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    May 1, 2021

    Skinny Spicy Margarita Recipe

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    This skinny spicy margarita recipe is made with simple ingredients: a lower sugar jalapeno simple syrup, fresh limes, and silver tequila. It's one of our favorite cocktails to make for Cinco de Mayo, a Friday happy hour, or to enjoy while hanging out at the pool or beach with friends and family!

    Since this spicy skinny margarita recipe is the perfect drink made with natural ingredients and a low sugar simple syrup, it's a healthier margarita compared to traditional recipes without too much sugar and fewer calories. The fresh ingredients give this spicy cocktail the perfect blend of flavors, especially when garnished with jalapeno slices and a chili lime salt rim.

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    a skinny spicy margarita with a chili lime salt rim and a jalapeno slice garnish. Another margarita and plate of chili lime salt behind it.
    Jump to:
    • Equipment
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make a Skinny Jalapeno Margarita
    • Variations & Substitutions
    • Making This Margarita Recipe Ahead of Time
    • Recipe FAQ
    • Other Recipes You May Like
    • Skinny Spicy Margarita Recipe

    Equipment

    • Cocktail glass - you can use whatever glass you like for this spicy margarita recipe! I like using a standard circular glass without a stem, as shown in the pictures. But you can use your favorite glass!
    • Cocktail shaker - this is the best way to mix all of the ingredients. If you don't have one, you can simply combine all of the ingredients in the glass you want to use and stir to combine.
    • Citrus juicer - a good juicer will be a life saver! Fresh lime juice is crucial in this easy skinny spicy margarita recipe and having a good citrus juicer is important.
    • Small plate - you want a plate big enough for the rim of the glass to sit on. This will be needed to pour salt on so you can create the salted rim a traditional margarita has!

    Ingredients

    Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    ingredients to make a skinny spicy margarita
    • Blanco tequila - you can use any type of tequila you like. I prefer silver tequila but gold will work too! I would just use a good quality tequila.
    • Fresh lime juice - this is key! Fresh juice makes the perfect margarita.
    • Jalapeno simple syrup - this will elevate your skinny spicy margarita game. It's a subtly sweet and spicy syrup made with stevia, so it has less sugar and overall calories compared to traditional simple syrup!
    • Lime wedge - a slice of lime is an easy way to get the salt to stick for the classic salt rim!
    • Chili lime salt - a layer of tajin or other chili lime salt around the rim of the glass adds a spicy kick to each sip! You could also use sea salt.
    • Club soda (optional) - I like to add a splash of club soda to add some bubbles to this margarita but this is totally optional.
    • Jalapeño slices (optional) - I love garnishing this perfect spicy margarita with an extra jalapeno slice.
    a skinny spicy margarita with a chili lime salt rim and jalapeno slice garnish. Another skinny spicy margarita behind it along with a plate of chili lime salt and jalapeno slices.

    How to Make a Skinny Jalapeno Margarita

    a lime wedge running along the rim of the cocktail glass to get ready for the salt rim

    1: Make a small ¼" slice into the lime wedge so it can fit around the rim of a glass. Run the lime wedge around the glass rim.

    an upside down cocktail glass sitting in a pile of chili lime salt on a plate

    2: Pour the chili lime salt or sea salt onto a small plate. Turn the glass upside down and rub the lime rim around so the salt sticks.

    a cocktail glass filled with crushed ice and a chili lime salt rim

    3: Fill the glass with crushed ice, ~½ or ¾ of the way.

    a skinny spicy margarita with a chili lime salt rim

    4: Combine tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Shake until combined and set aside. Pour the margarita mixture over the ice and enjoy!

    Variations & Substitutions

    • You can garnish this fresh margarita with candied slices of jalapenos instead of fresh.
    • You can substitute fresh orange juice or pineapple juice for lime juice if you want to put a tropical spin on this healthier margarita recipe!

    Making This Margarita Recipe Ahead of Time

    Although best fresh, if you want to make this skinny spicy margarita a day early (if you're making it for a group of people or for a party), I would combine all of the ingredients but omit the ice. The next day, when you're ready to enjoy the margaritas, simply pour over fresh ice and enjoy!

    a skinny spicy margarita with a chili lime salt rim and jalapeno slice garnish. another skinny spicy margarita and plate of chili lime salt in the background and jalapeno slices in front of it.

    Recipe FAQ

    What is a skinny spicy margarita made of? 

    This healthier skinny spicy margarita is made with simple ingredients: your favorite tequila, fresh lime juice, and a lower sugar jalapeno simple syrup. That's it! It's light and refreshing.

