This Hot Honey Mango Margarita is the perfect combination of sweet, spicy and refreshing. Made with fresh mango purée, hot honey, tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice, it's a fun twist on a classic margarita that's perfect for summer gatherings, taco night or game day. If you love a spicy margarita but don't want something that's going to set your mouth on fire, this one is a perfect choice.
The fresh mango adds natural sweetness while the hot honey brings just enough heat to keep things interesting without overpowering the drink. If you like a little extra spice, you can easily add more hot honey to suit your taste. Served over ice with a chili lime rim, this margarita comes together in just a few minutes and feels a little more special than your average cocktail.
Traditional margaritas are made with tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice. This version keeps those classic flavors while adding fresh mango purée and hot honey for a sweet and spicy upgrade. This spicy mango margarita pairs especially well with tacos, grilled chicken and other summer favorites.
Looking for recipe suggestions to serve this margarita alongside? Try my Mini Bell Pepper Chorizo Nachos or Crunchy Wonton Taco Cups.
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Game Plan 📋
This mango margarita is easy to prep ahead and customize for different spice preferences, making it a great option for summer gatherings, taco night or relaxing on the patio after a long day.
- Prep ahead: Blend the mango purée up to a week in advance and store it in the refrigerator. When you're ready to serve, simply shake each margarita with ice for the best flavor and texture.
- Adjust the heat: Hot honey adds a gentle kick, but you can easily make it spicier by adding extra hot honey or a few jalapeño slices to the shaker. Prefer less heat? Start with a smaller amount and add more to taste.
- Serve a crowd: Hosting friends? Prepare a larger batch of mango purée ahead of time and keep extra limes and chili lime seasoning on hand for garnishing. You can quickly shake individual drinks as guests arrive.
- Make it alcohol-free: For a mocktail version, replace the tequila and orange liqueur with sparkling water, ginger beer or a non-alcoholic tequila alternative.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need, along with a few notes about key ingredients:
- Mango: You will need chopped mango to make the mango puree and for garnishing the finished drink. Fresh or frozen and thawed ripe mango will work great. If you wanted you could swap some of the mango purée for pineapple juice to give it a different flavor.
- Sugar: Use the sugar to sweeten the mango puree. Feel free to adjust the amount of sugar if you prefer.
- Tequila: For this particular cocktail, we use a reposado tequila and we think it is perfect. You could also choose to use your favorite tequila variety. Try mezcal instead for a smoky flavor that pairs beautifully with the mango and the fiery twist of hot honey
- Lime juice: Fresh lime juice is going to give you the best flavor. If you must, bottled would work. The recipe calls for 1 ounce of lime juice, which is typically the juice from one lime. Keep in mind this can vary depending on how juicy your limes are, so always taste, adjust and be prepared with plenty of limes!
- Orange liqueur: We have chosen to make this with Cointreau which is an orange flavored triple sec liqueur. You could substitute an alternative orange liqueur, if needed.
- Hot honey: The hot honey is what gives this drink the perfect bit of heat. Use your favorite hot honey, or regular honey if you want to skip the spiciness.
- Limes: Use lime wedges to rim the glass with the chili lime salt and to garnish the finished cocktail. If you wanted you could swap the lime and use chamoy instead.
- Chili lime seasoning: Use this to rim the glass and add a tangy, just a bit spicy flavor to the finished drink. We prefer this chili lime seasoning, but you could also rim the glass with plain salt, if you prefer.
Scroll to the recipe card below for all ingredient amounts and details.
Recipe Variations
- Frozen Version: Blend the mango, hot honey, tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice with ice instead of shaking.
- Spicy Jalapeño Twist: Muddle fresh jalapeño slices in the shaker before adding the other ingredients for an extra layer of heat.
- Mocktail Version: Skip the tequila and orange liqueur and use sparkling water or ginger beer.
This perfect summer drink has not been tested with these variations. If you give any of these a try, please let me know how it worked out in the comments below!
Equipment Needed
- Blender: Use a good blender to whip the mango, sugar, and water into a smooth purée. A high-speed blender will give you the silkiest texture, but any standard blender will get the job done.
- Cocktail shaker: Essential for mixing everything together. Shaking the margarita with ice helps chill it quickly and gives it that restaurant-style finish.
