Margaritas are one of my favorite cocktails and as a huge fan of spicy drinks, this spicy skinny margarita recipe is perfect when you want a delicious, light drink.

With my 3-ingredient jalapeño simple syrup, zesty lime juice, and lime seltzer – this drink is sweet, spicy, bubbly, and so refreshing!

The jalapeños add a wonderful, front-of-mouth heat that tickles your lips and keeps you coming back for more.

What is Jalapeño Simple Syrup?

Simple syrup is usually made with equal parts water and sugar.

The mixture is heated to help the sugar dissolve, which yields a sweet syrup that can be used to sweeten and flavor just about anything!

This recipe makes a spicy simple syrup by throwing in a few jalapeños.

The jalapeños pack this syrup with a delicious heat that adds the perfect kick to any drink.

How Spicy is This Jalapeño Simple Syrup?

Figuring out how spicy to make this simple syrup can be challenging. It will also vary based on a person’s preferences.

I want to preface this by saying I am not the type of person who loves spicy food. I get 2 stars when I order Thai food and I rarely add hot sauce to things.

With that in mind, for some reason, I love spicy cocktails. I’ve always loved that little tickle you get with each sip of a spicy drink.

When I order a spicy margarita, I want it to be just that. Spicy! It needs to have a kick and this spicy simple syrup delivers.

Don’t be scared! Keep in mind that it needs to be very spicy because you’re only using a small amount in each drink.

Using 3 jalapeños works perfectly for me, but you can adjust this based on your preferences.

How Do You Make Spicy Simple Syrup for Cocktails?

I love this simple syrup recipe because it only takes about 15 minutes to make! Prepare your jalapeños first. Remove the stems and cut them into slices.

Add the water into a small saucepan. Heat over a medium-high heat until the water begins to boil.

Add in the granulated sugar and stir continuously until the sugar is fully dissolved.

Add in the sliced jalapeños and turn the heat down to low and let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes.

Pour the mixture through a sieve to remove the jalapeños if you want a milder simple syrup. If you’re after more of a kick, leave them in.

Let the simple syrup cool to room temperature, then seal the top and store in the fridge until you’re ready to use it. I like to store my simple syrup in mason jars for easy storage.

If you’re making this in advance, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month. 

How To Make This Spicy Skinny Margarita Recipe

Start your skinny spicy margarita in a shaker or a jar – either will work as long as you have a lid!

Into the shaker or jar place the ice, lime juice, jalapeño simple syrup, and tequila. Secure the top and shake to combine all the flavors!

Combining all the ingredients in the shaker makes the drink super smooth.

To make your drink restaurant-quality, rim your glass!

Use a lime wedge to wet the top of a glass. Pour salt onto a plate and roll the outer rim of the glass into the mixture.

Fill the rimmed glass with ice and then carefully strain the cocktail shaker into the glass.

Use sparkling water to fill the glass up to the top. I like using lime-flavored seltzer for extra flavor.

What Glass Should I Use for These Spicy Skinny Margs?

Glasses are to cocktails as buttercream is to cake- it’s all about finding the right match!

For this spicy skinny margarita recipe, I’m using an old fashioned glass.

These glasses will normally have a wide brim and a thick base. Traditionally, decorations are also cut into the glass.

They’re great for spicy drinks, and are perfect for sipping on warm summer days.

How Should I Garnish This Drink?

I like to garnish this spicy skinny margarita with a slice of lime and jalapeño coins. It lets people know this drink packs some heat! Sometimes I add a sprig of mint too.

Feel free to get wild with your garnishes and make it as fun as you want!

Jalapeño Simple Syrup Ingredients & Substitutions

Like I mentioned above, this recipe is pretty straightforward! However, there are some substitutions and swaps you can make if needed.

• Water – Room temperature tap water works great in this recipe.
• Granulated Sugar – I like using granulated sugar because it’s what I usually have on hand, but you can also use extra fine sugar or caster sugar.
• Fresh Jalapeños – Use fresh jalapeños in this recipe! They’re what give this syrup all its spice. You can use 2 habanero peppers in place of the 3 jalapeños if needed but be prepared for a spicier simple syrup that has a back-of-throat heat if you go this route.

Spicy Skinny Margarita Ingredients & Substitutions

• Limes – I prefer to use fresh limes but you can use bottled juice if needed. You’ll need 1 oz of lime juice.
• Jalapeño Slices – I like my cocktails spicy and if you do too you can always use more slices!
• Tequila – Use whatever brand of tequila you like! For a smokier flavor you can substitute for mezcal.
• Lime Sparkling Water – If you prefer plain sparkling water or another citrus flavor feel free to make it your own!
• Salt – I like to use kosher salt to rim my margarita, but you can also use sugar or Tajín.

How to Store Leftover Jalapeño Simple Syrup

If you make the jalapeño simple syrup in advance or have some leftover, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months!

I usually keep mine in a mason jar but any container with a good lid should work just fine.

Let Me Know What You Think

If you try this spicy skinny margarita recipe, let me know what you think by sharing a rating below!

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