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I’m in love with this easy skinny margarita recipe! It’s sweet, it’s tangy, it tastes just like a regular margarita (without all the calories and sugar), and it even fits the requirements for a low carb keto margarita. Plus, it only takes 5 minutes to make (just like my pina colada recipe) — can’t get any better than that!
I served these margs (with a slice of my keto tres leches cake) to some friends and they didn’t even know that they were healthy or sugar free! They agreed with me that these are the best skinny margarita version they’ve ever had.
Why You’ll Love This Skinny Margarita Recipe
- Naturally sweet citrus flavor
- Smooth and refreshing
- Healthier than most skinny margarita recipes: naturally flavored, natural sweeteners, and NO added sugar
- 5 simple ingredients + 5 minutes to make
- Low calorie (106 calories) and low carb (less than 1g net carbs)
- Make it blended or on the rocks
What Is In A Skinny Margarita?
This section explains how to choose the best skinny margarita ingredients, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Most skinny margarita mix options are still loaded with sugar (from both triple sec and added sugar), though less so than regular versions. This one is sugar-free, using the following ingredients to make it truly “skinny”:
- Tequila – Don’t worry, tequila is a keto friendly alcohol! You can use your favorite tequila. I recommend a high quality tequila even though it’s mixed in, as you’ll get a much smoother margarita if the alcohol is not harsh. Classic margaritas typically use silver or blanco tequila, but gold (including reposado tequila) will work if you like.
- Lime Juice – Squeeze fresh lime juice from whole limes if you can, for the best flavor! Most margaritas in the U.S. use regular limes, but key limes are common in Mexico. If you must, you can use bottled lime juice for convenience.
- Orange Extract – We’re using this to get the same flavor instead of the sugary triple sec that is typically use. FYI, Triple Sec is an orange liqueur and contains 11 grams of sugar per ounce.
- Sweetener – Most skinny margarita recipes are really just their regular counterparts in disguise, using agave nectar… which is still sugar! I use Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend in mine and it tastes the same without all the sugar! Unlike other monk fruit sweeteners that contain erythritol, this one dissolves easily in cold liquids. I have tried making this drink with erythritol before, which works okay, but doesn’t dissolve very well. And unlike stevia that I used to use, Besti doesn’t have that stevia aftertaste. Win-win!
- Ice Cubes
- Sea Salt – For salting the rim of your margarita glasses. Coarse sea salt works very nicely, but any kind you have is fine!
- Lime Wedges – A must for garnish, and also to help the salt stick to the rim.
VARIATION: Make it with sugar-free simple syrup!
Instead of powdered Besti, Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Simple Syrup makes a perfect sweetener for skinny cocktails! You’ll need about 2-3 tablespoons per drink.
How To Make A Skinny Margarita
This section shows how to make a keto margarita, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Blend the ingredients. Combine tequila, lime juice, orange extract, Besti, and ice cubes in a powerful blender, and blend. Use more ice if needed to make four 1 cup margaritas (32 fl oz total).
TIP: Use the ice crush setting on your blender.
If you don’t have one, you can use any setting that is powerful enough to get through the ice. Blend until a slushy texture forms.
- Salt the rim. Run a slice of lime around the rim of each margarita glass (I used these glasses for a classic look!). Dip the rim into a plate or shallow bowl covered in sea salt.
- Serve. Pour the frozen skinny margaritas into the glasses. Don’t forget to garnish with slices of lime!
TIP: Blender not powerful enough?
A keto margarita on the rocks is a good option if you blender is not powerful enough to crush ice.
How To Make A Skinny Margarita On The Rocks
I like my margs frozen, so that is how this skinny margarita recipe is written. If you like it on the rocks, you can definitely do that, too:
- Salt the rim. Swipe the rim of your glass with a slice of lime and dip in sea salt.
- Add ice to the glasses. Place ice cubes directly into the glass, or into a large pitcher if you want to make a larger batch.
- Combine remaining ingredients. Blend the lime juice, Besti, and orange extract in a blender, or simply stir in a glass or pitcher. It will be pretty concentrated this way, so you’ll need to add a few tablespoons of cold water, to taste.
- Serve. Pour the skinny margarita mix over the ice and garnish with limes.
Tip: Use a cocktail shaker if you have one.
