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    Home » Recipes » Drinks » Watermelon Margaritas

    Watermelon Margaritas

    Published: May 19, 2022 · Modified: May 19, 2022 by John Kanell

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

    Made with 5 ingredients and ice, this Watermelon Margaritas recipe is the ultimate summer drink. Made with fresh watermelon, this refreshing cocktail is sweet, tart, and beyond easy to throw together for cookouts, picnics, and parties.

    Two short and one tall glass of watermelon margaritas with salt and sliced watermelon on the rim.
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    Pinterest graphic of two glasses of watermelon margaritas with lime and watermelon slices in the drinks.
    Pinterest graphic of an overhead view of two glasses of watermelon margaritas on a sliver tray.
    Pinterest graphic of a slice of fresh watermelon added to a glass of watermelon margarita.
    Pinterest graphic of a glass of watermelon margarita with lime and watermelon as garnish.
    Pinterest graphic of a glass of watermelon margarita with two in the background. Cut watermelon and lime placed on the salted rim.

    Sweet and refreshing with a hint of citrusy tartness, these watermelon margaritas are always a crowd-pleasing drink. Super simple to make with only a handful of ingredients, these margaritas are perfect to sip on all summer long.

    Like my strawberry margaritas, blood orange margaritas, and classic margaritas, this watermelon margarita is easily made from scratch with no mixes. Naturally sweet from the watermelon, this is a fun, easy cocktail for any occasion.

    What You Need to Make This Recipe

    Ingredients needed to make watermelon margaritas.

    Watermelon — make sure you use a ripe watermelon for the margaritas. The watermelon is the only sweetener in the drink, so that a ripe watermelon will yield the best flavored drink. Always look for watermelons that feel heavy for their size with a hollow sound when knocked on.

    Salt — a margarita is not completed without a salted rim!

    Tequila — since the ingredient list is short, it’s important to use good quality tequila, but no need to break the bank with an overly expensive one.

    Triple sec — I like to use Cointreau, but you can use any variety of orange-flavored liquor.

    How to Make Watermelon Margaritas

    Set of two photos showing watermelon blended and strained.

    1. Place the watermelon cubes in a blender container and blend on high speed until puréed.

    2. For a smoother drink, strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the pulp, but that is optional. Chill the watermelon juice until ready to use.

    Set of two photos showing liquids added to a shaker and shook.

    3. Combine 3 ounces of watermelon juice, 1½ ounces of tequila, 1-ounce of lime juice, and 1 ounce of triple sec in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice.

    4. Shake until the outside is frosty, about 15 seconds.

    Set of two photos showing drink strained into a glass with ice and garnished.

    5. Salt the rim of a glass by running a lime wedge around the rim and dipping it in coarse salt. Fill with ice and then strain the drink into the glass.

    6. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve immediately.

    Two glasses of watermelon margaritas with salt on the rim with a slice of watermelon and lime in the drink.

    Pro Tips for Making This Recipe

    • I recommend sticking to fresh lime juice for the margaritas for the best flavor. The bottled juices do not have the same fresh, bright flavors.
    • You can add more citrus flavor to the drink by adding lime zest to the salt for the rim.
    • To make this watermelon margarita spicier, add sliced jalapeno to the shaker. You can also garnish with jalapeno.
    • Don’t have a cocktail shaker? You can use a mason jar or any jar with a tight-fitting lid.
    • If you do not want the drink to taste watered down as the ice melts, you can freeze lime juice and watermelon juice in an ice cube tray and use that instead of ice cubes.
    • If watermelon is not in season, you can make this with frozen watermelon. Thaw the frozen chunks if you don’t want a frozen watermelon margarita.

    Overhead view of two glasses of watermelon margaritas on a sliver tray.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make this ahead of time?

    You can mix everything together and keep the drink chilled in the fridge without ice for up to 3 days ahead of time. You can also cut the limes and watermelon ahead of time and store them in an airtight container.

    How do I scale this up?

    Simply double or triple up all of the ingredients, minus the ice. Instead of shaking together the ingredients, one drink at a time, mix everything in a jar or pitcher with a lid in the fridge. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Give the drink a quick stir and strain it into the prepared glasses when ready to serve.

    Can I use storebought watermelon juice for the margaritas?

    To cut down on the prep time, you can use storebought watermelon juice. However, keep in mind that bottled watermelon juices tend to have added sugar.

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    If you’ve tried this Watermelon Margaritas recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!

    Glasses of watermelon margaritas, with one on a tray, with cut watermelon and limes in the drink and scattered around.
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    5 from 2 votes

    Watermelon Margaritas

    Refreshing and sweet, this Watermelon Margaritas recipe is the perfect summer cocktail. It is easy to make with only a handful of ingredients.
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine Mexican
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 10 minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 242kcal
    Author John Kanell

    Equipment

    • Blender
    • cocktail shaker
    • Cocktail glasses

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups cubed watermelon (about ¾-pound/675g)
    • coarse salt
    • ¾ cup tequila blanco preferred (6oz/180ml)
    • ½ cup fresh lime juice (4oz/120ml)
    • ½ cup triple sec Cointreau preferred (4oz/120ml)
    • ice

    Instructions

    • Place the watermelon cubes in a blender container and blend on high speed until puréed. I like to strain mine through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the pulp, but that is optional. Chill the watermelon juice until ready to use.
    • Salt the rim of 4 glasses by running a lime wedge around the rim and dipping it in coarse salt. Fill with ice.
    • For each cocktail, combine 3 ounces of watermelon juice, 1½ ounces of tequila, 1-ounce of lime juice, and 1 ounce of triple sec in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice.
    • Shake until the outside is frosty, about 15 seconds. Pour into the cocktail glasses. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve immediately.

    Notes

    • I recommend sticking to fresh lime juice for the margaritas for the best flavor. The bottled juices do not have the same fresh, bright flavors.
    • You can add more citrus flavor to the drink by adding lime zest to the salt for the rim.
    • To make this watermelon margarita spicier, add sliced jalapeno to the shaker. You can also garnish with jalapeno.
    • Don’t have a cocktail shaker? You can use a mason jar or any jar with a tight-fitting lid.
    • If you do not want the drink to taste watered down as the ice melts, you can freeze lime juice and watermelon juice in an ice cube tray and use that instead of ice cubes.
    • If watermelon is not in season, you can make this with frozen watermelon. Thaw the frozen chunks if you don’t want a frozen watermelon margarita.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 586mg | Potassium: 215mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 880IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
    *Nutrition Disclaimer
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    Thanks for stopping by! I’m John Kanell, a husband, dad to twins Lachlan and George, Los Angeles native, and an avid baker and cooker of all things delicious thanks to a life long education from my mother. This blog is where I share all of my kitchen creations!

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