EASY Margarita Jello Shots: Fun Flavors That Steal the Party!
If you’re looking to level up your party game with something festive, simple, and just a little bit cheeky, easy Margarita Jello Shots are your new best friend. These colorful cups of joy bring a margarita’s zesty charm in a fun, wiggly package. Even if you’ve never made a cocktail or jello in your life, don’t stress—this recipe is practically foolproof.
Made with tequila, lime juice, sweet and sour mix, and simple syrup, Margarita Jello Shots are easy to whip up and a total crowd-pleaser. And if you want to change it up, you can turn the same recipe into Strawberry or Mango Margarita Jello Shots with just one simple step. These Margarita Jello Shots fun flavors look great, add a pop of color, and bring a juicy little burst of flavor to every bite.
Why You’ll Love These Margarita Jello Shots
Jello shots are more than party snacks: conversation starters, mood-lifters, and instant crowd-pleasers. People light up when they see them—there’s just something about a tray of bright, boozy bites that says, “This is going to be a good time.” And the best news is you can make them ahead of time.
And let’s face it, margaritas are a forever favorite. Tangy, a little salty, and oh-so-refreshing, these drinks never go out of style. Combine that flavor with the fun texture of jello, and you’ve got a party-ready treat that’s as easy to make as it is to eat.
Making jello shots is quick and fun, but it’s not the same as mixing up a fresh cocktail. When you drink a classic Margarita, you enjoy the fresh flavors—like real lime juice, agave, and good silver tequila. A classic Margarita is meant to be sipped so you can taste each unique ingredient.
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Margarita Jello Shots are made to be eaten fast and enjoyed in a party setting, so the details don’t need to be perfect. Bottled lime juice is fine in jello shots—it still gives a nice tangy flavor without squeezing many limes. Fresh ingredients matter in cocktails, where every flavor stands out, but it’s okay to take shortcuts and keep it simple for jello shots.
Margarita Jello Shots Ingredients
- Tequila
- Lime Juice
- Sweet and Sour Mix
- Simple Syrup
- Gelatine
- Optional garnishes: lime slices, salt
Tips
Use bottled lime juice for convenience—it tastes great in the Margarita Jello Shot recipe.
Persian Limes are best for garnishing jello shots. Their smaller size makes them a perfect fit.
Keep the jello shots chilled until serving time, especially if it’s hot out.
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Bar and Kitchen tools
To make your jello shots, you’ll need jello shot cups. Click here to learn the differences between the 3 different styles of jello shot cups. I use the squeezable Jello Shot cups, the flat round Jello Shot cups above, and square Jello Shot cups.
The second most important item is a large, spouted mixing bowl with a handle. This bowl makes pouring the liquid into the jello shot cups easy. I have seen ‘tools’ on Amazon that assist you with filling your jello shot cups, but the bowl with the spout works well. Of course, you may have a few drips here and there, but I need more to invest in one of those tools.
How to Make Margarita Jello Shots
Place 18 jello shot cups on a baking sheet.
Pour the tequila into the spouted mixing bowl and sprinkle the gelatin on top. Gelatin can be tricky to work with when using it the first time. The secret is to ‘slowly’ sprinkle the gelatin on top of the liquid. If you see it clumping up, you are spreading it too quickly.
Let the gelatin mixture sit for 7 minutes. If you do have some dry patches, don’t worry. Ensure your water is boiling for the next step.
In the meantime, boil the water.
Add the water to the gelatin mixture and stir for 3 minutes.
Then add the lime juice, sweet and sour mix, and simple syrup, stirring well.
Slowly pour the mixture into your jello shot cups until 3/4 full.
Refrigerate the Margarita Jello Shots for 2 hours before placing the lids on the cups. Jello shots can be made 2 days in advance and refrigerated until ready to serve.
Garnishing Margarita Jello Shots (Optional)
If you’re thinking about going all out with the presentation, garnishing Margarita Jello Shots with lime slices and salt makes them look amazing—perfect for photos and impressing your guests. But keep in mind that those pretty little touches can take some time.
Right before serving, cut your limes into small triangle pieces. Then, run a lime wedge around a quarter of the rim of each cup and dip it in coarse salt for that classic margarita touch. Top with a wedge of lime.
Garnishing a whole batch can take 45 minutes to an hour, and unfortunately, the lime starts to dry within a few hours. So, if you decide to garnish, do it right before serving and eat them soon after.
It’s okay not to spend time garnishing the jello shots; they are awesome without all that glam.
Serving Tips
- Keep It Chill: Jello shots are best cold, so serve them straight from the fridge.
- Go for Gold: Want a twist? Try using gold tequila for a warmer flavor.
- Get Creative: Swap the sweet and sour mix for strawberry or mango for a fruity variation. You get to choose from so many flavors!
