Make A Simple & Healthy Margarita Using This Easy Formula

Sunny days, warm weather, and Cinco de Mayo are here, meaning we have one particular cocktail on our minds: the classic margarita. While this Cinco de Mayo is the perfect opportunity to support a local restaurant, you may want to make your own drinks.

Margaritas in any form are a pretty simple cocktail, and the majority of their ingredients are perfect keto-friendly. Tequila itself is generally considered to be a healthier option than some other liquors.

The one ingredient in a traditional margarita that isn't keto-friendly is the orange liqueur included—commonly Cointreau or sometimes triple sec, both of which contain more sugar than is allowed for keeping keto and generally make your cocktail a little less healthy. To make your margarita a bit healthier (and keto-friendly), swap out the orange liqueur for sparkling water—orange-flavored, if you miss the flavor.

Another great thing about margaritas is it's easy to make them your own with some simple additions. If you're not interested in adding any sweetener, Cording offers the advice to add a little something else: "Skip the sweetener altogether and go for something spicy," she advised. A slice of jalapeño added to the cocktail shaker will add a good kick of spice to your drink.

While traditional margaritas are made using fresh lime juice (the fresher, the better), other citrus options can be great too. The aforementioned addition of some orange juice can help fill the flavor gap left by the removal of liqueur, but make sure it's not too much (oranges have 11.54 grams of carbs/half-cup).

Choosing to abstain from alcohol? That's OK—mocktails are a seriously wonderful thing, and making one inspired by a margarita is super simple.

"I'd recommend just doing a limeade with lime juice and agave," said Cording. "If you want to make it a little extra, line the rim of your glass with sea salt." She notes that while generally she isn't "a huge fan of agave syrup," using it can call back to a true margarita as tequila, too, is derived from the agave plant. She recommends using allulose or monk fruit sweetener if you'd prefer to steer clear of agave sweetener.