Frozen Margarita Recipe

By Becky Hardin

Updated Apr 24, 2026

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Summer is here, and I can’t stop making this frozen margarita recipe. There’s nothing better on a hot day than an icy, refreshing margarita with the perfect balance of tart lime, smooth tequila, and that classic slushy texture. You don’t need a fancy machine for this frozen margarita recipe—just a handful of simple ingredients, a good blender, and suddenly you’re in Margaritaville.

You really can’t go wrong with a classic margarita, and when they’re frozen, they’re even better! I make these with good blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, orange liqueur, and plenty of ice for that smooth, restaurant-style texture that tastes way better than anything made with bottled mix. The key is getting the balance right. You want enough ice for that thick, slushy consistency without watering down the flavor. I blend everything until it’s smooth and frosty, then pour it straight into salt-rimmed glasses and serve immediately while it’s perfectly icy. I make these most often for Cinco de Mayo, summer cookouts, and those really hot weekends when something icy and refreshing just sounds better than anything else.

Tips for Beginners

• Use fresh lime juice. I tested bottled and fresh side by side, and fresh lime juice gave the margaritas a brighter, cleaner flavor with much better balance. Bottled juice tends to taste flat and overly sharp.
• Start with less ice and add more as needed. It’s much easier to thicken a margarita than fix one that turns watery. I usually start smaller, then blend in extra ice a little at a time until it reaches that thick, slushy texture.
• Chill your glasses first, especially for summer parties. A cold glass helps the frozen margaritas hold their texture longer instead of melting too fast once poured.
• Serve immediately after blending. Frozen margaritas separate and melt quickly as they sit, so I like to have the glasses salted and ready before I even turn on the blender.

Recipe Card

Frozen Margarita Recipe

4.81 from 88 votes

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 0 minutes mins

Total: 5 minutes mins

Servings: 2 drinks

Author: Becky Hardin

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This easy frozen margarita recipe blends simple ingredients into a refreshing drink with a mix of tart lime and smooth tequila—no fancy equipment needed.

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Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ ¼ cup Cointreau
• ▢ ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice from about 2 limes
• ▢ ½ cup Reposado Tequila we love Exotico
• ▢ ¼ cup agave nectar
• ▢ 2 cups ice more if needed

Video

Instructions 

• Place first four ingredients in a high powered blender and add 2 cups ice. Blend until smooth. Add more ice if necessary. Enjoy!
  ¼ cup Cointreau, ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice, ½ cup Reposado Tequila, ¼ cup agave nectar, 2 cups ice

Equipment

• High Powered Blender

Becky’s Tips

• Use a good quality tequila. My favorite is Exotico.
• Swap simple syrup for agave if you prefer a more traditional margarita sweetness.
• Use a powerful blender to ensure the ice is crushed.
• If you want salted glass rims: Cover the bottom of a small plate with margarita salt. Rub the rims of the glasses with a lime wedge, dip the rims in the margarita salt, and set the glasses upright to dry a tad before filling.

Serving: 1drinkCalories: 322kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.03gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.03gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 16mgPotassium: 47mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 15IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make Frozen Margaritas Step by Step

Add the liquids: Pour ¼ cup Cointreau, ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice from about 2 limes, ½ cup reposado tequila, and ¼ cup agave nectar into a high-powered blender.

Add the ice: Add 2 cups of ice to the blender. Start with this amount first so you can control the texture more easily.

Blend and serve: Blend until the margarita looks thick, smooth, and slushy with no large ice chunks remaining. It should pour easily but still hold that classic frozen texture. If the margarita looks too thin, add a little more ice and blend again until it reaches your preferred consistency. Pour into prepared salt-rimmed glasses and serve immediately while the margaritas are perfectly icy and frosty. Sip and enjoy!

Variations to Try

• Smoky: I swap the Reposado tequila for Mezcal for smoky margaritas.
• Spicy: I muddle a few jalapeño slices in the bottom of each glass before pouring in the margarita, or add some chili powder to the salt rim. Use Tajín instead of salt for a spicy citrus rim.
• Fruity: You can add ½ cup of just about any frozen fruit to this recipe to make fruity frozen margs. Do not use fresh fruit, as it will make them watery!
• Virgin: When I want to make these nonalcoholic, I simply swap the tequila for sparkling water and the Cointreau for orange juice. Blend these mocktails without the sparkling water, then top them off with sparkling water just before serving.

How to Store

You can mix together the Cointreau, lime juice, tequila, and agave and store them in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. Simply pour this mixture into the blender with ice and blend to serve.

You can also batch and freeze margaritas. Simply pour individual margaritas into glass jars, seal, and freeze for up to 2 weeks. Serve directly from the freezer!

Serving Suggestions

I usually make these frozen margaritas for taco night or when we have friends over for a backyard cookout. They pair perfectly with smash chicken tacos, carne asada, or shrimp fresh off the grill. If I’m keeping things casual, I’ll set out a big tray of trash can nachos and some homemade guacamole. For a full summer dinner spread, I love adding street corn and something spicy like grilled chicken or steak to round everything out.

More Frozen Margarita Variations

• Frozen Strawberry Margarita: Fresh strawberries make these frozen margaritas extra fruity, bright, and perfect for summer parties. They blend up smooth, sweet, and refreshing with that same classic slushy margarita texture everyone loves.
• Frozen Peach Margarita: This frozen peach margarita brings sweet peach flavor and a smooth, icy texture that feels like summer in a glass. It’s a fun twist on the classic margarita and perfect for backyard cookouts or warm weekend nights.
• Cherry Limeade Margarita: If you love that sweet and tart cherry-lime combo, this margarita is such a fun one to make. It has all the bright citrus flavor of a classic margarita with a bold cherry twist that makes it feel extra special.

More Frozen summer cocktails

Pina Coladas (Frozen Pina Colada Recipe)

Strawberry Frosé (Frozen Rosé)

Peach Frosé Recipe (Frozen Rosé)

Frozen Mudslide