Watermelon Margarita – Easy Olive Garden Copycat

This Olive Garden Watermelon Margarita is fruity, cold, and just super easy to throw together. You only need five ingredients and five minutes, and it works both frozen and over ice — whatever you’re in the mood for. Great for lazy evenings, summer hangs, or pretending you’re on a patio somewhere with better lighting.

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Quick Summary

• Prep time: 5 mins
• Cook time: 0 mins
• Flavor: Sweet, citrusy, refreshing
• Great for: Summer, chill nights, backyard vibes

Why I Like This Recipe

Alright so I was half-scrolling, half-existing after work and just wanted something easy. Found some watermelon syrup from a random cocktail kit and figured why not. This drink’s weirdly good. Tastes like a beach day if the beach was your couch. It’s honestly so simple, I barely feel like I made anything.

Ingredients

• Salt (for the rim)
• Watermelon slice (for rim + garnish)
• 2 oz sour mix
• ¾ oz Monin watermelon syrup
• 1 oz Jose Cuervo Silver Tequila
• 1 cup ice (plus more if you’re serving on the rocks)

How To Make Watermelon Margarita

• Salt the rim Pour salt on a plate. Rub a watermelon slice around your glass edge (it’s cute), then dip it into the salt. Set aside.
• Frozen version Throw the sour mix, syrup, tequila, and 1 cup ice in a blender. Blend ‘til smooth. That’s it.
• On the rocks version Fill your salt-rimmed glass with ice. Mix the tequila, syrup, and sour mix in another cup. Stir or shake, whatever’s easier.
• Pour + garnish Pour your drink into the prepped glass. Stick a watermelon wedge on the edge if you’ve got one. Done.

Tips for Success

• Use cold syrup + sour mix — makes a huge difference.
• Don’t skip the rim. Seriously, the salt offsets the sweetness perfectly.
• Only 1 cup of ice for frozen. More turns it into a sad slushie.
• Stir or shake the drink well if you’re skipping the blender — syrup sinks otherwise.
• Garnish makes it feel fancy, even if you’re drinking it in pajamas.

Storage and Reheating

• Fridge: If you somehow didn’t finish it (??), store the mix without ice in a jar for up to 2 days. Shake well before drinking again.
• Freezer: Frozen version can be saved in a sealed container for about a month. Thaw slightly and stir before drinking.
• Reheat: Nope. Don’t heat margaritas. That’s a crime.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I use a different syrup?
  Yeah, but the watermelon one’s kinda the point. Strawberry works in a pinch though.
• What’s sour mix again?
  Lemon-lime sweet and sour blend. You can buy it bottled or make it with lemon/lime juice + simple syrup.
• Is this strong?
  It’s pretty chill. Sweet enough to sip easy, but the tequila’s definitely there.
• Can I skip the salt rim?
  Sure. But it balances out the sweet in a really nice way. Just try it once.
• Do I need a blender?
  Not at all. You can totally do this shaken or stirred over ice.

Common Mistakes and How to Dodge Them

• Adding too much ice: For frozen, 1 cup of ice is the sweet spot. More = watered down. Less = too boozy. Yes, that’s possible.
• Warm ingredients: Room temp syrup or sour mix makes the drink taste flat. Chill ’em first or add more ice (which waters it down, so yeah — chill ’em).
• Not shaking the on-the-rocks version: If you just pour it all in and stir half-heartedly, the syrup kinda just… sinks. Give it a good shake or stir before serving.
• Using low-quality tequila: It doesn’t have to be fancy, but make sure it’s clean-tasting. Some cheap ones taste like regret.
• Skipping the garnish: You can skip it, but that little watermelon wedge adds a lot. Looks good. Smells good. Makes the drink feel intentional.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

• Calories: 151 kcal
• Total Fat: 0g
• Saturated Fat: 0g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sodium: 28mg
• Potassium: 14mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 23g
• Dietary Fiber: 0g
• Sugars: 22g
• Protein: 0g

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