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a skinny spicy margarita in a cup with salt and jalapenos
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5 from 1 vote

Skinny Spicy Margarita Recipe

This skinny spicy margarita is everything you think of when you picture a Cinco de Mayo-inspired cocktail. It has heat and spice, yet it's cold and refreshing. It's sweet, and it's smoky, and it's incredibly fresh.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Cocktail, Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican
Diet: Gluten Free
Keyword: margarita, tequila
Servings: 1 margarita
Author: Molly Thompson

Equipment

  • Cocktail shaker, mason jar with lid, or glass jar with lid

Ingredients

Skinny Spicy Margarita (1 serving)

  • 2 ounces Blanco tequila (silver tequila) (Note 1)
  • .5 ounce orange liqueur Triple Sec or Cointreau (Note 2)
  • 2 ounces (1/4 cup) Fresh lime juice about 2 limes
  • 1 ounce (2 Tablespoons) Fresh orange juice 1/2 an orange
  • 1 teaspoon honey or agave nectar optional
  • 2 jalapeño slices with or without seeds, plus more for topping
  • Light ginger beer or club soda for topping optional

Chili Lime Salt

  • 1-2 Tablespoons sea salt or margarita salt
  • Zest from 1/2 lime
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

Instructions

  • Add the tequila, triple sec, lime juice, orange juice and agave to a cocktail shaker or a glass jar with a lid, like a mason jar. Use a long spoon to stir it all together.
  • Add the sliced jalapeño and a handful of ice, close the lid, and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds to combine and help the jalapeño juices release into the margarita. You can also muddle the jalapeño into the margarita if you want them spicier. All the jalapeño to sit in the liquid to infuse while you prepare the glasses.
  • Add the salt, lime zest and chili powder to a shallow bowl or dish. Run a lime wedge around a glass or mason jar and dip it upside down into the mixture, turning it and rolling it as needed to coat the top and part of the sides.
  • Fill the glass with crushed ice and pour the skinny spicy margarita over top. Garnish with fresh jalapeño slices and lime wedges.

Video

Notes

Note 1. Tequila. Silver tequila is bottled immediately upon distilling and has a clear color. You can also use an aged tequila like Reposado, or Añejo, which have a more golden hue to them.
Note 2. Orange Liqueur. Skinny margaritas have little or no orange liqueur in them to cut down on sugar and calories. A margarita without orange liqueur has 180 calories and 13.7 carbs. Learn more about a skinny margarita vs regular margarita. 
Skinny Spicy Margaritas Pitcher (4 servings)
  • 1 cup (8 ounces) silver tequila
  • 1/4 cup (2 ounces) triple sec
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (4 limes)
  • 1/4 cup fresh orange juice (1 orange)
  • 1-2 Tablespoons agave or honey
  • 1 jalepeño pepper, sliced
 
Add all of the ingredients to a large pitcher and stir to combine. The longer the jalepeño infuses into the margarita, the spicier it will be. Store in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Rim each glass with chili lime salt, fill them with ice and serve margaritas with more fresh slices of jalepeño.
Frozen skinny spicy margarita: Use a jalepeño infused tequila if possible. Add all of the ingredients to a high-speed blender with 1 cup of ice (for 1 serving) and blend on high speed until it’s really smooth, like a slushy. Garnish with jalepeño, do not blend the jalepeño.
*Nutrition information does not include ginger beer or salt rim.

Nutrition

Serving: 1margarita | Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 19.9g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 3.1mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 14.6g