Make a grapefruit margarita to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Taco Tuesday, or for sipping poolside this summer. Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice makes this cocktail bright, tart, and refreshing!

Lowball glass filled with pink grapefruit margarita with a salted rim.

Impress guests with homemade margaritas this summer - no store-bought mix required! This freshly squeezed grapefruit margarita is refreshing and tart - the perfect warm weather cocktail.

Margaritas are simple to make and require only a few ingredients. Plus, they're easy to make for a crowd! Grab a few grapefruits, a bag of limes, tequila, and triple sec, and you're ready to get started.

Serve grapefruit margaritas for your next Taco Tuesday with friends, to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, or while grilling in the backyard. They pair perfectly with Mexican grilled chicken. Make a few varieties for your next party - try our pineapple margarita too!

Ingredients

Making a grapefruit margarita in a metal shaker.

Grapefruit juice - Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice adds a bright, fresh, tart flavor. I highly recommend freshly squeezed over bottled juices - the flavor is flat in comparison. One cocktail will use about half a grapefruit (depending on size).
Lime juice - You'll need about one lime per cocktail (depending on size). Buy a few extra if you'd like to garnish with lime wedges.
Tequila - Use your favorite tequila - one that you enjoy the flavor of on its own. Otherwise, a bad-tasting tequila can ruin a perfectly good cocktail. Not sure where to start? Check out this article: Best Tequila for Margaritas. Tequila can also be substituted with mezcal to add a smoky flavor.
Triple sec - Feel free to use any orange liqueur you have on hand, like Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or orange curaçao.
Simple syrup - Can be substituted with agave nectar. The simple syrup can also be omitted entirely if you'd like a more tart cocktail.

Simple syrup

If you'd like a slightly sweeter margarita, I suggest adding a little simple syrup or agave nectar.

Simple syrup is made with just two ingredients - granulated sugar and water. Since granulated sugar does not dissolve easily into cold beverages, simple syrup is a must for cocktails.

If you don't have simple syrup on hand, it's easy to make in just a few minutes at home.

In a saucepan over medium heat, add a 1:1 ratio of water and sugar. To make a large batch, you'd add 1 cup of water and 1 cup of granulated sugar.

Stir and simmer until your sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool before adding to your cocktail. Store any extra simple syrup in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Homemade simple syrup will keep for at least 1 month.

Overhead closeup view of a grapefruit margarita with a salted rim and wedge of grapefruit.

Paloma vs margarita

If you've heard of a paloma before, you may be thinking - is a grapefruit margarita just a paloma in disguise? Here's the difference between these two cocktails.

Both cocktails are made with tequila and lime. Apart from that?:

A paloma is made with grapefruit juice and club soda, or grapefruit soda, and tastes a bit lighter and less sweet than a margarita.
A margarita includes orange liqueur like Cointreau or triple sec, and sometimes simple syrup or agave nectar.

While this margarita is made with grapefruit juice, it doesn't include the light, effervescent quality of grapefruit soda or club soda, and does include the traditional orange flavor of triple sec.

Drink garnishes

Before juicing your grapefruit and lime, slice a wedge or wheel to use as a garnish.

Want to add a sugar or salt rim? Use a lime or grapefruit wedge to wet the edge of your glass. Pour some kosher salt or granulated sugar into a shallow bowl. Then, dip the glass to coat.

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5 from 8 reviews