Sipping on this sweet and spicy watermelon margarita is the best way to spend your summer weekends! 6 ingredients and 5 minutes are all you need to bring it together.
Want to try more such interesting cocktail recipes, then here are some of my other favorites lined up for you – Mango Daiquiri, Mango Mojito, Blueberry Mojito, Mango Martini, Red Wine Sangria, Watermelon Mojito, and Pumpkin Spice Martini.
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About This Recipe
This 5 minutes spicy watermelon margarita is one of those fun cocktails, that you will make again and again to sip during summer afternoons! It is a sweet-spicy mixture of 6 ingredients and its vibrant color screams summer.
The best thing about making it at home is that you can customize it according to your taste preferences. Add in more watermelon juice if you like it to be lighter, increase or decrease the sweetener, add more lime juice if you want it tangier and more Jalapeno for a stronger spicy kick. You can also make a non-alcoholic version by skipping adding the tequila.
This recipe is easy to scale up so if you are wanting to make it for a gathering, double or triple the recipe and make it in a big pitcher.
You can sip them during your weekend brunch, BBQs or make a pitcher for your house parties, game or movie nights, or gatherings.
Ingredients
Watermelon – Make sure to buy the best seedless watermelons. If you want to make the process even quicker, buy already cut watermelon.
Choose a ripe and juicy watermelon. The watermelon should be dark green in color and free of patches. It should feel heavy for its size.
Check for the splotch. Watermelon develops a splotch where they rest on the ground. When this splotch is creamy yellow, it’s ripe.
Tap the underbelly of the watermelon. A ripe one will have a deep hollow sound, which means it is juicy. Under-ripe or over-ripe melons will sound dull.
There are multiple ways in which you can cut a watermelon. I will tell you an easy way to cut it, as I do at home.
To begin with, chop off the upper and lower ends of the watermelon and cut it into half using a large knife.
Lay one half of the melon on the cutting board (flesh part down). Holding your knife at an angle, cut down towards the cutting board to remove the rind and white flesh. You should see the red flesh of the watermelon after you’ve made the cuts.
Now chop the flesh into pieces.
Tequila – Preferably, go for 100% agave silver or Blanco tequila. Having said that, you can use any unflavored tequila that you prefer to drink.
In traditional margaritas, orange liqueur like triple sec or Cointreau is also added. I am leaving them out in this recipe to let the watermelon flavor shine.
Fresh Lime & Orange Juice – Freshly squeezed juices add a refreshing sweet-tart taste to the cocktail, making it really delicious.
Jalapeno – This is the ingredient that makes it different from other similar margaritas. It adds a nice spicy kick which complements the sweet and tart flavors of the drink really well.
If you are making a pitcher, make sure you take out the Jalapeños after a while. If you let them sit in the drink for longer, they will make the margaritas too spicy.
Agave Nectar – Agave nectar is the traditional sweetener used for margaritas. You can also use simple syrup or honey in place of agave nectar. If you feel that the watermelons are sweet enough, you can skip adding it too.
For the Rims – Rimming the glass makes the margaritas super exciting. For a salty spicy rim, you will require – sea salt, chili powder, and lemon wedges. You can avoid chili if it makes your lips burn.
How to make Spicy Watermelon Margarita?
To make the watermelon juice
Peel ½ small seedless watermelon and cut into cubes. Add the cubes to a blender and blend until smooth. You can check out my detailed watermelon juice recipe here.
Depending on your watermelon, you may or may not need to strain out the pulp. If it’s too pulpy for your liking, pour it through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing the liquid through with a big spoon.
To rim the margarita glasses
On a small plate, mix together ¼ cup sea salt and ¼ cup Ancho chili powder (or regular chili powder).
Run a wedge of lime around the top of the glass. Dip the rim of the glass into the salt blend at a 45-degree angle and roll it from side to side to catch the salt. Freeze or refrigerate the rimmed glasses until ready to use (optional).
To make the margarita
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the watermelon juice, tequila, lime juice, orange juice, agave nectar, and add a jalapeño slice.
Secure the lid of the shaker and shake for 30 seconds. Taste and add additional sweetener if necessary. Strain the liquid into your prepared glass. Add a few ice cubes and serve!
Storing Suggestions
This spicy watermelon margarita tastes best when made fresh. You can make the juice ahead and refrigerate it for 3-4 days. When ready to make the margarita, just mix it with other ingredients and serve!
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Recipe Card
Spicy Watermelon Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
For chili salt rim
- ¼ cup sea salt
- ¼ cup Ancho chili powder (or regular red chili powder)
- lime wedges (as required)
For margarita
- ice cubes (as required)
- 2 ounces fresh watermelon juice (60 ml)
- 2 ounces tequila (60 ml, preferably 100% agave silver or blanco tequila)
- ¾ ounce fresh lime juice (20 ml)
- ½ ounce fresh orange juice (15 ml)
- ½ teaspoon agave nectar (or simple syrup, more to taste)
- 1 Jalapeno (thinly sliced in round (¼th inch wide, a little goes a long way!))
- 1 watermelon wedge (for garnishing (optional))
Instructions
To make the watermelon juice
- Peel ½ small seedless watermelon and cut into cubes. Add the cubes to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Depending on your watermelon, you may or may not need to strain out the pulp. If it’s too pulpy for your liking, pour it through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing the liquid through with a big spoon.
To rim the margarita glasses
- On a small plate, mix together ¼ cup sea salt and ¼ cup Ancho chili powder (or regular chili powder).
- Run a wedge of lime around the top of the glass. Dip the rim of the glass into the salt blend at a 45-degree angle and roll it from side to side to catch the salt. Freeze or refrigerate the rimmed glasses until ready to use (optional).
To make the margarita
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the watermelon juice, tequila, lime juice, orange juice, agave nectar, and add 1-2 jalapeño slices.
- Secure the lid of the shaker and shake for 30 seconds. Taste and add additional sweetener if necessary. Strain the liquid into your prepared glass. Add a few ice cubes and serve!
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!