Jalapeno Margarita

This spicy jalapeño margarita recipe is perfect for happy hour, Cinco de Mayo, or summer entertaining. Pass the tortilla chips, and enjoy!

Spicy Jalapeño Margarita recipe

We’re getting the weekend started a little early today with my favorite happy hour drink…the jalapeño margarita! It’s spicy, tart, slightly sweet, and super refreshing over ice. You only need 6 simple ingredients to make it, and it’s easy to stir together (no cocktail shaker required!). So what are you waiting for? Pass the tortilla chips, and enjoy!

Jalapeño Margarita Recipe Ingredients

To make this spicy margarita recipe, you need 6 simple ingredients:

  • Tequila – Use any good-quality blanco tequila in this recipe. We like this brand, but feel free to use your favorite!
  • A jalapeño pepper – Use anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 of the pepper. The more you use, the spicier it’ll be.
  • Orange liqueur – You’ll see recipes that call for Cointreau and triple sec, but I love Grand Marnier here.
  • Freshly squeezed lime juice – For the best results, squeeze your limes right before you make your cocktails.
  • Something sweet – I sweeten mine with homemade simple syrup or freshly squeezed orange juice. Both are delicious!
  • And ice! Because a great margarita is always on the rocks.

To make a lighter drink, fill your glass halfway with the jalapeño margarita mixture. Then, top it off with sparkling water.

Find the full recipe with measurements below.

Jalapeño Margarita

Spicy Margarita Recipe Tips

  • Taste and adjust. Whenever you make a cocktail at home, taste and adjust to find a balance of flavors you love. If you prefer a sweeter drink, add an extra splash of simple syrup or orange juice. For more tartness, squeeze in extra lime. If you want it spicier, add extra jalapeño slices and let it sit for a few more minutes. Mess with this recipe, and make it your own!
  • If it’s too strong, let the ice begin to melt. If your jalapeño margarita tastes too strong when you first try it, let it sit for a few minutes at room temperature. As the ice melts, it will dilute the drink. If it’s still stiffer than you’d like it to be, top your glass with sparkling water or add extra orange juice.
  • Salt the rim. Honestly, this cocktail tastes great on its own, but if you want to take it to the next level, salt the rim of your glass. To do this, rub the rim of an empty margarita glass with a lime wedge, and dip it in a small plate of coarse sea salt or kosher salt. Mix up the cocktails in a pitcher, fill your glass with ice, and pour the drink into your prepared glass. That’s it!
  • Don’t forget the chips! No jalapeño margarita night is complete without tortilla chips and dip! I love to pair mine with tomatillo salsa, pico de gallo, or classic guac. If I’m in the mood for something fruity, I’ll make mango or pineapple salsa, too! This spicy margarita would also be fantastic with nachos, taquitos, or veggie tacos.

Bottoms up!

More Favorite Cocktail Recipes

If you love this spicy margarita recipe, try one of these tasty cocktails next:


5.0 from 39 reviews

Jalapeno Margaritas

 
Prep time
Total time
 
This jalapeño margarita is my favorite summer cocktail. It's so simple to make - be sure to adjust your drink to suit your tastes, and enjoy!
Author:
Recipe type: Cocktail
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup good tequila
  • ¼ to ½ jalapeño pepper, plus extra slices for garnish
  • ¼ cup Grand Marnier
  • ½ cup fresh lime juice, plus lime slices for garnish
  • ¼ cup simple syrup or fresh squeezed orange juice
  • a few splashes of sparkling water
  • handful of ice
Instructions
  1. Pour the tequila into a mixing glass or small pitcher. Add the sliced jalapeño, ¼ to ½ of it, depending on how spicy you want your margaritas. Set aside at room temperature for 15 minutes (the longer you let the jalapeños infuse, the spicier it will be).
  2. Make the margaritas by mixing together the jalapeño-infused tequila, Grand Marnier, lime juice and ¼ cup simple syrup or orange juice. Taste. If you’d like a spicier margarita, add more jalapeño and let it it sit a little longer. Pour into glasses and add lime slices and jalapeños for garnish. For a lighter margarita, fill the glasses ½ full and top with sparkling water.