If you have a cocktail shaker, that’s even better! Divide the recipe by 4 to make a single serving, then just shake all the ingredients in the shaker with ice.
Flavor Variations
- Jalapeno – Muddle 1-2 sliced jalapenos with lime juice, then strain out the peppers and proceed with the keto margarita recipe below as written.
- Avocado – Puree 1/2 an avocado, a handful of cilantro, and the lime juice in a blender, then add to the other ingredients in the margarita recipe below. Omit the orange extract.
- Berry – Blend in some fresh strawberries or blackberries for a fruity version! Just replace 2 cups of the ice with fresh or frozen berries. You can also try other fruit for different flavors.
- Watermelon – My favorite aside from the plain version! Replace 2 cups of the ice with watermelon for the most refreshing skinny margarita recipe ever.
- Spices – Add a kick by adding chili powder to the rim in addition to salt.
- Ice Pops – Pour the blended mixture into an ice pop mold and freeze. (You can also just add tequila and lime juice to these sugar free popsicles!)
MAKE AHEAD: Make skinny margarita mix for later!
Simply blend together the lime juice, orange extract, and powdered Besti from the recipe below. Omit the tequila and ice until right before serving.
To use, blend the skinny margarita mix with tequila and ice. For an individual serving, you’ll need 1.5 tablespoons of mix, 1.5 ounces tequila, and 1 1/4 cups of ice.
How To Order A Skinny Margarita At A Restaurant?
Ordering a truly skinny marg at a restaurant or bar is tricky, because many places use a pre-made mix that is loaded with sugar. It’s worth asking if they don’t use a mix, because if not, you can ask for it without simple syrup.
If they tell you they have it pre-made, a good alternative is to get a mojito without simple syrup, as this is usually not pre-mixed and can be ordered sugar-free very easily. (Learn more skinny drink options in my guide to alcohol on keto here.)
What To Serve With Skinny Margaritas
Now that you know how to make a skinny margarita recipe, what Mexican foods will you serve it with? Try one of my readers’ favorites:
- Tacos – Pair this margarita with your fave tacos for Taco Tuesday. (Don’t forget the taco slaw!) For a taco-inspired twist, try my zucchini taco boats or taco salad for easy, healthy options.
- Quesadillas – Fill your favorite tortillas (mine are almond flour tortillas) with plenty of cheese (I love a mix of Mexican blend and Cotija)! You can even add chicken fajitas or barbacoa beef.
- Chips & Dip – Dunk your fave chips (I like almond flour tortilla chips) into fresh guacamole or fresh salsa. A meaty 7-layer taco dip or even a Mexican shrimp cocktail also pairs well!
- Other Mexican Favorites – Sip on a marg while you enjoy quick shrimp fajitas, comforting stuffed poblano peppers, or flavorful carne asada.
Recommended Tools
- Powerful Blender – A must for a blended margarita. This one is powerful enough to crush ice and for dozens of other kitchen tasks.
- Cocktail Shaker – A great option if you prefer a skinny margarita on the rocks.
- Margarita Glasses – Classic and reasonably priced.
Skinny Margarita Recipe
Skinny Margarita Recipe (5 Minutes!)
Learn how to make the BEST skinny margarita recipe in 5 minutes! It's naturally sweetened, refreshing, and much healthier than a mix.
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Combine all ingredients (except sea salt and lime wedges) in a powerful blender. Blend using the ice crush setting until a slushy texture forms. Add more ice if needed to make about 32 fl oz (a little less than 1 L) total (for four 1-cup margaritas).
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Run a slice of lime around the rim of each glass. Dip the rim into a plate or shallow bowl covered in sea salt. Pour frozen margaritas into the glasses and garnish with lime.
Last Step: Leave A Rating!
Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our free low carb support group, too – I’d love to see it!
Readers Who Liked This Easy Recipe Also Made:
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 margarita, or 1/4 of entire recipe
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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84 Comments
Alex
0Maya I love your recipes. But I’ve noticed with you and other keto recipes that while you list carbs, fiber, sodium, protein,you conspicuously do not list cholesterol content. I’ve noticed that a lot of keto recipes are very high in cholesterol, e.g. cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt. Why not list the cholesterol content? I’m on a restricted carb diet due to genetically high cholesterol/triglycerides- that also necessitates restricted dietary cholesterol. I understand that many people who adhere to a keto diet are more concerned with high protein/low carb diets, but there are many more of us who have to go low carb but still want to each as richly as possible, and to know all the contents of our food/ Thank you for your good work and great recipes.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Alex, I’m glad you like my recipes! I list only nutritional information typically tracked on the keto diet. If you need more information, you would have to calculate that on your own.
