We might be a day or two (or a week!) late for your Cinco de Mayo celebrations, but we promise that these Chili Lime Margaritas will be the hit at all of your spring and summer parties. Toss out those bottles of pre-made margarita mix because we’ve got the perfect recipes for fresh margaritas! Pick your favorite tequila, grab some fresh limes and oranges, and impress your friends with these easy and full of flavor cocktails, ready in just a few minutes.
The margaritas start with a delicious chili-infused simple syrup. Adding equal parts of sugar and water to a small sauce pan, the syrup gets a bit of heat from slices of fresh Serrano chili. Let it cool and toss it in an airtight jar in the fridge for all your cocktail needs for the next few weeks.
This recipe makes a single drink, but is definitely scalable for parties. You’ll want to pick up a good citrus juicer to help get the most out of the fresh limes and oranges in this recipe. I like this one from Pampered Chef.
To a base of tequila (we like Patron Silver), add fresh lime and orange juice and a bit of chili simple syrup. Top it off with a bit of Grand Marnier and shake well with a generous amount of ice. Pour over ice into rimmed glasses.
The spice rim is not necessary here but really does make the drink just a little more special. We used a mixture of my favorite Trader Joes Chili Lime Seasoning and kosher salt for the perfect salty-spicy combo. The seasoning is just a few dollars at Trader Joe’s and super versatile. I love it on cauliflower rice, shrimp, and pineapple! If you don’t live near a Trader Joe’s, you can find it on amazon for a few dollars more.
If you like a little more chili flavor and subtle heat, slice up a another chili pepper and toss a few into the drink. They’re a beautiful garnish and add some fantastic flavor to the drink. Not a fan of the heat? Leave out the seeds or just leave out the sliced chili peppers altogether.
Find the recipe for our Chili Lime Margaritas below. What are your favorite summer cocktails? Let us know!
Chili Lime Margaritas
A new twist on an old classic, perfect for summer entertaining. Using fresh citrus, good tequila, and a little chili, you get all the margarita goodness and none of the extra sweeteners you don't need.
Ingredients
For The Simple Syrup
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 serrano pepper, seeded and sliced
For The Margaritas
- 2 ounces good Tequila (we like Patron)
- 2.5 Tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
- 1 Tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 1.5 teaspoons Grand Marnier
- 1 teaspoon chili simple syrup
- 2-3 slices fresh Serrano chili
- Trader Joes Chili Lime Seasoning
- Kosher salt
Instructions
To Make The Simple Syrup
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In a small sauce pan, combine the sugar, water, and Serrano pepper.
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Allow the mixture to come to a gentle simmer, slowly dissolving the sugar.
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Remove from heat and allow to cool. Strain the peppers out if desired.
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Use immediately or store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to one month.
For the Margarita
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On a place, place a small amount of chili lime seasoning and a pinch of kosher salt. Gently stir to combine.
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Run a wedge of fresh lime around the rim of a small glass. Dip the glass rim into the chili lime/salt mixture to coat.
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the tequila, grand marnier, fresh lime and orange juices and simple syrup. Shake to combine and chill.
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Pour over ice into the prepared glass. Top with fresh chili slices, if desired. Enjoy!
[…] Chili Lime Seasoning. I love to browse the different seasoning blends at TJs. They always have something fun. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with this chili lime seasoning. It’s great on shrimp, cauliflower rice, or even on grilled fruit. We also used it to make our Chili Lime Margaritas! […]