This key lime margarita recipe tastes just like a slice of key lime pie. It's creamy, tart, and citrus-forward, making it the perfect drink for warm weather sipping. And coming together in under 10 minutes, it's perfect for Cinco de Mayo or when you need a signature drink for your next summer gathering.
As with key lime pie, the secret ingredient in this tequila cocktail is sweetened condensed milk which adds the perfect balance of creaminess to the tartness of fresh lime juice. Paired with classic lime margarita ingredients, tequila and a splash of orange liqueur, it’s a fun twist on a classic cocktail.
Whether you serve it with a lime zest and salt rim or dress it up with a graham cracker crust, this fun drink is basically sunshine in a glass.
Looking for other Cinco de Mayo recipes? You'll love these mango and coconut margaritas or grapefruit ranch water. They're both fantastic tequila cocktails. We can't forget about the chips and dip. Serve this easy homemade guacamole and white cheese dip with a bowl of tortilla chips and you're well on your way to a great party.
Ready to make this epic margarita recipe? Let's do it!
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Ingredients
Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this recipe:
- blanco tequila (also known as white or silver tequila)
- sweetened condensed milk
- orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier or Triple Sec)
- key lime juice
- margarita salt or coarse salt, key lime zest, and key lime slices for garnish
(See recipe card for quantities.)
Instructions
Now that we've got our ingredients, it's time make these margaritas!
- First, combine the lime zest and margarita salt in a shallow dish. Dip the edges of the margarita glasses in lime juice and then in the salt mixture. Set aside.
- Then, combine the tequila, sweetened condensed milk, orange liqueur, and key lime juice in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously until chilled and then strain into the prepared glasses. Garnish and serve.
Hint: If you don't feel like squeezing juice from key limes, look for Nellie and Joe's bottled key lime juice in the cocktail, wine, and beer aisle at the grocery store. It's usually with the drink mixers.
Substitutions
Need to make some ingredient swaps? Here are some suggestions:
- Tequila - Instead of tequila, you could use rum or vodka if you'd like.
- Key limes - If you can't find key limes, use regular limes instead. Key limes are sweeter than regular limes so give the margarita a taste before serving and add more sweetened condensed milk if you want it sweeter. Or stir in a little agave nectar or simple syrup.
- Orange liqueur - You can use triple sec, Grand Marnier, or Cointreau interchangeably. Or, add a splash of orange juice if you prefer.
- Sweetened condensed milk - Make this dairy-free by using sweetened condensed coconut milk found in the same spot at the grocery store.
Variations
Check out these easy ways to adjust this recipe:
- Key Lime Pie Margaritas with Graham Cracker Rims - Instead of a salt and lime zest rim, crush up graham crackers.
- Texas Roadhouse Key Lime Margarita Recipe - This crowd-favorite is easy to make. Use simple syrup in place of the sweetened condensed milk.
- Mango Key Lime Pie Margaritas - Give this drink a tropical twist. Add some mango nectar and reduce the sweetened condensed milk to make a mango key lime pie margarita.
- Lemon Pie Margaritas - Instead of key lime juice and zest, use lemon juice and zest.
Equipment
Here's the equipment you'll need to make this best margarita recipe:
- microplane zester
- measuring spoons
- liquid measuring cup
- cocktail shaker
Storage
If you have leftovers, strain the cocktail from the ice into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freeze strained leftovers in a freezer-safe container or ice cube tray for up to 6 months.
Tasty Tip
Make frozen key lime pie margaritas by freezing the mixture in ice cube trays and then processing in a blender. Or skip the freezing part completely by combining all the ingredients with ice in a blender.
Frequently asked questions
If you're aiming for a traditional margarita, then yes. It adds a hint of sweetness and helps mellow out the lime juice.
They are all an orange-flavored liqueur but each differ in flavor slightly. Blue Curaçao is also orange-flavored but has a blue tint.
You can!
There are several reasons why your margarita would taste bitter. If you use regular lime juice instead of key lime juice, it may affect the sweetness. Or, the ratios may be off. To combat bitterness, increase the amount of sweetened condensed milk.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this key lime margarita:
🍽Get the recipe
Key Lime Pie Margaritas (The Perfect Summer Drink)
Equipment
- microplane zester
- measuring spoons
- liquid measuring cup
- cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- Margarita salt
- Key lime zest
- 6 tablespoon blanco tequila
- ¼ cup to 6 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
- ¼ cup orange liqueur
- ¼ cup bottled or fresh key lime juice
- Key lime slices for garnish
Instructions
- Combine the lime zest and margarita salt in a shallow dish. Dip the rims of two glasses into lime juice or rub the rim of the glass with a lime wedge; dip in the salt. Fill the glasses with ice cubes.
- Combine the tequila, sweetened condensed milk, orange liqueur, and lime juice in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously and strain into each salt-rimmed glass. Garnish with lime slices and serve.
Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:
- Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
- When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
- I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
- When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Food safety
Finally, don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making this recipe.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
Paula says
The drink of the summer! I loved this incredible cocktail, so easy to make too!