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    Home » Cocktails

    NOT SPICY Jalapeño Margarita Recipe

    Published: May 27, 2022 · Last Updated: Aug 17, 2023

    I LOVE a good spicy marg. But that’s because I enjoy spicy food, in general. Unfortunately, spicy food is something that just isn’t for everyone. I’ve found that it’s increasingly difficult to have spicy food at gatherings because everyone has a different heat tolerance. So, even though spicy margaritas aren’t for everyone. Enter: the not spicy jalapeño margarita!

    three glasses of not spicy jalapeño margaritas sit on a countertop, but only the front glass is in focus.

    This not spicy jalapeño margarita recipe adds all the flavor of jalapeños WITHOUT the heat. How?! It's a simple fix, based in science!

    Jump to Recipe
    Jump to:
    • How is it possible to make a not-spicy jalapeño margarita?!
    • ingredients
    • instructions
    • substitutions
    • variations
    • equipment
    • storage
    • top tip
    • q+a
    • recipe
    • 🥣 recipe
    • food safety

    How is it possible to make a not-spicy jalapeño margarita?!

    It’s widely thought that the seeds of pepper are where the heat factor comes from. In actuality, though, it’s the inner membranes that pack the punch of fiery flavor! Removing these inner membranes takes care of removing all the heat, which just leaves you with the pepper flavor of the jalapeño!

    ingredients

    Use the freshest ingredients you can find to make sure to get the best flavor! Check the recipe card for the exact quantities of each item.

    • jalapeño infused tequila - This margarita is made extra special because it’s also made with jalapeño infused tequila! The process of infusing liquors is one of my best-kept secrets for at-home cocktails. Infusing your own liquors opens up a whole new world for happy hours at home! Usually, though, time isn’t exactly on your side when it comes to liquor infusions. Thankfully, this jalapeño infused tequila comes together in less than a day!
    • jalapeños - this drink is garnished with fresh slices of jalapeños.
    • lime juice - fresh squeezed lime juice is a must for homemade margaritas. You'll be shocked at what a difference it makes!
    • orange juice - just like with the lime juice, fresh squeezed orange juice is best!
    • cointreau - a high quality orange liqueur like cointreau adds a wonderful layer of flavor to margaritas. Sometimes you may see triple sec in a margarita recipe, but trust me-- invest in some cointreau or grand marnier!
    • agave - if you are a fan of margaritas, be sure to grab a small container of agave. It's a syrup made from the same plant tequila comes from, the agave plant. Agave is a low-glycemic sweetener so it's also great to use in a variety of recipes in place of honey or maple syrup.
    • salt - if you like a salted rim, be sure to grab some coarse salt. I love using flaky sea salt or homemade lime salt.
    • ice - this drink can be made on the rocks or frozen, it's up to you!

    instructions

    This drink comes together in minutes! It's as easy as combining the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and serving!

    a cocktail glass is being rimmed with salt to garnish the edges for margaritas.

    Step 1: If using salt, rim the glasses with your preferred salt.

    freshly squeezed oranges sit on a countertop.

    Step 2: Juice the citrus and fill your glasses and cocktail shaker with ice.

    an overhead shot of the ingredients used to make a not spicy jalapeño margarita recipe.

    Step 3: Combine all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and give it a good shake for 45-60 seconds.

    a hand from out of frame is holding a cocktail shaker and pouring a freshly mixed not spicy jalapeño margarita into a glass on a countertop. Ingredients for making the cocktail sit in the background.

    Step 4: Pour the margaritas into your prepared glasses, and garnish with a slice of lime and jalapeño before serving.

    substitutions

    Missing an ingredient? Don't worry! Here are some ideas for substitutions.

    • sour mix - use sour mix in place of the lime juice if you don't have fresh limes on hand. You can also use homemade sour mix if you are feeling extra industrious!
    • store-bought juice - you can absolutely use store-bought juices if you don't have fresh produce on hand.
    • regular tequila - no time to make your own jalapeño tequila? no worries! You can substitute in regular store-bought tequila in place of the infused tequila.

    variations

    Prefer to lead a rebellious life? 😛 Try one of these recipe variations.

    • spicy - turn up the heat on this recipe by adding in some sliced rounds of jalapeños into the shaker. Leave the inner ribs and seeds in the slices to keep the heat factor!
    • tropical - swap out the orange juice for mango or pineapple juice, and up the quantity to 1.5 ounces for a tropical take on this margarita!
    • frozen - make this drink in a blender with ice for a frosty spin!
    • mocktail - leave the tequila out and add either sparkling water, still water, or agave juice for a seasonal mocktail!

    equipment

    You don't need a $350 blending machine to make delicious at-home margaritas! Here are a few items that'll make your life easier, though!