Joe
0What can I use as a substitute for the Besti fruit blend and the Keto fruit simple syrup?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Joe, These are the 2 sweetener options I recommend. Other sweeteners don’t dissolve well in cold drinks.
Irene
0I didn’t have orange extract so I threw in a cutie. Obviously, this changes the carbs but this is fabulous! Btw…keep your simple syrup coming….I order as many as I can to keep it stocked….thank you for a wonderful product! You rock!
Rose
0Hi, we made these last night for some friends, some were keto but others weren’t and everyone loved them!! Thanks for the recipe, definitely one we’ll be making again!
Susy
0We do our margarita mix a little differently, we use lemon instead of lime. In a 2 quart bottle, I mix 2 cups lemon juice, the sugar free lemonade packets (stick packets that you add to 16.9 oz or 0.5 L of water) cover the bottle, shake. When the dry mix is dissolved I fill the rest of the bottle with water and refrigerate.
Kelly
0Made this yesterday, and it was absolutely fantastic! So happy to find a keto friendly version of a favorite beverage of mine, especially on a hot day! Thank you
Natalie
0Oh wow, I have to make this. Looks refreshing! Thanks for the recipe!
Swathi
0This Skinny maragarita looks delicious
Raquel
0Just made these for a BBQ – everyone loved them!
Cindy
0Oooh thanks for this! It was my birthday and I wanted to celebrate a little without going overboard on all the carbs. So delicious!
Paula
0I needed this recipe and it’s so good! thank you!
Suze
0Just made this – the on the rocks version – I currently have a lot of Swerve, so I used the confectioner type and didn’t have any issues getting it to dissolve. GREAT recipe and tastes like Gran Marnier was used!
Anita
0Fabulous!! I made these for Cinco de Mayo. I could not tell that they were not the sugar laden drink.
Cheryl Snow
0I love strawberry and other fruit flavored margaritas, can you tell me how to make other flavored ones?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Cheryl, Feel free to swap out the orange extract with other fruit extracts. Enjoy!
Crystal
0Hi there! I’m having some trouble finding orange extract and am hoping to make this tonight or this weekend. Would lemon extract work in substitution of the orange?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Crystal, Using lemon extract will work in the recipe, but your drink may taste closer to a hard lemonade than a margarita. Triple sec (which is what is normally used in a margarita) is orange flavored. Enjoy!
Suze
0If I’m allowed to say, Amazon sells Olive Nation Orange Extract – I got an 8oz bottle specifically to make these lol. It came out fabulous!
tami McReynolds
0This recipe was so much fun. I’ve been sugar free for 2 years now. It’s so much fun to drink a margarita or 3 with no sugar. I don’t have a problem with stevia but my husband and friends are all over this rendition. Thank you so much.
Lily
0The recipe used to state how much liquid stevia but now it does not. Can you please tell me how much liquid stevia to use pleae?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Lily, I use Besti powdered sweetener in this recipe now because it doesn’t have the aftertaste of stevia and produces a better taste. This sugar-free simple syrup is a great option as well, and can be used in the same amount as the powdered sweetener above. If you still want to use liquid stevia, try 1 teaspoon for the whole recipe. Hope this helps!
Bryan
0Absolutely love this recipe. Just wondering if I wanted to make this margarita” on the rocks” and not the frozen version what the recipe would be?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Bryan, Yes, feel free to make it on the rocks! That’s easier to do with a cocktail shaker and a sugar-free simple syrup like this instead of just blending a powdered sweetener, but otherwise you can keep the ingredient ratios the same.
Mary vaughters
0Question: if I use orange stevia how much of that do I put in? If I use the simple syrup how much would you use?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Mary, If you are using both the keto simple syrup and flavored stevia; then I wouldn’t use more than a drop or two of the stevia. Your margaritas will be too sweet if you use any more than a couple of drops. Enjoy!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Bryan, The recipe would remain the same. Instead of blending, you would shake your margarita in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until the bottom of the cocktail shaker frosts over.
