If you’re looking to mix up your classic margarita game, this Spicy Mango Margarita is going to deliver! It’s a perfect balance of spicy and sweet that can be enjoyed on its own or with your favorite spicy vegetarian dinner.

Low ball glass with spicy mango margarita with chili pepper rim and jalapeno garnish.

Or, you know, happy hour with an overflowing Mexican-inspired charcuterie board. Nothing says the best friends get together like chips, salsa, queso, and margaritas!

And they can continue flowing because it’s easy to make one margarita or a pitcher to enjoy party-style. That’s a win-win, so let’s get to it!

Two glasses overhead next to tray of mangos.
Up close low ball glass with chili salt rim with jalapeno and lime.
Mango margaritas on tray with jalapenos, lime, and mangos.

Ingredient Spotlight

  • Mango Juice: often labeled as “mango nectar”, it sometimes also has a little white grape juice mixed into it. If you can’t find it in the juice aisle, check the aisle with Hispanic foods. I often get mine at Trader Joe’s.
  • Mango: for garnish and a little muddling, I do like to use fresh mango as well. You can omit it since you have the juice, to keep it even easier.
  • Jalapeno: fresh jalapeno adds a raw, spicy kick to this drink. For a more mild spice, be sure to remove the ribs of the pepper, and the seeds. Keep in mind each pepper can vary in spice level, so you may want to start small and increase the amount.
  • Tequila: my favorite tequila for margaritas is a Blanco tequila, also known as silver tequila. It’s unaged and made from blue agave. Look for 100% blue agave when purchasing.

There’s always the option to add triple sec or orange liqueur, however, I don’t find the need to in this margarita recipe with the other flavors.

Lime, mango, salt and chili mix, and jalapeno on tray.

Helpful Equipment

Here’s the equipment I use and find helpful for this recipe:

  • Cocktail Shaker: an easy way to mix up the margarita, but it’s not required. You could use a mason jar with a lid as an alternative.
  • Cocktail Jigger: a little measuring cup to get the exact amount of liquor and juices for your margarita. I love this OXO one because it’s multipurpose, I use it all the time to measure out small liquid amounts when baking, too.
  • Channel Knife: use it to make citrus garnishes if you’re feeling fancy.

How to Make a Spicy Mango Margarita on the Rocks

Before you begin on the cocktail part, I recommend salting the rim, if desired.

Salt the Rim of a Glass

Take a lime wedge and run it around the rim of your serving glass. On a small plate or bowl, combine coarse salt and either tajin or a little chili powder for added spice. Flip the glass with the wet rim into the salt and move it around until it’s coated in the salt mixture.

Set aside until ready to add the cocktail to it.

Two images: lime around glass rim, dipping rim in salt.

Make a Single Cocktail

To start a single cocktail, muddle together diced mango, lime juice, and jalapeños in the cup of a cocktail shaker. This step will release the juices from the mango while providing some pulp, and even more so, release the spice from the jalapeno slices as it muddles with the others.

Then, add some ice cubes and pour in the tequila and the mango juice. Then, shake away! Don’t shake so hard you break the ice into the cocktail, but enough that each ingredient combines together.

Now, strain the cocktail into your glass, filled with ice, using a cocktail strainer. You don’t have to strain though. If you prefer to have chunks of fresh mango and jalapeno in your drink, there’s no need to.

Garnish with fresh lime, jalapeno, or mango as desired, and enjoy!

Need it sweeter? Add a little homemade simple syrup to the drink!

Lime juice dripping into glass of margarita.

Ways to Enjoy Margaritas

Hello, my favorite margarita-pairing of Mexican foods! But it doesn’t stop at fresh, spicy Mexican flavors.

I love a fresh, sweet, and spicy margarita alongside grilled fish or spicy chipotle shrimp. Because of the tart, citrus flavors, it pairs best with spicy, bold flavors.

Need inspiration? Check out these tried and true combinations:

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review in the form below. I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!

up close low ball glass with chili salt rim with jalapeno and lime
5 (6 ratings)

Get the Recipe Spicy Mango Margarita on the Rocks

This Spicy Mango Margarita combines fresh jalapeno slices and mango juice with tequila for a balanced sweet and spicy cocktail, ready in just 5 minutes!

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder, or tajin
  • 1/2 cup mango, diced
  • 1/2 lime, juiced
  • 1-2 fresh jalapeno slices, seeds removed for less spice
  • Ice
  • 1.5-2 oz. tequila
  • 3-4 oz. mango juice

Instructions
 

  • On a small plate, combine kosher salt and chili powder (or tajin) until mixed. Rub half of a lime on the rim of your serving glass and dip into spice mix. Set aside.
  • In a cocktail shaker, jar, or glass if you don’t have either, muddle together mango, lime juice, and jalapeno. Add 3-4 ice cubes and pour in the tequila. Add mango juice and shake (or stir if you don’t have a lid). Add fresh ice to serving glass; strain the cocktail over the fresh ice. Top with jalapeno or mango and garnish as desired.

Notes

Adjust tequila and juice ratio for the desired strength of alcohol.
Serving: 1cocktail, Calories: 242kcal, Carbohydrates: 44.6g, Protein: 1.7g, Fat: 0.8g, Sodium: 29mg, Fiber: 3.8g, Sugar: 39.3g
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a star rating and review in the form below. I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!