Name: Frozen Margaritas
Total time: PLACEHOLDER
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons Citrus Rim Salt (optional) (see headnote); Lime wedge; 6 ounces blanco or reposado tequila; 4 ounces orange liqueur; 1 (12-ounce) container frozen limeade concentrate; 20 ounces (5 cups) ice cubes

Why This Recipe Works

Frozen Margaritas are a mainstay companion for nachos, tacos, and more. If you only know the sickly sweet, too-icy machine slush, get ready for a revelation. Our frozen version has tangy, true citrus flavor and a perfect consistency. Rather than squeezing, sweetening, and freezing juice from fresh limes, we opted for the convenience of frozen limeade concentrate (made with real limes), which offered the ideal sweet-tart balance and also helped create the ideal semifrozen texture when combined with ice. We then tested our way to the best, most balanced proportions of citrus to alcohol.

Before You Begin

We prefer using our Citrus Rim Salt here, but you can substitute another flavored rim salt from or plain kosher salt; find the recipes in this article. You can use blanco or reposado tequila in this recipe; reposado will provide more nuanced aged and oaky notes to the drink, while blanco will create a brighter and more tequila-forward cocktail.

Instructions

Spread salt, if using, into even layer on small saucer. Moisten about ½ inch of 4 chilled old-fashioned glass or margarita glass rims by running lime wedge around outer edges; dry any excess juice with paper towel. Roll moistened rims in salt to coat. Remove any excess salt that falls into glasses; set aside.

Add tequila, orange liqueur, limeade concentrate, and ice to blender (in that order) and process until smooth, about 1 minute, scraping down sides of blender jar as needed. Pour into prepared glasses. Garnish with lime wedges and serve.