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The best blood orange margarita with no sweet and sour syrup. Want a spicy blood orange margarita? No problem! 

A mason jar filled with a bright pink blood orange margarita garnished with fresh blood orange and lime slices and mint. The drink has a paper straw and sits on a marble kitchen counter.

I have two pieces of good news for your Monday. First, it’s National Margarita Day! Did you know that’s a thing? I didn’t until just now, so I had to whip you up my favorite margarita recipe to celebrate. Second, it turns out tequila actually has some health benefits. The caveat is that as always, moderation is key, and you don’t want to mess it all up by pouring simple syrup all over your tequila. What are the health benefits of tequila? Well, many! According to this Forbes article, the tequila may aid weight loss, digestion, fight osteoporosis, lower risk of dementia, and more. And, it’s probiotic! Move over, kombucha! (kidding). I won’t go so far as to call this a healthy recipe, but it’s nice to know it’s not too bad, either, if you keep it to just one. You have to try our Homemade Margarita Mix too. 

One of my favorite recipes my mama makes me when we go over for dinner is a fresh blood orange margarita. And luckily for us, National Margarita Day happens to fall during peak blood orange season. Most restaurant margaritas are loaded with refined sugar and empty calories. Not this one, though! For a virgin margarita, simply use sparkling water in place of the alcohol. It’s a tasty citrus spritzer that way. 

fresh blood oranges and limes cut in half on a cutting board.

Why This Recipe Works So Well 

Traditional lime margaritas are made with lime juice, tequila, and sweet and sour. I love making my own healthier Margarita Mix. 

While tasty, margaritas usually contain a lot of refined sugar, thanks to the sweet and sour. Naturally sweet oranges are a great way to sweeten up a margarita without any added sugar. 

Blood oranges create a beautiful flavor and color that is even better than the classic margarita. 

A bottle of clear Casamigos tequila blanco sits on a cutting board in a white kitchen.

What You’ll Need 

  • Tequila: a silver or blanco tequila works best here 
  • Orange liqueur: I use Patrón Citrónge or Cointreau 
  • Fresh blood orange juice 
  • Lime 
  • Ice 
  • A rocks glass 
  • Salt (optional for the rim)

A blood orange is squeezed in a manual citrus press.

How to Make a Blood Orange Margarita 

Start with a few blood oranges and limes. You should be able to find them at most grocery stores this time of year, but if not, just use tangerines. Kumquats are great thrown in there too. I like to add some mint for a little herbal flavor and pretty green color. 

If you have trees filled with blood oranges like I do every year, make a carafe of blood orange juice for easy margaritas all weekend long. 

Spicy Blood Orange Margaritas

If you love spicy cocktails like I do you have to try a spicy blood orange margarita. There are a couple of ways to achieve this.

First, slice a fresh jalapeno crosswise and muddle a couple of slices in the bottom of your shaker before mixing up your margarita.

Another option is to use a spicy margarita salt rim. The classic spicy Tajín Clásico Chile Lime Seasoning Rimmer has rave reviews on Amazon and is made with chili peppers, salt, and lime. 

A close-up of a red blood orange margarita on a piece of natural napkin on a white counter.

The color is just the most vibrant lovely color. You can’t help but be happy with this in hand. So call your friends over and cheers to blood orange margaritas! 

Yield: 1 Margarita

Blood Orange Margaritas

Prep Time 3 minutes
Total Time 3 minutes

This skinny blood orange margarita recipe is made without any sweet and sour syrup. Blood orange juice naturally sweetens and creates a beautiful red cocktail.

A red blood orange margarita in a mason jar garnished with lime and blood orange slices and a sprig of mint. The glass sits on a white kitchen counter.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. silver tequila
  • 1 oz. Cointreau (or other orange liqueur)
  • 1 oz. fresh blood orange juice
  • Squeeze of fresh lime juice
  • ice
  • liquid stevia, agave syrup, or honey, to taste

Instructions

  1. Pour the tequila, Cointreau, blood orange juice, and lime juice into a rocks glass (such as a lowball) or even a mason jar.
  2. Add ice and stir. Sweeten to taste, if desired/needed.
  3. Enjoy right away.

Notes

Spicy Blood Orange Margarita


Add 2 slices of fresh jalapeno (more to taste) and muddle slightly. Alternatively or in addition, use a chili-lime salt for rimming the glass. To rim, run a lime wedge cut-side-down around the rim of the glass, then invert onto a dish of salt.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1 drink
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 165Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 3mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 0gSugar: 7gProtein: 0g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Nutritionix. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your favorite calculator.

© Marina Delio
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: cocktails