How To Make Frozen Margaritas: Recipe and Tips

Served with a sugared or salted rim alongside fresh ceviche or a flavorful Santa Fe Grilled Shrimp Salad, margaritas are a refreshing drink with many variations to complement a beachy summer or Mexican-style spread. Read this guide to learn how to make a basic frozen margarita recipe that you can customize with your own add-ons and flavors.

Can you use a blender to make frozen margaritas?

Yes, a blender is the best tool for making frozen margaritas at home. In fact, most frozen margarita recipes will utilize a blender. The tall jar, sharp blades and high speeds make blenders ideal for crushing ice and blending liquid ingredients.

With the KitchenAid^® K400 Variable Speed Blender which features preset recipe programs for crushing ice, icy drinks and smoothies, you can play with the taste and texture of your frozen margarita blends. Blenders can be used for a variety of kitchen tasks and recipes beyond frozen margaritas. Learn how to use a blender for recipes such as smoothies, marinades and soups.

Homemade frozen margarita recipe

A classic frozen margarita calls for tequila, triple sec and lime juice blended with ice and poured into a glass with a salted rim. But, it’s easy to customize this drink by adding fresh fruit puree, sweeteners, herbs and more. With the help of a KitchenAid^® blender, you can create frozen margarita combinations that will complement your meal, show your creativity and combine unique flavors. Follow the recipe overview below to create your own classic frozen margaritas. Adjust the ratios to your personal taste. If adding additional fruits or juices, you may want to increase the base ingredients of tequila, triple sec and lime as well so your classic margarita flavor isn’t lost.

Step 1: Prepare fresh ingredients

If you’re making a margarita with strawberries, mangoes, jalapenos or other additions, you may need to begin by peeling, dicing or chopping these ingredients into about 1 inch chunks. Small fruits like berries can be added directly to the blender once stems, pits or skins (if needed) are removed. Don’t forget to set aside a few slices of your fruit for garnish.

Step 2: Add rim garnish

If you are planning to garnish the rim with a traditional lime salt, you can use a KitchenAid^® coffee grinder to prepare it. Add lime zest and salt to the coffee grinder and pulse just a few times until it is well-combined. If you’re opting for a sweet take on the margarita, you can use sugar, brown sugar or even honey.

Step 3: Set up glasses

Moisten each glass rim with a slice or wedge of your fruit. Put your salt or sugar on a shallow plate and press your margarita glass into it, moving it carefully to coat the rim. Set the glasses aside. Add a lime wheel, fruit slice or other complementary garnish to the side of the glass.

Step 4: Blend margaritas

Add all ingredients to your KitchenAid^® blender. Fill the blender jar with your ingredients in this order: liquids, softer ingredients or powder, hard or frozen ingredients. Top it off with ice. Secure the lid and blend for 20 to 30 seconds. Pour the finished margaritas into your prepared glasses and serve.

Tip: An easy way to figure out the right portions for your serving size is to remember the ratio 3:2:1—three parts tequila, two parts triple sec and one part lime juice.

Shop KitchenAid^® Blenders for Making Frozen Margaritas

Whether you’re mixing up a spicy jalapeno margarita, a unique avocado blend or a refreshing coconut combination, KitchenAid^® blenders are made to inspire creativity and help your ideas come to life in the kitchen.

Is a blended margarita the same as a frozen margarita?

Blended margaritas and frozen margaritas are different names for the same delicious drink. Another variation of the margarita aside from blended and frozen is on-the-rocks, which means served over ice rather than blended with ice.

Some recipes call for adding extra fruit, sweetener or other flavors to balance the blended ice which could water down the flavor. Adding pieces of fresh fruit or peppers and chilies to your frozen margarita can help boost the flavor and create a smooth texture perfect for summer sipping.

What type of liquor is best for frozen margaritas?

Tequila is the most popular type of liquor used in frozen margaritas, often paired with triple sec. Frozen margaritas can also be made with mezcal which is a bit stronger and lends a smoky depth to your cocktail.

Can you create variations on a basic frozen margarita recipe?

You can create many different variations on a basic frozen margarita recipe. Depending on your preferences, margaritas can be fruity, tangy and even spicy. Try some of the recipes below to explore creative twists on the classic margarita.

How do you achieve the right texture for frozen margaritas?

Using crushed ice when making frozen margaritas can help ensure that the drink blends smoothly and prevents large ice chunks. You should also serve blended margaritas immediately. The less time they have to melt before being poured, the less watery they will be. 

Another way to get a smooth frozen margarita is to use a blender designed for crushing ice like the KitchenAid^® K150 3 Speed Ice Crushing Blender that can crush a half tray of ice in less than 10 seconds.

Can you put frozen margarita mix in the freezer?

Although it’s always better to serve margaritas that are blended fresh to enjoy full flavor profiles, you can freeze blended margaritas by pouring them into individual freezer-safe jars or glasses with airtight lids. Mason jars or half pint glasses work well for freezing as long as they have a lid. You can leave pre-made blended margaritas in the freezer for about a week.

Explore KitchenAid^® Blenders

With your KitchenAid^® blender it’s easy to get creative with your cocktails in the kitchen. Equipped with a range of variable speeds, you can whip up and blend together refreshing margaritas, frose, comforting soups and everything in between.