Perfect Lime Paleo Margaritas

This paleo margarita recipe for classic lime margaritas turned paleo are the perfect amount of sweet and tart. They're bright, refreshing, and the perfect compliment to your next taco night! 

This recipe for paleo margaritas is the easiest cocktail recipe ever. With just four ingredients, you can have a batch ready in no time.

Margaritas have always been a favorite of mine, but this recipe for paleo margaritas takes the cake. We call them "Tucker Margaritas" in our house because my friend Tucker is the one who introduced us to the recipe.

Sometimes I think about the ways I used to eat, and drink, and I shudder. Working in a bar in your twenties will do that to you.

I used to buy the giant handles of pre-mixed margaritas at Costco. You know the ones - they say, "tequila is in it!" on the bottle? Yeah, those.

Except, they're just a giant bottle of sour mix, full of artificial flavoring and coloring.

Let me tell you a little secret: when your margarita shows up at your table at a restaurant, and it's yellow, something is not right.

If the bar is using a true original margarita recipe (and there's no reason they shouldn't be, it's so easy) then your drink should be tinted in color only by lime juice.

In my research, it seems that it's really just one version of a basic original margarita recipe that has many variations, but with the same general concept - start with white tequila, add an orange liqueur (Triple Sec, or Cointreau if you're fancy), some lime juice, and sweeten a bit to cut the bitter.

And don't forget the salt! Did you know that the salt on a margarita rim actually has a purpose?

It's added to the rim to bring out the sweet and sour flavors of the drink; even just a pinch will help subdue the bitterness and enhance the important flavors.

If you want to know more about the science of margarita salt, you can read this article on Mental Floss. It tells us:

"What we do know is that salt seems to boost certain basic tastes by suppressing others. Adding even a pinch of salt to a mixture tamps down its bitterness. Since that bitterness would otherwise be counteracting the drink's sweetness, adding salt enhances the perception of sweet flavors."

Fascinating.

You can even buy this hilarious dish to use to salt those rims!

While researching why margaritas have a salted rim, I also came across a few other random facts about margaritas. In no particular order, here are the most interesting things I found out about margaritas:

1. Margarita means daisy in Spanish. 

The Daisy is an old prohibition cocktail that contains a base spirit, sugar, and a sour. The cocktail later inspired the Sidecar - basically a margarita with cognac and lemon.

Some people believe that the margarita is just a spin on a tequila daisy.

2. Frozen margarita machines were inspired by soft serve ice-cream.

Be still, my ice cream loving heart. I knew there was a reason I loved both ice cream and margaritas!

In the early 1970's, after seeing a Slurpee machine in a 7-Eleven, a man named Mariano Martinez was struck with inspiration. The 26-year-old Dallas restaurateur was having trouble creating the frozen drink for customers - bartenders complained they took too long, and customers thought they melted too quickly.

He transformed a soft-serve ice cream machine into one that pumped out frosty margaritas. The drinks were a huge success, and the machines can now be found all over the country.

If you're a true die-hard, you can even have one at home.

If that's a bit out of budget, you can always just mix them up in your blender and serve them in these frozen margarita glasses to keep them frozen longer.

3. The largest margarita ever made was 8500 gallons.

The largest margarita in the world was made at The Flamingo Hotel’s Margaritaville Casino in Las Vegas in 2011, to celebrate their grand opening.

This enormous drink took 60 people 300 hours to create, came in at a whopping total of 8,500 gallons (32,176 liters),  and was “served” in a 17-foot-tall tank.

4. There is such a thing as a fried margarita.

I had to include this one just for it's weirdness/grossness factor. One of the many odd fried foods served at the Texas State Fair, funnel cake batter is put through a margarita mixer, fried, and then soaked in more margarita.

The finished product is topped with whipped cream and served in a salt-rimmed glass.

I'll keep my margaritas as a drink, thanks.

5. National Margarita Day is on February 22.

I wasn't able to find much on how this day was actually founded, but I for one am not one to complain about a day that's an excuse to have a margarita.

That being said, you might argue that Cinco De Mayo could also be considered a day you should be drinking a margarita.

Or, if you're as lucky as I am, your town might have their very own margarita festival.

Three different days of the year that I need to honor this lovely drink? Don't mind if I do.

Wherever and whenever you're enjoying your margarita, make sure you wear this shirt to release all liability for the evening.

What to eat while drinking a paleo margarita

I suggest a healthy Mexican-themed meal!

Some great easy options right here on my blog include the Southwestern Taco Salad, the Beef Taco Casserole, or the Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls.

Or, if you don't feel like cooking, just grab a bag of grain-free chips and whip up some pico de gallo or guacamole.

How many paleo margaritas does this margarita recipe make?

The recipe below is for a batch of six paleo margaritas, because delicious cocktails should always be enjoyed with friends!

If you're looking to make just a single drink, you'll want 1 ounce of tequila, ½ an oz each of orange liqueur and lime juice, and agave to taste.

At first you might think, "that's my whole drink?" But then you will drink it and realize it's straight liquor, without extra mixer, and you will realize it is all you need.

Trust me on this one.

Looking for a "pinkies up" tequila cocktail? Try my recipe for a traditional Tequila Sour! Want to give this a fun twist? Instead of agave, try it with Jalapeño Vanilla Simple Syrup. Looking for a non-alcoholic option? Try these Frozen Limeade Coolers.

If you’ve tried this recipe for paleo margaritas or any other of my recipes on the blog, I want to see! Tag me on social media @paleoscaleo and follow along for more delicious recipes. You can find me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to see more delicious food and what I’m getting into.

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