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    Home » Drinks » Tequila

    Published: Mar 20, 2023 by Lisa · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Key Lime Margaritas

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Lime Margarita in low ball glass with lime wedges.
    Key Lime Margarita with salt on the rocks.
    2 Key Lime Margaritas on the rocks with salt.
    Margarita in a low ball glass with shaker in background.

    If you are a margarita lover who loves to try new flavors, these Key Lime Margaritas are right up your alley. You only need 4 ingredients and 10 minutes to instantly transport yourself to the tropics with this tasty twist on a classic recipe.

    Lime Margarita in low ball glass over ice.

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    Does anyone else love tequila as much as we do? We are ALWAYS in the mood for a tasty margarita and these Key Lime Margaritas only need 4 ingredients. Can a homemade marg get any easier? Hello, Happy Hour!

    Don't forget chips and homemade chunky guacamole - a proper happy hour with margaritas isn't complete without it!

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love a Key Lime Margarita
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Expert Tips for the best margaritas
    • Shortcuts and Substitutions
    • More Margarita Recipes
    • Recipe

    Why you will love a Key Lime Margarita

    ✘ It's a tasty twist on a classic! Fresh Key Lime juice instantly puts you in vacation mode. The subtle sweetness of the key lime juice is perfect with tequila.

    ✘ It's a restaurant-quality cocktail! Homemade margaritas are one of the easiest cocktails to master at home, giving you bar-worthy drinks any day of the week.

    ✘ It's party friendly! Margaritas and parties go hand in hand. It's easy to make one key lime margarita or a pitcher to serve at your next fiesta!

    Ingredients

    You only need 4 ingredients to make a perfect margarita.

    Bottles of ingredients needed to make key lime margaritas.

    Ingredient Notes:

    Tequila: Blanco tequila is used for the margarita. Be sure to grab one that it is 100% agave. High quality ingredients yield high quality drinks.

    Cointreau: Cointreau is our orange liqueur of choice for this drink but Triple Sec and Grand Marnier can also be used.

    Agave: Agave is the perfect sweetener for tequila and is a great pantry staple to have on hand.

    Key Lime Juice: Fresh juice is a must for cocktails! Depending on the limes, you will need about 7 key limes to make this drink. If you can't find key limes, you can use equal parts of fresh lemon and fresh lime juice in its place.

    Instructions

    Margaritas are one of the easiest cocktails to make from scratch.

    Steps to make a key lime margarita, pouring liquors and juices into shaker.

    Fill a shaker with ice and add the key lime juice, tequila, agave and Cointreau. Shake vigorously to combine and emulsify the agave into the tequila and juice.

    Rimming a glass with a lime wedge, inverting on plate of salt and filling with a margarita.

    Rim the edge of the glass with a lime wedge and invert onto a plate of salt. Fill the glass with ice and strain the margarita into the prepared glass.

    FAQs

    How are key limes different from Persian limes?

    Key limes are smaller in size and the skin is more yellow vs green. When you slice a key lime you will find that they have thinner skin and many seeds. The juice of key limes is sweeter than regular lime juice making it perfect for this tasty margarita.

    What kind of tequila does this margarita use?

    I prefer to use high-quality silver or blanco tequila in my margaritas. It’s a young tequila that is not aged for very long, which also makes it less expensive than a reposado or añejo tequila. Silver tequila mixes well with other liqueurs and juices, which is why you'll often see it in mixed drink recipes.

    The most important thing to remember is to buy 100% agave tequila. It's the smoothest tequila, regardless of age.

    What is the difference between the 3 kinds of tequila?


    ▶︎ Blanco Tequila has not been aged and is commonly used in flavored margaritas. We love to make a tequila mojito with blanco tequila.
    ▶︎ Reposado Tequila is a tequila that has been aged in an oak barrel giving it a smooth, more complex flavor.
    ▶︎ Anejo Tequila has been aged for 1-4 years and is rich in flavor. It is good to drink on the rocks or in a tequila old fashioned.

    Expert Tips for the best margaritas

    ✔️ Fresh key lime juice is a MUST for the best margaritas. Bottled juices contain preservatives that impact taste. It takes just a few seconds to squeeze your own lime juice. This handheld juicer is one of our favorite kitchen tools. It even has measuring marks so you can easily see how much juice you've squeezed.

    ✔️ Use good tequila. The tequila taste shines through in this drink. Use a blanco that is 100% agave.

    ✔️ Shake your drink over lots of ice. Shaking the drink for at least 30 seconds not only combines the juice with the alcohol but chills it at the same time. Cold drinks are the best drinks.

