A Perfect 3 Ingredient Skinny Margarita Recipe

Name: A Perfect 3 Ingredient Skinny Margarita Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: juice of 2 limes; 6 oz (4 shots) tequila; 1 1/2 oz (1 shot) triple sec; ice; coarse salt, optional; lime wedges, optional

Beverages | Cinco de Mayo | Cocktails | Party | Vegan

ByLisa April 17, 2024April 1, 2025

268 Comments

Skinny margarita served with queso nachos

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With just 3 ingredients, a perfectly tart, refreshing flavor and just a hint of sweetness, this is the perfect skinny margarita.

National Margarita Day

Did you know National Margarita Day each year falls on February 22nd? I really would have thought it might have been later in the year, but given the margarita is one of the world’s most popular tequila-based drinks (if not THE most popular), it could really land on any day of the year.

So, basically, any time is a good time for a delicious margarita!

In support of National Margarita Day, I thought it would be fun to pull together a simple recipe based on the classic margarita. Just some simple ingredients brought together to make a tasty, fresh margarita.

More Sweet versus Less Sweet

Now, when it comes to different drinks, my personal preference is the less sweet, the better. But, I find most of the regular margarita mixes you find at the store are syrupy sweet. And, the fruity frozen margarita you find in many bars and restaurants also tend to be too sweet for my liking.

The margaritas I like are more of the craft cocktail type. What I mean, is a margarita that’s been made with quality ingredients like fresh lime juice rather than a pre-made mix out of a bottle.

And, as I mentioned, I don’t like a lot of sugar or other sweetener in my drinks. I actually want to taste the tequila, and I like my drink on the tart side.

So, limit the use of artificial sweeteners and use simple, fresh ingredients found at the local liquor and grocery store. Those were the basic building blocks for this easy skinny margarita recipe.

Making the Perfect Skinny Margarita

While making a “healthy margarita” is a bit difficult (because, you know, it has alcohol!), I can still make a great margarita, but reduce some of the calories. To do this, I use an orange liqueur as the sweetener.

Orange liqueur is simply an orange flavored distilled spirit that does contain some level of sugar. Triple Sec is the generic term for these spirits. That’s where the sweetness comes from.

I think your generic Triple Sec works just fine in this recipe, but some people think the orange flavor is a bit basic. If you’re looking for something a little more complex, a couple of great substitutes are Cointreau (a little higher in alcohol content and smoother finish) or Grand Marnier (which is mixed with cognac).

Now, fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, tequila, Triple Sec and some fresh-squeezed lime juice and give it a good shake. At this point, you can dress up your serving glass as you wish.

Some people like a salted rim on their glass as it counteracts the sweetness of a traditional margarita. Since this recipe already reduces the sugar some, people may want to use a bit less salt than they normally do.

I also like to add a lime wedge to my drink. That slice of lime adds a nice tart, citrus flavor that I think really rounds out this drink.

And there you go. A really easy recipe for a great margarita.

Does the Type of Tequila Used in the Skinny Margarita Matter?

Since this is an alcohol-forward drink, I do think the quality of the tequila does affect the flavor. For myself, I do look for the best tequila to use within my own price point.

However, if you have a favorite tequila that you love (even if it isn’t considered “high quality tequila”), you should be perfectly comfortable using it in this recipe.

Make Yourself a Perfect 3-Ingredient Skinny Margarita Today!

Because you need so few ingredients, you are just minutes away from making yourself the perfect margarita that is both delicious and lower in calories.

So, whether you’re setting up your own neighborhood happy hour, preparing for a Cinco de Mayo celebration, or just looking for a cold, good margarita on a hot summer day, this Perfect 3 Ingredient Skinny Margarita is great for the occasion.

Enjoy!

What to Love About this Skinny Margarita

It only has 3 ingredients.
There’s no added sugar other than the sugar in the triple sec in the recipe.
They’re quick and easy to make.
They have far fewer calories in them than restaurant margaritas can contain.

Tips and Tricks

It’s essential to use fresh lime juice. Bottled lime juice may be a little more convenient, but it’s just not going to taste as good or as fresh. It will only take you a few minutes to squeeze your own fresh juice.
It’s very important to shake these in a cocktail shaker with LOTS of ice before pouring them into a serving glass filled with ice. Doing that will insure that the flavor is just right. The ice in the cocktail shaker will dilute the drink just enough to mellow out the flavor. The tequila won’t be too strong, the lime juice won’t be too tart and it will be icy cold.
Triple sec, which is an orange liqueur, is also essential to this recipe. It adds citrus flavor as well as gives the drink just a touch of sweetness, which is what you’re looking for. If you’re feeling fancy, you can substitute Cointreau or Grand Marnier, which are both top shelf orange liqueurs.
If you like your margaritas a bit sweeter, add about 1 tbsp honey or agave to the shaker.
I highly recommend rimming your cocktail glasses with salt. To do that, sprinkle a generous amount of salt onto a small plate. Dip your cocktail glasses first in water and then in the salt.

Ingredients Needed to Make this Perfect Skinny Margarita

Full instructions for this recipe are found below in the printable recipe card

Fresh limes
Tequila
Triple sec, Cointreau or Grand Marnier
Ice
Coarse salt, optional

How to Make a Perfect Skinny Margarita

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Add lime juice, tequila and triple sec.
Cover and shake for 5-10 seconds, until shaker feels very cold.
Rim glasses with course salt, if desired.
Pour into cocktail glasses filled with ice.

More Tequila Cocktails to Enjoy

Yield: 4