I love a good margarita, but I don’t love all the calories. With only 5 ingredients and lots of flavor, this skinny margarita has half the calories of its standard counterpart. It’s a guilt-free cocktail that’s just perfect for Cinco de Mayo! This is the type of margarita I make most at our house. It’s simply so refreshing.

A skinny margarita in a glass with a lime wedge.

5-Star Reviews

“This looks so perfectly simple and refreshing. I don’t do complicated cocktails and this one has my name all over it!” -Rebecca

Skinny Margarita

My skinny margarita recipe is a healthier twist on a classic margarita, made with fresh lime and orange juice, and sweetened with agave nectar instead of sweetened lime juice and calorie-filled liqueurs. I’m obsessed with how crisp and cool it is. This is my go-to recipe for girls’ nights, and it’s always met with rave reviews.

This skinny margarita recipe is endlessly riff-able! Try swapping the orange juice for grapefruit, lemon, cranberry, passionfruit, or peach juice. Peach is one of my favorites. For spicy skinny margaritas, add a diced jalapeño to the shaker. I find that adds enough flavor without making things too hot. I love to switch up the rimming salt for ancho salt or salt mixed with lime zest to brighten things up!

Recipe Card

Skinny Margarita Recipe

4.64 from 41 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 2 drinks
Author: Becky Hardin
featured skinny margarita.
This Skinny Margarita Recipe is my go-to guilt-free cocktail recipe!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
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Ingredients 

  • 3 ounces tequila (about 2 shots), choose a good-quality silver or blanco tequila
  • 4 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice (about ½ cup)
  • 4 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice (about ½ cup)
  • 1 tablespoon agave nectar
  • Sparkling water optional
  • Coarse salt optional, for serving
  • Lime wedges optional, for serving

Instructions 

  • Combine the tequila, lime juice, orange juice, and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice. Shake well, until cold.
    3 ounces tequila, 4 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice, 4 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice, 1 tablespoon agave nectar
    orange juice being poured into a metal cocktail shaker.
  • Pour over ice into salt-rimmed glasses. Pour a splash of sparkling water into each glass, if desired, and garnish with lime wedges.
    Sparkling water, Coarse salt, Lime wedges
    a cocktail shaker pouring a skinny margarita into a rocks glass filled with ice with a lime wedge on the rim.

Becky’s Tips

  • Use fresh juice. While you can use store-bought orange juice, fresh citrus juice will brighten up the flavors and make your drink that much better.
  • Serve extra cold. No one likes warm tequila. Keep it in your freezer and shake it up in this Margarita Recipe for the ultimate frosty sip.
  • Is a frozen margarita more your speed? Blend with ice for the ultimate cold treat this summer. Add in a bit more juice to brighten things up even more.
  • Add a little bubbly with some sparkling water. Plain works well, but lime makes this cocktail sing!
  • Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.
Serving: 1drinkCalories: 170kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 1gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.04gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.03gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 181mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 142IUVitamin C: 47mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 0.2mg

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

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make a Skinny Margarita Step by Step

Orange juice being poured into a metal cocktail shaker.

Combine all the liquid ingredients: Combine 3 ounces of tequila, 4 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice, 4 ounces of freshly squeezed orange juice, and 1 tablespoon of agave nectar in a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice. Shake well until cold.

A cocktail shaker pouring a drink into an ice filled glass with a lime wedge on the rim.

Pour into glasses and enjoy: Pour the juice and alcohol over ice into salt-rimmed glasses. Pour a splash of sparkling water into each glass, if desired, and garnish with lime wedges.

How to Store

I always combine the tequila, lime juice, orange juice, and agave and store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. This mixture will keep well for up to 3 days. It’s very important to add ice and shake well before serving.

You can also freeze the margarita mixture prior to serving. Combine the tequila, lime juice, orange juice, and agave and pour into a freezer-safe container to store for up to 2 weeks. Let thaw in the refrigerator before serving. Alternately, sometimes I blend the frozen mixture in a blender to break it up, and serve these frozen!

Overhead view of a margarita in a  glass with a lime wedge.

Serving Suggestions

This margarita is great served with healthy appetizers like avocado corn salsa or a simple dish of blistered sweet peppers.

more margarita recipes we love

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.64 from 41 votes (31 ratings without comment)
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21 Comments
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Ruth Eggert
Ruth Eggert
May 6, 2023 10:09 am

Hi my husband has been making skinny margaritas for some time…fresh squeezed line juice,white tequila, Cointreu, and stevia (no calorie sweetner to sweeten…even agava has calories! ) Serve over ice..and top off with a lime flavored no calorie bubbly water….and put a lime slice in the drink also…and salt the rim…best skinny ever!4 stars

John
John
April 28, 2023 3:58 pm

Not bad with the OJ, but not really a margarita either.. I have to admit that I am a traditionalist when it comes to the margarita. Equal parts fresh squeezed lime juice, agave, and a good Blanco tequila shaken over ice. Doesent get any easier and the three ingredients compliment each other4 stars

Samantha Marceau
May 1, 2023 9:36 am
Reply to  John

Hi John, we hope you’ll check out our classic margarita recipe! It sounds more your speed!

Mike
Mike
November 28, 2021 12:28 pm

Perfect thanks!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
December 1, 2021 12:18 pm
Reply to  Mike

Enjoy!

Sarah
Sarah
May 17, 2020 4:09 pm

Where did you get those glasses?? I love them!!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
June 5, 2020 9:05 am
Reply to  Sarah

Sadly, I don’t remember! I’m sorry!

Allison
Allison
September 8, 2017 5:37 pm

Look fantastic! How many calories is in one?

Rebecca {foodie with family}
Rebecca {foodie with family}
May 23, 2017 11:01 am

This looks so perfectly simple and refreshing. I don’t do complicated cocktails and this one has my name all over it!5 stars

Celeste | The Whole Serving
Celeste | The Whole Serving
May 19, 2016 12:45 pm

I’m so glad it’s almost the weekend. I can make these, sit on my patio and enjoy!5 stars

Lucy @ Globe Scoffers recipes
Lucy @ Globe Scoffers recipes
April 13, 2016 4:39 pm

This looks stunning and very refreshing! ????5 stars

Debra Attinella
Debra Attinella
April 6, 2016 9:44 am

Oh my gosh – can it be 5 o’clock now? These are just perfect! They look so refreshing Becky!5 stars

Trish - Mom On Timeout
Trish - Mom On Timeout
April 5, 2016 9:39 am

I’ll take one of these! Your pics are gorgeous!