This fun margarita smoothie is such a sippable combination. Serve adult style or kid-friendly, you choose! Either way, it’s a great snack full of flavor and my fun take on a favorite beverage.
Margaritas are such a fun summer beverage, so I thought I’d try my hand at a healthy margarita recipe in the form of a margarita smoothie. This super tropical, super delicious mocktail is as vibrant as its lime green coloring suggests, and is perfect for opening up the pool as well as soaking in some sunshine.
Origins of the margarita
It seems several different people have claimed to invent the margarita. Stories range from Mexican restaurant owner Carlos (Danny) Herrera creating the drink in 1938, to Texan Margaret Sames inventing it in the 1940s (who really knows?!).
The first frozen Margarita machine was invented by Mariano Martinez, restaurant owner in Texas, in 1971. My margarita smoothie is a play on this frozen variety of the beverage, so be sure to have some frozen fruit on hand when blending this healthy margarita recipe.
Margarita smoothie ingredient swaps
Coconut water adds electrolytes + flavor to this smoothie, yet swap for regular water, carbonated water, or even a fun kombucha. 100% pineapple juice works too. Swap peeled peaches for the mango or pineapple. Another great swap for mango is banana.
If you still want the coconut flavor, then toss in 2 tablespoons of coconut flakes for a delicious upgrade.
How to make a healthy margarita
Now if you came to this post looking for an actual margarita, then I won’t leave you hanging (yet I challenge you to still try my margarita smoothie)! My friend Danielle Walker has some incredible cocktail recipes, all of which are refined sugar free. They almost look too good to drink!
While I believe in balance, I also love finding recipes that are incredible + made with real food ingredients. So that’s what I look for, even in my cocktails. And… if a vanilla pineapple margarita doesn’t pique your interest, then more for me!
A margarita smoothie a day
This recipe was originally created for my very first cookbook, Simple Green Smoothies… it’s such a good recipe that it actually made the cover of the book!
I’m super passionate about helping people start the healthy habit of 1 green smoothie a day. And as evidenced by this margarita smoothie recipe, that doesn’t have to be boring, gross, or hard! Green smoothies can actually be fun, and filling as well as something the whole family enjoys sipping together.
Just grab your fav fruits + leafy greens; I bet I’ve got a smoothie recipe that’s right for you.
More tropical smoothies
If you loved this recipe, then I’m giving you easy access to more tropical smoothies that are just as fun as my margarita smoothie:
- Piña colada smoothie
- Honey turmeric smoothie
- Vegan tropical smoothie
- Smoothie bowl
- Mango smoothie
- Dragon fruit smoothie
Leave a rating + review below once you’ve blended up the margarita smoothie, and don’t forget to share how you enjoyed it!
Margarita Smoothie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup spinach
- ½ cup coconut water
- ½ orange peeled
- 1 cup mango frozen
- ½ cup pineapple frozen
- 1 tsp lime juice
- sea salt coarse, for rim of glasses
- homemade protein powder optional
Instructions
- Blend spinach, orange, and coconut water until smooth.
- Add mango, pineapple, and lime juice. Blend again.
- Save squeezed lime wedge and rub it around the rim of a margarita glass. Dip the rim into the coarse salt.
- Pour the smoothie into the prepared glass.
Notes
- Use frozen fruit to make smoothie cold.
- Garnish with a lime wedge to make look super cute.
This was a game-changer for our Cinco De Mayo dinner! Thanks for creating such fun recipes for the whole family. 🙂
This is so yummy! A sweet treat my sweet tooth that’s waaaay healthier than what I’d usually grab.
Have you ever added tequila to this.. because I think I just found my new healthy cocktail!
Okay, this was a fun smoothie! I can’t drink a full smoothie-amount b/c it was super sweet, yet it was still a delicious dessert.
Too much fruit for me. I like my juice drinks like my coffee, I like the taste and not sweet.
Calleen, feel free to decrease the amount of fruit and increase the amount of leafy greens in order to create a smoothie that’s not as sweet. For example, you can use 3 cups of spinach, 1 cup of mango, and 1/2 cup of pineapple. The rest of the ingredients will stay the same. Cheers!
If you’re allergic to poison oak, don’t touch the skins as the sticky sap can be on the skins off the tree and can cause a reaction just as if you came into contact with poison oak itself–mango tree is in the same plant family! I found that out the hard way shopping for fresh mango and had to trace my steps to figure out where my reaction originated :-/
Hi Maryann,
You’re very right! I didn’t know that either until researching for our blog post on what fruit + veggie skins you can include in your smoothie. So yes, allergic to poison oak – it’s best to stay away from those mango skins. Pre-packaged frozen mango is a great option!
I will surely try this but with juicing style with my best juicer
Hi Anika,
Yum! We’re smoothie lovers, but definitely love the occasional juice too – and love trying our recipes in different formats (smoothies, popsicles, juices). Make sure and reach back out! I’d love to know what you thought!