Amy
0I love this recipe and am intrigued by the White Christmas margaritas that have coconut milk and are therefore creamy. Wondering how to adapt this to a Christmas version for something different Any ideas?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Amy, Yes, but you would need to make your own sugar-free triple sec. Besti Allulose would be a great sweetener to use for that, as it would fully dissolve in your triple sec.
Jim Thompson
0How would you make a quart of this mix to store in the refrigerator to mix with tequila later?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Jim, Combine all ingredients, minus the tequila, salt, and ice in a blender. Pulse until the sweetener is fully dissolved. Store in an airtight jar (mason jar or Grolsch bottle). When you are ready to make your drinks, pour the mix into a blender with tequila and ice and blend until you reach the desired texture. Tripling the recipe will make roughly a cup of the margarita mix. Enjoy!
Bete Primm
0Hi! In my recipes I use pure organic cane sugar, but would really like to try a no sugar substitute. I can’t find one that taste good. I’ve tried monk fruit and it was gross; same with trivia and Erythritol. Any help would be appreciated!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Bete, I highly recommend you give allulose a try! It is actually a rare form of sugar that we can’t digest, so it doesn’t have any aftertaste and has a familiar sugar taste/texture. You can find my brand – Besti Allulose here. It is slightly less sweet than traditional sugar in its pure form, roughly 70% of the sweetness of sugar. I also have Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend, which is the same sweetness as sugar. I hope you give these a try, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Bete Primm
0I just ordered it so we shall see if it is as good as the research shows. I’ll let ya know after I bake with it. Thanks for the info. Have a great day!
Cheryl Snow
0Is it bad that we cannot digest allulose? Does it just build up in our body?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Cheryl, No, it does not build up in the body. It is passed undigested without consequence. I have a full article here- What is Allulose? (and is it Keto?) I hope this helps!
Mary Ann
0I wanted to get the FREE Printable Keto Food List and provided my name and email as instructed. Food List was not accessible! Farthest the I got was 50%. Perhaps you can send one?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Mary Ann, I see you have not confirmed your subscription yet. Please check your email and confirm your subscription, then you will be able to access the Food List.
Trudy
0I can’t wait to try this margarita. I have allulose. Can I use that. I don’t know the difference between allulose and monk fruit allulose blend.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Trudy, Pure allulose will work. It is not as sweet as the Monk Fruit Allulose Blend, so you will need to increase the amount by 1 Tbs. Enjoy!
April Leger
0Hi Maya – This sounds really good. I have liquid Allulose – would that work?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi April, Yes liquid allulose will work great!
Lynn B
0I love skinny margarita’s because I am not a fan of the too sweet regular margaritas. This was the most amazing skinny margarita I have ever had. I made it for a girlfriend who has never had a skinny margarita and she always uses the mix to make hers, and she loved it. I could not find Orange Extract at the store, but used Orange Flavor instead. I also used almost all organic ingredients (except for the tequila). I would like to try the Monk juice next time, as I am not used to Stevia, but it was still great with the Stevia.
Carolyn McMath
0I found this recipe tonight as I was looking for something to help celebrate my anniversary while staying at home. I didn’t have any orange extract but did have some orange crush sugar- free mix (that’s mixed with water) I used that instead and left out the sweetener. QUITE TASTY! Thank you
Jenny
0Hi Maya, does Allulose dissolve any better thank Erythritol? I am looking forward to given this a try.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Jenny, Yes, allulose dissolves more like sugar does. Erythritol is more difficult to dissolve unless it is in powdered form.
Haley
0What tequila do we use? Or what taste best?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Haley, Use the brand and type of tequila that your prefer. They are all the same carb count, but they will vary greatly in flavor.
Jay
0Where’s the recipe?
Wholesome Yum A
0Hi Jay, are you using the Safari browser? Sometimes you can’t see all the info on our cards in reader mode. Here’s how to disable it.
Lisa
0This really hit the spot with the perfect ratios of ingredients. Instead of using a blender, I pored over ice and added about an ounce of water and a grind of salt. Too lazy for the other work!