    • cocktail shaker - I love using this cocktail shaker from Elevated Craft because it's double-walled, so your hands don't get cold when you're shaking! It also has handy measurement markers in the cap making it super easy to measure your drinks.
    • cocktail glasses - typically margaritas are served in a tumbler glass or a special margarita glass. Use whatever you have on hand though--cabinet space can be a premium!

    storage

    Store leftovers of the margarita (if you have any 😏) in the fridge for up to 24 hours. You can also make this recipe in advance up to a day before you serve it.

    top tip

    The heat from peppers comes from the ribs inside the pepper, not from the seeds. By removing the ribs of the jalapeños, you can make this margarita not-spicy!

    q+a

    How can this margarita have jalapeños but not be spicy?

    The inner ribs of the pepper are where the bulk of the heat-factor comes from within a pepper, so by cutting that out when infusing the tequila, you eliminate the heat factor!

    If you are using regular tequila and not infusing your own, just be sure to cut the ribs out of the peppers you're using to garnish the drinks with and you'll have no heat in your cocktails.

    Can I make this without using jalapeño infused tequila?

    Absolutely! You can use regular tequila in this recipe and muddle together a few slices of jalapeño pepper with the tequila. Just be sure to cut the pepper ribs out of the inside to reduce or eliminate the heat.

    Can I make this in advance?

    Yes, you can prepare this recipe up to 24 hours in advance if you're planning to have a gathering. It doubles (or even triples) easily for a pitcher recipe!

    Why is my margarita bitter?

    Your limes could be the culprit here if your margarita is bitter, or you could need to add a little more agave. Make sure to use ripe citrus that's firm, not squishy or yellowing. If you're unsure, you can always give the juice a quick taste before adding it to your drinks! Salt and agave can help mellow out the flavor of bitter, unripe, or overripe limes.

    recipe

    If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    I read every single comment! I also love connecting on social media, so snap a pic and hashtag it #myrecipeforfun and tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or pin this recipe on Pinterest!

    🥣 recipe

    three not spicy jalapeno margaritas sit on a countertop, ready for a party.

    Not Spicy Jalapeño Margarita

    Just because you add jalapeño to a recipe doesn't mean you have to add heat! This not spicy jalapeño margarita recipe proves that the flavor of jalapeños doesn't always equal spice!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American, Mexican
    Keyword: jalapeño, lime, margarita, not spicy
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 226kcal
    Author: Lindsey

    Equipment

    • 1 cocktail shaker
    • 2 cocktail glasses filled with ice

    Ingredients

    • 4 ounces jalapeño infused tequila
    • 2 ounces lime juice freshly squeezed
    • 2 ounces Cointreau orange liquor
    • 1 ounce orange juice freshly squeezed
    • 4 slices jalapeño thinly sliced

    Instructions

    • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and rim your glasses with salt, if using.
    • Combine jalapeño infused tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, orange juice & jalapeño slices in the cocktail shaker, and give a good 45-60 second shake.
      4 ounces jalapeño infused tequila, 2 ounces lime juice, 2 ounces Cointreau orange liquor, 1 ounce orange juice, 4 slices jalapeño
    • Pour into two glasses, filled with ice.
    • Garnish with a couple of slices of jalapeño and a dehydrated lime wedge, and enjoy!

    Notes

    Looking to make enough for a crowd? You can double, triple, or quadruple this recipe and store it in a pitcher! If you decide to make ahead, leave out the jalapeño slices until right before serving. 
    If you prefer to make the drink SPICY, add more jalapeño slices (with the inner membranes and seeds attached) to the cocktail shaker. You can also make the drink ahead with extra jalapeño slices in it, and let the drink marinate. The longer it sits, the spicier it'll be!

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Not Spicy Jalapeño Margarita
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    226
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    2
    g
    3
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    0.2
    g
    1
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    0.1
    g
    Sodium
     
    3480
    mg
    151
    %
    Potassium
     
    472
    mg
    13
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    23
    g
    8
    %
    Fiber
     
    6
    g
    25
    %
    Sugar
     
    15
    g
    17
    %
    Protein
     
    2
    g
    4
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    3580
    IU
    72
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    36
    mg
    44
    %
    Calcium
     
    54
    mg
    5
    %
    Iron
     
    4
    mg
    22
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    food safety

    Use caution when handling peppers and make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after you handle jalapeños. Be careful not to touch your face (especially not your eyes!) after handling peppers.

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    About Lindsey

    Lindsey is a culinary content creator based in Central Florida.
    She is a classically trained baking and pastry student from Valencia College who also has over 14 years of experience in the fields of education, facilitation, training and development. She uses her expertise in education and the culinary arts to share easy-to-follow recipes that you can recreate with confidence at home!

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