This salty and spicy Grapefruit Jalapeño Margarita is a treat indeed and so very refreshing!! If you are looking for an easy, sweet, and spicy cocktail for your cocktail parties, then you don’t need to think any more! Ready in minutes, this jalapeno cocktail will meet all your entertaining needs!


ABOUT THIS JALAPENO GRAPEFRUIT COCKTAIL
If you like Paloma, then consider this Spicy Grapefruit Margarita to be the spicier version of a Paloma. Ridiculously delicious. The freshly squeezed grapefruits make this cocktail unbelievably good. But yes, the star of this Spicy Grapefruit Margarita Cocktail is not the tequila.., it’s the Jalapenos.
How much tequila or how much spiciness you want to add to this Spicy Grapefruit Margarita Cocktail is totally up to you. I liked mine a little bit of a stronger kick, so, I didn’t hold myself off on adding the tequila or the jalapenos.
If you can’t handle the heat from jalapenos, you can hold the jalapeno off but trust me when I say this.., a little bit of spiciness brings out the flavors of this sweet and spicy margarita.
Summer tastes better with fruity and not-so-sweet cocktails, no? For me, this summer has been awesome. Tried out a bunch of summery and refreshing cocktails like the Watermelon Vodka Cocktail which is again a very uplifting cocktail.
This freshly squeezed Spicy Grapefruit Margarita can lift the mood of any parties in seconds. Made with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, muddled jalapeño, this spicy margarita is THE perfect cocktail to enjoy with friends and family!
Fresh Grapefruit Juice: No processed bottled grapefruit juice is used in this recipe. This spicy margarita recipe uses freshly squeezed juice from in-season grapefruit for gorgeous color and a sweet-tart taste.
The perfect combination of sweet, spicy and tart: Jalapeño slices are muddled to release their oils in this cocktail recipe for a slightly spicy kick that pairs incredibly well with the juicy grapefruit. The salty rim gives this drink an extra flavor boost.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO MIX THIS SWEET & SPICY MARGARITA
- Tequila
- Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- Agave: Agave is made from the same plant as tequila, the agave plant, so they are naturally good together. Agave nectar dissolves quickly, making it great to use in cocktails.
- Jalapenos
- Jalapeno and grapefruit slices, for garnish
- Salt to rim the glasses
STEP-BY-STEP METHOD TO MAKE GRAPEFRUIT JALAPENO MARGARITA
1. Rim the glasses
On a shallow plate, add some table salt. Run an wedge of lemon around the rims of the glasses. Dip the rims on the salt. Set aside the rimmed glasses.
2. Juice the grapefruits
3. Mix all the ingredients
in a cocktail shaker, muddle a few slices of jalapeno with agave.
Add ice, tequila and grapefruit juice to the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously.
4. Pour the spicy cocktail into the rimmed glasses
Add ice cubes to each glass and pour the Jalapeño Grapefruit Margarita over. Add a grapefruit, a lime wedge, and jalapeño slices for garnish, if desired.


TIPS to MAKE THE BEST JALAPENO MARGARITA
- The quality of grapefruit can make a difference in the flavor of your drink. In season fruit will be naturally sweeter. If the grapefruits aren’t very sweet, increase the amount of agave.
- You can swap simple syrup for agave for a similar flavor.
- Shake, don’t stir. The shaking process not only chills the drink, it dilutes it and emulsifies the citrus juices with the alcohol. The result is a bunch of tiny air bubbles, a frothy appearance and a super smooth cocktail.
- The sweetness of your grapefruit juice can make a difference in the flavor of your drink. In season fruit will be naturally sweeter. If you have really sour juice, you may need to add more agave syrup to balance the flavors. Taste the recipe as written first and then adjust if needed.
- Don’t have grapefruits? Use blood orange instead.
- Use a good quality tequila. Makes a huge difference.
- Not a fan of tequila? Use vodka instead.

MORE COCKTAIL RECIPES
Grilled Pineapple Jalapeño Mocktail
Watermelon Jalapeno Margarita Recipe
Paper Plane Cocktail (Bourbon Amaro Aperol Cocktail)
Did you make this recipe? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Your feedback helps us and your fellow readers!
Grapefruit Jalapeño Margarita Cocktail
Equipment
- 1 Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
For Salted Rimmed Glasses
- 1 Lemon wedge
- 1/4 cup Table salt mixed with chili powder
For Salt & Spicy Margarita
- 1 Jalapeno cut into slices
- 1 ounce Agave You can use simple syrup too
- 1/2 ounce Fresh lemon juice
- 2 ounce White tequila
- 4 ounce Grapefruit juice
Instructions
Rim the glass
- Rim a glass with a lime wedge. Add salt and chili powder to a small plate.
- Dip the rim of the glass in the mixture.
Muddle the Jalapeno
- In a cocktail shaker add jalapeno slices and agave. Muddle the Jalapeno slices with agave.
Mix the Margarita
- Add tequila, ice cubes, lemon juice, and fresh grapefruit juice to the cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously.
Pour the Spicy Jalapeno Grapefruit Margarita into Rimmed Glasses
- Add a few ice cubes to the salt-rimmed glass. Pour the margarita into the glass. Add some jalapeno slices and a piece of grapefruit.
- Enjoy!!!
Notes
- The quality of grapefruit can make a difference in the flavor of your drink. In season fruit will be naturally sweeter. If the grapefruits aren’t very sweet, increase the amount of agave.
- You can swap simple syrup for agave for a similar flavor.
- Shake, don’t stir. The shaking process not only chills the drink but also dilutes it and emulsifies the citrus juices with the alcohol. The result is a bunch of tiny air bubbles, a frothy appearance, and a super smooth cocktail.
- The sweetness of your grapefruit juice can make a difference in the flavor of your drink. In season fruit will be naturally sweeter. If you have sour juice, you may need to add more agave syrup to balance the flavors. Taste the recipe as written first and then adjust if needed.
- Don’t have grapefruits? Use blood orange instead.
- Use good quality tequila. Makes a huge difference.
- Not a fan of tequila? Use vodka instead.

