Kick back, relax, and enjoy every bold sip of this Spicy Jalapeño Margarita! Made with jalapeño infused tequila, margarita mix, and cointreau, this is a cocktail that’s made for those who like to walk on the wild side. If you prefer spicy flavors over sweet, this is the margarita recipe for you!

A margarita is topped with jalapeno slices and a lime round.


Spicy Jalapeño Margarita

Summer is officially here! Well, honestly, it’s just a balmy spring – but I’ve been coping with the heat by sipping on Spicy Jalapeño Margaritas. The key to making these margaritas the best they can possibly be is to infuse the tequila itself with jalapeño flavor, not just the drink!

I first fell in love with Spicy Margaritas while on vacation in Mexico and I’ve been hooked ever since. The bartender shared the secret to making them perfect every single time. So many spicy margarita recipes out there just include jalapeños as garnishes, but the heat is so much more intense (and delicious) when it melds with the tequila first by a simple step of infusing it with the peppers.

Infusing the tequila sounds so much fancier than what it is! Essentially, you just need to let the jalapeños sit in the tequila for anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. The longer you leave them in there, the more potent the flavor will be.

Then, you take that infused tequila and combine it with your other classic margarita ingredients. Voila, you now have a deliciously spicy margarita! If you’re one of those people that can’t stand overly sweet drinks and tend to lean towards spicier options, you’ll love this recipe.

While I do enjoy a sweet drink from time to time, I also really love sipping on something spicy. A drink that’s similar to this one I can’t ever get enough of it my classic Spicy Roasted Pineapple Margarita. In the summer, it’s so common to see sweet, fruity drinks all over the place.

Do I enjoy them? Of course! But I also like breaking up the repetition of them with unique drinks like spicy margaritas. If you’re really in love with the heat, you could try sipping on the spicy tequila neat… As for me, I’ll be mixing it into the margarita!

Jalapenos and tequila are placed next to each other on a white surface.

How to Make Spicy Jalapeno Margaritas

  1. Infuse the tequila. Place the jalapeno in a bowl or glass with the tequila and allow to sit for 15 minutes to an hour. 
  2. Rim the glass. Run a lime slice or wedge around the rim of the glass and pour the salt or Tajin into a shallow plate. Dip the rim of the glass into the salt or Tajin, if using, so the seasoning sticks.
  3. Shake up the cocktail. Place the tequila, Cointreau and margarita mix into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until cold.
  4. Enjoy! Strain the margarita into the glass and garnish with lime or jalapeño. Serve immediately.
Three jalapeno slices are floating at the top of a margarita glass.

What kind of tequila should I use?

You can use either tequila blanco or reposado. Either way, make sure you’re using a good quality tequila! It doesn’t necessarily need to be a top shelf bottle, but it shouldn’t be bottom shelf either. The quality of your tequila determines the quality of your overall cocktail.

How spicy are jalapeño margaritas?

I will say this – if you’re not a spice fan, these margaritas may not be for you! While they’re not overly spicy to the point where you’ll be breaking a sweat, the jalapeños certainly lend a significant level of heat to the cocktail. I find it to be more of an enjoyable kick of heat rather than an all encompassing spiciness, but everyone has their own tolerance level for spice.

Tips for the Best Spicy Jalapeño Margarita

  • For the BEST flavor, use Homemade Margarita Mix!
  • Measure your ingredients with care. If you want to add more tequila, taste it first before you pour an addition shot in.
  • Don’t skip the rimmed glass. It’s not only fun and pretty, it also tastes amazing.
A glass of jalapeno margarita is placed next to several jalapenos.

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A margarita is topped with jalapeno slices and a lime round.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Jalapeno Margarita Recipe

Yield: 2
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Infusion Time:: 15 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
Sweet and spicy, these easy Jalapeno Margaritas are ready in minutes. Made with homemade margaritas mix, you can make a big pitcher in advance for parties!
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Ingredients

To make Jalapeno Tequila:

  • 1 jalapeno, sliced
  • 1 cup Tequila blanco or reposado

To make the Margarita:

  • 5 shots jalapeno infused tequila
  • 3 shots Cointreau
  • 1/4 cup Margarita mix
  • Kosher Salt or Tajin for the rim
  • Lime wedges or slices
  • Sliced jalapeño, optional

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker

Instructions 

  • Place the jalapeno is a bowl or glass with the tequila and allow to sit for 15 minutes to an hour.
  • Run a lime slice or wedge around the rim of the glass and pour the salt or Tajin into a shallow plate.
  • Dip the rim of the glass into the salt or Tajin, if using, so the seasoning sticks.
  • Place the tequila, Cointreau and margarita mix into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until cold.
  • Strain the margarita into the glass and garnish with lime or jalapeno.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

This recipe makes 2 cocktails but you can easily make this recipe in a pitcher to serve a crowd. Just be sure to stir it right before serving because the ingredients will separate when sitting for a bit.
Calories: 316kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 0.1g, Fat: 0.03g, Saturated Fat: 0.01g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 23mg, Potassium: 20mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 75IU, Vitamin C: 8mg, Calcium: 1mg, Iron: 0.1mg
Author: Kellie
Course: adult beverage, Cocktail, drink
Cuisine: Mexican