- Jigger or small liquid measuring cup: Helps you measure the tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau accurately. A jigger feels more "bartender," but a small liquid measuring cup works just as well.
Step by Step Instructions
STEP 1: Place mango, water and sugar in the blender. Puree until the mixture is smooth.
Transfer mixture to a bowl or jar and set aside.
STEP 2: In a cocktail shaker, add the tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, mango puree, and hot honey.
Fill the shake with ice.
STEP 3: Place the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously for 10-20 seconds.
STEP 4: On a small plate, add about a tablespoon of the chili lime seasoning.
Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a rocks glass that you plan to serve the drink in.
STEP 5: Turn the glass upside down on the plate with the chili lime seasoning and slide the glass around until the rim is fully coated with the seasoning.
Carefully fill the glass with ice.
STEP 6: Remove the very top of the shaker lid and strain the margarita into the prepared glass.
STEP 6: Garnish with mango chunks and lime wedges dipped in the chili lime seasoning, if desired.
Expert Tips
- Store extra mango purée in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. This makes it easy to whip up a quick round of margaritas on game day or after practice without pulling out the blender again.
- For the best texture and flavor, shake each margarita individually with ice rather than mixing the entire batch in advance.
- For the perfect ice, buy a bag from somewhere like Sonic. It's great in cocktails… or any drink really! Having it on hand makes serving a round for friends feel extra fun.
- Always strain the margarita from the shaker into the prepared glass over fresh ice. This keeps the drink chilled and smooth, without the melted ice from shaking watering it down.
FAQ
You can prepare the mango purée up to one week in advance and store it in the refrigerator. For the best flavor and texture, wait to shake the margaritas with ice until you're ready to serve them.
This margarita has a mild to moderate amount of heat. The hot honey adds a gentle kick without overwhelming the sweet mango flavor. If you prefer a spicier cocktail, add extra hot honey or a few jalapeño slices to the shaker.
Yes. You can prepare a larger batch of the mango purée ahead of time and scale up the remaining ingredients as needed. For the best results, shake individual servings with ice before serving.
Absolutely. Replace the tequila and orange liqueur with sparkling water, ginger beer or your favorite non-alcoholic tequila alternative for an easy mocktail version.
Hot honey is honey infused with chili peppers, giving it a sweet and spicy flavor. If you don't have any on hand, you can use regular honey or stir a pinch of cayenne pepper into honey for a similar effect.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store leftover mango purée in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Freezer: Freeze the purée in a sealed container or ice cube tray for up to 3 months, then thaw before using.
More Recipes To Try
Looking for other recipes to make? Try these:
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Recipe
Hot Honey Spicy Mango Margarita
Ingredients
For the Mango Puree:
- 10 ounces mango chunks
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 tablespoons sugar
For the Margarita:
- 1 ½ ounces tequila
- 1 ounce lime juice
- ¾ ounce Cointreau
- 1 ½ tablespoons mango puree
- 1 tablespoon hot honey
- Lime wedges, chili lime seasoning, and mango chunks for garnish
Instructions
For the Mango Puree:
- In a blender, combine the mango, water and sugar. Puree until smooth.10 ounces mango chunks, ⅓ cup water, 2 tablespoons sugar
For the Margarita:
- Sprikle a generous amount of the chili lime seasoning on a small plate. Rub a lime wedge around the rim of your glass. Turn the glass upside down and slide the glass around in the chili lime seasoning until the rim is coated.
- Carefully fill the prepared glass with ice.
- In a cocktail shaker, add the tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, mango puree, and hot honey. Place the cover on top and shake vigourously for 10-20 seconds. Carefully strain the margarita into the prepared glass.1 ½ ounces tequila, 1 ounce lime juice, ¾ ounce Cointreau, 1 ½ tablespoons mango puree, 1 tablespoon hot honey
- Garnish with lime wedge and mango slices coated in chili lime seasoning, if desired.
Video
Nutrition Information
Please note that these nutrition facts are approximations and may not be entirely precise.
Justin Cave says
Flavor is great but I doubled the recipe and it barely made one drink. Feel like it’s missing something. I had to add plain margarita mix to make it go a little further.
Ashlyn Meredith says
Thanks for the feedback. I will review and adjust if needed. 🙂
Kris says
Delish! I want more!
Shelia Swaim says
I thought it was fantastic!