Use fresh blood oranges, fresh lime juice, tequila, and triple sec to make the most refreshing blood orange margarita in 5 minutes.
If you love margaritas, then you'll love this pineapple jalepeño margarita, skinny spicy margarita, or frozen watermelon margarita.
The agave nectar balances out the tart blood orange juice with just the right amount of sweetness, making these the most refreshing and delicious margaritas you'll have in a long time.
Are you a fan of tequila cocktails? Try a refreshing Mexican Mule, Hibiscus margarita, or Cucumber Margarita next.
I love a classic skinny spicy margarita, but when blood orange season is at its peak (December - April), I can't resist making this sweet and tart margarita recipe. The simple combination of orange liqueur, tequila, and fresh citrus makes this so refreshing but much easier to make at home than most think.
Want to add some spice to a marg? Try this fresh pineapple jalapeno margarita or our favorite skinny spicy margarita recipe.
Blood oranges taste like a mix between a traditional orange and a grapefruit. They're a little sweet and a little tart, making them ideal for a refreshing cocktail.
If you love a good margarita that isn't loaded with added sugar and isn't overly sweet, you're going to want to save this recipe and make it again! Cinco de mayo wouldn't be the same without a margarita and we have so many in our Cinco de Mayo recipes, along with Mexican-Inspired meals.
Why You'll Love This Blood Orange Margarita
- Smooth taste thanks to the balance between sweet agave and fresh citrus juice.
- The beautiful blood orange color makes it look just as delicious as it tastes — just like this hibiscus margarita.
- Great recipe to serve to a crowd because it's easily doubled.
- It takes 5 minutes to make.
Ingredients You'll Need
Here are the simple ingredients for this blood orange margarita cocktail. If you're a margarita fan, you likely have these in your pantry right now. Jump down to the recipe card for exact measurements.
- Tequila: we always use a blanco tequila (silver tequila) in our margarita recipes. It has a clear color because it's bottled immediately after being distilled. You can also use a Reposado tequila or anaje tequila if you prefer or if you have those on hand. There's a bit more about the best tequila for margaritas in the section below.
- Orange liqueur: you can use any type of orange liqueur you have on hand. We used Triple Sec, but you could also use Cointreau. Grand Marnier is another good option because it is a mixture of orange liqueur and cognac. Here's a guide to types of orange liqueur if you aren't sure what to purchase.
- Fresh lime juice: this is a must for homemade margaritas. You'll need about 3 limes for this recipe: two for the juice and one for the outer rim of the glass. You'll need more if you plan to make a pitcher.
- Blood oranges: wait until you see the color of the juice from these vibrant blood oranges. You can use regular oranges instead for a more traditional margarita recipe.
- Agave: adding a bit of agave or honey makes this recipe so easy. You can also use a quick simple syrup, which is just granulated sugar dissolved in water if you have that handy and don't have honey or agave
Best Tequila for Margaritas
My favorite tequila is a standard tequila Blanco, also called silver tequila. They're pretty affordable and universal for all margarita recipes, like these mango margaritas. Blanco tequila is typically bottled immediately after distilling and has a crisp and refreshing taste, making it great for cocktails.
Lalo tequila is a great everyday Blanco tequila that will run you about $45 for a 750ml bottle. A quality tequila makes all the difference when you're making homemade margaritas —especially when they only require 5 real ingredients.
Another option is tequila reposado, which translates to "rested" tequila in English. It's aged for 2-11 months and is the most common type of tequila in Mexico. It's a bit smoother than silver tequila with a slightly warm flavor.
If you want a tequila aged even longer, opt for tequila Añejo, which is translated to "old" in English because it's aged in oak barrels for 1-3 years.
How to Make Blood Orange Margaritas
The full printable recipe is below, but let’s walk through the steps with some photos and a video so you have a clear idea of what to expect. This homemade margarita recipe is really easy and these step-by-step instructions will make sure they turn out every time.
Video: Watch How to Make a Blood Orange Margarita
Start by making the salt rim. Mix together salt, a pinch of sugar, and a pinch of chipotle powder in a shallow bowl or plate. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass and dip the glass into the prepared mixture.
