add some Topo Chico. I suggest cutting back on the liquor.
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Maureen says
What is your simple syrup recipe?
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The Chunky Chef says
Most of my readers prefer to use store-bought simple syrup, but I’m happy you’re interested in making your own! My recipe is as follows:
1 cup water
1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
Add water and sugar to small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves, boiling about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
** makes more than needed for this recipe, but leftovers can be kept refrigerated 1-2 weeks **Reply
Suzan says
Soooo! Much better than a mix
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Arleena says
Yasssssss! Just made pre-gaming before the LSU game better! I hate nasty mixes too. Thanks for the recipe!
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Monica says
I like your style!!
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Chris says
I love this classic margarita recipe. I used Jose Cuervo Silver – yummy.
I did cut back a bit on the Tequila & Orange Liqueur on the 2nd attempt, but this is a great recipe!!
Can’t wait to try some of the variations you’ve sugessted!!
ThanksReply
Elly H says
I made these on 12/30/21 for my boyfriend and I. I used the Patron Silver ($46 to buy it!) and thought they were very good! I followed the recipe to the letter but used Triple Sec vs. the orange liquor because I had it on hand. My only comment – and reason for 4 stars – is that these are extremely high in liquor. The alcohol sneaks up on you with these; even my boyfriend got very drunk and he is 57 years old; ex-Desert Storm army vet; 6 foot 2 inches and almost 300 pounds. They taste great but just be very careful with the amount of alcohol they contain. These are not your ordinary Mexican restaurant margaritas.
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Tina Orlandino says
I use agave instead of simple syrup. More natural and lower glycemic index.
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KIM says
How much agave did you use?
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Sabrina says
great margarita recipe, completely agree about fresh squeezed limes and no sickly margarita mix! thank you!
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Beti | easyweeknightrecipes says
Such a refreshing co*cktail!! I would love one right now!
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Sara Welch says
Love a co*cktail with a kick! Looking forward to winding down with this after dinner tonight; sounds amazing!
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Kimberly says
Beautiful pics and this is making me look forward to the warmer weather!
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katerina @ diethood.com says
YES, please!! These margaritas sound SO fabulous!!
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Tmanderson says
I love the glasses you posted with the margaritas. Would you mind sharing where you purchased them? My husband hates traditional margarita glasses. These are a better than a traditional highball I have been using.
Reply
The Chunky Chef says
I’m not a huge fan of traditional margarita glasses either, too top heavy! It looks like those glasses are no longer available :/ I got them at CB2, and they’re a double old fashioned glass. They have a good supply of others though https://www.cb2.com/search?query=double+old+fashioned
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This Cinco de Mayo couldn’t look any more perfect!
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Dorothy Reinhold says
I am loving the orange liqueur in this drink. It will be perfect with the lime.
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Jen says
It wouldn’t be summer without a margarita in my hand on the weekend. It’s such a classic! Love not having to use a pre-made mix anymore.
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