Grapefruit Margarita | Mama Loves Food (2024)

If I had to choose a favorite co*cktail, it just might (definitely) be a Grapefruit Margarita. Sweet and tangy and perfectly delicious!

Thegrapefruit margarita is a simple to make co*cktail that is super bright and refreshing. Use pink or ruby grapefruit for a sweeter drink or white grapefruit for more pucker. Serve yours alongside tortilla chips with yummy guac and pico! And make sure to check out our other margarita recipes: Classic Margarita Recipe, Mango Margarita, Grapefruit Margarita.

Grapefruit Margarita

Grapefruit Margarita Ingredients

• Grapefruit juice – Make sure you’re using 100% grapefruit juice as opposed to a grapefruit juice co*cktail. It’s wonderful if you can freshly squeeze your grapefruits, but if not, you can find a good selection at most markets. Choose a ruby red or pink grapefruit juice for sweeter co*cktails or white grapefruit juice if you like your drink super sour. (I lean toward the sour, YUM).
• Lime juice – It’s important to use fresh squeezed lime juice from a very ripe lime. I find that bottled lime juice just doesn’t maintain the same quality of flavor as fresh squeezed and with so few ingredients, it’s important to make sure they all taste fantastic.
• Tequila – The best tequila for margaritas is a silver or blanco tequila that has not been aged more than a couple months. Gold tequilas have been aged longer in oak barrels which gives them a oaky flavor and caramel color.
• Grand Marnier – Grand Marnier is an orange-flavored cognac liqueur created in 1880 by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle. Sometimes folks will use Cointreau or Triple Sec instead of Grand Marnier.
• Agave syrup – If you like a sweeter co*cktail, you can add some agave syrup, or simple syrup. I strongly suggest trying the drink first without the added sweetener though, as it is delicious as is!
• Garnishes – Try rimming your glass with pink Himalayan salt (so pretty!) or course sugar if you like it sweet. Top with a wedge of fresh grapefruit and maybe a lime.

How Do You Make a Grapefruit Margarita

Grapefruit Margarita on the Rocks

• Swipe glass rim with a grapefruit or lime wedge and roll the outside in sugar or salt.
• Fill glass with ice, then grapefruit juice, lime juice, Grand Marnier, then tequila. Stir gently.
• Optional, sweeten with agave syrup.

Frozen Grapefruit Margarita

• Swipe glass rim with a grapefruit or lime wedge and roll the outside in sugar or salt.
• Add ice, grapefruit juice, lime juice, Grand Marnier, and tequila to blender.
• Blend to desired consistency and pour into glass.

What is a Grapefruit Margarita

A grapefruit margarita is a variation of the classic margarita made primarily with grapefruit juice instead of lime juice. A grapefruit margarita will typically include grapefruit juice, lime juice, tequila, and Grand Marnier.

Some will also include an additional sweetener like agave syrup or simple syrup.

How Do You Make a Pitcher of Grapefruit Margaritas

We typically consider a pitcher to be 8 servings. Each grapefruit margarita is about 3/4ths a cup per serving.

To make a pitcher, multiply each ingredient by eight (exact measurements provided below). Fill pitcher with ice, add grapefruit juice, lime juice, Grand Marnier, then tequila. Stir well.

Optional, sweeten with agave syrup.

Can You Make Grapefruit Margaritas Ahead of Time

You can make our grapefruit margarita recipe ahead of time, but make sure not to add the ice until immediately before serving. Store prepared drinks in the refrigerated for up to two days. (Not that they’ll last that long. Mmmm.)

★ More summer co*cktails to help you survive the heat!★

What Type of Grapefruit for a Grapefruit Margarita

My personal favorite is a freshly squeezed white grapefruit. Only slightly sweet, extra tart, and super pulpy. But the kind of grapefruit you use for your grapefruit margarita recipe will depend on your tastes and also what’s available in your area.

A ruby red will be the sweetest option, with pink following, and then white grapefruit. You can use pre-squeezed grapefruit juice, but make sure to get 100% juice and not a juice co*cktail which will be a mix of different juices with sugar added.

How Do You Make a Spicy Grapefruit Margarita

To make a spicy grapefruit margarita, muddle a thin slice of jalapeno at the bottom of the glass before pouring in your juice and liquor. Make sure to stir well.

We had the most delicious spicy co*cktail on the cruise in the Good Spirits bar. Rimmed with smoked sea salt and oh. so. good.

Tips and Tricks

🟢 Don’t forget to strain the seeds out of your juice if you squeeze fresh!

🟢 Try different types of salt and sugar on the rim of your drink – we had the most amazing co*cktail on our Princess cruise that was garnished with a smoked salt.

🟢 When garnishing the rim of your glasses make sure to roll the outside of the glass versus dipping it to avoid getting the garnish into the drink itself. We want a hint of salt, not a mouthful of salt water.

What to Serve with Grapefruit Margaritas

• Baked Taquitos
• Oven Roasted Salsa
• Fish Tacos
• Three Ingredient Peach Cobbler
• Perfect grilled flank steak

More Like This

• Mango Margarita
• Classic Margarita
• Pineapple Margarita
• Strawberry daiquiri
• Grapefruit margarita
• Strawberry lime spritzer
• Tequila sunrise recipe
• Check out all our drink recipes or this collection of margarita recipes!

Tools we love

• Glass pitcher – Everyone needs a gorgeous glass pitcher! Perfect for water on the weekdays and co*cktails on the weekends!
• Stemless wine glasses – I am a huge fan of stemless wine glasses for co*cktails as they’re much less likely to tip over. Read = I am clumsy.
• Upright blender – Frozen drinks deserve a good blender. Make sure you use one that can blend ice easily.