Grapefruit Margaritas made of fresh grapefruit, lemon, and lime juices for a bright and flavorful margarita with only 6 ingredients and no special mix needed.
About Grapefruit Margaritas
Fresh grapefruit juice with lemon and lime juice plus tequila, orange liqueur and salt. That’s all you need to make these delicious, refreshing and delightful grapefruit margaritas.
Yes, it takes a little time to juice 4 grapefruits, 4 lemons and 4 limes. But the result — a lovely pitcher of grapefruit margaritas — is more than worth it! And it really only takes about 15 minutes to juice everything.
Ingredients
Grapefruit: Fresh grapefruits are best for these margaritas. Pink or red both work well. When buying, look for grapefruits that have thinner skins (they are a little softer when squeezing) because they usually yield more juice. In a pinch, store-bought grapefruit juice will be fine.
Lemons & Limes: Fresh lemon and lime juice is preferred, but bottled lemon or lime juice will work if that’s all you have. Similar to the grapefruit, if you are buying fresh lemons or limes, look for ones with thinner skins since they release more juice.
Salt: Only a tiny pinch of salt is needed, but it really does round out the flavors. You can use any type of salt you have: sea salt, kosher salt, table salt.
Tequila: You want good tequila in a margarita. The is incredibly important, so please don’t skimp on cheap tequila. For a margarita, I prefer using a Blanco or Silver tequila. Other good options are Reposado or Gold (which is a mix of Blanco and Reposado).
Orange Liqueur: Triple sec, Cointreau and Grand Marnier are all good options. In my opinion, there’s really no need to buy a fancy orange liqueur.
Cost of Recipe
- Grapefruits 4: $3.96
- Lemons 4: $2.00
- Limes 4: $1.32
- Salt 1/8 teaspoon: $0.01
- Tequila 1 3/4 cup: $14.00
- Orange Liqueur 1 cup: $3.84
TOTAL COST: $25.13 (Based on San Diego Sprouts 2020) or $2.79/serving
How to Make Grapefruit Margaritas
These are so simple! Stir all the ingredients together and enjoy!
- Juice the grapefruits, lemons, and limes into a pitcher.
- Pour in tequila and triple sec.
- Add in salt. Stir everything together.
- Pour into ice filled glasses and enjoy.
*These are great frozen for a Grapefruit Margarita slushy!*
Recipe Tips
Helpful Hints:
To help the limes and lemons release maximum amount of juice, it’s helpful to roll the limes and lemons on the counter with the heel of your hand. Another option is to microwave the lime or lemon for about 10-15 seconds.
Also, be sure to wash the citrus fruits well before slicing. You only need to use water, but a scrub brush can help take off any stubborn dirt (especially on the grapefruits).
Variations:
There aren’t many variations to make in this recipe. In a pinch, you could omit the lemon and add 1 more grapefruit and 3 extra limes. One major thing to remember is to use good tequila. For the orange liqueur, it’s less important in my opinion.
Also, don’t omit the salt. It really balances the sweet, tanginess of the grapefruit margarita.
How to Make Allergy Friendly
These are already gluten free, dairy free, egg free, soy free, vegetarian & vegan. Be sure to check the ingredients list to double check that they are free of any allergens that concern you.
How to Fix a Mistake
The amounts for the ingredients listed in the recipe are guidelines. Feel free to play around with the measurements based on your own taste preferences.
Make Ahead Ideas
These are great for entertaining because they can be made in advance up to 3 days. You can juice the fruit and keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Once you’ve added the alcohol, I think it’s still good for about 3 days. It’ll taste fine but won’t be as good as if it were freshly made.
Storage Suggestions
Keep in an airtight glass or plastic container (not a metal container as it’ll react negatively with the citrus) in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 4 weeks. Defrost in the fridge. Or remove from the freezer and scrape with a fork to enjoy like a slushy. Great for really hot days!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best tequila for a margarita?
The best tequila for margaritas is blanco or silver tequila, in my opinion. It has a more prominent flavor that works well with the citrus juices. You can also use gold tequila that is a little smoother, or use reposado, which is a mix of silver and gold.
Can you freeze grapefruit margaritas?
Yes, you can freeze grapefruit margaritas! They are best kept in an airtight glass or plastic container in the freezer. I like to store them in a pitcher.
Nutrition Benefits
Like all alcoholic drinks, there aren’t tons of health benefits and it’s best to limit your consumption to one to two drinks. However, these grapefruit margaritas are high in Vitamin C thanks to the citrus juices.
What to Serve with these citrus drinks
You definitely need to eat when you’re drinking margaritas! Chips and salsa or guacamole are great options. Or check out any of these appetizers or main meals if you need some ideas.
Final thoughts:
Oh these are so good that you absolutely must make them! I love that you make a big pitcher which makes them great for entertaining and parties.
MORE MARGARITA RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE:
Grapefruit Margarita
Ingredients
- 4 grapefruits
- 4 lemons
- 4 limes
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 3/4 cup tequila
- 1 cup orange liqueur like triple sec or Grand Marnier
Instructions
- Juice the grapefruits, lemons, and limes.
- Stir in tequila, orange liqueur and salt.
- Pour into cups filled with ice (line the rim of the glasses in salt if desired).
Video
Notes
Meme
This post was originally published February 22, 2015. Text, recipe, and photos have been updated.
Doesn’t this recipe look good?! You should probably share it:
2
If I didn’t, um, overdo it a bit this weekend, I would be all over this. Pinning for later…much, much later…
Hahaha! Hope you’re feeling a little better than before 😉 xx
These looks delish!!
Thanks Tawnie!! They are yummy!
Almost 5 o’clock here!! 😀
Yes!! These are perfect for Margarita Monday 😉
Fun! If I drank 😉
Haha thanks Rebecca! You can save these for your 21st birthday! 🙂
I love these photos- they just scream “Party Time”! Kicking back with you and one (or two) of these tasty margs would be awesome 🙂
Nothing would make me happier than sharing one (or two) or these with you 🙂