The Best Homemade Margaritas: All-Natural, 3-Ingredients

Homemade Margaritas — How to make a margarita with just three natural ingredients! Nothing fake, neon green, and no sugary chemicals. This is the best homemade margarita recipe I’ve tried and it’s the easiest!!

Simple Homemade Margarita Recipe

If there’s one drink that should be so simple, but somehow turns so complicated, I think it’s a margarita. There’s blended, on the rocks, from a mix that comes in gallon-sized jugs — sometimes with alcohol already added and sometimes without.

Some margaritas are made with just tequila and others with a smorgasbord of other booze added, including triple sec, Cointreau, Gran Marnier, Chambord, and more. People shouldn’t need to look up how to make a margarita because it shouldn’t be so hard. I’ve gone back to the basics, with the classic margarita ingredients.

What’s in a Margarita? 

This fresh margarita recipe has no mix or concentrate, and nothing complicated or fussy. No simple syrup to make, no blender to dirty, just three basics ingredients: lime juice, agave, tequila. 

• Lime Juice: I use freshly squeezed lime juice and recommend doing so.
• Agave: It’s sold in nearly all grocery stores these days. I’ve used honey in a pinch, too. If you prefer to make a simple syrup instead, be my guest.
• Tequila: The choice of tequila is up to you. 

What’s the Best Tequila for Margaritas? 

I use Patron Silver or Don Julio Blanco, but the choice is yours. Choose a trusted favorite, or ask for help choosing one at your local liquor store. 

How to Make a Margarita 

To make a homemade margarita, first squeeze two juicy limes over a cup. Then, stir in a little water, agave, and tequila. Give your margarita a taste to see if it needs any tweaks.

If desired, you can strain the margarita at this point to remove any lime pulp, but I personally don’t mind the pulp. Add ice to the glass and stir or shake (if you prefer shaken margaritas, make sure to put another glass on top to prevent spills). 

A Note About Measuring

In the recipe section, I referred to the ingredients as shots. Some recipes use ounces, cups, and shots, all in one. Holy confusion after you’ve had a few. The very average-sized shot glass I use (not a jumbo frat-house style shot glass) holds the same amount of liquid as a 1/4-cup measure, which makes it easy to make the recipe in bulk. X parts this to Y parts that.

Feel free to make a big batch and keep it for a few days in the fridge. While you could technically share the recipe as written, after having one, you’ll want another. So plan on it serving one, nicely. You can sip worry-free since there’s no sugar.

They go down so incredibly easy. Especially on vacation.

Tips for Making the Best Margarita 

I prefer my margaritas boldly tart but sweet enough to balance the tartness, and I’m not shy with the tequila. You’ll need to find the exact ratio of ingredients that you enjoy best.

Small changes can have a big effect on taste. Like a half shot glass of lime juice or a small drizzle of agave can really make a difference. Play around with the recipe to find your happy place, pun intended.

You can doctor up the basic mixture as you like by adding other liquors or add a handful of strawberries, put it all in a blender, and you’ve got a frozen strawberry margarita in seconds.

It’s also worth mentioning that you want to look for really juicy limes. In general, paler green limes and those with yellow spots, as well as those with thin skin are juicier than darker-skinned limes or those with thicker skin. Medium/large limes seem to release their juice easier than small limes.

More Easy Cocktail Recipes: 

• Tequila Sunrise — Not only is it pretty to look at, but a Tequila Sunrise is also refreshing, nostalgic, and the grenadine sweetens it up enough that you may not even notice it packs quite a punch!
• Tropical Party Punch — This alcoholic punchis one of my all-time favorite party drinks! Feel free to leave the alcohol out if desired. This punch tastes delicious even without it!
• Rum Runner — A fruity and tropical cocktail, but not in a strawberry daiquiri doesn’t-do-much kind of way. This delicious Rum Runner recipe (complete with my secret ingredient!) packs a punch that can sneak up on you!
• Malibu Sunset — A fun, fruity, easy Malibu drink recipe! Because there’s really no wrong way to do pineapple, orange juice, coconut rum, grenadine, and cherries! 
• Peach Mango Pineapple White Sangria — Fresh, fruity, just sweet enough but not too sweet, and it goes down so easily. A lighter alternative to red sangria that everyone just loves!

Print

Homemade Margaritas

How to make a margarita with just three natural ingredients! Nothing fake, neon green, and no sugary chemicals!

Yield: 1 serving

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 to 1 1/2 shots lime juice*
• 2 shots water
• 1 to 2 shots tequila**
• 1/2 to 1 shot agave nectar, or to taste
• ice, as necessary

Instructions

1. Over a large cup, squeeze limes, about 2 medium/large, ripe limes.***
2. Add the water, tequila, agave, and stir. Taste and see if you need to make tweaks.
3. If desired, strain mixture to remove any lime pulp, although I don’t bother.
4. Add ice generously, and stir or shake (by putting another cup over the top).
5. Serve immediately. Recipe is intended for those whom alcohol use is legal, done responsibly, and is appropriate.

Notes

*Note: 1 shot glass equals 1/4 cup liquid

**I use white/blanco tequila and prefer Patron Silver or Don Julio Blanco

***Paler green limes and those with yellow spots, and those with thin skin are juicier than darker-skinned limes or those with thicker skin. Medium/large limes seem to release their juice easier than small limes.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 340Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 7mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 0gSugar: 30gProtein: 0g

Even More Drink Recipes: 

5-Calorie Raspberry Lime Margarita Fizz (non-alcoholic) — Cool, refreshing, and won’t break your caloric bank with only 5 calories!

Flavored Water — Flavored water is so easy to make and helps me stay hydrated during the summer! I’ve shared two of my favorite flavored water recipes in this post — a cucumber water and a berry water — but the flavor options are endless!

Homemade Horchata — This creamy, smooth, nourishing, and healthy beverage is as easy to make as turning on your blender!

Tropical Mango Mimosas – A fun, easy, and refreshing twist on classic mimosas!! A party favorite at your next brunch or event! Everyone will want REFILLS!