Skinny Blood Orange Margarita

If you have hung out with Cohl and me at any party you know one thing is certain… we LOVE our tequila!

Whether it is served straight up with a large cube of ice or made into a tasty skinny margarita, it is almost always our drink of choice.

With their brilliant maroon and orange colors, fresh blood oranges are the perfect addition to a margarita recipe! Because of the citrus, you do not need triple sec, either. Citrus season is prime for delicious drinks.

This delightful cocktail is a little tart, but still kind of sweet. It is the perfect balance to go with a Mexican dish, like these Steak Fajitas or simply with homemade tortilla chips and guacamole!

While the process of squeezing the oranges and limes to get the fresh juice is a little time-consuming, it is TOTALLY worth it to make the absolute BEST margarita recipe you have ever had. Garnish with an orange slice and enjoy!

If you can’t get enough citrus and tequila, try this Cadillac Margarita, as well.

Freshly cut blood oranges that are in season from January to May. — Sliced blood oranges on a table.

Ingredients

Making this Blood Orange Margarita Recipe is a super easy process and only requires a few simple ingredients:

Blood Oranges. Usually found in season and in your grocery store from January until June, but can vary depending on the variety you buy. If you cannot find blood oranges, regular navel oranges can be substituted.
Limes. This is essential and typically makes up the bulk of this skinny cocktail. Please make sure to buy FRESH limes and juice the limes yourself for the absolute BEST drink.
Agave Nectar. Traditionally used to make a margarita “skinny” rather than another sweetener. Normally, less of this is needed resulting in a lower calorie drink made with a natural sweetener.
Tequila. Any type you happen to have will work. Silver tequila, or tequila blanco, is traditionally used to make a classic margarita as it is a little milder in taste. Reposado and anejo have been aged quite a bit longer and have more flavor. No need to bust out the nice tequila, a bottle in the $15-25 range is perfect. I recommend Espolon Silver, Dulce Vida Silver, Milagro Silver, or Patron Silver.

A homemade margarita in a clear glass with blood oranges in the background.

How to Make Blood Orange Margaritas

Now that you have the ingredients you need to make this recipe, let’s learn how to make a margarita. See the recipe card for more detailed ingredient amounts.

Juice and Shake

Fresh orange juice and lime juice make this drink. Taking the extra time to hand-squeeze the fruit will add so much flavor to the margarita.

To make this step easy, use a citrus juicer or lemon squeezer if you have one. First, roll each fruit back and forth on the counter with your hand, applying a little pressure. This will release the juices from the flesh.

Cut each orange and lime in half. Place a piece of fruit in the juicer or squeezer, and squeeze tightly over a clean, large bowl until all possible liquid is out. Discard remains. Continue until you have the needed amount of each juice. (Learn more about how to make blood orange juice.)

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add juices, agave nectar, and tequila. If you don’t have a shaker, you can use a water bottle or glass mason jar with a lid. Either way, be sure the container seals tightly and doesn’t leak.

Hold the lid of your shaker glass and shake away! Continue for a minute or two until the margarita is mixed well and chilled. For a stiffer drink, pour the margarita into a glass immediately. Or, let it sit for a few minutes to dilute.

If you don’t have a container with a lid, you can use a large glass. With a long spoon, stir thoroughly. Be sure to remove the ice quickly so the margarita doesn’t get watered down.

Blood oranges and limes being cut on a wooden cutting board. — Sliced blood oranges and limes on a cutting board.

Blood orange juice in a clear bowl for a blood orange margarita recipe. — Sliced blood oranges and limes on a cutting board.

Salted Rim

Making a salted rim is actually quite simple.

First, cut a lime wedge and make a small slice down the center of it. Then, squeeze fresh lime juice around the rim of your margarita glass (without anything in it yet!) to about ½-inch down.

Place coarse sea salt into a shallow bowl or small plate that is large enough to fit the rim of the glass into it. Twirl the glass rim in the sea salt until it is evenly coated.

Use a lime wedge rubbed on the top of a glass to create a salted rim. — Rub a lime slice on the rim of the glass.

Dip the top of a glass rubbed with lime juice in coarse salt to create a salted rim. — Rub a lime slice on the rim of the glass.

Serve and Enjoy!

Just about any 6-8-oz. cup will work when serving up this recipe. A margarita or rocks glass makes the presentation amazing.

Carefully remove the lid from your shaker and pour the blood orange margaritas into your cup. It is best to strain the drink if you’re able. This will keep the blood orange margarita from getting as watery and remove any chunks of citrus that are left.

Garnish with a slice of orange or lime and enjoy!

The best margarita recipe being poured from a cocktail shaker into a glass with a salted rim.

Meal Prep and Storage

To Prep-Ahead: You can juice the oranges and limes up to 1-2 days ahead of time. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
To Store: Whatever you don’t enjoy immediately can be kept in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Keep in a container with a tight-fitting lid.

Make a Batch

If you would like to make this recipe to serve 8 people:

Increase the amount of blood orange juice to 2 cups, lime juice to 1 cup, agave nectar to ½ cup, and tequila to 1 ½ cups.
Add all ingredients to a large pitcher without ice and whisk to combine.
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Add ice 5-10 minutes before serving and enjoy!

A pink tequila drink with a salted rim in a clear glass.

FAQs

What tequila is best for margaritas?

Tequila blanco, sometimes called silver, is used in most classic margaritas. It is mild in taste. It also blends well with other ingredients. Since a margarita is made up of more than just tequila, buying a mid-level quality liquor will work great. To add a little more flavor, opt for reposado or anejo, which are aged longer. However, there is a higher price tag with these levels.

What is blood orange flavor?

The flavor of blood oranges is similar to a navel orange, but it is slightly more floral and tart. Typically, they are sweeter than regular oranges, as well.

What can I use instead of blood orange juice?

The best substitutes for blood orange juice are the juice of another orange variety, like navel, cara cara, mandarins, or Valencia. Try adding in some raspberry or cranberry juice, as well.

Expert Tips and Tricks

Keep it fresh. Opt for hand-squeezed orange and lime juice for the most flavor and taste.
Silver and gold. A mid-level bottle of blanco or reposado tequila is all you need for this margarita, so don’t break the bank.
Shake it up. The less time you spend shaking the margarita the stronger it will be while more time will dilute it.
It’s ok to be salty. A rim of salt adds so much flavor to the margarita, so don’t skip it!
Sliced and pretty. A sliver of orange or lime as a garnish makes the drink so beautiful, but it also allows the drinker an extra squeeze of delicious citrus if they want.

A hand holding a skinny margarita with blood orange juice.

Make it a Fiesta

If you need something to nibble on while enjoying this margarita, try one of the festive dishes:

More Cocktail Recipes

Any of these cocktail recipes will make for a fun party:

Pomegranate Martini
Creamy Frozen Mojito
Watermelon Tequila Fizz
Mexican 75
Espresso Margarita

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