Fresh Strawberry Margarita
This Strawberry Margarita on the rocks is the ultimate summer cocktail! Made with fresh strawberry simple syrup, tequila, Grand Marnier (or triple sec), and bright lime juice, it’s sweet, refreshing, and bursting with fresh flavor. If you love margaritas, this fruity twist is a must-try!
EMAIL ME THE RECIPE!
Enter your email below and we'll send this recipe to your inbox. Plus, enjoy exclusive content!
A Note from Kim
A Cocktail Made for Summer
This strawberry margarita is the perfect summer twist on one of my favorite cocktails. While classic margaritas will always have a place at my table, this fruity version with fresh strawberries might be my new go-to. It’s refreshing, beautifully pink, and packed with bright strawberry and lime flavor.
Making a homemade margarita is easier than you might think. The strawberry simple syrup comes together quickly and gives this drink so much more flavor than store-bought mixes. Add tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur, and you have a fresh, delicious cocktail ready for happy hour or any summertime gathering.
With love (and lots of good eats), 
Made a few of these strawberry margaritas this weekend and they were a huge hit with everyone! Love that they use real strawberries. Will be making all summer!
— Kate
Strawberry Margarita Ingredients
You technically only need 4 key ingredients to make these strawberry margaritas. I like to add salt and sugar to my rim and garnish with fresh lime and strawberries too! Let’s get to the details, so you can shake up these margs and get out on a patio. Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Strawberry simple syrup. This is used instead of regular sugar or another sweetener, like agave or honey, to sweeten your cocktail. It blends easily with the other ingredients and adds fresh berry goodness.
- Margarita salt + sugar. Totally optional for a salted rim. You can use kosher salt, if you don’t have margarita salt and feel free to just do salt and not sugar, if preferred.
- Tequila. We really like to use Espolòn tequila. It’s great quality, but not too pricey. Feel free to use whatever brand you like best.
- Grand Marnier. An orange flavored liqueur that adds a little sweetness to whatever cocktail you’re making. You can substitute with orange juice or other orange liqueurs like triple sec or Cointreau.
- Lime juice. I highly recommend fresh lime juice for this margarita recipe. I promise, the final result will be worth it!
- Fresh lime + strawberries. Totally optional for garnish, but so pretty, especially if you’re entertaining!
Substitutions and Variations
Wondering what you can substitute for some of the ingredients? I’ve got you covered!
- Fresh strawberries –> We love using fresh berries, but you can totally use frozen strawberries to make the simple syrup. You could also sub the strawberries for a different fruit, like raspberries or blackberries. I think mango margaritas need to happen soon!
- Tequila –> Mezcal (for a smoky flavor)
- Fresh lime juice –> Simply Limeade or even better is Santa Cruz pure organic lime juice (can be found in most grocery stores)
- Grand Marnier –> Triple Sec, Cointreau or fresh orange juice
Measurement Options
Mixed drinks are highly individual. The amounts listed in the recipe card are just a guide and how I personally enjoy my strawberry margarita. Feel free to experiment with the ingredient measurements.
- Strawberry simple syrup. Use 2.5 to 4 ounces, depending on how sweet and how much strawberry flavor you prefer.
- Tequila. Use 1.5 to 2 ounces, depending on how strong you want your drink.
- Grand Marnier (or Triple Sec). Use 1.5 to 2 ounces.
- Lime juice. Use 2-3 ounces, depending on taste preference.
How to Make Strawberry Margaritas
Making margaritas at home is super easy, but it does require a few simple steps! Here’s a quick rundown of the process, but reference the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full, printable recipe.
Step 1: Start simple syrup. Place quartered strawberries, water and sugar in a medium to large pot on the stovetop.
Step 2: Simmer. Stir to mix and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn heat down to low and allow to simmer for 15 minutes.
Step 3: Strain mixture. Pour strawberry puree through a fine mesh sieve into a glass or heat-proof container. Let cool, and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it..
Step 4: Mix & Serve. If desired, rim your glass with a mixture of coarse salt and sugar (or just salt), then fill it with ice. Shake the tequila, Grand Marnier, strawberry simple syrup, lime juice, and ice for about 30 seconds. Pour into the rimmed glass and garnish with fresh strawberries and lime slices.
Make It Your Own
This strawberry cocktail recipe is pretty amazing as is, but here are some fun ideas when you’re ready to change it up:
- Frozen strawberry margarita. Place 1 cup of ice per drink into a high speed blender and then add margarita ingredients. Blend on high until blended and fluffy.
- Strawberry daiquiri. To make a strawberry daiquiri, substitute rum for the tequila.
- Spicy strawberry margarita. If you want to balance the sweetness of your strawberry margarita with some spice, add some slices of jalapeño (with seeds for extra heat) to the cocktail shaker when you are shaking all the ingredients up. Then, you can garnish with more jalapeño slices when serving the drink.
- Virgin strawberry margarita. Skip the tequila and make this a virgin margarita by subbing the Grand Marnier with orange juice and mixing that with the lime juice, strawberry syrup, and a bubbly water (or Fresca or Sprite). It is so refreshing and delicious!
