A spicy twist on the classic margarita, this Watermelon Jalapeño Margarita is made with fresh watermelon juice, lime juice, jalapeño, and tequila.
I don’t usually reach for cocktails first—beer is my typical go-to. But this summer I’ve been enjoying cocktails more, especially when they’re made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. When done right, a cocktail can be light, bright, and perfectly refreshing. That’s exactly what this Spicy Watermelon Jalapeño Margarita delivers.
The combination of sweet watermelon and a touch of jalapeño heat plays beautifully with tequila’s smoky notes. I sometimes make other margaritas spicy too—lime-based versions work well with the same technique. The trick is restraint: use just a few jalapeño slices, muddle lightly, and don’t let the pepper steep too long in the tequila. Overdo it and the drink becomes uncomfortably hot.
This cocktail is also a great way to use up leftover watermelon. Even melons with a slightly mealy texture blend into smooth, flavorful juice once strained, so you don’t need a perfect melon to make a delicious drink. Blend chunks, strain out the solids, and you’ll have a hydrating, no-sugar-added base that’s ideal for cocktails or to sip on its own.
How to make a Watermelon Jalapeño Margarita:
Note: the recipe below makes a single drink. Multiply the ingredients if you’re mixing for a group.
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Watermelon Jalapeño Margarita Nutrition Notes:
Like most cocktails, this margarita contains added sugar. If you need to limit added sugars, substitute a low-calorie sweetener such as stevia to taste. To make fresh watermelon juice, use a blender to puree cubed watermelon and strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove solids. That yields a bright, hydrating juice with no added sugar.
Lightly muddle a few jalapeño slices with the tequila to infuse the spirit—be careful not to over-muddle or let the jalapeño sit too long, or the cocktail will become overly spicy. Use superfine sugar for quicker dissolving; regular granulated sugar will work but can take longer to dissolve.
Shake the watermelon juice, jalapeño-infused tequila, lime juice, and sweetener with ice in a cocktail shaker and strain into a prepared glass. Rim the glass with kosher salt or add a pinch of salt directly to the drink to enhance the flavors. Serve with a jalapeño slice, a lime wheel, or a small wedge of watermelon for garnish.
Watermelon and Jalapeño Margarita Ingredients:
- Jalapeño: use a few slices (about 3–5), adjusted for heat preference
- Tequila: 1.5 ounces (any style you prefer)
- Superfine sugar: 1 tablespoon (or substitute a sweetener of choice)
- Watermelon juice: 1/2 cup (freshly blended and strained)
- Lime juice: 2 tablespoons (about 1 lime)
- Ice: crushed or cubed
- Kosher salt: for rimming the glass, or a pinch added to the drink
Spicy Watermelon and Jalapeno Margarita
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Equipment
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1 Blender
Ingredients
- ¼ jalapeño (3–5 slices, depending on heat)
- 1.5 ounces tequila
- 1 Tablespoon superfine sugar (or substitute)
- ½ cup watermelon juice
- 2 Tablespoon lime juice (from 1 lime)
- ice (crushed or cubes)
- salt for rimming the glass
Instructions
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Lightly muddle the jalapeño slices with the tequila in a sturdy glass or measuring cup. Stir in the superfine sugar until dissolved. Be gentle—muddling more firmly or letting the pepper steep longer will increase the heat.
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Wet the rim of a short glass with lime juice and dip it into kosher salt, if desired. Fill the glass halfway with crushed or cubed ice. (If you skip the rim, add a pinch of salt to the tequila mixture.)
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Add the tequila mixture, watermelon juice, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with a jalapeño slice, lime wheel, or small watermelon wedge.
Nutrition
Notes
To make superfine sugar: pulse granulated sugar in a food processor or spice grinder until it resembles a fine powder. Store extras in an airtight container. Granulated sugar may be used but will take longer to dissolve.
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