What Is Tequila and How Can I Use It?

If tequila has turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use it with confidence and how to choose it, cook it, store it, what to substitute, and 80 recipes to try it in.

Nutrition

Food group

Tequila is a member of the Beverages US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does tequila weigh?

Related

Beverages

Recipes using tequila

There are 80 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Margarita on the Rocks

Margarita on the rocks shakes premium gold tequila with Triple Sec, Grand Marnier, and sweet and sour mix, poured over ice into a salt-rimmed glass. The double hit of orange liqueur gives this classic cocktail extra depth and punch.

Mama D’s Very Berry Margaritas

This frozen margarita is a berrilicious treat. Sweet, cool, refreshing and goes down smooth. Great for unwinding on a hot day or any festive occasion.

Butterfield Stageline Chili

Butterfield Stageline chili: hand-chopped brisket and ground pork simmered slow with green chiles, tequila, beer, and toasted spices. Texas-style crowd feeder.

Margarita Jello Shooters

Jello shooters are a really fun way to get the crowd loose. Thanks to Lori, my neighbor, for this delicious recipe...just in time for the NFL season!

Margarita Cheesecake with Lime Sour Cream Topping

Margarita cheesecake spiked with tequila, triple sec, and fresh lime on a graham crust, crowned with a tangy lime sour cream topping. The cocktail you love, in creamy sliceable form.

Mayan Chili

Mayan chili simmers ground beef with green chilies, kidney beans, sweet corn, and a splash of tequila for a smoky, slightly boozy spin on classic chili night.

Margaritas De Toronja (Grapefruit Margaritas)

Grapefruit Margaritas blend tequila, triple sec, and fresh grapefruit juice with cracked ice - a brighter, slightly bitter twist on the classic that serves 8 in 10 minutes.

Horny Bull

Horny Bull cocktail blended with tequila, orange juice, lemonade, and grenadine over ice. A frozen citrus tequila drink garnished with orange and cherry.

Aztec Punch

Aztec Punch is a big-batch tequila cocktail with grapefruit juice, dark tea, lemon juice, and cinnamon served over ice. Tart, warm-spiced, and built to serve 20 thirsty guests.

Shepherd's Roast with Drunken Sauce

Spit-roasted leg of lamb basted with garlic butter and served with a fiery drunken sauce of tequila, chili powder, serrano peppers, red wine, and grated cheese. Mexican-meets-grill showstopper.

Bedroom Calling Shot

The Bedroom Calling Shot is a potent four-spirit cocktail mixing tequila, vodka, gin, and rum with cola and whiskey sour mix. One sip and you'll know how it got its name.

Beaurita

A spicy twist on the classic margarita, the Beaurita blends vodka and tequila with fresh lime juice and a fiery hit of hot pepper sauce, served in a salt-rimmed glass with a jalapeño garnish.

Yet Another Chili

Three meats, a cold beer, and a shot of tequila walk into a pot. Two hours later, you've got a thick, spicy chili with chunks of steak, ground beef, pork, and kidney beans that'll win any cookoff.

Chilled Fruit Soup with Spiked Nuts

Chilled fruit soup with spiked melon: champagne-sweetened fruit broth ladled over vodka-and-tequila-marinated melon, grapes, and plums. A grown-up summer starter built for heat waves.

Latigo Chili

Latigo chili is a serious Tex-Mex three-meat chili of brisket, venison, and pork simmered with ancho chiles, beer, tequila, and staged cumin additions. Built for a crowd of 20.

Ham Steaks with Fresh Nectarine Chutney

To bring out the natural sweetness of ham and to keep it juicy during grilling, we glazed ham steaks with orange juice and tequila.

Ham Steaks with Fresh Nectarine Chutney

To bring out the natural sweetness of ham and to keep it juicy during grilling, we glazed ham steaks with orange juice and tequila.

Modern Fajitas

Modern fajitas with flank steak marinated overnight in a chili-cocoa-tequila rub, then grilled and sliced for tortillas. Served with guacamole, refried beans, salsa, and cilantro for a smoky Tex-Mex spread.

Mexican T Punch

Mexican T Punch blends tequila with cold tea, pineapple juice, honey, lime, cinnamon, and aromatic bitters. A batch cocktail with warm spice and tropical citrus.

Tequila Chicken Wings

Tequila-marinated chicken wings grilled with chili powder, cayenne, and lime juice. Marinated overnight for maximum flavor, then basted on the grill. Serve with salsa or cheese dip.

Tequila Beef Steaks

Tequila beef steaks: grill-ready steaks marinated in tequila, olive oil, black pepper, lemon zest, and garlic. Agave and citrus bring out the beef flavor like nothing else.

Sunrise Margarita

This sunrise margarita looks so pretty, and the two layers of different flavors are both absolutely so good.

Refreshing Margarita

Margarita is a classic drink during the meal, and it is very easy to make at home, especially if you plan to host a party, freshly homemade margarita is definitely going to be a hit.

Easy Margarita Ice Cream Pie

Margarita ice cream pie folds tequila, triple sec, and frozen lemonade concentrate into softened vanilla ice cream, then freezes solid in a graham cracker crust. The frozen cocktail in pie form for summer parties.

Tequila-Orange Chicken

Grilled chicken glazed with a sticky tequila-orange sauce spiked with jalapeño and fresh orange zest. A sweet, smoky, spicy showpiece that's equal parts backyard cookout and fiesta.

All 80 recipes