A spicy twist on a classic margarita, this easy Jalapeno Margarita recipe is made with your favorite tequila, triple sec, jalapeno slices and cucumber. A perfectly refreshing tequila cocktail for Cinco de Mayo or a hot summer day!
If you love margaritas, don’t miss our Strawberry Margarita and Homemade Margarita Mix!
Easy Spicy Margarita Recipe
This spicy jalapeno margarita is light and refreshing with just the right amount of heat. Perfect for sipping poolside all summer long or to serve with pork carnitas or your favorite Mexican/Tex-Mex dinner.
Or if you have some friends over, whip up some white queso dip and a pitcher of spicy margaritas and you’ll have some really happy company!
One thing I love about jalapeno margaritas is that you can easily adjust the spice level. While these definitely have a kick, I don’t think they’re too spicy. Cucumber slices along with some sparkling water add cooling undertones and balance the drink out nicely. Tajin seasoning on the rim rounds it all out, to make the perfect jalapeno margarita.
Ingredients Needed
These spicy margaritas are made with your typical margarita ingredients, plus jalapenos and cucumbers.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Limes – You’ll need lime slices plus fresh lime juice to make your margarita.
- Tajin seasoning – Instead of a salt rim, we’re going for a spicy tajin seasoning rim. Tajin is made with chili peppers, lime, and sea salt so it’s the perfect blend of flavors.
- Jalapeno – I used one jalapeno for 2 drinks but you can use more/less as desired.
- Cucumbers – Cucumbers help balance out the jalapenos in this spicy margarita and add cooling undertones.
- Silver tequila – See notes below.
- Triple sec – Triple sec is my go-to orange liqueur for this spicy margarita but Grand Marnier or Cointreau would also work.
- Agave syrup – I use agave instead of simple syrup but you can use simple syrup or even honey as your sweetener.
- Sparkling water – Sparkling water gives these homemade margaritas a bit of fizz and makes them a little lighter.
What’s The Best Tequila for Margaritas?
The better the tequila, the better the margarita. While you can use pretty much any silver tequila that you want for this recipe, a top-notch tequila will result in a top-notch cocktail. That doesn’t necessarily mean the most expensive bottle on the shelf but you definitely don’t want to use the cheap stuff. Any tequila that you enjoy drinking is a good option.
How to Make a Jalapeno Margarita
Making the perfect spicy margarita takes just a few minutes and will taste even better than a restaurant!
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Salt the rim. Run a lime slice around the rim of the glass, then dip it in the tajin seasoning.
- Muddle. Muddle the cucumber and jalapeno slices in the bottom of a shaker.
- Shake. Add the ice, tequila, triple sec, agave, and lime juice to the shaker. Shake for about 30 seconds.
- Pour. Pour into glasses over ice. Top with sparkling water and garnish with jalapeno, lemon, and cucumber slices. Enjoy!
Easy Variations
Here are some fun variations for your jalapeno margaritas.
- Adjust the spice level. Customize the number of jalapeno slices based on your preferred level of spiciness. You can also choose to remove the seeds which carry most of the heat.
- Use a regular salt rim. If you don’t have tajin seasoning or don’t want the added spice, you can easily replace it with a salted rim.
- Try it with mezcal. Another fun spicy margarita variation is to use mezcal in place of tequila. It adds smoky undertones that are quite lovely!
- Skip the sparkling water. For a stronger drink, you can opt out of adding the sparkling water.
Can I Make A Pitcher of Spicy Margaritas?
Want to prepare some jalapeno margaritas for a crowd? No problem! Multiply the ingredients by the number of servings you need, then muddle the jalapeno and cucumber in a pitcher. Add the remaining ingredients, except for the sparkling water and ice. Stir.
If you are making these in advance, refrigerate until serving. Add the sparkling water just before serving and pour into glasses over ice. You can add the jalapeno and cucumber garnishes to the pitcher or the individual glasses or both.
What to Serve With Margaritas
While I am a big believer that you can enjoy margaritas ANY time you want them, if you’re looking for an excuse – try making one of these Mexican-inspired recipes to serve them with. A few of my favorites include:
- Walking tacos (especially fun for parties!)
- Ground beef enchiladas
- Salsa Verde Chicken
- Sofrito chicken
Or, if you’re throwing a party, whip up some addicting white queso dip and restaurant style salsa. It doesn’t get better than queso + chips + margaritas!
More Mexican Drinks:
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Jalapeno Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons tajin seasoning
- 3-4 lime slices , cut into half
- 1 jalapeno , sliced (plus more for garnish)
- 4-6 slices cucumber (plus more for garnish)
- 1/2 cup ice
- 4 ounces silver tequila
- 1 ounce triple sec
- 2 teaspoons agave syrup
- 2 ounces fresh lime juice
- 1 & 1/2 cups sparkling water
Instructions
- Pour tajin seasoning on a shallow plate. Run a lime slice around the rim of the glass, then roll it in the tajin.
- Place jalapeno and cucumber slices in a cocktail shaker and muddle.
- Add in ice, silver tequila, triple sec, agave syrup, and lime juice. Shake the mixture well for approximately 30 seconds.
- Divide the mixture over the ice-filled glasses and fill with sparkling water.
- Garnish with jalapeno, lemon, and cucumber slices. Enjoy right away.
