These 4-ingredient fresh watermelon margaritas are sweet, tart, and ultra-refreshing – served frozen or on the rocks all summer long!
Why I love this Watermelon Tequila Cocktail
Nothing screams Summer like fresh, juicy watermelon, especially when it’s made into a vibrant, refreshing, thirst-quenching poolside sipper like these fresh watermelon margaritas. They’re bright, boozy, and bursting with fresh watermelon flavor – perfect for poolside, parties, BBQs, and just because!
Best of all, you can make these easy watermelon margaritas in just minutes with just 4 base ingredients (all wholesome with no refined sugar!) – or jazz up the flavor in several delicious ways. Serve it on the rocks (with ice), frozen, or as a virgin mocktail for kids and non-drinkers, because no one should be left out when something tastes this good.
Enjoy this watermelon tequila cocktail on its own or with Mexican dishes like lentil tacos, vegan taquitos, black bean quesadillas, and chips and guacamole.
The Ingredients
- Watermelon: Choose the ripest, sweetest watermelon (tips in FAQs!)
- Tequila: I use silver tequila. Blanco tequila/ white tequila also works – avoid cheap versions filled with additional (unnecessary) ingredients.
- Lime Juice: Use fresh lime juice!
- Sweetener: Technically optional, for extra sweetness. Try agave nectar, maple syrup, or sugar-free erythritol.
- Salt: (Optional) For the glass rim- to garnish. Experiment with sea salt, kosher, or pink Himalayan. Optionally, jazz up the salt rim with pink peppercorns, lime zest, Tajin, etc.
Recipe Variations
- Triple sec: (Cointreau/Grand Marnier) This orange liqueur is a staple in many margarita recipes. Replace ¼-1/3 of the tequila with it.
- Spicy watermelon margarita: Add a pinch of cayenne, and/or make a watermelon jalapeño margarita with jalapeño slices in the tequila. 30 minutes = mild, 1 day = spicy, 3 days = ‘phwoar!’.
- Fresh herbs: Add a sprig to the glass. My favorite is a watermelon basil margarita, though mint works well, too.
- Virgin watermelon margaritas: Use 0% tequila or lemon/limeade.
- Other fruit: Add a handful of strawberries, pineapple, or passionfruit.
- Cucumber: Substitute a handful of watermelon with English cucumber.
How To Make Watermelon Margaritas
For the full ingredients list, measurements, and nutritional information for this recipe, then find the recipe card and video below.
- First, dice the watermelon and blend it into juice in a blender or food processor. Then, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer or nut milk bag to remove seeds and pulp.
- Combine the watermelon juice, lime juice, tequila, and sweetener in a bowl or shake in a cocktail shaker (my preferred option). Taste and adjust sweetness, if preferred.
- To salt the rim of the margarita glasses, rub a lime wedge around the rim of the glass, then dip each onto a shallow plate of salt (or sugar).
- Add ice cubes to each glass and pour the watermelon margarita mix over the top. Enjoy!
For a Frozen Watermelon Margarita:
Freeze the watermelon cubes for 3-4 hours until solid. Then, blend with the remaining ingredients to a slushy consistency.
FAQs
Can I make them ahead?
Sure! Prepare and store this easy watermelon margarita mix in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Do I have to strain the watermelon juice?
Technically, no, if you don’t mind it being pulpy. Use a seedless melon.
How to choose a watermelon?
Unlike many fruits, choosing the best watermelon often means picking one that looks the worst from the outside.
- Look for a yellow patch: Watermelons have a ‘worn away’ spot where they rest on the ground. If it’s white-ish, it’s under-ripe. Yellow is ripe!
- Make sure it’s not shiny: A dull watermelon means ripeness. Those gorgeous, shiny watermelons that look so good? Unripe!
- Look for brownish marks/scarring: Aka ‘sugar spots’ (or webbing, pollination points, etc.) If your melon has many brown scar marks (that look like veins), this is usually an indication of a sweet, ripe melon.
- Tap it: It should have a deep, hollow sound rather than a dull thud.
- Always go heavy: It should feel heavy for its size.
My Top Tips
- Use high-quality ingredients: i.e., the freshest, sweetest watermelon, fresh lime, high-quality tequila, etc.
- Shaken, not stirred: It’ll give the margarita a classic frothy airiness.
- Chill the glasses: Just 30 minutes pre-serving makes it easier to add the salt rim and keeps your drink cooler for longer.
- When salting rims: Only rub the lime outside the glass to avoid it falling in the drink.
- Lime too bitter? I’ve heard that squeezing it a few hours in advance allows some of the harsh bitterness to mellow out.
- Taste and adjust: I.e., sweeter, boozer, tangier, etc. If it’s too strong, add sparkling water or watermelon juice to dilute.
- Ice Ice Baby: For watermelon margaritas on the rocks, use big ice cubes! They’ll melt more slowly and avoid quick dilution.
More Fun Summer Drink Recipe
- Mango Pineapple Smoothie
- 7 Fruit Infused Water Recipes (Detox Drinks)
- Homemade bubble tea
- Creamy Mango Lassi
- Immune Boosting Juice With Beetroot
- Best Banana Milkshake
If you try this easy watermelon margarita recipe, I’d love a comment and ★★★★★ recipe rating below. Also, don’t forget to tag me in recreations on Instagram/Facebook with @elavegan and #elavegan – I love seeing them.
Watermelon Margarita
Video
Ingredients
- 14 oz (400 g) watermelon diced (yields 330 ml watermelon juice)
- â…“ cup (80 ml) silver tequila
- ¼ cup (60 ml) lime juice from 3 limes
- 1 tbsp sweetener of choice
- Sea salt for lining rim (optional)
- Ice cubes (optional)
- Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- You can watch the video in the post for visual instructions.Add diced watermelon to a blender or food processor and blend until it's juice. Strain the watermelon juice through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the seeds and pulp.
- Combine watermelon juice, lime juice, tequila, and sweetener in a bowl or shake the mixture in a cocktail shaker if you have one. Taste it and add more sweetener if needed.
- Cut a lime into wedges and rub against the outer rim of the glass. Dip each glass upside down onto a small plate, that has some salt on it, to cover the rim with the salt. This step is optional but it looks nice.
- Add ice cubes and pour in the watermelon mix. Enjoy immediately!
Notes
- Freeze the watermelon for a couple of hours to make frozen watermelon margarita.
- I used 1 tablespoon of Erythritol to sweeten the margaritas but you can use a liquid sweetener like maple syrup if you prefer.
- For additional flavor, you could add in some strawberries, pineapple cubes, or even passion fruit.
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to a spicy kick or infuse the margaritas with some jalapeño slices.
- Read the blog post for more helpful tips and variations and step-by-step photos.
Nutrition information is an estimate and has been calculated automatically
Equipment
„Simple and Delicious Vegan“ Cookbook by ElaVeganCLICK HERE to order!IF YOU ARE USING PINTEREST, FEEL FREE TO PIN THE FOLLOWING PHOTO:
you always have the funnest recipes, ela!!
Thank you Marquis! 🙂
Danke für das Wassermelone Rezept. Es hat mir sehr lecker geschmeckt.
Es macht so viel Spass neue Rezepte auszuprobieren. Man entdeckt so viel neues bei dir! Lg Cynthia
Freut mich sehr! Danke für dein Feedback liebe Cynthia. 🙂
Viele Grüße,
Ela
I love watermelon margaritas ???? yours look amazing, Ela! ????
Thank you so much, Bianca! I am glad you love them as much as I do.
Wow this is such an exciting idea .I cannot wait to try it . Very cool
Great! I hope you will like the recipe. 🙂