This skinny spicy margarita recipe is a lightened-up version of everyone’s favorite Mexican cocktail. Made with just 4 ingredients: homemade honey simple syrup, fresh lime juice, Blanco tequila, and fresh jalapeño. This easy drink is perfectly spiced, subtly sweet, and has only 167 calories!

Spicy Skinny Margaritas with salt, jalapeno slices, and lime with a shaker in the background

Why This Recipe Works

If you’re looking for the best spicy skinny margarita recipe, you’re in the right place! Traditional margaritas and mixes are often loaded with sugar, corn syrup, and other not-so-great ingredients that can leave you feeling full and sluggish the next day. 

These types of ingredients cause horrible hangovers, so even if you enjoy the drink that night, you might pay for it the next day. Not this one! My spicy skinny margarita recipe uses 4 simple ingredients: freshly squeezed lime juice, homemade honey simple syrup, Blanco tequila, and jalapeño slices. That’s it! 

It’s versatile, easily customized, and so delicious. Adjust the salt or the spice, increase or decrease the sweetness, and you can even make a pitcher!  Or omit the jalapeños altogether for a delicious classic margarita. If you want a more tropical version- try this passionfruit margarita and maybe add some jalapeno too! 

Ingredients Needed

Ingredients for spicy skinny margaritas: honey, limes, jalapeno, and tequila

You only need 4 simple ingredients to make this refreshing cocktail:

  • Limes: You’ll want to have enough limes to squeeze for juice and slice into wedges for garnish. 
  • Tequila: I prefer to use Blanco tequila. See my tips below for how to pick the best tequila. 
  • Honey: See the instructions below for how to make honey simple syrup. If you prefer, you can swap this for agave syrup instead. 
  • Jalapeño: You’ll need slices of fresh jalapeño to muddle and garnish. 
  • Kosher Salt: Or you can use coarse sea salt for the rim. 

How to Make This Skinny Spicy Margarita Recipe

A shaker pouring margarita mix into a glass with a salted rim.
  1. First, add 1/2 cup of crushed ice to your shaker along with 4 jalapeno slices. Use a wooden spoon to muddle the jalapeños.
  2. Next, add in the tequila.
  3. Squeeze your limes – 4 limes equals about 2 oz of lime juice. Pour the lime juice into the cocktail shaker.
  4. Add the honey simple syrup, or agave nectar to taste. I like to use 1 tbsp for 2 cocktails.
  5. Add more ice, then shake for 60 seconds. The longer, the better (and colder) your margaritas will be!

How To Make Honey Syrup For Cocktails

I made a simple syrup substitute with honey for this skinny spicy margarita recipe. The honey syrup is refined-sugar-free and just as tasty! It is also very easy to make and store for future use. 

  1. Simply combine equal parts honey and water in a saucepan on the stove. 
  2. Heat over medium heat and stir until the honey is dissolved. 
  3. Let it cool completely before pouring it into a storage container. That’s it!
Honey Simple Syrup in a labeled plastic reusable squeeze bottle

What Is The Best Tequila For Margaritas?

I prefer to use tequila that says “100% agave” on the bottle. This means that no additives, fillers, sugar, or other junk have been added! My favorites are 1800 and Patron. I prefer Blanco / silver tequila over anejo or reposado because it has a lighter taste and works really well with margaritas. 

Darker tequilas have typically aged longer and are better for sipping on the rocks! You can absolutely use any kind you want, though.

Expert Tips

  • Spice it Up: Prefer more spice? Add in 2-3 more jalapeno slices before muddling. Alternatively, for less heat, use only 2 slices of jalapeños or omit them completely!
  • Pitcher: Head to the recipe card below and hit “print recipe.” Change the servings to 12, and it will automatically change the quantities of ingredients for you!
  • Tequila: If you prefer, you can swap the Blanco tequila for your own favorite. Mezcal will add a lot of smoky flavor. You can also use reposado or anejo tequila, which are darker and aged longer.
  • Orange Liqueur: Adding orange juice or triple sec takes the “skinny” out of this margarita, so I don’t add them. If you want, you can add ½ ounce of either. Just keep in mind the nutrition will change. 

Serving Tips

  • Serve your spicy jalapeño margarita in a glass with ice garnished with fresh slices of jalapeño. 
  • To add a salt rim:
  1. Use a lime wedge to wet the rim of the glasses. 
  2. Pour some kosher salt or coarse sea salt onto a plate, then dip the rims into the salt to coat. 
  3. Use a separate cup to fill the glasses with ice. 
  4. Pour your margarita mix into the glasses. 
  5. Garnish with a jalapeño slice, and enjoy!
Skinny Spicy Margarita in a margarita glass with salt and a slice of jalapeno

Recipe FAQS

Can you make brown sugar simple syrup?

