I wish we were together in person so I could cheers you with one of these in my hand.
Because these margaritas are PERFECTION!
Spicy, sweet, tangy, and loaded with summer watermelon flavor. Boozy summer watermelon, that is.
I have said it a thousand times, but I love a marg. Aside from any gin spritz, if I have it as an option, I order it. Especially in the warmer months.
And don’t even get me started on watermelon! It is, hands down, my favorite fruit to enjoy in the summer. It is such a treat.
This year is the first time both my kids have been interested in it, which is great. Up until now, I was eating entire watermelons alone. Now I can share the experience with my babes!
These margs will have to wait until they are much, much older, of course. I’ll share them with you guys instead!
Last month, I shared a spicy cucumber margarita recipe and that one quickly became my favorite. My sister and her husband made them immediately and said they were awesome.
Those margs started with a spicy simple syrup, and that’s the same syrup we’re going to use in this watermelon rendition.
The serrano pepper gives a fairly intense heat to the syrup without giving a very peppery flavor. Does that make sense? A jalapeño, for instance, would give heat AND a green pepper flavor. The serrano is more about heat alone. And I really like that for these cocktails.
Once you have your syrup ready and cooled, you can get started on the actual cocktails. The best part, right?
I love using fresh watermelon for this recipe, but I have made it with the bottled watermelon juice and it is still wonderful. If you’re looking for a quicker and easier way to make these, just use the bottled juice!
If you want to use up some of that gigantic melon you bought at the store, then throw some into a blender and let it go until it is completely blended into juice. It only takes a few seconds to make your own watermelon juice.
Another special touch for these margs is how I rim the glasses. I love a smoky, spicy effect with super sweet cocktails, and so I wanted to try rimming the glasses in a mix of salt, sugar, and Tajin.
Have you tried Tajin yet? It is addictive. We use it ALL. THE. TIME. I love it on eggs or avocado toast, sprinkled over salads, and even with grilled meats. It’s very similar to the Trader Joe’s chili lime seasoning. It punches up the flavor of anything you add it to. Love it.
And guess what? I love it even more after having it on the rims of these margs. Oh. Em. Gee. The combination of spicy syrup, sweet watermelon, tangy lime juice, and the chili-lime saltiness of the rims is absolute perfection. I meant it earlier when I said that.
There is not a single thing I would change about this recipe.
They’re so damn good.
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Spicy Watermelon Margaritas
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 cocktails (easily multiplied) 1x
Description
These Spicy Watermelon Margaritas are the perfect summer cocktail! They feature a spicy serrano syrup, fresh watermelon juice, and a salty Tajin rim! Spicy, smoky, sweet, and tangy all at once. I could sip on these all summer long…all that’s missing is some chips and salsa!
Ingredients
For the Simple Syrup:
- 1 batch serrano simple syrup
For the Watermelon Juice:
- 5 cups fresh watermelon, cubed (see NOTE)
For 2 Margaritas:
- 4 oz watermelon juice
- 4 oz silver tequila
- 4 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 oz orange liqueur (Cointreau is my fave, but triple sec works too!)
- 2 oz spicy simple syrup (or to taste)
For Rimming the Glasses:
- 1 lime wedge
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoon Tajin seasoning
For Serving:
- Ice
- Watermelon wedges
- Sliced serrano peppers
- Lime wedges
Instructions
For the Simple Syrup:
Make the simple syrup first and allow to cool while you prep the other ingredients.
Make the Watermelon Juice:
Add watermelon to a blender and blend on high for 30 seconds or until the watermelon is completely blended and liquified.
For 2 Cocktails:
- To a large shaker filled with ice, add the watermelon juice, tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and cooled simple syrup.
- Shake vigorously for a few seconds to thoroughly mix and chill the ingredients.
To Serve:
- In a shallow bowl, mix together the salt, sugar, and Tajin.
- Run a lime slice around the edges of your serving glasses and then dip the rims in salt mixture.
- Fill the glasses with ice.
- Pour the margarita mixture into the glasses, garnish with watermelon wedges, limes, or serrano pepper slices, and serve immediately.
Notes
- You can use any hot pepper here. Serranos add a good amount of heat and add a great flavor to the syrup. Jalapeños would also work great!
- If you want to make this even easier, you can use store-bought watermelon juice. It doesn’t need to be freshly blended juice. This brand is my favorite. I have made this both ways and both are fabulous.
- This recipe will make extra simple syrup and watermelon juice. Perfect for making a larger batch of margaritas!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: cocktails
Hi There. I'm Molly. I'm a food-obsessed, self-taught cook and I can't wait to share my passion for all things culinary with you. My love for egg yolks is just the tip of the iceberg!
nice to see a watermelon margarita this time of year, and the spicy sweet combination too, thank you!