    How do I make this extra spicy?

    There are a few ways! Including the jalapeño seeds when making the syrup will increase the heat. You can also make jalapeño-infused tequila if your heart desires! Simply slice fresh jalapeños (include the seeds) and put them in a resealable container. Pour in your favorite tequila and let the container sit for 1-2 weeks in a dark, cool environment. The end result is jalapeño-infused tequila!

    Are spicy margaritas low calorie?

    Traditional spicy margaritas aren't low in calories and can be high in sugar from the simple syrup and/or margarita mix, if any is used. This skinny spicy margarita is lower in calories compared to regular margaritas because of the lower sugar jalapeno simple syrup!

    Do I need to use fresh lime juice?

    Nope! I strongly prefer fresh fruit juice in any recipe simply because it has a better flavor (and nutrient content) than the more processed fruit juices. Probably the biggest reason this spicy margarita recipe is so good is because of the fresh lime juice! But if you're short on time, store-bought juice is fine.

    What if I don't want it to be spicy?

    Not a problem! All you have to do is use plain simple syrup instead of jalapeño simple syrup. Our recipe here is for jalapeño simple syrup but we explain how to make plain syrup (or really any flavor) if you'd like!

    Can you make this skinny spicy margarita frozen?

    Absolutely! Simply put all of the ingredients plus ~½ cup of ice in a blend and blend on high until smooth. You can add more ice if you want!

    Other Recipes You May Like

    • a jar of jalapeno simple syrup with fresh jalapenos and a skinny spicy margarita behind it
      Jalapeño Simple Syrup
    • Lavender Lemonade Cocktail
    • Refreshing Pineapple Paloma
    • Garden City Cocktail Recipe

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    If you give this recipe a try, please rate and review it below! I would love to hear your feedback. Also snap a photo and tag me on Insta @theperfectpearr so I can see your creation!
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    Skinny Spicy Margarita Recipe

    a skinny spicy margarita with a chili lime salt rim and a jalapeno slice garnish. Another margarita and plate of chili lime salt behind it.
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    This skinny spicy margarita recipe is made with simple ingredients: a lower sugar jalapeno simple syrup, fresh limes, and silver tequila. It's one of our favorite cocktails to make for Cinco de Mayo, a Friday happy hour, or to enjoy while hanging out at the pool or beach with friends and family!

    • Author: Lauren
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Total Time: 5 minutes
    • Yield: 1 drink 1x
    • Category: Drinks
    • Method: Shaking
    • Cuisine: Mexican

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 2 ounces tequila (your favorite brand)
    • 1 ounce fresh lime juice
    • 1 ounce low sugar jalapeno simple syrup
    • 1-1 inch lime wedge (for salt rim)
    • 1 Tablespoon flakey sea salt (for salt rim)

    Instructions

    For salt rim

    1. Cut a small cut perpendicular into the lime wedge and gently press it onto the rim of the glass
    2. Pour the salt onto a small plate and spread it around.
    3. Place the glass upside down into the salt and rub it around so the salt sticks to the rim.

    For margarita

    1. Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake until mixed and set aside.
    2. Fill the glass halfway with crushed ice.
    3. Pour margarita into glass and garnish with lime wedge or jalapeño slice. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • You can garnish this fresh margarita with candied slices of jalapenos instead of fresh.
    • You can substitute fresh orange juice or pineapple juice for lime juice if you want to put a tropical spin on this healthier margarita recipe!
    • Although best fresh, if you want to make this skinny spicy margarita a day early (if you're making it for a group of people or for a party), I would combine all of the ingredients but omit the ice. The next day, when you're ready to enjoy the margaritas, simply pour over fresh ice and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 margarita
    • Calories: 173
    • Sugar: 10
    • Sodium: 1
    • Fat: 0
    • Saturated Fat: 0
    • Unsaturated Fat: 0
    • Trans Fat: 0
    • Carbohydrates: 36
    • Fiber: 0
    • Protein: 0
    • Cholesterol: 0

    Keywords: Skinny spicy margarita recipe with tajin, skinny margarita recipe vs regular, skinny spicy margarita recipe, how to make a skinny spicy margarita

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please comment below & let me know what you thought. I'd also love if you shared a photo on Instagram and tagged me @theperfectpearr so I can see! And don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Perfect Pear newsletter to get new recipes delivered straight to your inbox!

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    Hi! I'm Lauren. As a dietitian, my goal is to provide you with nutrient-dense recipes that taste good with a sprinkle of indulgent recipes because I'm all about balance.

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