My Husband's 3-Ingredient Margarita Will Ruin All Other Margaritas for You

A classic margarita is my go-to cocktail whenever I find myself at a bar. But up until recently, I never knew exactly how to make my own at home. My husband, a retired bartender, walked me through the process of how to properly salt the rim of a glass, the ideal ratio of lime juice to blanco tequila, and the importance of straining before serving (this delivers a clean cocktail without any seeds or ice chips). Now I can confidently make a deliciously refreshing margarita for myself in less than five minutes. Whether you’re staying in for the night or impressing your guests with your margarita-making skills, here’s how to do it!

Why You’ll Love It

• It’s absolutely delicious — without any sweetener! Seriously, you don’t need it! Here, orange liqueur adds a touch of sweetness for a well-rounded flavor.

• It really couldn’t be easier. As long as you have a lime, tequila, and orange liqueur, you’ll be sipping on this tasty margarita in just five minutes.

Key Ingredients in a Margarita

• Tequila: Go for blanco (or silver) tequila, which is the least aged and most agave-forward. You don’t need to break the bank here — just make sure to use one you like.

• Lime juice: You’ll want to use only the freshest lime juice for the best margarita.

• Orange liqueur: I prefer Cointreau for its cleaner taste, but Grand Marnier works too; your margarita will have a deeper flavor.

How to Make a Margarita

1. Salt your rim. Moisten the rim of an Old-Fashioned or margarita glass with a lime wedge, then dip in kosher salt to coat.

2. Shake the ingredients. Combine lime juice, blanco tequila, orange liqueur, and nectar or simple syrup if using in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, seal, and shake until very frosty.

3. Strain & enjoy. Pour the cocktail through a fine-mesh strainer and garnish with a lime wedge.

Helpful Swaps

• If you’re out of limes, you can swap in key limes or even an orange to complement the orange liqueur. It’ll still be super refreshing!

• For a distinctive twist, swap in smoky mezcal for half or all of the tequila.

More Margarita Recipes

• Mexican Margarita

• Spicy Margarita

• Frozen Margarita

• Watermelon Margarita

• Pitcher Margaritas

Margarita Recipe

Shake up the best margarita of your life with just lime juice, tequila, and orange liqueur.

Prep time 5 minutes

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt

• 1 medium lime

• Ice

• 1 1/2 ounces blanco or silver tequila

• 1 ounce orange liqueur, preferably Cointreau

• 1/4 ounce agave nectar or simple syrup (optional)

Instructions

1. Spread 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt in an even layer on a small flat plate. Halve 1 medium lime. Cut 1 lime wedge from one half, then juice the remaining lime pieces until you have 1 ounce. Run the lime wedge over the rim of an Old-Fashioned or margarita glass to moisten. Invert the glass into the salt, turning it as needed, to coat the rim. Fill the glass with ice.

2. Place the lime juice, 1 1/2 ounces blanco tequila, 1 ounce orange liqueur, and 1/4 ounce agave nectar or simple syrup if using in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker halfway with ice, seal, and shake until the outside of the shaker is very frosty, about 20 seconds.

3. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into the glass. Garnish with the lime wedge.