How to Make a Skinny Margarita Recipe

Are you looking for a lighter margarita recipe with no simple syrup? Wondering how to make margarita healthier? This simple Skinny Margarita recipe is an amazing way to imbibe without all of the calories and sugar. Fresh, easy and completely delicious!

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My journey on finding the perfect skinny margarita recipe

When I was on my weight loss journey, giving up margaritas entirely felt unnecessary and restrictive. You can learn more about my 100 lb weight loss journey here. I knew that being overly strict with myself would just result in feeling resentful. So, I started experimenting with ways to get the same fresh, citrusy flavor without the sugar bomb of a traditional margarita – and this recipe is what I landed on after a lot of testing.

The things I knew I didn’t want in the margarita were the ultra-syrupy, sugary, heavy stuff you would get at a restaurant. I wanted light, fresh citrus flavors that actually tasted like a margarita. After quite a bit of testing, I landed on a simple, basic drink with just four ingredients, including fresh lime juice, Cointreau, Tequila and little agave nectar.

This delicious skinny margarita recipe is wonderfully fresh, simple and depending on how much tequila you prefer, has a nice kick to it.

How many calories in a skinny margarita?

A homemade skinny margarita has approximately 178 calories with 8 g of sugar. Whereas, a restuarant style margarita made with simple syrup has about 250 calories and 33 g of sugar.

What makes this margarita skinny?

I was able to skinny-up this recipe in a few different ways: first, I started with fresh lime juice instead of a syrupy mixer. The fresh lime juice has just 7-8 calories per ounce which.

Second, I don’t use simple syrup in this margarita recipe. Many restaruants and bars include simple syrup in their margaritas, and it is not needed. It is also not customary to include simple syrup in a margarita. I include the option to add agave nectar for sweetness, but even with that not much is needed. You can completely omit the agave if you feel the lime juice is enough.

How do I make a lighter margarita with no simple syrup?

First, tart with fresh squeezed lime juice. This is a key ingredient to achieving superior taste without the heavy, sugary flavors of a simple syrup or mixer. You’ll need about 1 oz. of lime juice per margarita.

To the lime juice, add in the tequila (2 shots), Cointreau (1 shot), and a small amount of agave nectar if you perfer a little more sweetness. That’s all you need!

How many limes do I need to make a margarita?

You’ll likely need 1-2 limes per drink, so when buying your limes at the grocery store, get several. My recipe calls for 1 oz. of lime juice per drink. You may also want lime slices in your drink and/or for a garnish.

I also use fresh squeezed lime juice in my Blueberry Mojito recipe, which makes a big difference in flavor!

What glasses are best for a margarita?

The standard glass for a margarita is a curved, up-style glass like what I used for my Pineapple Margaritas. An up-style glass is more traditional for a blended drink.

Feel free to use a rocks glass (like I did in these photos), as this is a more traditional vessel when enjoying a margarita on the rocks.

How do I salt rim a glass for a margarita?

To prep the glasses, run a lime wedge around the rims of the glasses. Dip the glasses into kosher or margarita salt. Lastly, fill the glasses with crushed or cubed ice. Add some lime slices to the glasses, if you prefer.

I’m using Jose Cuervo Margarita Salt for these margaritas. It comes in a convenient round, flat container that makes it useful for rimming the edges of your margarita glasses.

Specialized margarita salt is not required to salt the rim of a glass. Any kosher salt will work well.

How do I mix a margarita on the rocks?

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, feel free to use a mason jar with a tight fitting lid.
2. To the ice, add the tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, and the optional agave nectar. Agave nectar is a great natural sweetener and perfect substitute for simple syrup that is in a typical margarita. You’ll still get a sweet, but not overly syrup-y cocktail when using the agave nectar.
3. Once you have the cocktail ingredients in the shaker, secure the lid tightly and shake vigorously. Immediately pour the margarita into the prepared glasses and enjoy right away while cold.

Can I make this a Frozen or Blended Margarita?

For a blended skinny margarita, simply add ice to a blender – approximately 1 heaping cup per drink.

Add in the tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, and agave nectar, and blend until the ice is smooth. Pour into prepared glasses.

What are the tools I need to make a Skinny Margarita?

Here are a few tools I have in making a this skinny margarita recipe, as well as many of my other cocktails. (Amazon Affiliate Links below)

• Expert Cocktail Shaker Home Bar Set – a good, stainless-steel bar shaker and the accessories to go along with it are an essential in any home bar. We use our cocktail shaker just about every weekend, and can be used for a multitude of cocktails!
• This Bellemain Premium Quality Stainless Steel Lemon Squeezer with Silicone Handles has withstood the test of time. We have broke about three different citrus juicers, and THIS one is really durable and has withstood numerous lemons and limes. We love it, and use it all the time!

If you loved this delicious Skinny Margarita recipe, here’s some of my other cocktail recipes:

• Pink Margaritas with Grenadine
• Blue Margarita Drink Recipe
• Spicy Jalapeno Margarita
• Mango Mojito
• Peach Margarita
• Blackberry Margarita
• Watermelon Margarita Recipe
• Skinny Malibu Pina Coladas
• Mango Margarita
• Pineapple Margaritas
• Coconut Margaritas
• Strawberry Lime Margaritas
• Baileys Espresso Martini
• Watermelon Coconut Rum Punch
• Frozen Raspberry Peach Bellini
• Strawberry Limoncello Spritzers