Hi! any recipe made up of eggplant?
Hi Ayesha,
We don’t. But I definitely think it’s something we should experiment with! Love blending with veggies? Make sure and check out these veggie packed recipes…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/smoothie-recipes-for-kids
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/savory-smoothie
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/tomato-smoothie
Hi, two questions!
1. Is there not an issue with the white stringy bits between the peel and flesh of an orange? Should I make an effort to get rid of as many as possible?
2. As a college student, smoothies are a great idea for a quick breakfast that will keep my immune system up. But so much fresh, tropical fruit can be expensive. Can you get an enjoyable smoothie out of no-sugar-added canned pineapple, peaches, etc?
PS Sorry, I should specify – I’ve noticed that frozen fruit also often costs a silly amount. That’s why I ask about canned.
Hi Kelsey,
Thanks for reaching out. Worried about the orange pith? Don’t be, it’s packed with fiber. It does have a slightly bitter flavor, so if you don’t enjoy the flavor, removing some additional pith is a good option.
We’re all about making green smoothies work for you + your wallet. While you can definitely blend with canned fruit, even those stored in their own juice contain additional sugar. So it’s important to take that into consideration when blending.
Here are a few more tips for making healthy living easy on your budget…
-Make a shopping list: Making a weekly meal planning list that covers what you will eat on a daily basis will help you only buy what you need. Make sure to include snacks in your meal plan and shopping list, too.
-Buy seasonal fruit and veggies: Purchasing produce is in season and is typically cheaper. And if you see a good deal on fresh fruits and veggies, purchase in bulk and freeze for future smoothies.
-Buy out of season fruits frozen: Costco and Sam’s Club sell large bags of organic frozen fruit at good prices. If your freezer can accommodate bags in bulk, take advantage of making these purchases.
-Buy from local fruit stands, farmer’s markets and CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture): For the tastiest and most fresh organic produce, buy locally. Not only has the produce been grown and harvested close to home, but buying locally also helps our environment by eliminating the time and resources needed to deliver. Visit, to find your local farm, farmers markets, and other local food sources.
-Follow the EWG’s Dirty Dozen: This list will help you know what is worth getting organic and what you can buy conventional.
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/dirty-dozen-list
Hope this helps!
Most of your recipes say 2 servings, does that mean I shouldn’t chug the whole thing myself?
Hi Donna!
Thanks for reaching out! Our serving sizes are there as a suggestion :). We always recommend doing what’s best for you, personally!
I’ve been known to go through both servings, as well (they’re just so darn tasty!), so what I do now, is divide up the servings right away, and stick one in the fridge for lunch or an afternoon snack :).
Can i use any other fruit instead of pineapple? I am not much fan of pineapple.
Hi Jenny!
Totally! Feel free to use any fruit you love :). Any citrus fruit–like mango, orange, or kiwi–are some of my favorite pineapple substitutes.
Cheers!
Is there a substitute for coconut water? Can tap water work?
Hi Lisa!
Feel free to use any liquid base in place of coconut water :). Filtered water, coconut milk, fresh-squeezed juice, and green tea are some of our favorites!
Cheers!
Do you peel and pit the mango or use the whole thing?
Hi Robert,
Great question! We definitely suggest pitting the mango prior to blending. The peel on the other hand is heavily concentrated with carotenoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids – known for fighting off cancer, inflammation, diabetes, and heart disease.
When blending the mango skin we suggest selecting your fruit when the fruit is ripe and the skin is at its thinnest. While the mango skin is packed with nutrients, those sensitive to poison ivy or poison oak should avoid eating the skin due to a potential allergic reaction known as “mango itch”. And with any peel, we suggest starting small. You can always add more as your body + taste buds become accustomed to their health benefits + taste.
Learn more about our favorite peels here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/tutorials/ingredients
This looks delicious and refreshing =) Thanks for sharing. I like mine with as many fruits and vegetables as possible.
HI Marianela,
This is one of our favorite recipes, especially with summer right around the corner!
Cheers!
Just curious what brand of coconut water do you use? Many that i find process their water at such high temps it destroys most nutrients. Thanks!
Hi Caitlin,
Looking for a great raw coconut water option? Try reaching for Harmless Harvest.
hey just wondering what time of day is best to have smoothies ?? and can they be used to replace meals?
Hi Kela,
Thanks for reaching out! You can enjoy your green smoothie any time of day! Just know that your green smoothie will give you a great energy boost, similar to a cup of coffee, in case you’re planning on having your smoothie late at night.
You can definitely use your green smoothie as a meal replacement! We simply suggest adding protein + healthy fats to ensure you’re fueling your body with a complete meal. Check out our favorite meal replacement booster combos here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/meal-replacement-smoothie