    ✔️Cointreau is a premium orange liqueur and makes this drink a top-shelf cocktail that will have everyone asking for the recipe.

    Key Lime Margarita in low ball glass with salt rim.

    Shortcuts and Substitutions

    ▶︎ We prefer Cointreau in this cocktail but don't worry if you don't have it at home. Swap Triple Sec or Grand Marnier instead and you'll still get great results.

    ▶︎ We love the taste of the agave in this recipe but simple syrup can be used if that is what you have on hand.

    ▶︎ Can't find key limes? Use equal parts of fresh lemon juice and fresh lime juice instead. Remember fresh juice is always best.

    ▶︎ Serving a group? Mix up a batch ahead of time and refrigerate (without ice) until ready to serve.

    2 low ball glasses filled with Key Lime Margaritas.

    More Margarita Recipes

    It's hard to find a marg we don't love! Check out these reader favorites or all of our tequila drinks!

    • margarita on the rocks with salt with lime wedge.
      Grand Marnier Margarita (golden margarita)
    • Watermelon margarita in an ice filled glass rimmed with salt and garnished with lime wedges.
      Watermelon Margaritas
    • Short salt rimmed glasses filled with margaritas. Blood oranges for garnish.
      Blood Orange Margaritas
    • Mango margarita in an ice filled glass rimmed with salt and garnished with lime wedges.
      Easy Mango Margarita
    
    
    Did you make this recipe? We'd love to hear your thoughts! 
    
    Please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Your feedback helps us and your fellow readers! 
    
    
    

    Recipe

    Margarita in low ball glass on ice with salt.

    Key Lime Margaritas

    Garnish With Lemon
    Update your traditional margarita with these 4 ingredient Key Lime Margaritas!
    4.60 from 49 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Tequila
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 cocktail
    Calories 328 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Citrus Juicer
    • Cocktail Shaker
    • Mini Measuring Beaker Set

    Ingredients
      

    • 1½ ounces Key Lime Juice
    • 1 ounce Agave
    • 1½ ounces Tequila
    • 1½ ounces Cointreau
    • Kosher Salt
    • lime wedges

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    Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox.

    Instructions
     

    • Fill shaker with ice and add tequila, orange liqueur, key lime juice and agave. Shake vigorously to mix.
      1½ ounces Key Lime Juice, 1 ounce Agave, 1½ ounces Tequila, 1½ ounces Cointreau
    • Shake vigorously to mix.
    • Rim glass with a lime wedge and invery on a plate filled with kosher salt.
      Kosher Salt, lime wedges
    • Fill the glass with ice, strain contents of the shaker into the glass. Garnish with lime wedge.
    • Serve immediately.

    Notes

    Ingredient Notes:
    Tequila: Blanco tequila is used for the margarita, be sure that it is 100% agave. High quality ingredients yield high quality drinks.
    Cointreau: Cointreau is our orange liqueur of choice for this drink, Triple Sec and Grand Marnier can also be used.
    Agave: Agave is the perfect sweetener for tequila and is a great pantry staple to have on hand.
    Key Lime Juice: Fresh juice is a must for cocktails! Depending on the limes, you will need about 7 key limes to make this drink. If you can't find key limes, you can use equal parts of fresh lemon and fresh lime juice in its place.
    Expert Tips:
    Shake your drink over lots of ice. Shaking the drink for at least 30 seconds not only combines the juice with the alcohol but chills it at the same time. Cold drinks are the best drinks.
    Substitutions
    ▶︎We prefer Cointreau in this cocktail but don't worry if you don't have it at home. Simply swap Triple Sec or Grand Marnier instead and still get great results.
    ▶︎We love the taste of the agave in this recipe but simple syrup can be used if that is what you have on hand.
    ▶︎Can't find key limes? Use equal parts of fresh lemon juice and fresh lime juice instead. Remember fresh juice is always best.
    ▶︎ Serving a group? Mix up a batch ahead of time and refrigerate (without ice) until ready to serve.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 5.5ouncesCalories: 328kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 0.3gFat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 6mgPotassium: 64mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 34gVitamin A: 21IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 0.1mg

    Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?Tag us on Instagram or leave a comment!
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    About Lisa

    Hi, I’m Lisa! Looking for the party? It’s probably at my house. Nothing brings me more joy than sharing good food with friends and family. That and a seriously good cocktail.

    Reader Interactions

    4.60 from 49 votes (49 ratings without comment)

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