A Vodka Margarita on the rocks is the perfect cocktail recipe for people who don't like the taste of tequila.
This easy Margarita Recipe with vodka has that refreshing citrus flavor you expect in a margarita but is made without tequila. If you love to make cocktails at home, this one will quench your thirst and is ready in under 5 minutes!
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A delicious non-tequila margarita recipe
A Vodka Margarita is the perfect quick and easy cocktail for you whether you love vodka or hate the taste of tequila. I love margaritas. But sometimes you want to get a little adventurous and change things up.
The step-by-step instructions below will show you how to make this drink, with vodka and Triple Sec (or Cointreau), perfectly every time with just a cocktail shaker and a handful of ingredients.
Related: Vodka Gimlet
But what do you call a margarita made with vodka? A Vodkarita, of course. Like your favorite celebrity couple, smashing two names together is the right thing to do for this drink. Plus it tells you exactly what to expect.
If you're up on your vodka recipes, you may notice that this recipe is similar to a Kamikaze cocktail. Adding a salted rim turns it into more of a margarita than a martini.
Can you use vodka instead of tequila in margaritas?
Yes, a non-tequila margarita is delicious! While tequila is the traditional liquor for margaritas, you can easily swap it out for something else, like vodka.
Ingredient Notes
Vodka has a more mellow, versatile flavor than tequila, so the fresh lime and orange juices are the stars of the show. Paired with the orange liqueur, you've got a citrusy drink that will quench your thirst.
You can use Triple Sec or another orange liqueur if you don't have Cointreau.
Fresh citrus juice is a MUST! Bottled juices won't give you that same kick of citrus flavor. (You can grab blood oranges if you see them as I used in my Blood Orange Margarita).
While I use plain vodka in this margarita recipe with vodka, you could also use any type of citrus vodka to add more layers of flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
If salting the rim: Use a wedge of fresh lime to rub on the rim of the glass. Dip the wet edge into a small pile of coarse margarita salt on a plate. Set aside until the cocktail is ready.
Step 1
Add vodka and Cointreau to a cocktail shaker.
This jigger, with one size measuring 1 ounce and the other side 2 ounces, is my favorite for making cocktails.
Step 2
Add fresh lime juice.
Step 3
Add fresh orange juice.
And even though this photo shows the ice already in the cocktail shaker, I just wasn't paying attention. You should add ice after you add the orange juice.
Shake well.
To Serve
Strain the vodka margarita into the salt-rimmed cocktail glass over fresh ice.
I didn't add a salt rim because I don't prefer it. Even on a classic margarita.
Tips and Tricks
- You can easily make this a lemon vodka margarita by replacing the fresh lime and orange juices with lemon juice. Since lemon juice is more bitter, you may need to play around with the flavor a little.
- If you find that the drink just isn't tasting balanced, add a little bit of simple syrup (or cheater simple syrup). It always helps!
- If you're a fan of spicy margaritas, you can make this one bring the heat by muddling some fresh serrano peppers in the cocktail shaker and then adding the rest of the ingredients as noted above.
- Want to turn this into a Strawberry Vodka Margarita? Muddle fresh strawberries in the cocktail shaker and then add the rest of the ingredients above. Or you can use some strawberry simple syrup as I do in my Strawberry Basil Margarita.
- You can use all kinds of spices and salts to rim a glass. Tajin is a classic rimmer, smoked salt would also be delicious. You can also use flavored salts and sugars. Just don't use table salt.
- Use flavored vodkas like vanilla or whipped-flavored vodka to really change up the flavor of this drink!
Frequently Asked Questions
The best vodka for margaritas is whatever you have in the cupboard. Since you'll be mixing the drink with fresh lime and orange liqueur, the flavor of the vodka isn't as important as if you were making a drink that is mostly vodka. Plus vodka has a more neutral flavor than tequila.
Tito's is a great brand to start with if you need to buy a new bottle.
To make this delicious recipe "frozen" simply add the ingredients into the pitcher of a high-powered blender. Add 1 cup of ice then blend well. Taste and adjust as needed. You may need a little more vodka to counteract any dilution. Serve immediately!
If you are out of fresh citrus or just want to speed up the process of making this cocktail, you can use a store-bought margarita mix or make a homemade margarita mix. Follow the recipe on the bottle and just use vodka in place of the tequila.
This Vodka Margarita with Cointreau is a great cocktail to serve any time of year but especially during margarita season (which in my house falls between March - September, then we switch gears into fall with a Pumpkin Margarita).
How refreshing does this cocktail sound?!
Related easy cocktails with vodka
More margarita recipes
Vodka Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce Cointreau or other orange liqueur
- 1 ounce lime juice
- ¾ ounce orange juice
- Edible flowers or lime wedges for garnish
- Coarse salt to rim the glass, optional
Instructions
- If rimming the glass, use a piece of lime or orange and run it around the edge of the cocktail glass. Dip the wet area into a small pile of salt on a plate. Set aside.
- In a cocktail shaker, add vodka, Cointreau, lime juice and orange juice.
- Add ice and shake well.
- Strain into prepared glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and edible flower.
Notes
- You can easily make this a lemon vodka margarita by replacing the fresh lime and orange juices with lemon juice. Since lemon juice is more bitter, you may need to play around with the flavor a little.
- If you find that the drink just isn't tasting balanced, add a little bit of simple syrup. It always helps!
- If you're a fan of spicy margaritas, you can make this one bring the heat by muddling some fresh serrano peppers in the cocktail shaker then adding the rest of the ingredients as noted above.
- Want to turn this into a Strawberry Vodka Margarita? Muddle fresh strawberries in the cocktail shaker and then add the rest of the ingredients above. Or you can use some strawberry simple syrup as I do in my Strawberry Basil Margarita.
- You can use all kinds of spices and salts to rim a glass. Tajin is a classic rimmer, smoked salt would also be delicious. You can also use flavored salts and sugars. Just don't use table salt.
- Use flavored vodkas like vanilla or marshmallow flavored to really change up the flavor of this drink!
Daniel Keith Brown says
Great flavor
Sharon Garofalow says
Thank you! I'm glad you like it!