Frequently Asked Questions
This particular recipe is made with a simple mix of strawberry simple syrup, tequila, orange liquor, and lime juice.
The most popular is Blanco tequila for margaritas. It’s a clear, usually unaged spirit (it’s allowed to rest in barrels for no more than 60 days) that highlights the pure expression of distilled agave. High quality options are: Patron Roca Silver, Espolòn Blanco, Olmeca Altos Plata and ElVelo Blanco.
The classic alcohol used in a margarita is tequila. A traditional recipe typically uses the 321 margarita rule. An easy way to remember how to mix a classic margarita is to memorize the ratio 3-2-1: three parts tequila, two parts good triple sec, and one part lime juice.
Pitcher Margaritas
You can combine the strawberry simple syrup, tequila, Grand Marnier and lime juice in a pitcher ahead of time, just shake the individual portions (about 1/2 cup) with ice cubes right before serving.
Here is a quick recipe to serve 4:
- 10-16 oz. strawberry syrup (1 1/4 – 2 cups)
- 8 oz. high quality tequila (1 cup)
- 6-12 oz. fresh or store-bought lime juice (3/4 – 1 1/2 cups)
- 6 oz. Grand Marnier or triple sec (3/4 cup)
Fill a pitcher halfway full of ice and then add all of the ingredients to the pitcher and stir with a large spoon. Add ice to separate glasses and pour pitcher strawberry margaritas in the glasses. Serve with a lime wedge and garnish with fresh strawberries.
Kim’s Recipe Tips
- High-quality liquor. Don’t feel like you have to buy the most expensive brand of tequila, but keep in mind that the quality will dictate the flavor of your margarita, so go with something that you like. Our go-to brand of tequila is Espolòn tequila, but feel free to use your favorite.
- Making strawberry simple syrup. It’s best to make the strawberry syrup in advance and store it in the refrigerator, so it’s nice and chilled when you need it. The syrup can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, if stored in an airtight container. It’s great served over ice cream, pancakes, or use it to make strawberry milk.
Drink Mixing Tools You’ll Need
- Utility knife: Use a sharp utility knife to hull and slice the strawberries and cut the limes for juicing and garnish.
- Prep cutting board: A sturdy cutting board makes it easy to prep the strawberries and limes.
- Fine mesh sieve: Strain the strawberry simple syrup through a very fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds and create a smooth, silky syrup.
- Cocktail shaker: A cocktail shaker quickly chills and mixes the ingredients for a smooth, refreshing margarita. If you don’t have one, a jar with a lid and strainer will work.
- Liquid measuring cup or jigger: Use a liquid measuring cup or cocktail jigger to measure the ingredients accurately for the best flavor balance.
More Favorite Cocktails
If you try this strawberry margarita recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if you love it as much as I do, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, subscribe to our mailing list to receive more delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Fresh Strawberry Margarita
Ingredients
For the strawberry simple syrup
- 1 pound fresh washed & quartered strawberries
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
For the strawberry margarita
- salt + sugar for the rim (or just salt, if preferred)
- 4 ounces fresh strawberry simple syrup
- 2 ounces tequila*
- 1.5 ounces Grand Marnier (or Triple Sec)
- 3 ounces lime juice
- lime + fresh strawberries for garnish
EMAIL ME THE RECIPE!
Enter your email below and we’ll send this recipe to your inbox. Plus, enjoy exclusive content!
Instructions
To make the strawberry syrup
- Place 1 pound fresh washed & quartered strawberries, 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a medium to large pot on the stovetop. Stir to mix and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, turn heat down to low and allow to simmer for 15 minutes.
- Then, pour mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a glass or heat-proof container. Let cool and then store in the fridge for up to about 2 weeks. You can use this syrup over ice cream or pancakes or use it to make strawberry milk or pink lemonade!
To make the margarita
- Rim the ridge of your glass with a lime wedge and dip in a mix of margarita salt + sugar or just salt, if preferred. (I used about 3 tablespoons salt to 2 teaspoons sugar.)
- Fill the glass with ice. In a cocktail shaker, combine 4 ounces fresh strawberry simple syrup, 2 ounces tequila*, 1.5 ounces Grand Marnier (or Triple Sec), and 3 ounces lime juice with ice, and shake for about 30 seconds.
- Pour over ice and squeeze in lime slices and add a few strawberries for garnish.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @kimscravings on Instagram and be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy and delicious recipes straight to your inbox!
Wow! This is a fantastic recipe!
I went with 2oz strawberry simple syrup and it is delicious!
I used Tajin Twist to rim the glass – highly recommended 🙂
Thanks so much for your feedback! So happy you enjoyed!
Kim I really need to make a big batch of these for a wedding shower. Can you give me suggestions on a recipe for a gallon of these please?? ?
That’s exciting! Read through the post and you’ll see in the middle there are directions for pitcher margaritas, which serves 4. You can easily double or even triple that recipe. Enjoy!
Made a few of these margaritas this weekend and they were a huge hit with everyone! Love that they use real strawberries. Will be making all summer!
Yay! That’s awesome!