This Strawberry Basil Margarita is the cocktail that makes every sip feel like a mini vacation. Fresh strawberries, fragrant basil, and smooth Blanco tequila come together in under five minutes. One batch and you’ll be making this on repeat all summer long.
I love a refreshing fresh summer cocktail. Two favorites are my Classic Margarita and my Strawberry Margarita on the Rocks. The perfect way to enjoy those beautiful sunny days.
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Why this Basil Margarita Strawberry Recipe is a Keeper
This drink is simple, stunning, and seriously delicious. Here’s why it earns a permanent spot in your cocktail rotation:
ONLY USE 2-4 OF THE MOST APPLICABLE FEATURES.
- Ready in 5 minutes: No complicated techniques or long ingredient lists to wrestle with.
- Fresh, bold flavor: Real strawberries and fresh basil make every sip taste like summer.
- Easy to scale: Double or triple the blender batch for a crowd without any extra effort.
- Stunning presentation: The salt rim and basil garnish make it look like you hired a bartender.
- Serve with: To keep the summer vibe going I love to serve this drink with Lemon Berry Loaf Cake and BBQ Ribs on Gas Grill.
Can I Make a Frozen Strawberry Margarita Instead?
Yes, it’s incredibly easy to do. Instead of filling your glasses with ice and pouring the blended mixture over it, simply add a generous cup or two of ice directly to the blender with all the other ingredients. Blend everything together on high until you get a smooth, slushy consistency and enjoy your frozen strawberry basil margaritas.
Pro Tip for Strawberry Basil Margarita Cocktail
Don’t skip muddling the basil directly in the glass. That light pressing releases the essential oils in the leaves, giving you a fresh herbal aroma in every single sip.
Ingredient Notes for Strawberry Margarita Cocktail Recipe
You don’t need anything fancy here, just fresh, quality ingredients. A few of these are worth a closer look before you shop:
This is an overview of key ingredients. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Fresh Strawberries: Use ripe, in-season strawberries for the best flavor. Frozen strawberries work in a pinch — just thaw them first so they blend smoothly.
- Blanco Tequila: Also called silver or white tequila, this is the right choice here. It has a clean, crisp flavor that doesn’t overpower the fruit.
- Cointreau: This orange liqueur adds a bright citrus note that ties all the flavors together. Triple sec works as a budget-friendly swap.
- Basil Sprigs: Fresh basil only — dried basil will not work here. Look for bright green, fragrant leaves with no dark spots.
- Honey: This is your sweetener and it balances the tartness of the lime beautifully. Agave nectar is a great swap if you prefer it.
- Kosher Salt: Use coarse kosher salt for the rim so it sticks well and gives a satisfying crunch.
Variations to Make a Strawberry Basil Margarita Recipe
This tart and refreshing cocktail is flexible and fun to play with. Swap ingredients based on what you have or what you’re in the mood for:
➡️ Swap the herb: Use fresh mint, cilantro, or thyme in place of basil for a totally different flavor profile.
➡️ Add a splash of soda: Stir in some club soda, lemonade, or frozen limeade concentrate to lighten things up.
➡️ Boost the citrus: Add a splash of fresh orange juice alongside the lime for a fun twist which adds a brighter, more layered taste.
➡️ Turn up the strength: Swap Cointreau for maraschino liqueur or orange liqueur for a bolder cocktail.
➡️ Make it a mocktail recipe: Skip the tequila and Cointreau, then add sparkling water and a splash of orange juice for a gorgeous alcohol-free version.
➡️ Muddle the strawberries: Instead of blending all the strawberries, muddle some fresh ones directly in the glass for a more textured, rustic drink.
➡️ Sweeten differently: Replace honey with agave nectar or simple syrup if that’s what you have on hand.
Kitchen Tools To Make the Summer Cocktail Easier
You only need a couple of basic tools to pull this off. Here’s what to have ready before you start. No fancy cocktail shaker needed.
- Blender or food processor: This is what purees the strawberry mixture into that gorgeous, smooth base for the strawberry basil margarita.
- Small plate: You’ll need this to hold the kosher salt when you’re rimming the glasses.
- 2 glasses: Use wide-rimmed glasses so the salt rim really shows off.
- Cocktail Muddler: Use this to muddle the basil and strawberries.
