Skinny Orange Margarita Cocktail Recipe

Made with freshly squeezed citrus juice, silver tequila, and sparkling water, this naturally sweetened, low carb margarita recipe is bright, refreshing, and not too sweet.

Whether it’s a low key date night in, cocktails with girlfriends, or a big taco night party with friends and family, nothing sets the mood quite like a margarita.

Traditional restaurant versions are loaded in sugar and excess calories but in my opinion, a really good margarita doesn’t need to be cloyingly sweet. Here is my step-by-step guide to make a low carb orange margarita at home.

While completely optional, I love a salt rim on my margarita to balance the naturally sweet citrus juice. It also cuts the alcohol flavor a bit making it easier to sip.

How to make a salt rim on a glass?

Total Time: 5 minutes

Moisten the rim of the glass

Gently moisten the rim of the glass with a lime wedge.

Apply the salt

pour a little salt onto a plate (I like to use Kosher salt) then gently run the moistened glass rim around the salt to coat.

Finish

Once you’ve salted the rim, add in the ice and set aside.

Not a fan of a salt rim? No problem – swap out with sugar or omit entirely. It’ll still be a delicious cocktail.

To create my low carb margarita, I add three simple ingredients into the cocktail shaker: silver tequila, lime juice, and the juice from one orange.

Add ice then shake, shake, shake until chilled.

Next, fill the glasses about 2/3 full leaving a bit of room on the top for sparkling water. You can use any flavor you wish: orange, lime, lemon, etc. all work well. Using sparkling water is a great way to add effervescence and fizz without added calories or sugar.

Frequently asked questions:

What’s the best type of tequila to use for margaritas?

I like to use any brand of silver tequila but you can feel free to use what you have on hand or what you prefer!

What if I prefer a sweeter margarita?

To create a sweeter margarita, you can add in orange liqueur such as triple sec or Cointreau. You can also add in simple syrup which is 1 part sugar dissolved in 2 parts liquid.

What’s the difference between triple sec and Cointreau?

Triple sec, a liqueur made from the skins of oranges, ranges in alcohol content from 15% to 30%, depending on the brand. Cointreau, a proprietary orange liqueur made from sweet and bitter orange skins, is stronger, at 40%. Since these both contain a lot of sugar, I prefer to keep my margarita naturally sweetened with orange juice.

Can I prepare these margaritas in advance?

Absolutely! Simply double or triple the recipe and mix together in a pitcher. When it’s time to serve, shake over ice and top with sparkling water.

If you’re looking to change up the recipe a great way to do that would be to muddle in fresh herbs or chilis (such as jalapenos) in the cocktail shaker before adding in the juice and tequila. You can also try infusing your tequila by letting it steep with orange rind, jalapenos, etc.

With just 8 g of carbohydrates per serving, this guilt-free skinny margarita is going to be your new go-to cocktail recipe! Want more delicious cocktail recipes? Click here. Have blood oranges on hand? Try my Frozen Blood Orange Margaritas instead.

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