You can omit the salted rim if you prefer to leave it plain, or you can do a sugar rim instead.
For a single drink, pour the tequila, orange liqueur, blood orange juice, lime juice, and agave into a cocktail shaker or into a glass with a lid, like a mason jar. Give it a good shake until everything is mixed together. To make it spicy, add a few slices of jalapño and shake longer to infuse the spicy flavor.
See the recipe card below to make a pitcher of blood orange margaritas.
Fill a mason jar or margarita glass with fresh ice and pour the margarita on top. Add a splash of club soda or ginger beer if desired and garnish it with blood orange slices.
Customize Your Margarita
- Make it skinny: use less orange liqueur and little to no sweetener to lighten it up. You can learn more about a skinny margarita vs regular margarita.
- Spicy blood orange margarita: Just like this skinny spicy margarita, place a few slices of jalapeño with the seeds into the cocktail shaker before shaking everything together. The longer you shake it, the spicier it will be.
- Finish it with bubbles: I finish most of my margaritas with light ginger beer or club soda because I love the extra bubbles!
- Add a smoky flavor: swap the tequila for mezcal.
- Frozen blood orange margarita: Add all of the ingredients to a high-speed blender with 1 cup of ice and blend well until it's completely combined.
Our Favorite Cocktail Tools
Here are our favorite products to stock in your pantry so you can make a killer margarita whenever the craving strikes. This section may contain affiliate links.
- Cocktail shaker for making a single serving.
- Large Pitcher if you're making a batch of this delicious cocktail.
- Small plate or shallow bowl for making the salt rim.
- Mason jars, margarita glasses, or old-fashioned glasses for serving.
More Cocktail Recipes
Looking for another margarita? Try this skinny spicy margarita or this refreshing cucumber margarita. This hibiscus margarita recipe is just as pretty as this one and these mango margaritas are always a crowd-pleaser.
Love tequila but don't want a marg? Try a crisp and refreshing Mexican mule.
And if you're in need of a festive winter drink, this spiced winter sangria is our go-to.
If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a star rating ★ and leave a comment in the comment section below. You can also tag me on Instagram so I can see it!
Blood Orange Margarita
Ingredients
Spicy Salt Rim
- 2-3 Tablespoons sea salt or pink Himalayan salt
- Pinch of sugar
- Pinch of chipotle powder to taste
Blood Orange Margarita (1 serving)
- 2 ounces Blanco (silver) tequila (Note 1)
- 1 ounce orange liqueur Triple Sec, Ciointreau, or Grand Marnier
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) fresh lime juice about 2 limes
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) fresh blood orange juice 1-2 blood oranges, plus wedges for garnish
- 2 teaspoons agave, honey, or simple syrup
- 2 jalapeno slices optional for spicy margaritas
- Ginger beer or club soda for topping optional
Recommended Equipment
- Cocktail shaker or jar with a lid
- Cocktail or Margarita glasses
Instructions
- Mix together salt, a pinch of sugar, and a pinch of chipotle powder in a shallow bowl or plate. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass and dip the glass into the prepared mixture. You can omit the salted rim if you prefer to leave it plain, or you can do a sugar rim instead.
- For a single drink, pour the tequila, orange liqueur, blood orange juice, lime juice, and agave into a cocktail shaker or into a glass with a lid, like a mason jar. Give it a good shake until everything is mixed together. To make it spicy, add a few slices of jalapño and shake longer to infuse the spicy flavor. Note 2 for pitchers.
- Fill a mason jar or margarita glass with fresh ice and pour the margarita on top. Add a splash of club soda or ginger beer if desired and garnish it with blood orange slices.
Notes
- 1 cup Blanco tequila
- ½ cup orange liqueur
- 1 cup fresh lime juice (8 limes)
- 1 cup fresh blood orange juice (4-6 blood oranges)
- 2-3 Tablespoons agave
Karly Campbell says
Mondays are hard. One (or five) of these will make them better. Can't wait to try this out!!
Molly says
Thanks, Karly! We cain't wait to hear what you think!