If you’ve been around here long enough, you know I love recipes that feel easy but still taste like you knew exactly what you were doing. These watermelon margaritas on the rocks are just that. I’ve shared plenty of drink and party recipes over the years, and the key here is balance, sweet watermelon, fresh lime juice, smooth tequila, and just enough sweetness to make every sip easy without tasting like straight juice.
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Watermelon Margarita Ingredients
- Watermelon: I wouldn't spend a lot of time removing the seeds. Once you strain the watermelon, your stainer should catch the seeds.
- Fresh Lime Juice
- Sugar or Sweetener
- Tequila
- Water
How to Make a Watermelon Margarita on the Rocks
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Add the watermelon and water to a blender. Blend until the ingredients are combined.
- Place a mesh strainer over a cup and strain the mixture into the cup. This will create a watermelon puree/juice and will leave the drink with a smooth consistency. (You can make a smoothie using the watermelon pulp!)
- Add the watermelon juice, tequila, sweetener or sugar, and lime juice to the blender. Blend until combined.
- Pour the margaritas over ice or serve chilled.
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Watermelon Margarita on the Rocks
Want to save this recipe for later?
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also grab your FREE ebook with my best 30-minute one-pot meals! Dinner stress stops here.
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh watermelon
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup sugar or sweetener Adjust to taste. If you like sweet drinks you may need more.
- ¼ cup lime juice I used fresh limes.
- ½-1 cup tequila Adjust to suit your taste and how strong you like your cocktails.
Instructions
- Add the watermelon and water to a blender. Blend until the ingredients are combined.
- Place a mesh strainer over a cup and strain the mixture into the cup. This will create a watermelon puree/juice and will leave the drink with a smooth consistency. (You can make a smoothie using the watermelon pulp!)
- Add the watermelon juice, tequila, sweetener or sugar, and lime juice to the blender. Blend until combined.
- Pour the margaritas over ice or serve chilled.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Additional Flavors and Substitutions
- Strawberry
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Peach
- Apple
Frequently Asked Questions and Recipe Pro Tips
You can use a whole watermelon or grab pre-cut from the store. I usually go for pre-cut because it’s easy, convenient, and typically seedless, and I love that part.
Just know pre-cut watermelon costs more and doesn’t stay fresh as long since it’s already been exposed to air. Use it soon after buying so it stays sweet and juicy.
If you’re buying a whole watermelon, pick one that feels heavy for its size and sounds deep and hollow when you tap it. Look for a uniform shape too, because odd bumps or dents can mean it didn’t grow evenly and may not be as sweet.
Skip any watermelon with bruises, cuts, soft spots, or big dents. That’s usually a sign it’s past its prime or didn’t have the easiest trip to the store.
Flip it over and look for the field spot, that’s the patch where the watermelon sat on the ground while it grew. You want that spot to be creamy yellow. That’s a good sign the melon had time to ripen and get sweet. If the spot is white or green, it may have been picked too early, and nobody wants to haul home a bland watermelon.
You can use salt, sweetener (sugar), or Tajin (what I love to use) to garnish your glass if you wish.
Pour a small amount of salt, sweetener, or Tajin onto a small plate, making sure that the salt layer is thick enough to cover the rim of the glass.
Take a wedge of lime and run it around the rim of the glass to wet it. This will help the salt/sweetener to stick to the rim.
Hold the glass upside down and dip the rim into the salt/sweetener on the plate, rotating it slightly to make sure the salt covers the entire rim.
Gently tap the glass to remove any excess salt/sweetener.
You can store leftover cocktails in the fridge for 3 days.
You can easily swap out the fruit in this recipe and make a classic margarita using triple sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier. Use 1-2 ounces per cocktail.
The great thing about making your own cocktails is you control how it tastes. If you like sweet drinks add sugar or sweetener to suit what you want. If you like strong drinks use more liquor. You can tailor this drink to suit your needs with no need to rely solely on the recipe.
More Cocktail Recipes
Bacardi Rum Punch
Hennessy Margarita
Vodka Gimlet
Cranberry Mimosa
Jungle Juice
More Watermelon Recipes
Watermelon Salad with Feta
Frozen Watermelon Margarita
Watermelon Lemonade
Watermelon Water
Monica O says
This was delicious! I used coconut water, and didn't strain (because I was lazy 😁), and it turned out great! Hydrating in the heat, but still the best vessel for tequila!
staysnatched says
Haha!