How to Make Frozen Margaritas

Caroline StankoUpdated: Apr. 11, 2023

How To Make Taste Of Home's Frozen Margarita Recipe

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Want to learn how to make frozen margaritas at home? Well, you're in the right place.

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When the weather starts getting warmer, frozen cocktails aren’t too far behind. One of our favorite summer drinks is a frozen margarita—seriously one of the best margarita variations. What’s not to love? This drink is great paired with tacos or a substantial bowl of chips and fresh pico de gallo. With the sun out all day, it’s definitely time to learn how to make frozen margaritas.

Luckily, making one from scratch is super simple. Just consult our margarita guide—or slice up a few limes and let the magic happen! The best part? You can pick up your favorite margarita recipe, like this Amaretto margarita or this Caribbean Blue margarita and turn them into frozen margs using this method.

How to Make a Frozen Margarita

This recipe makes 4 to 6 margaritas, depending on how thirsty you and your friends are.

Ingredients

1 cup tequila
1/2 cup of triple sec
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 2 limes)
2 tablespoons simple syrup, superfine sugar or agave syrup
4-6 cups ice
Lime wedges
Coarse kosher salt

Measuring cup: This OXO measuring cup has proportions printed along a ledge so you can read the measurements as you pour.
Blender: This is our go-to for perfectly crushed ice.
Margarita glasses: When it comes to frozen margs, a proper margarita glass is a must! These are our favorite margarita glasses.

Check out our complete list of essential margarita tools.

Directions

Step 1: Mix it up

Place the tequila, triple sec, lime juice, sweetener and ice into a blender. Blend until the ice is crushed and the mixture is lump-free.

Editor’s Tip: Depending on your preferences, you may want to add more or less sweetener. Add sugar a tablespoon at a time to taste.

Step 2: Salt the rim

Using a lime wedge, moisten each glass rim. Set limes aside for garnish. Then, spread a few tablespoons of kosher salt on a plate, hold each glass upside down and dip the rim into the salt. Flip the glasses right-side-up and discard any remaining salt.

Step 3: Sip!

Divide the frozen margaritas evenly into the salted glasses and garnish with the reserved limes. Serve immediately.

Frozen Margaritas FAQs

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How do you make smooth frozen margaritas?

The key to an ice chunk-free margarita is a powerful blender. If you’re mixing frozen drinks regularly, you’ll want to find one that’s able to pulverize ice. Put the blender to work with these other irresistible frozen cocktails.

If your blender isn’t able to crush ice straight from the freezer, use pre-crushed ice instead of whole ice cubes from the tray. This takes some pressure off of the blender and gets your drink to the right consistency more quickly. And in case you’re in the market, read up on the best blenders according to our Test Kitchen.

Why are my frozen margaritas watery?

Over-blending your drink can turn your margarita into juice. The longer you blend the ice, the finer the slushy consistency will be. For perfect consistency, start the blender on low and gradually adjust the power to achieve your preferred blend.

The amount of ice used can also make a difference in texture and consistency. To get a thicker margarita, use more ice—but be warned, this can water down the flavor a little.

Why is my blended margarita foamy?

When your margarita is being blended, small pockets of air get trapped in the liquid, forming a thin layer of foam on top of the drink. Simply stir your cocktail a bit with a spoon and the foam should dissipate.

How do I keep my margaritas slushy?

When you serve up frozen margs, you want to make sure they’re not all liquid! To keep ’em extra slushy, chill the glasses and the blender pitcher before preparing the drinks. Another way to help keep your frozen margaritas slushy is to combine the tequila, triple sec and lime juice, then chill in the fridge before mixing.

How do I flavor a margarita?

For a flavored frozen margarita, simply replace a few of your ice cubes with frozen mango, strawberries or mixed berries. Get inspired by our favorite flavored margarita recipes, then learn our tips for how to make frozen drinks so you can create your own recipe. Bonus: Using frozen fruit can help make your marg less watery, so you get more delicious flavor!

How do I garnish a frozen margarita?

Garnish a frozen marg just like you would a regular one—with a salted rim and a circle of lime. If you’d prefer to go outside the box, try an orange or kiwi slice. You can even use a strawberry if you’re whipping up something like this lemon berry margarita. Herbs like basil and rosemary can also add an interesting flavor and look gorgeous.

A fun alternative to a salted rim is to mix both kosher salt and coarse sugar together, then rim the glass as usual to get the perfect salty-sweet combination.

Can you freeze margaritas?

Absolutely. Storing your frozen margarita mix in the freezer is a good idea when you have leftovers (is there such a thing?) or if you’d prefer to make them ahead of time for an event, especially if you need a large batch. The alcohol keeps it from firming up too much—but to ensure an even consistency, pop the mix back into the blender before serving. Just make sure you use the mix within a week to ensure it still has great flavor.

Next, learn how to make a margarita on the rocks. Or learn how to make a skinny margarita if you’re cutting calories.

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Cerveza Margaritas

One sip of this refreshing drink and you’ll picture sand, sea and blue skies that stretch for miles. It’s like a vacation in a glass, and you can mix it in moments. —Christina Pittman, Parkville, Missouri