 

46 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it):  

  1. Kathy
    03.10.2018

    Obsessed with this recipe..love love love! I cut the simple syrup in half, just preference. Thanks for the recipe 🙂

    • Kathy
      03.10.2018

      Meant to rate it 😂

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      03.14.2018

      I’m so glad it’s a favorite!!

  2. Abby Basic
    05.22.2017

    This recipe truly is a crowd pleaser!!! Served this drink at my May Birthday party this year as a signature drink with an addition of infusing tequila with jalapeño and cucumber for about 1.5 hrs and substitute the symple syrup/oj with Trader Joe’s Organic Jalapeño Limeade served with a lemon flaked salt rim… PERFECTION!!!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.22.2017

      Hi Abby, I’m so glad these were a hit! I will have to try your cucumber tip next time, it sounds so refreshing!

  3. Stefanie
    04.26.2017

    These are great! I would muddle the jalapeños and let them sit longer though to add a little more heat. Delicious!

  4. Elizabeth
    05.21.2016

    I’m crazy for this margarita. This is the second time I’ve made it (drinking it now). Thank you for sharing this with us. It is delicious. 🙂

    Note: I tried to rate this as a 5 star drink, but I can only get it to go as high as 4 stars.

  5. FESM
    12.31.2015

    Just made them, added the cilantro…. FANTASTIC!

  6. Diane
    11.15.2015

    Love this recipe!! Infused cucumber with jalapeño and tequila…! Ole!!

    • jeanine
      11.16.2015

      yum – that sounds good! Glad you liked 🙂

  7. Andrea Golombeck
    08.26.2015

    Got to try these love all the elements!

  8. Kalyan from icetrail.blogspot.com
    08.22.2015

    Just mouthwatering…looks lovely and delicious!

  9. Elizabeth from themotherhubbardscupboard.com
    08.22.2015

    Oh My….!!! I think I’m in love! 🙂 Liz xxx

  10. Allyson from consideringtheradish.wordpress.com
    08.22.2015

    Spicy margaritas are the best margaritas, and these look fantastic.

  11. WOW ! This sounds just AMAZING ! I love margarita, I make it with piment d’espelette which is a French pimiento. I mix it with salt and put it around the glass. I’m DEFINITELY going to try your recipe it makes me thirsty !!!

  12. Now, this is how you wrap up the week! I love tequila and the jalapeno bit makes it even more interesting! TGIF and thank God for spicy jalapeno margaritas! 🙂

  13. I agree, team tart and spicy! The tart + my affinity for tequila above other liquors is what really draws me in. I WILL be adding jalapeños to my next margarita! So pretty, too.

  14. Djuna from eatcaketoo.com
    08.21.2015

    I am a tequila, and hence, a margarita fanatic. I make a version much the same as this except that I add cilantro and shake individual servings with ice. If you like cilantro you will love it in this drink – mwah!

  15. Aida from saltandwind.com
    08.21.2015

    I like your mentality – there’s nothing like fighting the heat with a good margarita!

  16. Savvy
    08.21.2015

    Off to get limes now…all the rest is HERE!! Including simple syrup- and the weekend!! Yahoo!!

  17. I agree – never use margarita mix! Fresh ingredients have the best flavor and result in the best tasting cocktails. I love your take on the classic margarita. The jalapeños and jalapeño tequila are great ingredients for lovers of all things spicy. <3

  18. madeline from madelinemarieblog.com
    08.21.2015

    Margaritas are pretty much my favorite drink of all time…and yes I do believe pairing them with chips and salsa is a necessity. This looks lovely!

    http://madelinemarieblog.com/

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.