PIN For Later:
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What a great combination! I love Margaritas!
This looks fantastic! I will definitely be serving this at our next dinner party.
This is great the article is good and love those fruits especially when a doctor in inHealthcare forums told me to take fruits mostly all the time
Grapefruits are my favorite citrus and maybe even one of my favorite fruit. How perfect in a margarita! YUM!
Oh yes!! I totally love spicy margaritas and palomas!! Your recipe looks fabulous and I can’t wait to try this.
What a fun drink…to make and consume. I think I would even have my guests make their own. What a great way to get the party stared.
I love those drinks that are kind of out of the box and have a little spicy note like this. I can’t wait to try this on our weekend happy hour(s)!
These sound really interesting! I love grapefruit and jalapenos but I have never thought to have them together!
This looks so fun and refreshing! I bet it tastes great non-alcoholic too!
This looks so fun and refreshing! I bet it tastes great non-alcoholic too!
This looks like a delicious, festive cocktail that would be a welcome addition to any holiday get together.
Perfect! My birthday is next week, guess what I’ll be making!! 😛
My hubby is currently doing a nutrition challenge with our local Crossfit box and he had to give up alcohol for 30 days. While I love that his eating habits are on point. . .I do miss the occasional cocktail. And margaritas happen to be my favorite drink to unwind with on the weekend. Such an interesting twist to use grapefruit. Once this nutrition challenge wraps up. . .I’d be interested in giving it a try.
I could definitely use a couple of those right now! Yum!
Ooh! I’ll have to try this. I love spicy margaritas.
It took me a long time to come around to spicy margaritas, but now that I have I can’t say no to them!
I love a sweet and spicy margarita. These would be perfect for holiday parties. Beautiful photos!
I love spicy margarita’s but never tried it with grapefruit. Looks delicious.
This is just such an interesting cocktail flavor combination.
This looks fabulous, and I love the grapefruit and jalapeno pairing. I don’t drink alcohol but would love to make a non-alcoholic version of this. What would you recommend instead of tequila?
Tasty cocktail, preparing some for my friends!
Oh, I can think of a few dishes I’ve made recently that would go really well with this cocktail!
Wow – I love a Paloma, so this would be even better! I can just see serving this alongside a taco bar or any other fun Mexican night. Delicious!
I love pairing grapefruit with spicy flavors, so this cocktail is right up my alley! Love that you used agave, too. It’s such a great alternative to simple syrup!
This looks SO good! I love grapefruit, so I’ll definitely have to try. xx
http://hollyhabeck.com
This sounds delicious! I love margaritas, grapefruit, and spicy things!
Oh my goodness these look amazing! I may have to splurge and make them tonight!
x
Madeline
http://www.wearweroam.com
Yessssss. I am a margarita fanatic but I only recently tried a spicy version. I was shocked at how much I loved it, especially since I don’t do spicy. I love grapefruit too so I cannot wait to try this out!
This sounds amazing! I’m always looking for something different and this is perfect!
I first had a spicy margarita in Mexico and could never recreate it. I will have to give this one a try and see. I am sure it taste just as good, if not better
This would be a hit right about now. Lovely.
I LOVE a good spicy cocktail and this one looks SO delicious. YUM.
Badass!
This seems delicious!!!!
OMG I am so having these at our SuperBowl Party. Thanks for passing this fab recipe on:)
Wow! I wish I could reach right through my screen and snag one of those beautiful tasty cocktails. They’re perfect for Sunday brunch or at the end of a very long day! 🙂
This looks yummy! I love spicy drinks 🙂
I am DROOLING looking at this! I absolutely love spicy drinks and I really want to recreate this! Also, the chili + salt rim is a nice addition! It reminds me of Tajin powder, so yummy!
Best,
Idora
http://www.ajournalofstories.com
Oooh…yummy! I will have to try this one:)
I have mixed feelings about this. I love grapefruit and margaritas and cocktails (haha) but I can’t handle too much spice. Maybe I can handle it if it’s mixed with a drink.
ooh yum. I love spicy drinks…Pinning this!