Skinny Sparkling Margarita

This Skinny Sparkling Margarita is perfect for when you want to kick back with a refreshing drink without the extra calories! It’s a light and satisfying drink you can make for anything from Cinco de Mayo to girls’ night!

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Summer is my favorite time of the year. And it’s the perfect time to enjoy a Skinny Sparkling Margarita, one of my favorite cocktails! BUT, just because summer’s come and gone, doesn’t mean we can’t imbibe with a light cocktail or two, right? These skinny drinks really are perfect whatever and whenever the occasion!

I LOVE this Sparkling Skinny Margarita. And why wouldn’t you love it? It’s so refreshing and light. Instead of the typical premade sour mix from the grocery store (which has WAY too much sugar), I use fresh lime juice, light agave nectar, and white tequila, and then top it with some Prosecco (or champagne). 

Once you try this one you’ll be asking your waiter at the next restaurant if they have any Prosecco. I guarantee it!

How is This Easy Skinny Margarita Recipe Different From a Classic Margarita?

Don’t be fooled by the huge margaritas served in many restaurants these days! They are full of sugar and quite diluted. In contrast, a traditional margarita is made with three simple ingredients: tequila, orange liqueur, and fresh lime juice. It’s a strong cocktail served in a margarita glass that has the rim of the glass lined with salt.

This guilt-free cocktail skips all the extra sugar and focuses on the classic flavors, though I’m passing over the orange liqueur in favor of some simple agave syrup instead. The sparkling Prosecco on top makes this cocktail just a bit more fun, too!

Ingredients for Skinny Sparkling Margaritas

Here’s what you need to make this delicious drink:

• Freshly squeezed lime juice
• White tequila
• Light agave syrup
• Prosecco (or you can use champagne)

The recipe as noted on the card below will make 3 drinks. You’ll need more Prosecco if you are making 4 drinks. See the note in the recipe card.

How to make a Skinny Margarita

You’ll need a cocktail shaker or something similar to make this tasty cocktail drink. Here’s how to do it:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the fresh lime juice, tequila, and agave syrup. Shake to mix well.
2. Fill glasses halfway with ice to serve them “on the rocks”, and add thin slices of lime inside the glasses.
3. Pour the margarita mix into cocktail glasses and top each glass with 2 ounces of Prosecco. Enjoy responsibly!
4. For a frozen margarita version, add all the ingredients to a blender (including ice) and blend it until it reaches the right consistency for your liking.

Recipe Variations

• I omitted orange liqueur from the traditional margarita recipe, but if you want to keep that flavor, add a splash of orange juice.
• You can substitute a simple syrup for agave syrup, or even use honey.

How to make a Salted Rim for your Skinny Champagne Margaritas

If you want that classic “margarita” look for your glass, you need a salted rim! Here’s how to make it!

1. Wet the rim: You can either use some of the drink mix to wet the rim, or I like to run lime juice around the rim with a lime wedge.
2. Add the salt: Spread some salt into a shallow dish or plate about 1/8 inch deep.
3. Dip and twist: Hold the glass upside down and dip the wet rim of your glass into the salt, gently twisting from side to side so the salt crystals stick.

Helpful Tips

• It helps if the glass is a little bit chilled.
• Add some lime zest to the salt for a festive touch!
• Make a salt and sugar rim instead, combining salt, granulated sugar, and some lime zest!
• Try not to touch the salted rim when you transfer the drink to your glass!

FAQs

How strong is a margarita?

Margaritas are sweet but strong. The amount of alcohol in your drink depends on the kind of tequila you use. 

Can I use sparkling water instead of Prosecco?

Of course! Prosecco adds a slightly fruity flavor to the margarita, but sparkling water will still give you that fun bubbly experience.

Looking for more fun drink recipes?

I’ve got some delicious cocktail recipes you should try, as well as some other fun drinks! These are my favorites for the hot summer months:

• Frozen Cherry Margaritas
• Summer Rose Sangria
• Strawberry Basil Sangria
• Classic Mojitos
• Tequila Sunrise Margarita

Make some of these non-alcoholic options for your kids or non-drinker pals:

• Cucumber Melon Mocktails
• Mixed Berry Smoothie
• Smore’s Milkshake
• Fresh Lemonade

This post was originally published May 3, 2018. It has been updated in format and with pictures on September 19, 2024.