How to Make a 3-Ingredient Classic Margarita (That's So Much Better Than Frozen) (2024)

What are you drinking? We suggest a classic margarita made with tequila, lime, and a touch oforangeliqueur.Just three ingredients, no sour mix, no frozen riffs—it's a citrusy, lip-smacking combination that's easy to make at home. Make sure you have plenty of ice—and get out your shaker because this essential libation is shaken, never stirred. Simplicity is key, but don’t forget the salt rim that brings it all together. Cheers!

Just 3 Ingredients

The ingredient list for a margarita is short, which means you need to pay attention to the quality of each element—there's nothing to cover up inferior components.

• Use Quality Tequila: Tequila is a spirit made from agave—a plant that can take around seven years or so to grow and mature before it is ready to harvest. Not all tequila is created equal. At the bare minimum, be sure to use 100 percent blue agave tequila. And while some margarita recipes may use aged tequila, a pure, simple unaged blanco is the classic choice for this drink.
• Opt for Good Triple Sec: Don't skimp on the orange-flavored liqueur, it adds a gentle, citrusy sweetness to the co*cktail. Triple sec is the most well-known, but there are many orange-flavored liqueur options—and not all triple secs are made well; some can taste artificial or too sweet. The French word "sec" actually means dry, which is where this liqueur should lean.
• Go With Fresh Limes: Bottled lime juice doesn't work here, it lacks the fresh taste of just-squeezed limes. Plus, you'll need a lime to rim the glass and for garnish, so just buy two as the recipe calls for—one for squeezing in the drink and one for slicing and cutting a wedge from.
• Don't Skip the Salt: While a salted rim is not required, we include it in our recipe because it elevates the flavor and is an important layer in the drink's profile.
  

1. Juice lime:

   Juice one lime to make 1 ounce and set aside.

2. Cut one slice and one wedge from other lime:

   From remaining lime, slice a thin wheel for garnish and a wedge for salt rim.

3. Rim glass and fill with ice:

   Run lime wedge around one side of the rim of a chilled rocks glass; dip rim in salt to coat. Partially fill glass with ice.

   We prefer to use 1 large sphere of ice for minimal melting and dilution.

4. Shake co*cktail:

   Fill a co*cktail shaker halfway with ice. Add tequila, orange liqueur, and reserved lime juice. Shake vigorously until outside of shaker is cold and frosty, about 10 seconds;

5. Strain, garnish, and serve:

   Strain into prepared glass. Garnish with lime wheel and serve immediately.

Other Margarita Recipes to Try:

• Yellow Watermelon Margarita
• Serrano-Mint Margarita.
• Orange-Mint Margarita
• Texas Margarita
• Frozen Mango Margarita