There are so many things that define summer. Beach days, lazy afternoons by the pool, and carefree evenings gathered with friends that last long into the night. But in Austin—where tacos are a summertime staple—nothing beats kicking back and sipping a spicy margarita. They’re fruity, just sweet enough, and boast a touch of heat to seal the deal. And trust: this recipe is a far cry from a pre-packaged mix. If you’ve been let down in your search for the perfect spicy margarita recipe, take heart: she’s right here.

Why You’ll Love This Spicy Margarita

There are countless ways to mix up a margarita. You can keep it classic with tequila, fresh-squeezed lime juice, Cointreau, and agave syrup. Or, you can play things up with unexpected flavors like prickly pear syrup, blended frozen watermelon, and even celery juice. But there’s something undeniably delicious about the simple but standout zing of a spicy margarita.

It delivers a little heat while still managing to quench that warm-weather thirst. This spicy margarita recipe is tradition taken up a notch. As someone who loves nothing more than dousing *anything* with a healthy shake of hot sauce and never turns down a side of salsa, this spicy margarita is everything I’ve ever wanted in a glass. Oh, and that Tajín rim? Trust me: once you sip, it’s hard to stop.

What You’ll Need to Make This Spicy Margarita Recipe

This spicy margarita recipe is a leveled-up take on the classic drink. We have all the staples—tequila, lime juice, and a little sweetener—but a few more ingredients get added to the mix to really send it over the top.

• Tequila blanco. I live by one rule: good tequila, always. But thankfully, to make this spicy margarita recipe, you don’t need to shell out on the most expensive bottle. Here, we used LALO tequila blanco, but we also love Flecha Azul and Casamigos.
• Lime juice. Only opt for freshly squeezed. Yes, using the bottle cuts corners, but it’ll also leave you with a slightly stale-tasting margarita. Not ideal.
• Orange juice. Like the lime juice, we’re sticking to the fresh stuff. The resulting flavor is bright, citrusy, and with just a touch of acidic sweetness to balance out the heat.
• Honey or agave. Depending on how you like your spicy margaritas, you can add more or less of your sweetener. This will balance out the slight burn you get from the tequila, keeping your drink tasting smooth and delish.
• Tajín. The star ingredient of this spicy margarita recipe. Tajín is a Mexican seasoning blend comprised of chile powder, salt, and dehydrated lime. The flavor is complex, with a bit of citrusy tang, a slight saltiness, and of course—heat. It sends the spice factor home without overwhelming the drink.
• Sliced chili pepper. Use this to garnish. It adds a nice pop of color for a vibrant, spicy finish.

How to Make a Spicy Margarita

The good news is that there’s little between you and the best spicy margarita of your life. Mixing up this recipe is a simple matter of shaking your ingredients in a cocktail shaker and pouring into a rimmed glass. Here’s how it’s done.

1. Rim your glass. For the Tajín rim, pour the Tajín onto a shallow plate. Run a lime wedge along the rim of your glass. Dip into the Tajín until coated.
2. Shake your ingredients. Add tequila, lime juice, orange juice, and your choice of sweetener to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until your shaker is cold, about 30 seconds. Pour into your glass and garnish with sliced chili pepper. Top with sparkling water if needed. Enjoy!

What to Serve With Spicy Margaritas

While delicious on its own, this spicy margarita recipe knows how to play well with others. Guacamole is a classic, of course, but you can also enjoy it alongside your favorite warm-weather meals. These are go-to pairings.

More Margarita Recipes to Try

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