Watermelon Margaritas
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Jul. 4, 2025
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Watermelon Margaritas
These Watermelon Margaritas are easy, refreshing, and mouthwatering! Perfect for all your summer gatherings or just for sipping on the porch.
Ingredients
- 2 cups watermelon, cubed and frozen
- 1 cup tequila blanco, white
- ½ cup agave nectar
- ¼ cup orange liqueur, i.e., Grand Marnier
- ¼ cup lime juice, freshly squeezed
- ice, crushed, for serving
Instructions
- Do ahead: In a pitcher, stir together the tequila, agave, orange liqueur, and lime juice. Place in fridge to chill.
- When ready to serve, place frozen watermelon cubes in a sturdy blender and blend until mostly smooth – small bits of fruit will remain.
- Gently stir watermelon into the chilled tequila mixture. Divide crushed ice into 4 glasses and pour margaritas into glasses. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use frozen watermelon cubes instead of ice to keep your margaritas thick, slushy, and full of watermelon flavor without watering them down.
- Mix the tequila, agave nectar, orange liqueur, and lime juice ahead of time and keep it chilled. This way, when it’s time to serve, you just need to blend in the frozen watermelon.
- Choose a ripe, sweet watermelon for the best natural flavor. The sweeter your watermelon, the less extra sweetener you’ll need.
- If you’d like to salt the rims, run a lime wedge around each glass and dip in kosher salt. When pouring, aim for the center of the glass so the drink doesn’t wash too much salt inside.
- These margaritas are best served immediately for a frosty texture. If they start to melt, add a handful of crushed ice and give them a quick stir.
- Store any leftover frozen watermelon cubes in a freezer-safe bag so you’re always ready for another batch.
- This recipe is part of our Cocktail Recipes Collection.
- We love sipping Watermelon Margaritas with Grilled Steak Tacos. or some Grilled Lemon Chicken.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 110mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 440IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.3mg
I love these Watermelon Margaritas because they’re sweet, refreshing, and ridiculously easy to make. Freezing the watermelon first give them the perfect slushy texture.
In This Article
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Amy’s Notes
These Watermelon Margaritas have quickly become one of my favorite summer drinks, and here’s why:
- Full of Fresh Watermelon Flavor: Freezing the watermelon makes these margaritas extra cold and slushy, with bits of frozen fruit that make every sip taste like summer. It reminds me of this frozen Frosé recipe!
- Easy to Prep Ahead: I love that I can mix up the tequila, agave, orange liqueur, and lime juice in advance. When it’s time to serve, I just blend the frozen melon and pour. It’s just as easy to make as my Big Batch Pineapple Margaritas.
- Total Crowd-Pleaser: Whenever I serve these, people always ask for seconds. They’re sweet, tangy, and go down almost too easily on a warm day.
- Perfect for Relaxing or Entertaining: These are just as good for backyard parties as they are for sipping on the porch. Sometimes I even salt the rims for a little extra kick, like with my Mango Margaritas.
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Frozen Watermelon – Fresh watermelon cubes are frozen to create a naturally sweet, icy base that gives these margaritas a slushy texture and loads of fruity flavor.
- Tequila Blanco – Clean and crisp, white tequila forms the backbone of this classic cocktail, pairing perfectly with the juicy watermelon.
- Agave Nectar – A natural sweetener that complements the tequila and fruit without overpowering, keeping the drink smooth and balanced.
- Orange Liqueur – Grand Marnier or similar adds a hint of citrus complexity that rounds out the margarita’s flavor.
- Fresh Lime Juice – Bright and tart, freshly squeezed lime juice ties everything together and gives the margarita its signature zing.
Substitutions And Variations
Here are some of our favorite substitutions and variations:
- Tequila Options: Tequila blanco is classic for margaritas, but reposado can be used for a slightly richer, oak-aged flavor. If you prefer, swap in mezcal for a smoky version.
- Sweetener Swap: Agave nectar blends seamlessly into margaritas, but you can use simple syrup or honey. Adjust the amount to taste depending on how sweet your watermelon is.
