9 Margarita Recipes You Need to Try for Cinco de Mayo

A great margarita is an absolute necessity for a proper Cinco de Mayo celebration. Fresh limes? Check. Tequila? Check. These are just the beginning for a truly creative margarita. Check out these 9 margarita recipes for an inventive and inspiring take on a classic cocktail that pairs beautifully with some chips and a fresh batch of guacamole.

1. Watermelon Margarita

CHOW

CHOW’s big-batch margarita recipe is perfect for a fiesta. Take a 3-pound watermelon, cut it into chunks, and then liquefy in a blender or with an immersion blender. Strain to remove pulp, then combine the fresh watermelon juice, lime juice, tequila, and peach liqueur. Garnish with a lime wedge for a refreshing and summery take on a traditional marg. Get our Watermelon Margarita recipe.

2. Strawberry Coconut Margarita

How Sweet It Is

A delicious adaptation of a strawberry margarita, this rendition has coconut water, crème de coconut and is even garnished with toasted coconut on the rim of the glass. Strawberry simple syrup, along with lime juice, form the base of this tequila cocktail along with a generous portion of Grand Marnier. Get the recipe.

3. Grilled Pineapple and Jalapeño Mezcal Margarita

Will Cook For Friends

Jalapeño-infused tequila makes for a very memorable margarita. This cocktail contains mezcal, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice, honey, tequila, fresh pineapple juice, as well as grilled pineapple as a garnish. Be sure to steep the tequila for a long time to make the jalapeño tequila extra spicy! Get the recipe.

4. Mango Margaritas

Chopped fresh mango and agave nectar ad a light sweetness to this margarita. Puree the chopped mango in a blender and add in the agave nectar, lime juice, tequila along with some ice. Get the recipe.

5. Prickly Pear Margarita

The Other Side of the Tortilla

Red prickly pears as a margarita ingredient aren’t the easiest choice, but the are certainly one of the most delicious. Remove the outer layer of the prickly pear slices and puree the inside along with tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and sugar. Garnish the glasses with tangy Tajín seasoning for some extra flair. Get the recipe.

6. Spicy Margarita

Food Republic

Muddled red peppers with a pinch of cilantro take the flavors of a mouthwatering taco and meld them into a margarita. Garnish with an additional pepper for added potency. Get the recipe.

7. Frozen Ginger Peach Margarita

Frozen sliced peaches, combined with tequila, peach liqueur, lime juice, simple syrup, ice, and Domaine de Canton (a ginger liqueur), are combined for a flavorful and icy margarita. Get our Frozen Ginger Peach Margarita recipe.

8. Patrón Smoked Sea Salt Margarita

A pinch of smoked paprika, along with smoked sea salt, make for a flavorful garnish that pairs beautifully with Patron silver, lime juice, pineapple juice, and agave nectar shaken margarita. Garnish with a lime dusted in paprika and smoked salt. Get the recipe.

9. Shlushy Blended Margarita

CHOW

This is like an adult version of your favorite summertime 7-Eleven Slurpie. Simple syrup, lime juice, agave tequila, and Cointreau are the magic ingredients that come together as an icy, refreshing and not-too-sweet margarita. Make up a batch at a time to keep them from melting. Get our Shlushy Bended Margarita recipe.

Caitlin M. O'Shaughnessy is a New York City–based food writer and editor at Penguin who has worked on and recipe-tested several cookbooks. She is currently in search of NYC's best ramen, and is one of the few people who admit to disliking brunch.