Margarita

By Rosie Schaap

Updated December 28, 2025

  • Three margaritas in stemless glasses are garnished with lime slices and salted rims.
    Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Media 1 of 3
Total Time
3 minutes
Rating
5(3,709)
Comments
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Tequila, lime, a touch of orange in the form of triple sec and salt (if that's your thing) is all you need to make a great margarita. No one really knows the true history of the cocktail — there are as many origin stories as there are variations of the beloved drink — but it's a practically perfect drink nonetheless. (Try a frozen margarita, too.)

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Ingredients

Yield:1 drink

  • 2 ounces blanco tequila

  • Juice of 1 whole lime

  • ½ ounce triple sec, preferably Cointreau

  • Salt for rim (optional)

  • Lime wedge, for garnish

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving

8 grams carbs; 186 calories; 2 grams fiber; 340 milligrams sodium; 1 gram protein; 1 gram sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add tequila, lime juice and triple sec.

  2. Step 2

    Shake until combined.

  3. Step 3

    Pour, with the ice, into a highball or footed glass (salt rim first if you like). Garnish with wedge of lime.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
3,709 user ratings
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Comments

Colleen

What could be a more useless measure than the juice of one whole citrus of any type? I am a fan of 3:2:1 tequila:lime juice:Cointreau.

Gordeaux

From years of making margaritas, and after trying many recipes, these proportions work best:

1/2 c. tequila
1/3 c. Cointreau
1/4 c. lime juice

On ice or stained. Salt or not. I have had so many people say this is the best margarita they ever tasted. Thank you Rick Bayless.

John Niedermeyer

Like, how does this scale to be a pitcher of margarita(s?)? I need more volume, or else I won’t be able to attend to my guests.

Help me Rosie!

Cheryl Mac

Key limes make the best margs.

Sergio CR

Great recipe—I really enjoyed it! Would you be able to share the measurements for making a full pitcher instead of a single serving?

Beth from NJ

@Sergio CR - sort the comments by "most helpful" and you'll see several about proportions and upsizing the recipe for a pitcher.

P. Curnutt

Not all lime are created equal in volume and the proportions of a Margarita are important. Hence, one part fresh squeezed lime juice, two parts triple sec, three parts tequila. I prefer Reposado rather than Blanco.

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