Fruity Margarita Jello Shots
Let’s spice up your margarita jello shots with fun, fruity variations that are just as easy and even more irresistible. Here’s how to twist the classic lime margarita into new, exciting flavors—because why stop at one type of jello shot when you can have a flavor rainbow?
When it comes to crafting the perfect Margarita Jello Shot, the mixer you choose can make or break the final product—not just in taste but also in texture. After testing both Tres Agaves Margarita Mix and Master of Mixes Margarita Mix, it’s clear that not all mixers behave the same when turned into boozy bites.
Tres Agaves Strawberry delivered an ideal jello shot: smooth and with a light, bright strawberry flavor. The consistency was just right—firm enough to hold its shape but soft enough to melt on the tongue, just like a good jello shot should.
Master of Mixes Mango, on the other hand, brought a different experience. Its flavor was delicious—sweet and tangy with a bold mango kick—but its thicker syrup base, likely due to the high fructose corn syrup content, affected the texture of the Jello.
The end result was a denser, almost gummy consistency that felt more like fruit snacks than traditional jello shots. While still delicious, it lacked that clean, jiggly finish you expect from a classic shot.
If you’re going for a more traditional jello shot texture, Tres Agaves is the clear winner for flavored Margarita Jello Shots.
Strawberry Margarita Jello Shots
To make Strawberry Margarita Jello Shots, replace the sweet and sour mix with Tres Agaves Strawberry Margarita mix. For a bolder strawberry flavor, you can replace the plain simple syrup with strawberry syrup, but it’s not necessary.
Optional, add 1 small slice of strawberry to each jello shot cup to garnish before serving. That’s it! The strawberry adds a delightful burst of flavor, making these even more special.
Mango Margarita Jello Shots
To make Mango Margarita Jello Shots, replace the sweet and sour mix with Master of Mixes Mango Margarita mix. There is no need to add the simple syrup because the mix is very sweet on its own.
Tres Agaves Margarita mix comes in various flavors, including Spicy Jalapeno, Mango Chili, Paloma, Strawberry, and Pineapple Ginger, among others. Just replace the sweet and sour mix in the recipe with your favorite Tres Agaves flavor.
Master of Mixes Margarita mix also features a great selection of flavors, including Blood Orange, Mango, Passion Fruit, Watermelon, and White Peach. When using Master of Mixes Margarita mix, replace the sweet and sour mix in the recipe with your preferred flavor choice, and omit the simple syrup. Remember the flavor will be fabulous, the texture will be different.
These jello shot variations let you customize your party to match the vibe. They’re playful, colorful, and seriously easy to love. Remember to keep them chilled and label your trays so guests know what flavor magic they’re diving into.
So go ahead—mix, pour, chill, and serve. Your next gathering just got way more flavorful.
Whether throwing a backyard BBQ, hosting a game night, or just surprising your friends with something unexpected, Margarita Jello Shots are the perfect way to keep things light, tasty, and wild. They’re easy to make, easy to serve, and even easier to enjoy.
So grab that tequila and get ready to impress, because your next party just got a whole lot more fun. Cheers to good times and good vibes—in jello form!
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More Awesome Jello Shot Recipes
- Coconut Jello Shots
- Peanut Butter Cup Jello Shots
- Hot Chocolate Jello Shots
- Espresso Martini Jello Shots
- Espresso and Cream Jello Shots
- Pumpkin Rum Chata Jello Shots
- Sweet Tea Jello Shots
- Peppermint Bark Rum Chata Jello Shots
- Mojito Jello Shots
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EASY Margarita Jello Shots: Fun Flavors That Steal the Party!
Equipment
Ingredients
Margarita Jello Shots
- 3/4 Cup Tequila
- 3/4 Cup Sweet and Sour Mix
- 1/4 Cup ReaLime Juice Bottled Lime Juice
- 3/4 Cup Simple Syrup
- 2 Envelopes Knox Gelatine 1 box contains 4 envelopes of gelatin
- 1/2 Cup Boiling Water
- Optional: Lime and Margarita Salt for Garnish
Instructions
- Place 18 – 2-ounce Jello Shot cups on a baking sheet.
- Add the tequila to a large, spouted mixing bowl.
- Slowly sprinkle the gelatin on top of the tequila, making sure to sprinkle it evenly across the top of the liquid
- Let the gelatin absorb the liquid for 7 minutes.
- In the meantime, boil the water.
- Add the water to the gelatin mixture and stir until the gelatin is dissolved, approximately 3 minutes.
- Add the sweet and sour, lime juice, and simple syrup and stir well.
- Pour the mixture into the Jello Shot cups until they are 3/4 full.
- Refrigerate at least 2 hours before placing the caps on the Jello Shot cups.
- Serve Chilled. Can be made 2 days in advance.