Yes! Simply use 1/2 cup brown sugar with water instead of honey. Stir on the stovetop until it is dissolved. You can make regular simple syrup using white, refined sugar as well. 

What makes a margarita skinny?

A skinny margarita is a healthier, low-calorie version of a classic margarita. Instead of using a sugary orange liqueur like triple sec, we omit it completely. And rather than a sweetened, sugary margarita mix, we use fresh lime juice, which is much lower in calories. The honey simple syrup is refined sugar-free and a great natural alternative to regular simple syrup. 

How many calories are in a spicy margarita?

This skinny spicy margarita recipe has only 167 calories.

More Healthy Cocktail Recipes

Gluten-Free Habanero Bloody Mary

Watermelon Margaritas

Apple Pie Margaritas

Blackberry Mojito 

1800 Watermelon Margarita

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section. Or, follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram today!

Skinny Spicy Margarita in a margarita glass with salt and a slice of jalapeno
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Skinny Spicy Margarita Recipe (4 Ingredients!)

Yield: 2 margaritas
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
This skinny spicy margarita recipe is a lightened-up version of everyone’s favorite Mexican cocktail. Made with just 4 ingredients: homemade honey simple syrup, fresh lime juice, Blanco tequila, and fresh jalapeño. This easy drink is perfectly spiced, subtly sweet, and has only 167 calories!
4.75 from 4 votes
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Ingredients

  • 4 oz 100% agave silver tequila
  • 2 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 1 tbsp honey simple syrup, (see below)
  • 1 jalapeno , sliced into rounds
  • coarse sea salt, for the rim – optional
  • lime wedges , for salting rim and garnish

Honey Simple Syrup

  • ½ cup honey
  • ½ cup water

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • First, make the honey simple syrup. Combine the water and honey in a small sauce pan on the stove. Stir over medium heat for a few minutes, until the honey is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and let it cool. Pour into a plastic bottle for future use.
  • Add 1/4 cup crushed ice and 4 jalapeno slices to your cocktail shaker. Use a wooden spoon to muddle the jalapenos.
  • Add in the tequila, lime juice, and honey simple syrup.
  • Shake vigorously for 60 seconds.
  • If using salt, use a wedge of lime to wet the rim of both glasses. Pour some kosher salt onto a plate and dip the rims into the salt.
  • Add crushed ice to both glasses.
  • Pour the margarita mix evenly into both glasses. Garnish with a slice of jalapeno and a wedge of lime, if desired. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

What Is The Best Tequila For Margaritas?

I prefer to use tequila that says “100% agave” on the bottle. This means that no additives, fillers, sugar, or other junk have been added! My favorites are 1800 and Patron. I prefer blanco / silver tequila over anejo or reposado because it has a lighter taste and works really well with margaritas. 
Darker tequilas have typically aged longer and are better for sipping on the rocks! You can absolutely use any kind you want, though.

Expert Tips

  • Spice it Up: Prefer more spice? Add in 2-3 more jalapeno slices before muddling. Alternatively, for less heat, use only 2 slices of jalapeños or omit them completely!
  • Pitcher: Head to the recipe card below and hit “print recipe.” Change the servings to 12, and it will automatically change the quantities of ingredients for you!
  • Tequila: If you prefer, you can swap the Blanco tequila for your own favorite. Mezcal will add a lot of smoky flavor. You can also use reposado or anejo tequila, which are darker and aged longer.
  • Orange Liqueur: Adding orange juice or triple sec takes the “skinny” out of this margarita, so I don’t add them. If you want, you can add ½ ounce of either. Just keep in mind the nutrition will change. 

Serving Tips

  • Serve your spicy jalapeño margarita in a glass with ice garnished with fresh slices of jalapeño. 
  • To add a salt rim:
  1. Use a lime wedge to wet the rim of the glasses. 
  2. Pour some kosher salt or coarse sea salt onto a plate, then dip the rims into the salt to coat. 
  3. Use a separate cup to fill the glasses with ice. 
  4. Pour your margarita mix into the glasses. 
  5. Garnish with a jalapeño slice, and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1margarita, Calories: 167kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 7mg, Potassium: 58mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 90IU, Vitamin C: 17mg, Calcium: 6mg, Iron: 1mg
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 167
Author: Mary Smith

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This post was updated on March 22, 2023.