Say hello to summer with these Strawberry Basil Margaritas on the rocks! This refreshing, easy recipe will be a new favorite.

My husband Jon and I have been super into margaritas lately. A year ago Jon bought a cocktail-making set, and he’s really become quite talented at making delicious drinks. Recently, his new trend has been making spicy margaritas, and there’s a funny backstory there. I’ve been a huge fan of spicy foods since high school (see this post). Jon, on the other hand, is not a fan. But when we first started dating, we went to a wings spot and Jon got one of the spiciest flavors – mango HABANERO – just to impress me. (For those who don’t know, habanero is much spicier than jalapeño.) His face turned bright pink and he had to chug water, but he pretended he loved it! And it wasn’t until YEARS later, after I had been cooking him spicy food all the time, that he confessed he didn’t actually like spice. It was so funny that I couldn’t be mad.

Of course, now I’ve toned down the spice when I cook for Jon. At home I usually make a standard recipe, but then douse my portion in red pepper flakes or hot sauce. But here’s the funny part – Jon is now obsessed with spicy margaritas.  He still doesn’t like spicy food, mind you, but he’s all about the habanero tequila! I’ve been saying to him, brow furrowed but laughing, “Who are you and what have you done to my husband?!” LOL!

These Strawberry Basil Margaritas are the perfect compromise for me and Jon. It has a ton of sweet strawberry flavor, which I love, and Jon gravitates towards the pungent fragrance of fresh basil. It’s a win-win! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do :)

For more strawberry recipes, check out my post on how to use up summer strawberries!

Strawberry Basil Margaritas FAQ

What are the strawberry basil margarita ingredients?

A standard margarita usually contains some form of tequila, an orange liqueur (like Cointreau), simple syrup, and fresh lime. In this recipe, I’ve added strawberries and basil leaves that are muddled to add flavor to the cocktail. Muddling is super easy – all you have to do is smash around the strawberries and basil to bring our their flavors. Then you add the rest of the ingredients, and shake it up until the flavor is incorporated. It’s super simple and super delicious!

Is a strawberry margarita the same as a strawberry daiquiri?

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Strawberry Basil Margaritas

Say hello to summer with this Strawberry Basil Margarita on the rocks! This refreshing, easy recipe will be a new favorite!

Course Cocktails, Drinks

Keyword basil, cointreau, lime, limes, strawberries, tequila

Prep Time 2 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Ingredients

Strawberry Basil Margaritas

• 1/2 Cup Fresh Strawberries
• 1-2 Basil Leaves
• 3 oz Tequila
• 1 oz Orange Liqueur
• 2 oz Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
• 1 oz Simple Syrup
• Fresh Basil Leaves for garnish, optional
• Lime Slices for garnish, optional

Strawberry Salt Rim

• 2 Tbsp Coarse Salt
• 1-2 Tbsp Freeze-Dried Strawberries crushed
• 1/2 Lime

Instructions

• In a cocktail shaker, add the strawberries and basil leaves.
• Using a muddler or a wooden spoon, smash the strawberries and basil until you make a rough purée.
• Then, add in the liquid ingredients to the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously.
• Add in 3-4 ice cubes to the shaker, then shake again for at least 45-60 seconds, until the cocktail shaker is painfully cold to the touch!
• If you're making the optional salted strawberry rim, pulverize the freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor or blender until they become a course powder. On a flat plate, sprinkle your salt and freeze-dried strawberry powder into even layers. Use the 1/2 lime to wet the rim of your glasses. Then, invert the glass and press into the salt/strawberry powder.
• Add ice to fill your glasses almost to the top. Using a strainer, pour the margarita mixture over the ice.
• Garnish with a lime slice or sprig of basil, if you like.
• Enjoy!

Notes

I highly recommend using a cocktail jigger to measure the ingredients. However, if you don’t have one, here are the liquid conversions:

• • 1 oz = approx. 2 tablespoons
  • 1 1/2 oz = approx. about 3 tablespoons
  • 2 oz = 1/4 cup
  • 3 oz = approx. 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon

P.S.

For more recipes and New England lifestyle inspiration, be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok! If you make a recipe, please tag me in the photo and use the hashtag #wellandfull so I can see! I love seeing your creations!