This Texas Margarita is not your standard margarita! This baby adds a little heat and a splash of orange juice to the lime and tops it with loads of bubbles. It’s a little bit tart and a little bit sweet cocktail with a kick from jalapeno slices. Perfect for summertime, Cinco de Mayo, game time or make it by the pitcher for your next party.
Spicy Texas Margarita with Champagne
I was experimenting with some new combinations for margaritas, which was a lot of fun and giggles, and thought one with a little kick and a few bubbles would be something a little different.
I’ve made classic Margaritas, margaritas with fruit like these Strawberry Lemonade Margaritas, or Blood Orange Margaritas, and seasonal favorites like White Christmas Margaritas and Blackberry Margaritas so one that offered up a little heat and some effervescence seemed to be in order.
What is a Texas Margarita?
No one really knows where the name Texas Margarita came from but it is basically a classic margarita combined with a little orange juice. The orange juice brings the sweetness of citrus to the drink which in turn compliments the bite of tequila and the tang of lime. The jalapeno that is added to this recipe gives even more complexity to the overall cocktail.
Why This is the Best Spicy Margarita Recipe
- Bubbly effervescent refreshment for summer
- More fresh orange flavor
- Easy to make
- A kick of heat to help you cool off (yep, the more you sweat the cooler you are)
Texas Margarita Ingredients
Wondering what goes into a Texas Margarita? It's basically a few simple ingredients plus my recipe adds a bubbly touch with a splash of sparkling wine.
- Tequila - and Blanco tequila will work
- Lime Juice - fresh is always best for more flavor
- Grand Marnier - adds sweetness and a touch of orange while smoothing out the flavors with its combination of cognac and triple sec
- Orange Juice - again, fresh is always best but a high-quality bottled juice can be used
- Agave Syrup - is totally optionally but adds a bit of sweetness to offset the tangy lime
- Fresh Jalapeno Slices - for a bit of heat. Don't like the heat? Leave it out.
- Champagne or Sparkling Wine - adds refreshing bubbles for summer
- Salt - for rimming the glass. It can be sea salt, coarse salt, or kosher salt.
Ingredient Notes
Fresh Orange Juice or Bottled
I prefer to use fresh orange juice if at all possible for the best flavor. However, when there is none to be had, use the highest quality bottled orange juice, preferably one without added sugar.
Best Tequila for Margarita
Any Blanco tequila will work for this drink. There are a lot of flavors coming together in this drink so keeping the tequila on the lighter side is your best bet. I like Milagro, Espolon Blanco, or Patron Silver Tequila for this citrus margarita.
Best Orange Liqueur for Margarita
Any orange liqueur will work for this cocktail. I like to use Grand Marnier which takes a little edge off the tang but Triple Sec,r Cointreau or Orange Curacao will work equally as well.
Best Salt for Margarita
- Kosher Salt
- Spicy Margarita Salt
How to Make Texas Margaritas
- In a cocktail shaker, add tequila, Grand Marnier, lime juice, orange juice, and agave nectar, if used. Add a slice or two of jalapeno, with or without the seeds, depending on how much heat you prefer.
- Muddle these together.
- Prepare glasses by rubbing rims with a wedge of lime then dipping in coarse salt. Fill with crushed ice then strain the cocktail mixture into the prepared glasses.
- Leave enough room in the glass for the champagne topper.
Pro Tip: The lime and salt on the rim aren't just for looks but help intensify the flavors of the cocktail. Want to make it prettier, try coloring the sugar for a little extra pizzazz.
- Top each glass with prosecco, sparkling wine or champagne.
Garnish glasses with a lime and half an orange slice and a few slices of jalapeno.
Cheers!
Margarita with Orange Juice Recipe Variations
This recipe makes Texas Margaritas on the rocks. You can change it up in a couple of ways:
- Frozen Texas Margarita - Combine ingredients as shown in the recipe then place in a blender with some ice and blend away!
- Texas Margarita Pitcher - Combine 1 cup each tequila, lime juice, and Grand Marnier, ½ cup orange juice, 4 teaspoons agave (optional), and 4-8 jalapeno slices in a pitcher. Just prior to serving, pour in 24 ounces (3 cups) sparkling wine or champagne.
This cocktail is very adaptable too. Here are some ideas:
- Don’t like the heat, leave out the jalapeno or tone it down by just using a small piece.
- Like your drinks a little sweeter, add some agave nectar.
- Don’t like sparkling wine, switch it out for lime or orange sparkling water or club soda.
What to Serve with Jalapeno Margarita
Mexican or Tex-Mex is always my first thought when margaritas come to mind. And when all that spiciness hits you, this tart and bubbly, aptly named, Texas Margarita tastes mighty good. Here are a few of my favorites:
Spicy Mexican Cheese Dip - great for happy hour or game time and, of course, this margarita with orange
Air Fryer Quesadillas - a quick & easy appetizer, light lunch, or dinner that deserves to be paired with a citrus margarita
Pork Enchiladas - this hearty, cheesy dinner is the perfect foil to this refreshing drink
Tex-Mex Grilled Pork Tenderloin - a spicy, grilled dinner that is served with a tomato corn salsa that will cool off the heat from this pork recipe and this jalapeno margarita
When to Serve Texas Margarita
This citrus margarita is perfect for every season. Try them for:
- Summer
- Cinco de Mayo
- Day of the Dead
- Taco Tuesday
- Cocktail parties
- Casual dinners
Frequently Asked Questions
To make a Texas Margarita in advance, you will simply combine all the ingredients except the sparkling wine and ice. Refrigerate the mixture. Add those in when ready to serve.
Yes, you can substitute tequila with vodka. Just note it will change the flavor slightly.
Yes, you can substitute the Grand Marnier with Triple Sec. Grand Marnier is sweeter so you may need to also add more agave syrup or simple syrup.
Best Margarita Recipes
- Apple Cider Margarita - Wonderful fall cocktail.
- Carrot Margaritas - The best Easter cocktail ever!
- Margarita on the Rocks - A classic cocktail for any time of the year.
- Honey Mango Strawberry Margarita from Taste And See - A fruity drink for summer.
- Watermelon Margarita - Best way to enjoy this delicious summer melon.
Find lots more easy cocktail recipes here on 2CM!
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Texas Margarita
Ingredients
- ¼ cup tequila
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup Grand Marnier
- ⅛ cup orange juice
- 1 teaspoon agave (optional)
- 1-2 jalapeno slices seeded or not according to heat desired
- 6 oz sparkling wine or champagne
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine tequila, Grand Marnier, lime juice, orange juice and, if using, a teaspoon of agave nectar.
- Add a slice or two of jalapenos, with or without the seeds, depending on how much heat you prefer. Muddle these together.
- Prepare glasses by rubbing rims with a wedge of lime and dipping into coarse salt.
- Fill glasses with crushed ice.
- Strain cocktail mixture into 2 glasses.
- Top each glass with sparkling wine or champagne.
- Garnish glasses with a lime and half an orange slice and a few slices of jalapeno.
Notes
Nutrition
This post has been updated and was first published on February 3, 2019.