- Orange Liqueur Choices: Grand Marnier adds depth, but Cointreau or triple sec are great alternatives. Use what you have on hand for a bright citrus note.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- Stir together the tequila, agave, orange liqueur, and lime juice in a pitcher, then chill. This allows the flavors to meld and ensures your margaritas are ice-cold when served.
- Blend the frozen watermelon cubes until mostly smooth with small bits remaining. Keeping some texture gives the drinks a refreshing slushy feel with bursts of real fruit.
- Gently stir the blended watermelon into the chilled tequila mixture. Mixing by hand preserves the slightly chunky texture and prevents over-dilution.
- Fill glasses with crushed ice and pour the margaritas over top. Serving immediately over ice keeps the drinks frosty and perfectly balanced.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Take a look at our best prep-ahead strategies for this recipe:
- Mix the Margarita Base Ahead: Combine the tequila, agave nectar, orange liqueur, and lime juice in a pitcher. Cover and keep it in the fridge for several hours or overnight. Blend the frozen watermelon and stir it into the chilled base when ready to serve.
- Freeze the Watermelon Early: Cut the watermelon into cubes and freeze them in a sealed container. Having the fruit ready ahead makes it quick to blend when you are ready to serve.
What To Serve with Watermelon Margaritas
Grilled and Fresh Mains
- We love sipping Watermelon Margaritas with Grilled Steak Tacos. The smoky, savory flavors of the steak pair beautifully with the sweet, icy margaritas.
- They also go great with Grilled Lemon Chicken or Marinated Grilled Shrimp for a light, fresh meal that still feels special.
Tex-Mex Sides and Chips
- These margaritas are perfect with classic sides like Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites) for a creamy, tangy bite that highlights the sweet watermelon.
- We also love setting out tortilla chips with Restaurant-Style Blender Salsa or 5-Minute Avocado Bean Dip so everyone can nibble while sipping.
Summer Salads
- Watermelon Margaritas pair well with bright, fruit-forward salads. Try them with a Strawberry Caprese Salad for a mix of sweet, creamy, and savory flavors.
- A cool Watermelon Salad is also a natural fit, bringing out even more juicy melon notes in your glass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use fresh watermelon that isn’t frozen?
Frozen watermelon is key to creating that thick, slushy texture without needing to add a lot of extra ice, which can dilute the drink. You can cut fresh watermelon into cubes and freeze them for a few hours before making the margaritas.
What kind of tequila should I use?
Use tequila blanco (white tequila) for the cleanest, freshest taste. It pairs well with the bright flavor of watermelon and lime.
Can I salt the rims of the glasses?
Absolutely. Run a lime wedge around the rim of each glass, then dip it into a small plate of kosher salt. Just be careful not to pour the margarita directly onto the salted rims so the drink itself doesn’t become too salty.
Are these margaritas very sweet?
They’re naturally sweet from the watermelon and lightly sweetened with agave nectar. If your watermelon is especially ripe and sweet, you could reduce the agave slightly if you like.
How long do watermelon margaritas keep?
Watermelon margaritas are best enjoyed fresh. However, if you have any leftovers, you can cover and refrigerate them for up to 24 hours. Be sure to give them a good stir before serving as the ingredients may separate.
More to Cook And Eat
- The Best Mojitos – Mojitos are just the thing for parties, gatherings, or a warm evening on the porch. We have made and remade Mojitos until we got the recipe just right.
- 3-Ingredient Lemonade Margaritas – These Lemonade Margaritas require only 3 ingredients to make a super quick and easy cocktail that’s crowd-pleasing and perfect for the summer!
- 4-Ingredient Strawberry Daiquiri Recipe – This 4-Ingredient Strawberry Daiquiri is a deliciously cold, refreshing blend of strawberries, lime, rum, and agave.
- Summer Sangria – I make this Summer Sangria for backyard cookouts and sipping on the porch on gorgeous summer nights. It’s fresh, sparkly, and perfect for parties.