Copycat Applebee's Perfect Margarita Recipe | CDKitchen.com (2024)

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This isn't just the restaurant's popular drink, it's also a "perfect" margarita recipe. It has just the right proportions of tequila, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, sour mix and lime juice. Hint: use a homemade sour mix instead of the bottled kind.

Copycat Applebee's Perfect Margarita Recipe | CDKitchen.com (1)

Copycat Applebee's Perfect Margarita Recipe | CDKitchen.com (2)


serves/makes:

ready in:

under 30 minutes

24 reviews
4 comments


ingredients

1 1/4 ounce Cuervo 1800 tequila
3/4 ounce cointreau
3/4 ounce grand marnier
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
4 ounces sweet and sour mix
1/2 ounce simple syrup
ice

Garnish

lime wedge
olive

directions

Chill a margarita glass. Salt the rim if desired by rubbing the rim with a wedge of lime, then inverting the glass onto a plate of coarse salt.

Combine the tequila, cointreau, grand marnier, lime juice, sour mix, and simple syrup in a shaker with some ice. Shake well to combine. Strain into the chilled glass.

Garnish the margarita with a wedge of lime and an olive.


nutrition data

294 calories, 0 grams fat, 27 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams protein per serving. This recipe is low in sodium. This recipe is low in fat.



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reviews & comments

  1. Audrey L REVIEW:
    February 16, 2020

    My husband and I made it last night and it tasted just like the one we get at Applebee’s. We followed the recipe exactly and didn’t change anything.

  2. Margarita Lover REVIEW:
    June 10, 2018

    What was left out of the recipe is Olive Juice. Once I put 1/2 oz. of that in it was very close to Applebee’s.But yes....the type of sweet and sour mix does make a difference. An option is to buy limeaide frozen can, let it thaw and use a 1 to 1 ratio of tequila and limeaide and then olive juice to taste.....that is what smothes it out.

  3. Guest Foodie REVIEW:
    April 2, 2017

    Yumo, its my birthday, just made it. FYI, Make your own sweet and sour mix and simple sysup. It makes all the difference. Its perfect!!! I have saved this to my favs:-0)

  4. simon says REVIEW:
    July 8, 2016

    Watch out, this is SO good you'll want to drink more than you should!

  5. D REVIEW:
    March 22, 2016

    This tastes exactly like it (when they make it right.) I made my own simple syrup (1:1 sugar and water) and my own sweet and sour mix (3 parts simple syrup 1 part lemon 1 part lime) and mixed it all together. At first it tasted kinda thick and a little different but then I noticed that as some of the ice melted and mixed in with the drink, the better it got. this is for sure the recipe.

  6. PerfectBloggerita REVIEW:
    January 26, 2015

    Cant seem to get it to taste like applebee's.Did anyone figure it out yet?

  7. guess who REVIEW:
    December 15, 2014

    Actually, for those if you posting that this recipe is incorrect, our incomplete, you are mistaken. I am currently an Applebee's bartender, and this is our EXACT recipe.

  8. kuroigirl68 REVIEW:
    April 12, 2014

    I think it's very close, but I made my own sweet and sour mix from scratch and it's a little too sweet, my fault! Added a little more regular lime juice (I did use Rose's in the drink but didn't want to sweeten it more) and a splash of olive juice to tone down the sweet. I think next time I'll check my sweet and sour mix and it will be perfect!

  9. Guest Foodie REVIEW:
    December 23, 2013

    Yep! This is the one from Applebee's. It really is the perfect margarita!Thanks, I've been trying different concoctions for some time now, and couldn't quite get it. (Had fun trying though)

  10. Guest Foodie October 29, 2013

    I was a bartender at Applebee's and I agree that it's the sour mix that will throw this off. Make your own and you'll do better as the bottled stuff just doesn't cut it. Otherwise this recipe is quite close.

  11. Lively1 REVIEW:
    October 18, 2013

    Been rainy and cold here this week so we had a little "tropical" party one night and made margaritas with this recipe.

