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It only takes 4 ingredients (plus an empty ice cream pail) to make this easy Margarita Slush, and it’s great for backyard barbecues, pool parties, and summer nights.
After the success of my Pink Lemonade Vodka Slush, I realized the world likes quick and easy slushy drinks made in ice cream pails.
Margaritas were an obvious next choice. Put out a batch (or two!) of these at your next backyard barbecue and let everyone helps themselves. Easiest cocktail ever.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Tequila: Tequila blanco is lighter in body and perfect for making cocktails like this one. Tequila reposado (which means “rested” and is aged in oak for at least 2 months) is ideal for sipping.
- Triple sec: Or any orange-flavored liqueur such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier.
Step-by-step instructions
- In an empty one-gallon ice cream pail, combine limeade concentrate, tequila, triple sec, and 2 liter bottle of soda. Place in the freezer and chill at least 8 hours, overnight, or up to a month in advance.
- Remove from freezer 1-2 hours before serving. As the slush melts, it will become easier to scrape and serve.
- To serve, add 1 cup slush to a glass (rim the glass with coarse salt if desired, see note 3). Top with additional soda and garnish with a lime slice or wedge.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes a batch of 12 cocktails.
- Glassware: A Margarita glass is the classic choice, but I love how approachable a lowball glass is for happy hour.
Pink Lemonade Vodka Slush
You need just 3 ingredients to make this easy Pink Lemonade Vodka Slush. Share this refreshing Midwestern classic cocktail recipe at holiday gatherings, showers, and parties. When I was growing up, this is the Vodka Slush…
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Margarita Slush
Ingredients
- 2 (6 ounce) cans frozen limeade concentrate thawed
- 2 cups tequila (see note 1)
- 1 cup triple sec or orange liqueur (see note 2)
- 1 (2-liter) bottle lemon-lime soda plus more, for serving
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- In an empty one-gallon ice cream pail, combine limeade concentrate, tequila, triple sec, and 2 liter bottle of soda. Place in the freezer and chill at least 8 hours, overnight, or up to a month in advance.
- Remove from freezer 1-2 hours before serving. As the slush melts, it will become easier to scrape and serve.
- To serve, add 1 cup slush to a glass (rim the glass with coarse salt if desired, see note 3). Top with additional soda and garnish with a lime slice or wedge.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Tequila: Tequila blanco is lighter in body and perfect for making cocktails like this one. Tequila reposado (which means “rested” and is aged in oak for at least 2 months) is ideal for sipping.
- Triple sec: Or any orange-flavored liqueur such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier.
- Salted rim: In a shallow dish as wide as your serving glass, add Margarita salt (or kosher salt) to 1/4-inch deep. Run a lime wedge around the top of each glass, then dip the top of the glass upside-down into the salt and turn to coat.
- Yield: This recipe makes a batch of 12 cocktails.
- Glassware: A Margarita glass is the classic choice, but I love how approachable a lowball glass is for happy hour.
Nutrition
Meggan Hill is the Executive Chef and CEO of Culinary Hill, a popular digital publication in the food space. She loves to combine her Midwestern food memories with her culinary school education to create her own delicious take on modern family fare. Millions of readers visit Culinary Hill each month for meticulously-tested recipes as well as skills and tricks for ingredient prep, cooking ahead, menu planning, and entertaining. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the iCUE Culinary Arts program at College of the Canyons.
Love!
Made for Thanksgiving celebration, my guests gobbled it up. Warmth from kitchen + cold sour slush= perfection! I liked that I could make ahead of time and the ease of serving, we served in small fancy plastic cups and used plastic spoons. I will make this again and again
Hi Jen, glad it was such a hit! – Meggan
I have been making something similar for years but when looking for a recipe to freeze ahead of time, I am worried about freezing the soda. Is it still carbonated when it freezes, or purely for taste?
Is it okay with diet soda???
Yes of course, absolutely! :D
This was perfect for an abnormally hot day and when we needed an escape! Loved it will make again
How many people would this recipe serve? Let’s say I’m making it for ONE person…..would cutting this recipe in half STILL be too much?
Hi Kelly! This recipe makes 12 servings, about a gallon of slush. So, a half-gallon of slush is probably too much for one person. That would be one cup of tequila and a half cup of triple sec, just for one person! I would divide by 4, at least. But I suppose it depends on the person! I hope this helps. Thanks for your question!