Jalapeño Watermelon Margaritas

First the recipe:

Frozen Jalapeño Watermelon Margaritas

serves 4

• 2 cups fresh watermelon, cubed

• 1 jalapeño, deseeded (toss in a few seeds for extra spice)

• 1/4 tsp. salt

• 2 tbs. agave or honey

• 4 limes, juiced

• 8 oz. 100% agave tequila blanco* (I used Espolòn, but I also recommend Calirosa Rosa Blanco for a fun and festive addition)

• 1 cup ice cubes

• Lime and Tajín for rimming

Break down the watermelon and cut into cubes. I find the easiest way is to cut both ends off and stand the fruit up, then cut the sides off with a knife. In a blender, add the salt, watermelon, jalapeno, agave or honey, juice from limes, tequila, and ice. Blend until fully smooth and frothy. Rim glasses with a lime wedge and roll in tajin (can also sub salt or sugar, or no rim at all).

*For a “mocktail” version, omit the tequila. Follow recipe as is or sub with 6 oz. sparkling water of your choice (I recommend the Raspberry Lime Spindrift), or a zero proof tequila, like this alcohol-free Mezcal.

Then the BS:

Summer means nothing to me without two things: watermelon and spicy margs.

These 7-ingredient Frozen Jalapeño Watermelon Margaritas check those boxes and more — few enough ingredients to count on your hands and ready as fast as you can break down a watermelon and blend everything together.

These margs are also awesome because unlike a lot of other alcohol-free recipes, they’re flavorful and fun enough to be “mocktails” by just omitting the tequila. It’s a little hard to leave out the tequila in a classic marg because you would simply be left with syrup and lime. The watermelon and ice in this recipe still make enough substance to sip on without the tequila, and the spice from the jalapeño and Tajín make it more exciting than the average juice-based “mocktail.” Feel free to sub the tequila with sparkling water of your choice to add some fizz.

Now it’s your turn to make these all summer long!