How to Make the a Strawberry Margarita with Fresh Basil Leaves
Here’s a quick look at how this strawberry basil margarita comes together:
These are just highlights. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Blend the base: Add strawberries, tequila, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and honey to the blender. Blend until fully smooth and pureed.
- Salt around the rims: Pour kosher salt onto a small plate. Run the squeezed lime half around each glass rim, then dip into the salt.
- Muddle the Ingredients: Add half the chopped basil to each glass. Press it gently until you can smell the fresh herb.
- Build the drinks: Fill both glasses with ice and pour half the strawberry mixture into each one.
- Garnish and serve: Top each glass with an extra sprig of fresh basil and enjoy immediately.
Prep Ahead and Short Cut Tips to Make this Cocktail
This twist on the classic cocktail is already fast, but a little prep makes it even easier. Here’s how to get ahead:
➡️ Blend the strawberry mixture in advance: Make the full blended base up to 24 hours ahead and store it in a sealed jar in the fridge. Shake or stir before pouring.
➡️ Hull and freeze strawberries early: Prep your strawberries and freeze them on a baking sheet, then transfer to a bag. They’ll be ready to blend anytime.
➡️ Pre-chop the basil: Finely chop the basil up to a few hours ahead and store it in a small container. Don’t chop it too far in advance or it will darken and ruin the basil flavor.
➡️ Batch for a crowd: Multiply the blended base recipe and store it in a pitcher in the fridge. Salt rims and muddle basil per glass as guests arrive.
What’s the Difference Between Blanco Tequila and other Tequilas?
Blanco tequila (also labeled as silver or white tequila) is unaged or minimally aged, which means it has a clean, pure agave flavor that lets the strawberries and basil shine. Reposado tequila, which is aged in oak barrels, has woody, vanilla, and caramel notes that can muddy the fresh fruit flavors in this drink. For this specific strawberry basil cocktail, stick with a good quality Blanco.
How to Store and Use Leftover Strawberry Basil Cocktail
- Storing: Store leftover blended strawberry mixture in a sealed jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Stir or shake well before using, as it will separate slightly. Don’t add ice to the stored mixture — add it fresh when you’re ready to pour.
- Using Leftover Strawberry Basil Margarita: Pour leftover strawberry mixture into popsicle molds and freeze for an adults-only summer treat. You can also blend it with extra ice for a quick frozen margarita the next day.
Expert Tips for Making This Strawberry Cocktail Recipe
I’ve made this drink recipe enough times to know what really makes it sing. Here are my top three tips:
➡️ Use ripe strawberries: The riper and sweeter the berries, the better your margarita tastes. If yours are a little bland, add an extra teaspoon of honey to balance it out.
➡️ Chill your glasses first: Pop your glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes before you build the strawberry basil margarita drinks. It keeps everything colder longer — especially on a hot day.
➡️ Don’t over-muddle the basil: A gentle press is all you need. Crush it too hard and it can turn bitter, which competes with the sweetness of the strawberries.
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Strawberry Basil Margarita
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Ingredients
- ½ pint Fresh strawberries, hulled
- ½ cup Blanco Tequila
- 1.5 ounce Cointreau
- 1 Lime, juiced
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 2-3 Basil sprigs, chopped
- Ice
- ¼ cup Kosher salt
Instructions
- Placed the strawberries, tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and honey into the bowl of a blender or food processor; blend on high until fully pureed.
- Pour the kosher salt onto a small plate. Run the juiced lime around the edge of the glass. Dip both glasses into the salt so that the rims are covered.
- Place half of the chopped basil into each glass. Muddle the basil until you smell it.
- Fill each glass with ice and pour half of the strawberry mixture into each glass. Garnish with extra sprigs of basil.
Christina’s Notes
- Use ripe, fresh strawberries for the sweetest, most flavorful base possible. Frozen and thawed strawberries work too.
- Blanco tequila is the right call here. Its clean flavor lets the fruit and herb flavors lead. – Cointreau is the preferred orange liqueur, but triple sec is a perfectly acceptable swap.
- Don’t skip the muddling step — just keep it gentle. A few light presses release the aroma without making the basil bitter.
- Run the squeezed lime half (not a fresh one) around the rim of your glasses — the residual juice is sticky enough to hold the salt.
- Chill your glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes before building the drinks for the coldest possible cocktail.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Nutrition
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