Dana
0Hi Maya, first, thank you for such a delicious recipe! My first time was with stevia and orange extract and couldn’t believe how great it was! Then I thought I’d try it with Patron Orange Citronge instead and discovered 1oz has over 10g sugar. Ok, can deal with that (wasn’t as good, have to say!) but then looked up the nutritional info on my Silver Patron and was shocked by the carbs, 17.5 or so. So how do you get yours so low? What do you use? Unfortunately I thought any tequila would be very low carb!
Wholesome Yum
0Hi Dana, glad you liked it! Your tequila (including Patron) should have 0 net carbs unless it has been flavored somehow.
Vicki Blackmon
0Really wanted to make these this evening for friends, but Amazon didn’t deliver my liquid stevia on time. So disappointed! Can you tell me if there is a substitute for liquid stevia?
Wholesome Yum
0Hi Vicki, liquid monk fruit drops would be the next best option. You could also use granulated or powdered erythritol, but it may not dissolve as easily.
S kocher
0Have you used orange blossom water in place of the orange extract?
Wholesome Yum
0I have never tried that! Let me know if it works for you!
Nikki
0What can i use instead of the orange liquid stevia ?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Nikki, You could use regular liquid stevia and orange extract.
Adam
0My wife and I personally love a sugar-free margarita mix that we buy. Our family has been on the Keto diet 18 months now and only drink water or sugar free drink mixes – we’ve lost over 280 lbs. total!
Raven
0What brand do you buy premixed?
Cathy
0WOW. Probably the best margarita I’ve ever tasted!
Thank you!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Yay, so glad to hear that, Cathy!
Bridget
0How much orange stevia and lime juice and tequila do you use?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Bridget, The amounts are on the recipe card above. Please note that ingredient amounts don’t show up correctly in Safari reading mode, so switch to normal mode and you’ll see them.
Erin
0Hi Maya!
This looks like a lot of fun to try. I was partial to strawberry margaritas before going low carb. Could strawberry extract be used in place of orange extract? If so, would you use the same amount?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Erin, Yes definitely! I’d start with the same amount and adjust to taste. Also, you can easily blend in a few strawberries in there. Berries are fine on low carb in moderation!
Shelb
0Hi, so glad you reposted this recipe on Instagram for the holiday! Have you tried using “true orange” (also there is the popular “true lemon”) in this mix instead of orange extract? I’m thinking it might be a good substitute. Thoughts?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Shelb, I hadn’t heard of that, but looks interesting when I look it up. It seems to have a very small amount of sugar as a bulking agent, but they consider it negligible so can be acceptable for some people. I think you can definitely try that instead of the orange extract, though I would imagine it would be less potent.
Jack
0Hi,
If you sub the orange stevia for the extract did you use the same total of stevia at 1 tsp?
Thanks in advance!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Jack, Yes, I used the same amount. Feel free to adjust to taste if you’d like, though.
Hannah
0Amazing love them so much!!! Perfect way to have a margarita paired with stuffed peppers without all the guilt 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0What a great idea, Hannah! Cheers!
Gabby
0Hey this looks great! I prefer my margs on the Rocks, would I just mix all of the ingredients together in a shaker and pour over ice instead? Thanks! Also, have you tried any of those sugar free mixers I’ve seen floating around?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Gabby! Yes, you can definitely do that! I don’t use the sugar-free mixers since the ones I have seen are made with artificial sweeteners and other artificial ingredients.
Courtney
0I just bought a margaritaville and trying this recipe out on it!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Cheers, Courtney! Have a great day!
Debbie
0I think one lime has 7 carbs. It seems like more than one lime would be needed and therefore this is not really a low carb drink.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Debbie, This is definitely a low carb drink. The nutrition info is on the recipe card.
Adriana
0YES! Looking forward to trying this one! Thank you for making the recipe that makes a pitcher full and not one glass at a time.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0You’re welcome, Adriana! Enjoy!
Bridget Kelly
0Sounds good except for the fact that alcohol turns to sugar once it’s consumed.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Bridget, That’s actually a myth and not true. The liver detoxifies alcohol before processing anything else, but this processing doesn’t actually transform the alcohol into glucose. Since the alcohol gets priority, this can actually cause blood sugar levels to drop. No one will tell you that drinking margaritas is “healthy” for you. This one without sugar is definitely better than most, though. I’m definitely not advocating going crazy with these, but don’t see anything wrong with having an occasional drink on a weekend. It’s a personal choice, of course. 🙂