Spicy Watermelon Margarita (With a Salted Chili Rim)

This may be the best use for watermelon yet! These Spicy Watermelon Margaritas are sweet and refreshing with a little kick of heat that comes from homemade jalapeno sweet syrup and the delicious salted chili rim.

For a non alcoholic version, try our Watermelon Slushie - great to enjoy during summer dinners!

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Spicy Watermelon Margarita

Explore more refreshing summer drinks recipes: Strawberry Iced Tea With Mint, Skinny Watermelon Margarita, Strawberry Agua Fresca With Chili.

Ingredients

Watermelon - This spicy watermelon basil margarita will have the best flavor if made with watermelon in season.
Freshly squeezed lime juice - Fresh is always best, natural and full of flavor.
Garnishes - Fresh basil and fresh watermelon are optional but make a beautiful presentation. Make the margarita garnishes ahead of time and keep them in an airtight container covered with a damp paper towel. Make sure they are ready before you start making the drinks.
The liquor matters - For the absolute best flavor, use high-quality spirits.
Jalapeno simple syrup - a homemade classical simple syrup with hot peppers added!

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How To Make Spicy Watermelon Margarita

Prep the glasses. Salt the rim of a margarita glass.

Rub it thoroughly with a lime wedge and dip the top of the glass in a small plate with salt and chili powder (or tajin) mix.

For best results, use chilled glasses!

Blend. Add all the ingredients for the margarita cocktail in a blender and process until all is mixed well and there are no chunks of watermelon.

Depending on your blender, you'll need to add x amount of cold water to make the blending process smooth.

Also, for the ice, if you have a high-power blender, you can use ice cubes; alternatively, crushed ice will blend more easily.

Serve. Using a spoon, divide the drink between the prepared glasses. Don't create a very high "tower" on top, as you won't be able to transport the glasses to the table.

Also, frozen margaritas melt quickly, especially if outside in warm weather, so use your best judgment on how much you pour into the glass!

Garnish with basil leaves, watermelon slice, and lime, and serve immediately. Enjoy!

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Tips and Variations

I recommend cutting the watermelon into medium chunks (one or two inches in size) before freezing. Depending on the temperature of your freezer, the watermelon should freeze solid within 4-6 hours. For best results, freeze overnight.
Always add the liquid ingredients to the bottom of the blender first and then follow with the fruit; otherwise, in some cases, the blender will struggle to work.
If you're not a big fan of the spicy salty rim (not everyone is!) or not sure if your guests will like this, make the salt rim only on half of the glass. Or add a bit of sugar into the mix (to taste).
For the spicy - have you tried Tajin yet? Instead of chili powder use tajin spice and mix it into the salt before dipping the top of the glasses in it.
Spirit amount - you can always add more/less liquor as you need. Small differences will not change the texture or flavor of the drink.
If you don't like the flavor of tequila, another great option is to use vodka, gin, or even watermelon-flavored spirits.
Fruit variations - Watermelon goes well with most tropical fruits, such as mango, pineapple, papaya, passion fruit, and banana. Mix things up by adding these, also preferably frozen, or add berries that are great for this margarita, such as strawberries and raspberries.

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🍉 Watermelon Tips: Read these tips on how long does watermelon last.

Before You Head Out

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Recipe Card

watermelon margarita in a margarita glass served with watermelon star shaped slice and basil leaves

Julia

How To Make Frozen Watermelon Margaritas

5 from 1 vote

This may be the best use for watermelon yet! These Spicy Watermelon Basil Margaritas are sweet, refreshing with a little kick of spicy flavor that comes from homemade chili sweet syrup and the delicious salted chili rim.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 0

Total Time 10

Servings: 3 cocktails

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Calories: 211

Ingredients Method Nutrition Video Notes

Ingredients

4 cups watermelon chunks, frozen
handful basil leaves 10-12 leaves
3 oz Tequila
2 oz orange liquor (Grand Marnier, Triple Sec, Cointreau)
2 ½ tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tablespoon spicy chili sweet syrup see notes
1 tablespoon chili powder or tajin
1 tablespoon salt or crushed sea salt flakes
coldwater as needed 1-2 tablespoon depending on blender
½ cup crushed ice or ice cubes

Method

Prep the glasses. Salt the rim of a margarita glass. Rub it thoroughly with a lime wedge and dip the top of the glass in a small plate with salt and chili powder (or tajin) mix. For best results use chilled glasses!
Blend. Add all the ingredients for the margarita cocktail in a blender and process until all mixed well and there are no chunks of watermelon. Depending on your blender you'll need to add x amount of cold water to make the blending process smooth. Also for the ice, if high power blender then, you can use ice cubes, alternatively crushed ice will blend easier.
Serve. Using a spoon divide the drink between the prepared glasses, don't create a very high ''tower'' on top as you won't be able to transport the glasses to the table. Also, the drink melts quickly, especially if outside in warm weather, so use your best judgment! Garnish with basil leaves, watermelon slice, lime and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 211kcal

Video

Notes

Spicy Simple Syrup recipe
I recommend cutting the watermelon into medium chunks (one or two inches in size) before freezing. Watermelon should freeze solid within 4-6 hours, depending on the temperature of your freezer. For best results, freeze overnight.
Always add the liquid ingredients to the bottom of the blender first and then follow with fruit, otherwise in some cases, it will be difficult for the blender to work.
If you're not a big fan of the spicy salty rim (not everyone is!) or not sure if your guests will like this, make the salt rim only on half of the glass. Or add a bit of sugar into the mix (to taste).

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Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.

Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.

Frozen Watermelon Margarita: FAQs

What alcohol goes best with watermelon?

Vodka goes great with watermelon because it has a neutral taste that pairs well with the sweet and juicy flavor of the fruit.

Rum and tequila are also good choices for a more tropical twist.

What does a frozen margarita contain?

A frozen margarita has tequila, lime juice, triple sec, and ice, all blended together. Sometimes, it also has a sweetener like syrup or agave.

Why are frozen margaritas better?

Frozen margaritas are often preferred because they are cold, refreshing, and have a smooth, slushy texture. The ice helps mellow the alcohol, making them enjoyable to sip, especially in hot summer weather.

Are frozen margaritas high in calories?

Yes, frozen margaritas are usually high in calories. This is because they often contain sugary mixers, syrups, and extra alcohol, all adding to the calorie count.

Why do frozen margaritas have more alcohol?

Frozen margaritas often have more alcohol to maintain their flavor balance when mixed with ice. The extra alcohol helps the drink taste stronger and not get too watered down as the ice melts.

How many shots of tequila are in a margarita?

A standard margarita usually contains 1.5 to 2 ounces of tequila, or 1 to 1.33 shots.