  12. boozer REVIEW:
    July 15, 2013

    My favorite margarita - both at Applebee's and now at home! I buy the bottle of simple syrup at the grocery store so I don't have to make it myself each time but if you can't buy it it's super simple to make just mix equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan and let simmer until it gets a little syrupy. Don't let it crystalize.

  13. jacquie REVIEW:
    July 3, 2013

    I've made this several times but will be making it in a big batch for the 4th of july fireworks tomorrow. It's perfect and everyone thinks I make the best margaritas!

  14. MrsJ REVIEW:
    May 5, 2013

    This is the PERFECT copy of the Perfect Margarita! I have a new favorite go to drink!

  15. Valerie REVIEW:
    May 3, 2013

    This margarita has a really good balance of flavors. Definitely use a good brand of tequila, that makes all the difference!

  16. LFairbanks October 20, 2012

    Can anybody tell me how to make sweet & sour mix from scratch?

  17. Guest Foodie REVIEW:
    January 6, 2012

    Make sure you use fresh squeezed lime juice. The stuff you buy is NOT the same. Was a bartender at applebee's in college...

  18. bexhack REVIEW:
    July 18, 2011

    I just made this and am drinking it now. It is so good and I think it tastes just like the one from Applebee's. I made sweet and sour mix and simple syrup from scratch, mixed it with Cointreau, Grand Marnier and 1800 Resposido Agave Tequila. I didn't have any extra limes from the sweet and sour mix so I used Rose's brand sweetened lime juice. I measured the amounts perfectly, added 3 olives and a tsp of olive juice. PERFECT!

  19. sarah February 9, 2010

    how do you make it a strawberry margarita?

  20. Jack February 2, 2010

    Can anyone tell me what "Simple Syrup" is?

    • CDKitchen Staff Reply:

      Simple Syrup is one part sugar and one part water, boiled until "syrupy". I believe you can also buy pre-made simple syrup (some grocery stores and/or liquor stores may carry it)

  21. Guest Foodie REVIEW:
    October 14, 2009

    only thing missing is .5 oz simple syrup

  22. Guest Foodie REVIEW:
    June 28, 2008

    This was absolutely PERFECT!!!!! Tastes just like Apple Bee's!

  23. Apple Girl REVIEW:
    October 30, 2007

    The liquor in this recipe is right, but the reason it doesn't taste the same as when made at the store is because Applebee's uses a signature sweet 'n sour mix that you can't get anywhere else. Unless you work at an Applebee's and your management allows you to buy a case of it. Really nothing compares to their sweet n sour, so no matter how hard you try with this maragarita it without it, it will never taste as good!

  24. Me REVIEW:
    October 13, 2007

    I worked at Applebee's for 5 years as a bartender. This recipe is close. To the reviewers that did not like this recipe I suspect you are using a bottled sweet and sour mix. Bottled sweet and sour is very strong and otherwise not good. Try making your own.

  25. Guest Foodie REVIEW:
    July 19, 2007

    This recipe is nowhere near Applebee's Perfect Margarita. Not sweet, like Applebee's, and the alcohol:mixer ratio is ridiculous.

  26. ragtag REVIEW:
    July 1, 2006

    this recipe works best frozen..... delicious!

  27. Southern Belle REVIEW:
    February 4, 2006

    I have tried Prefect Margaritas at every place in town and none can touch Applebee's. They sre absolutely delish!!!!

  28. rporter REVIEW:
    October 30, 2005

    This may tast close but I make them at home EXACTLY the way applebees makes them.there is a lot of things missing from this. I may add my recipe soon.

Please note:
This is a copy cat recipe submitted to CDKitchen by a third-party. This recipe is not an original recipe unless specifically stated and is considered only to be an acceptable "clone" to the original for the home cook to attempt to duplicate. Please also note that many nationwide restaurant chains vary their menus and ingredients by region so the version provided may not be similar to what you may have tried before. All trademarks referenced are property of their respective owners.

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Copycat Applebee's Perfect Margarita Recipe | CDKitchen.com (2024)
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