Fresh Watermelon Margaritas

Homemade Watermelon Margaritas are made using fresh watermelon, reposado tequila, cointreau, and lime! There’s no blender needed to make this easy and refreshing summer cocktail recipe. 

About this Watermelon Cocktail

Traditionally made with tequila, lime juice, Triple Sec or Cointreau, and a salted rim, margaritas belong to the “sour” family of cocktails. And lucky for us, there are so many fun ways to make margaritas! 

This watermelon version is the latest in my ever-growing repertoire of unique margarita recipes. It’s made with both fresh watermelon and fresh pressed watermelon juice (which is easy to find at most major grocery stores).

Aged reposado tequila adds depth to this cocktail, lime juice adds zing, and Cointreau adds a bittersweet orange flavor. 

The resulting margaritas are fruity, refreshing, and naturally sweet from the watermelon. 

And guess what? You don’t need a blender to make this delicious cocktail! 

Make a big batch of these fresh watermelon margs to sip poolside this summer! They’re also great for cookouts, Cinco de Mayo, and hot summer days. 

Tools You’ll Need

I suggest having the following bar tools on hand for making this simple watermelon cocktail. 

• Shaker — This recipe makes two watermelon juice margaritas. I suggest measuring the ingredients directly into the shaker. 
• Strainer for shaker — If your shaker didn’t come with a strainer, be sure to purchase one for this recipe. 
• Jigger — For measuring out cocktail ingredients.
• Citrus juicer — Makes juicing limes easier. Here are my top tips for juicing limes. 
• Cocktail muddler — Instead of being blended in a blender, the watermelon is muddled directly in the shaker. 
• Margarita Glasses — The classic choice for serving margs. If you don’t have margarita glasses, you may also use rocks glasses. For summer sipping, consider investing in insulated margarita glasses to keep your drinks cold. 

Recipe Ingredients 

For the salt rim, margarita mixture, and optional garnishes, you’ll need the following ingredients:  

• Flaky Salt 
• Tajin
• Fresh Watermelon Cubes
• Ice 
• Reposado Tequila 
• Fresh Pressed Watermelon Juice
• Cointreau
• Lime Juice

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions to make this fresh watermelon margarita, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

What Is Tequila? What Kind Should I Use? 

Tequila is a distilled spirit made from the agave plant. True tequila may only be labeled as such if it was produced in the Mexican states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Michoacan, or Tamaulipas. 

There are three types of tequila: blanco (aka silver or white), reposado, and añejo. 

You’ll want to use reposado tequila in these easy watermelon margaritas. It’s been aged in oak casts for at least two months and is mellower in flavor than blanco / white tequila. 

Some top tequila brands are: Jose Cuervo, Patrón, Don Juilo, and Herradura. 

What Is Cointreau?

Pronounced “kwan-troh,” Cointreau is an orange-flavored liqueur that falls under the triple sec family of liqueurs. My favorite kind of cointreau is name brand Cointreau (it’s a classic for a reason!). 

Garnish Ideas

Enjoy your watermelon margs as is, or garnish with a lime wedge (or lime twist) and a slice of fresh watermelon. You can also skewer a cube of fresh watermelon onto a cocktail pick. 

Variations to Try

This margarita recipe can be customized a few different ways:

• For blended watermelon margaritas: Use frozen watermelon cubes instead of fresh. All other ingredients remain the same. Blend in a blender until smooth instead of muddling in a cocktail shaker. 
• For spicy watermelon margaritas: Slice up 1 jalapeño pepper and add to the tequila. Let sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until as spicy as you’d like it to be. Strain out the jalapeño slices before proceeding with the recipe. 
• For watermelon mint margaritas: Muddle a handful of fresh mint leaves with the watermelon, then add the remaining ingredients and shake. (Fresh basil would also be great!)

Recipe FAQs

Got questions about how to make this recipe? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.

Should I shake or stir the margarita? 

Shake, shake, shake! Shaking margaritas helps to combine the fruit juices, muddled watermelon, and liquors. 

Should the margaritas be served over ice? 

Yes, serve the margs over regular ice cubes. If you use shaved or crushed ice, your cocktails will become watered down quickly. 

Can the tequila be substituted? 

If you don’t have reposado tequila on hand, blanco tequila or mezcal may also be used. 

Can the cointreau be substituted? 

If you don’t have Cointreau on hand, try using Triple Sec, Grand Marnier, or Orange Curaçao instead, noting that each has a slightly unique orange flavor. 

Can this recipe be made as a pitcher cocktail? 

Absolutely! You can prepare the pitcher watermelon margaritas up to 48 hours in advance, but do NOT add ice to the pitcher! Add ice to the individual glasses just before serving the margs instead.  

To prepare pitcher margaritas, measure out the ingredients list in the recipe card below using ratios rather than ounces or tablespoons. 

Can this cocktail be made non-alcoholic? 

Alcohol-free spirits are great as an alternative if you’re sober curious or don’t consume alcohol. Here are some highly rated non-alcoholic spirits you can try for yourself: 

• Alcohol-free tequilas: Ritual, Lyre’s, and Seedlip. 
• Alcohol-free orange liqueur: Lyre’s

Safety tip: Depending on the brand you use, some alcohol-removed spirits may still contain trace amounts of alcohol. Check before using if you’re pregnant, serving the mocktails to kids, etc. 

What to Serve with Watermelon Margaritas 

Serve these fruity margaritas with your favorite Mexican entrees and appetizers. Some of my favorites include: 

• Main dishes: Chicken, Black Bean & Spinach Enchiladas, Chicken Enchiladas with Chili Gravy, Flank Steak Fajitas, Chicken Tacos, Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas. 
• Appetizers and Sides: Basic Guacamole, Cinnamon Chips and Fruit Salsa, Black Bean Salad, Easiest Nachos, Baked Chicken Taquitos. 

Try Making Watermelon Margaritas at Home! 

Next time you’re looking for a fresh watermelon cocktail recipe, give these margaritas a try!

Did you love how refreshing this margarita recipe was? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see a photo of your watermelon juice margaritas!

More Fruity Margarita Recipes: 

Pineapple, cilantro, and lime juice infuse this Pineapple Margarita with refreshing summer flavors. Make a small batch or prepare in a pitcher for parties! 

Fresh strawberries, basil, and lime juice infuse this Strawberry Basil Margarita with bright summer flavors.

Sweet and sour from the passion fruit and lime juices and slightly smoky from the mezcal, this Passion Fruit Margarita recipe makes a unique cocktail that everyone will love. Perfect for Cinco de Mayo, summer barbecues, and 4th of July gatherings! 

This Lemon Margarita is a simple variation on the classic. Lemon juice cuts through tequila for a tangy cocktail with extra flavor dimension from a salted rim. 

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