Skinny Spicy Margarita

Name: Skinny Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: Salt (cayenne pepper and lime wedge for rimming the glass); 1 ounce orange liqueur; 6-8 cucumber slices; 1 small jalapeño (sliced); 4 ounces tequila; 2 limes; 1 teaspoon agave (optional); ice

This Skinny Spicy Margarita recipe is going to be your go-to in the warmer months. It's lower in calories and low in sugar, yet equally delicious and refreshing. Make this healthier margarita in 5 minutes flat.

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Two cucumber margaritas with salt rims on a dark background.

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Why You'll Love this Recipe
Ingredients and Substitutions
Instructions
Recipe FAQs
Top Tips
Serving Ideas
🍳Recipe
💬 Reviews

Why You'll Love this Recipe

No cocktail shaker necessary. Although having a cocktail shaker is convenient, it isn't needed. Just like my Simple Spicy Grapefruit Margaritas and Spicy Watermelon Margaritas, you can make these skinny spicy margaritas in a tall jar fitted with a lid instead.
Hydrating. Adding sliced cucumbers to this skinny margarita makes it even more hydrating and refreshing. Perfect margarita for sipping on hot summer nights.
Perfect for holidays. Enjoy skinny spicy margaritas on Cinco de Mayo, Labor day, bridal showers, and more. Nothing says celebration more than a shaken drink on the rocks. Serve alongside my Air Fryer Chicken Quesadillas for the perfect meal!
Quick and simple. Skip the expensive bar cocktails and pre-made SkinnyGirl margarita mix and make your own skinny spicy margarita with simple ingredients in just a few minutes at home.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Margarita ingredients measured out and labeled.

Jalapeño - Only use fresh jalapeños when making spicy margaritas. Jarred or pickled jalapeños contain high levels of sodium and are far too salty and savory.
Cucumber - You can use either English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers. Avoid using slicing cucumbers or pickling cucumbers.
Limes - It is imperative that you use freshly squeezed lime juice. Skinny spicy margaritas are made with little to no sugar which naturally makes the lime juice flavor in the mixed drink stronger. Bottled lime juice has a muted, watered-down flavor and will not make a high-quality skinny margarita.
Triple Sec - Also known as an orange liqueur, triple sec is an alcoholic sweetener with notes of citrus that's often used in mixed drinks, including spicy margaritas. Substitute this sweetener with orange juice and a small amount of agave, if needed for a lower-calorie "skinny syrup".

See the recipe card below for the remaining ingredients and quantities.

Overhead shot of skinny spicy margarita garnished with jalapeño slices.

Instructions

Salt the rim of your drinking glasses. It isn't a skinny margarita without a salted rim! First, rub a lime wedge over the rim of two drinking glasses. Then, turn the drinking glass upside down and dip the rim in a mixture of salt and cayenne pepper. You can use any short drinking glass or heavy-bottomed rocks glasses made for cocktails like an old fashioned.

Hand dipping a cocktail glass into margarita salt.

Muddle the cucumber, jalapeño and triple sec. Add the cucumber and jalapeño slices into a cocktail shaker and muddle with the triple sec until the juices and oils have been released from the cucumber and jalapeño. This spicy margarita mixture should be aromatic and the cucumber and jalapeño should be mashed.
Add ice, tequila, lime juice and agave, if using and shake to combine. I recommend shaking your skinny margarita for just a few seconds, but if you want an extra spicy margarita, shake it for a bit longer.
Pour over the rocks. Fill both of your salt rimmed glasses with ice, then strain your skinny margarita over the ice. Garnish with additional jalapeño and cucumber slices and serve immediately while chilled.

Recipe FAQs

What is a skinny margarita?

A skinny margarita is lighter in calories and lower in sugar compared to a classic margarita. To keep the calories and sugar as low as possible, use freshly squeezed orange juice instead of orange liqueur and skip the agave syrup. Skinny margaritas are stronger, more sour-tasting margaritas.

Are skinny margaritas gluten-free?

Yes, all of the ingredients in a skinny margarita are naturally gluten-free and also vegan friendly.

Can I use spicy tequila in this margarita?

If you have jalapeño-infused tequila in your home bar, you can use it and omit the jalapeños.

Top Tips

Handle the jalapeño with gloves. Although jalapeño is low on the Scoville scale, it still contains capsaicin and can cause a burning sensation on the skin. Use caution when handling peppers and avoid touching your face.
Taste your jalapeños before muddling. Jalapeños can range from mild to very hot. This spicy margarita recipe calls for 1 small jalapeño, however, if your jalapeño is extraordinarily spicy, use half a jalapeño or even just a few slices. You can always add more, but you can't subtract. Taste before muddling to prevent yourself from making your skinny spicy margarita too spicy.

Overhead shot of skinny spicy margarita.

Serving Ideas

If you're looking to enjoy a lighter snack alongside your skinny margarita, you may enjoy one of these favorite appetizers and finger foods.

Or, make skinny margarita night into a full meal with one of my tried and true taco recipes. Or for a larger crowd, try my Healthy Ground Turkey Enchiladas served with Roasted Tomato and Habanero Salsa and tortilla chips as an appetizer.