Frozen Watermelon Margarita

This frozen watermelon margarita is the only drink you’ll need this Summer. Made from delicious fresh fruit, this watermelon margarita is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser. Pour these up and enjoy them alongside my street corn guacamole or chicken enchilada dip for the ultimate Healthyish happy hour. Best of all, instead of a salt rim, you’ll enjoy the star of the show: a sriracha tajin rim.

This simple watermelon margarita frozen drink is perfect on a hot day. Plus, this recipe skips the triple sec which is very high in added sugar. So, if you have one or two you don’t have to worry about feeling sluggish the next day. If you’re missing the triple sec taste, you can always add a dash into the serving glass. If you’re looking for a little bit of a mojito kick, however, you can also add a pinch of lime juice into the mixture for some sour tanginess.

What Alcohol Goes Best with Watermelon?

Watermelon margaritas are classically made with tequila because of the earthy spice the agave infuses into the light watermelon flavor. If you ask me, this is a match made in heaven.

If you don’t particularly like tequila, however, you can’t go wrong with vodka or gin as an alternative. Give it a try with a dash of blue agave syrup for extra flavor and you won’t regret it!

Non-Alcoholic Alternatives for This Watermelon Margarita Recipe

If you’re thinking of starting dry January, or making drinks for you and a sober friend, you’ll be happy to know that there are many non-alcoholic alternatives to tequila. Some specialty brewers make and sell alternatives for mocktails.

This is great news for folks who love the additional earthy taste that agave adds to the drink, but don’t want to imbibe in the alcohol content. Nothing says you have to give up your favorite drinks when you stop drinking!

If you don’t have any non-alcoholic tequila on hand, try opting for water on a 1:1 ratio with a dash of organic blue agave syrup to reclaim some of the flavor. This will make a great substitute.

Are Frozen Margs Stronger Than on the Rocks?

No, frozen margaritas are not any stronger than drinks ‘on the rocks.’ It may taste that way because of the blended ice, but in many cases, there’s the same amount of alcohol per serving.

Chances are, if you’re comparing your homemade frozen watermelon margaritas with ones from your local bar or restaurant, they probably use a different alcohol ratio. A lot of margarita recipes also require triple sec, which has plenty of alcohol content in it, adding a sharper bite to each drink. Personally, triple sec is too sweet for my tastes, so it’s better suited for other cocktails. If you want to make your margarita taste a little stronger, you can add a half-shot of tequila to each glass before pouring in your frozen watermelon mixture. It may cause your frozen margarita to melt faster if you leave it in a puddle at the bottom, so give it a stir before serving.

Don’t Forget The Lime: Ingredients Needed for Frozen Watermelon Margaritas

Watermelon – Carefully remove the rind from the fresh watermelon and cube it into smaller sized pieces. Add the cubed watermelon to a sealable container and place it in the freezer overnight. For best results, ensure the watermelon is fully frozen.

Tequila – I like using a Blanco tequila. Patron or Casamigos are two great options.

Lime Juice – Be sure to use fresh lime juice. The lime really takes this recipe to the next level.

Orange Juice – You will also need the juice from one ripe orange. The hint of orange tastes great in this recipe. Plus, it makes a great substitute for triple sec which is all sugar.

Honey – Add a touch of honey for a slight diet friendly sweetness.

Ice – When adding the ice, you will want to add a handful of cubes. I added about 10-12 cubes.

Sriracha Powder / Tajin – Instead of salt, combine the sriracha powder and the tajin on a small plate. This adds the perfect kick to complement the freshness and earthiness of the watermelon agave flavor. You’ve heard of salt rims on cocktails, but this really takes it up a notch.

How to Make a Healthy (Ish) Frozen Watermelon Margarita

Add honey to a small plate.

Combine sriracha powder and tajin on a second small plate.

Grab a rocks glass and turn it upside down. Then, run the rim of the glass through the honey making sure it is well coated like you would with salt.

Next, you’ll run the honey coated rim through the sriracha / tajin powder.

Turn the glass right side up and it is ready for the watermelon margarita.

Add the tequila, fresh squeezed lime juice, fresh squeezed orange juice, honey, ice, and frozen cubed watermelon to a blender. Fresh lime juice is essential and will result in higher ratings from all those you serve.

Buzz in the blender until creamy and smooth.

Add to the sriracha tajin rimmed glass and enjoy!

Garnish with a slice of jalapeno and a slice of watermelon that has been dipped in the sriracha tajin powder. Serve with your favorite meal or just take it easy at happy hour with this watermelon margarita recipe.

Best enjoyed immediately.

How Do You Make Frozen Margaritas That Aren’t Runny?

If you’re struggling with a margarita that comes out runny every time, you’ll be surprised to learn that it could be your sweetener of choice. This recipe uses honey, and I find that anytime that the honey is omitted or too light in the recipe, it can make the margarita runnier.

Also keep in mind that your frozen ingredients should be frozen until blended. If they start to thaw, it will give you more of a smoothie texture than a frozen margarita texture. Don’t take your cubed watermelon out of the freeze until it’s time to blend. You should serve these drinks immediately, as they don’t re-freeze well and won’t stay frozen for too long on a hot day!