Margaritas are a slight obsession of ours—and this Spicy Mango Margarita is no exception! Served icy cold, it's just the right balance of sweet and spicy. And, these refreshing, ridiculously sippable cocktails are always a hit with friends!
Mango juice is a quick, easy, and more budget-friendly way to make "fancy" drinks at home. Finish by rimming the glasses with Tajin, adding sliced jalapeno, and maybe even a slice of fresh mango...if you're feeling fancy. Garnished or not, these cocktails are a must-make this summer.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Just 5 minutes to make
- Mango juice is an easy and less expensive base—for fancy-looking cocktails without the fancy price tag!
- Easy to scale up (just combine in a pitcher)
Ingredients
This easy Spicy Mango Margarita cocktail requires just 5 ingredients, plus ice!
- Mango Juice (or Nectar): Pick one you love because the flavor of the mango juice has a big impact on the finished drink! And, if possible, refrigerate the juice before serving, so your drink is the coldest it can be.
- Jalapeno Simple Syrup: This easy, versatile simple syrup delivers just the right amount of heat. Use leftover jalapeno syrup to make other cocktails, like Strawberry Jalapeno Margaritas or Spicy Pineapple Margaritas.
- Lime Juice: Fresh lime juice adds classic margarita flavor—and the tang balances out the sweetness from the mango.
- Tequila: We recommend using a Blanco (or Silver) tequila, because it's clear and has a clean flavor that works well with cocktails.
- Cointreau (or Triple Sec): This orange-flavored liqueur is a classic in margaritas!
If you're looking for a mango margarita recipe that uses fresh mango instead, then make these delicious Frozen Mango Margaritas (Mangoritas)! That recipe doesn't call for Cointreau or Triple Sec either.
How to make
These Mango Jalapeno Margaritas are super simple to make! Here's how:
Margarita garnish ideas
- Mango slices
- Jalapeno slices
- Lime wedge
- Fresh mint
- Tajin rim
- Kosher salt rim
Serving suggestions
This Spicy Mango Margarita would be delicious served with...
Snacks
- Peach Mango Salsa: An easy summer snack that takes 10 minutes to make!
- Jalapeno Ranch Dip with Greek Yogurt: A lighter and delicious spin on ranch.
- Greek Yogurt Onion Dip with Crispy Shallots: This stunning dip looks extra impressive served with a platter of colorful veggies.
- Air Fryer Pita Chips: Pair these addictive pita chips with homemade salsa or dip.
- Vegan Avocado Fries: Can be made in the air fryer or oven. Serve with chipotle sauce for dipping!
- Veggie "Pulled Pork" Nachos: These fully loaded nachos are made with pulled jackfruit and all the fixings, like beans, cheese, and guacamole.
- Spicy Cauliflower Nachos: For a healthier twist on nachos, use roasted cauliflower instead of tortilla chips!
Mains (lunch or dinner)
- Chipotle Black Bean Burgers: These tasty and grillable veggie burgers are a hit at summer barbecues!
- Smoky Mushroom Tacos: These easy, flavorful tacos are perfect for fast weeknight dinners.
- Crispy Air Fried Avocado Tacos: You won't miss the meat in these tacos!
- Roasted Veggie Sandwiches with Peri Peri: Roasted vegetables get slathered with a tangy and spicy peri peri sauce. Serve with ciabatta buns and smashed avocado.
- Greek Cucumber Salad: This light and refreshing salad is a perfect no-cook summer meal. The pepperocini adds a zesty bite; and chickpeas keep you full.
Frequently asked questions
Mango nectar is made from mango juice and/or mango pulp, mixed with water and other sweeteners.
100% pure mango juice is made only from mangoes. On the other hand, mango nectar is "less pure" because it's mixed with water and other sweeteners. For healthiest option, we recommend mango juice—but mango nectar will work in a pinch!
Tajin is a Mexican seasoning blend made of peppers, chili, and salt. It is delicious used as a salt rim garnish on margarita glasses. But Tajin is extremely versatile—use it on fries, fruit, pumpkin seeds, avocado toast, or anything that could use a spicy, salty, and tangy seasoning.
📖 Recipe
Spicy Mango Margarita
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons tequila (1.5 fl oz, see note 1)
- 1 tablespoon Cointreau (0.5 fl oz, see note 2)
- 6 tablespoons mango juice (or nectar) (3 fl oz, see note 3)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (1 fl oz, about 1 lime)
- 2 tablespoons Jalapeno Simple Syrup (1 fl oz)
- Ice (divided use)
- Tajin (or Kosher Salt) & limes, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Combine and shake: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice (see note 4 for pitcher instructions). Add tequila, Cointreau, mango juice, lime juice, and Jalapeno Simple Syrup. Shake vigorously, until the outside of the shaker is chilled, 10 to 20 seconds.
- Serve: If garnishing the glass, run a lime wedge along the rim of the cocktail glasses, then dip it in Tajin (or salt). Fill glasses with ice, then pour the cocktail over top.
Notes
- Tequila: Blanco tequila is recommended for its light flavor that works well in mixed cocktails like this.
- Cointreau: You can substitute with another brand of Triple Sec if you prefer. Alternatively, Grand Marnier works in a pinch.
- Mango Juice (or Nectar): Choose a mango juice that you enjoy sipping on its own. We recommend using a fresh 100% mango juice—but mango nectar works too.
- To make a pitcher of margaritas (8 servings): In a pitcher, combine ¾ cup tequila, ¼ cup Cointreau, 1½ cups mango juice, ½ cup fresh lime juice, and ½ cup Jalapeno Simple Syrup. Stir well to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve (can be made up to 6 hours in advance). Add ice immediately before serving.
- Make ahead tips: If you would like to prep these cocktails in advance, you can mix all the liquids, cover, and store in the fridge. However, do not add the ice until just before serving, otherwise it will dilute the drink. For best results, we recommend squeezing and adding the lime juice fresh too, because citrus loses some of its bright flavor the longer it sits...(but this is optional).
- Yield: Drink size preferences vary significantly, so adjust as you wish. 1x this recipe makes for two small cocktails glasses filled with ice. If you like to serve margaritas in large glasses, 1x the recipe may yield closer to 1 serving. You can always scale up the recipe if you wish.
Kara T says
Made these for cocktail night! They were everyone's favorite!!
bri says
Woohoo, we love to hear that, Kara! Thanks for sharing!
Marta says
Yum! These are dangerously good. I didn't have tajin but salt worked just fine.
bri says
Hi Marta! Glad you enjoyed these spicy margs! Yes, if you don't have tajin, salt is a great one to use instead. Good call:)
Tom says
Never would have thought to pair mango and margarita but it totally works - would make again
bri says
Hi Tom! Woohoo, we're glad you enjoyed this combo:)