A tart, crisp and refreshing Grapefruit Margarita made without sugar is the perfect cocktail to serve alongside chips and guacamole.

Pink Grapefruit Margaritas Recipe

When I was younger, tequila was relegated to mixto tequila shots with salt and lemon – a cheap way to get toasty with your friends on a night out.

But my best friend Stacey introduced me to the classier ways of enjoying tequila – starting with better tasting versions of the agave-derived spirit, starting with Paloma cocktails and skinny margaritas.

What is the difference between a margarita and a paloma? While both a Paloma and a Margarita contain tequila, lime and salt, a Margarita is flavoured with orange liqueur (such as triple sec) while a Paloma is flavoured with grapefruit juice or grapefruit-flavored soda.

Today’s grapefruit margarita is a fun mash-up of a Paloma and a classic Margarita, incorporating lime juice, triple sec and grapefruit juice for a juicy, fresh margarita that is incredibly delicious and easily sippable while not being too heady. The tartness of the grapefruit helps mellow out the bite of the tequila for a well-balanced cocktail.

This grapefruit margarita is not washed down with sparkling water (like a Paloma) but it does incorporate an equal amount of juice to liquor, so it stays flavorful while not being too booze-heavy.

While my version of a grapefruit margarita contains no added sugar, you can sweeten this cocktail up a bit with sugar, honey or simple syrup.

For a frozen grapefruit margarita, add the ingredients to a blender along with 1-2 cups of ice (or even better, freeze the grapefruit juice called for in this recipe into cubes and use that to blend up the margarita for a less watered down drink).

For a spicy grapefruit margarita, you have a few options:

• add a dash of chipotle hot sauce to the drink
• add tajin or cayenne pepper to the salt rim
• add fresh, sliced jalapeños to the finished cocktail 

How to pick the perfect grapefruit: Oval-shaped grapefruits rather than perfectly round grapefruits are perfectly ripe. You can also smell the sweetness of grapefruits through the peel and their softness indicates their juiciness.

Tip: I often order my liquor from Drizly because they have a quick delivery time (sometimes within 40 minutes) and no expensive mark-ups. Purchasing from them supports local retailers, too. You can order the Tequila and Triple Sec needed for this recipe from them.

Grapefruit Margarita Ingredients

• Tequila
• Triple Sec
• Lime Juice, optional
• Grapefruit Juice, as needed
• Kosher Salt, to rim glasses
• Grapefruit Slices, optional garnish

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: I wanted these grapefruit margaritas to be tart, but if you want a sweet-tart mix, you can add up to 1oz honey, simple syrup or rapid dissolve sugar.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Measuring cups
• Margarita glasses
• Shallow bowl or plate for rimming salts
• Sharp knife

How to Make Grapefruit Margaritas

Use a lime wedge or a bit of water to wet the rim of your glasses.

Place kosher salt in a shallow, wide bowl and rotate the rim of your glasses in the salt.

Fill glasses with ice.

Pour the tequila into your prepared glasses, followed by the triple sec and then top with grapefruit juice.

Pin this Easy Grapefruit Margarita Recipe for your next cocktail night:

Grab your free printable recipe card for our grapefruit margaritas recipe:

I hope you love these easy grapefruit margaritas as much as my friends and I did!

For more tantalizing cocktails, check out our full cocktail recipe collection here: