Skinny Margarita

A crisp, lighter take on the classic. Our Skinny Margarita keeps sugar low and flavor high by pairing fresh lime with a splash of orange and just a touch of agave to let Hornitos® Plata Tequila shine. Naturally bright, clean, and refreshing.

Easy
1-3 min
Sour

ingredients and how to craft

WHAT YOU NEED

parts

2 Plata Silver Tequila
1.5 freshly squeezed lime juice
1 freshly squeezed orange juice
0.25 light agave nectar (adjust to taste)
Kosher salt for rim (optional)
1 lime wedge

How to craft

Making this cocktail is simple and refreshing. If you’re wondering how to make a Skinny Margarita recipe step by step, it all comes down to fresh ingredients, light sweetness, and a good tequila base. Follow these instructions to shake up a lighter version of the classic that still delivers full flavor.

Step 1

Salt the rim: run a lime wedge around half the rim of a rocks glass and dip that half in kosher salt for a clean, not-too-salty sip. Fill the glass with fresh ice. This small detail helps the Skinny Margarita cocktail stay crisp and lets the tequila shine.

Step 2

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add Hornitos® Plata Tequila, lime juice, orange juice, and agave nectar. These ingredients for a Skinny Margarita keep it citrus-forward and skip orange liqueur for a clean, agave-first finish.

Step 3

Shake vigorously until very cold—about 20–30 seconds for proper chill and dilution. Strain into the prepared rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wedge. You’ll get a clean, citrus-forward Skinny Margarita mix where Hornitos® Plata stays front and center.

That’s it—an easy Skinny Margarita recipe: a few fresh ingredients, one good shake, and you’re done. With Hornitos® Plata leading, you get a bright, clean, not-too-sweet sip—ready in minutes, no orange liqueur, no fuss.

Complete your cocktail with

Why Plata Tequila is the perfect base for a Skinny Margarita recipe

Hornitos® Plata brings bright herb and citrus notes that fit this Skinny Margarita cocktail like a glove. Those citrusy tones lift the fresh lime, while the clean, crisp profile blends with fresh orange juice to add gentle roundness without using orange liqueur, helping keep sugar and calories in check.

A light touch of agave syrup smooths the lime’s acidity but keeps the sip agave-forward and never syrupy—think bright flavor, lighter on sugar, no heavy sweetness. Add a salt rim (optional) for contrast, give it a firm shake for proper chill and dilution, and you get a Skinny Margarita that’s clean, not-too-sweet, and refreshingly dry.

Want a bolder citrus pop while staying “skinny”? Try a subtle twist with Hornitos® Lime Tequila—just a splash, or a 50/50 split with Plata. It amplifies the lime snap and plays nicely with fresh orange juice and measured agave, keeping the finish bright and modern—still no orange liqueur.

Skinny Margarita cocktail made with fresh orange juice

Here’s the skinny: we keep it light with agave syrup and fresh orange juice, skipping the orange liqueur to cut sugar without losing that bright citrus lift. It’s the same clean, agave-forward approach you’ll find in our Margarita recipe, where real lime and a measured touch of agave do the balancing—simple, crisp, unmistakably Hornitos. For heat seekers, the Spicy Margarita goes a different route, using orange liqueur to round out the chili kick—delicious, but a richer profile than Skinny Margarita. And if you’re curious about a bold, bar-worthy twist, the Black Barrel Cure All recipe doubles down with triple sec and orange juice for layered citrus depth. Think of Skinny Margarita cocktail as the lighter sibling: fresh orange juice instead of liqueur, agave syrup for clean sweetness, and tequila leading every sip.

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