Watermelon Margarita: Fresh, Blended & Ice-Cold

A watermelon margarita blends ripe seedless watermelon with blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, triple sec and agave, and it takes about ten minutes and one blender. You can serve it over ice for a lighter sipper, or freeze the watermelon first for a thick, slushy version. The recipe makes 2 drinks. It contains alcohol and is for adults only.

Ingredients

Margarita (makes 2 drinks)

• 3 cups seedless watermelon, cubed, ripe and deeply red for the best flavor and color
• 3 oz tequila blanco
• 2 oz fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
• 1 oz triple sec or Cointreau
• 1 oz agave syrup, adjusted to taste

Rim and garnish

• Coarse salt or a salt-sugar mix
• Lime wedge for rimming and garnish

How to Make a Watermelon Margarita

1. Prep the watermelon. Cut the seedless watermelon into rough cubes. For a frozen margarita, spread the cubes on a parchment-lined sheet pan and freeze for at least two hours, until solid.
2. Blend. Add the watermelon, tequila, lime juice, triple sec and agave to a blender. Blend on high for 30-45 seconds, until completely smooth and uniformly pink with no chunks. With frozen watermelon you may need to stop and scrape down the sides once.
3. Taste and adjust. Watermelon sweetness varies a lot. Add more agave if the drink is tart, or a small squeeze of lime if it is too sweet. Aim for slightly tart, because the salt rim rounds it out.
4. Rim the glasses. Run a lime wedge around each rim, then press the rim into a shallow plate of coarse salt, or a half-salt, half-sugar blend for something less sharp.
5. Pour and serve. For the rocks version, fill the glasses with ice and pour the blended margarita over it. For the frozen version, skip the ice and pour the thick blend straight in. Garnish with a lime wheel or a small watermelon wedge.

Frozen, Spicy, Mocktail and Pitcher Versions

• Frozen and slushy: Use pre-frozen watermelon cubes and no ice. You get a thick, smoothie-like texture without watering the drink down. It is a close cousin of the frozen strawberry margarita.
• Spicy: Blend 2-3 thin jalapeño slices with everything else. The heat plays well against the sweet melon.
• Mocktail: Leave out the tequila and triple sec, add a little more lime juice, and top with a splash of sparkling water after blending. For a no-alcohol watermelon drink that needs no tequila, the watermelon agua fresca is a good alternative.
• Pitcher: Double or triple the recipe and blend in batches. Keep the pitcher in the fridge for a couple of hours at most, and stir before pouring because watermelon separates.
• Reposado instead of blanco: Adds a warmer, slightly oaky flavor. Blanco keeps the drink brighter and lets the watermelon stand out.

Fixing a Flat, Watery or Too-Sweet Watermelon Margarita

• Watermelon isn’t sweet: Add an extra half ounce of agave or a little simple syrup. A pinch of salt in the blender also brings out sweetness without sugar.
• Flat taste: Underripe watermelon is the usual cause. Look for a deep yellow field spot (the pale patch where it sat on the ground) and a hollow sound when you tap it.
• Too thin or icy: Use frozen watermelon instead of ice in the glass, so the drink isn’t diluted.
• Pulpy texture: Seedless watermelon usually blends smooth, but for a thinner, juice-like drink, pour the blend through a fine-mesh strainer. You lose some volume but get a cleaner pour.

Make-Ahead and Storage

You can blend the mixture up to two hours ahead and refrigerate it. Stir or re-blend it before serving. The frozen version doesn’t hold well, so blend it right before serving. Leftover watermelon juice without alcohol should be refrigerated and used within a couple of days.

What to Serve With a Watermelon Margarita

It pairs well with salty, crunchy and grilled foods. The watermelon feta salad uses the same fruit, and chips and guacamole, tacos or grilled shrimp all work for a summer gathering.

FAQ

### Can I make it ahead?

Yes, up to two hours ahead for the rocks version. Blend the frozen version right before serving.

### Do I need to strain it?

Usually not. Strain only if you want a thinner, juice-like drink.

### Can I use reposado tequila?

Yes. It gives a slightly warmer, oak-tinged flavor, while blanco lets the watermelon come through more clearly.

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