48 Amazing Recipes Using Tequila

48 Amazing Recipes Using Tequila, including 16 tequila dinner recipes, 16 tequila cocktail recipes and 16 tequila dessert recipes.

July 24th is National Tequila Day. You should definitely celebrate by making one of these 48 Amazing Recipes Using Tequila. I’ve collected such a delicious bunch of boozy recipes, and you’re bound to find some new favorites in this collection. Take a look at the recipes (click on the titles of the recipes to see them), and bookmark/print your favorites. Be sure to follow my July Food Holidays page so you never miss a food holiday in the month of July!

“One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.”

-George Carlin

The History of Tequila:

The creation of tequila dates back to 250 to 300 AD, when the Aztec Indians produced a fermented juice of the agave called “pulque” for their ceremonial wine. They worshipped two gods known for their relationship to alcohol: Mayahuel (the goddess of the Maguey) and her husband Patecatl, the god of pulque. This was all documented on stone walls that were discovered.

Centuries later, Spanish explorers landed in the area. When their brandy supplies ran low, the Spaniards used mud and agave to create a drink similar to modern-day Mezcal.

The first large-scale distillery emerged in the 1600’s in Jalisco, Mexico.

In 1758, the Cuervo family began to distill tequila commercially. They were followed by a few other brands, and in 1873 the Sauza family began distilling too.

During the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic, patients were instructed to drink tequila with lime and salt to ease symptoms.

There are many stories that share where the first margarita was made. In 1936, a newspaper editor from Iowa reported finding a margarita in Tijuana. According to Jose Cuervo, the cocktail was invented in 1938 by a bartender in honor of Mexican showgirl Rita de la Rosa. Hussong’s Cantina also claims to have been the site of the margarita’s creation in Ensenada, Baja California, in 1941. There are many, many more stories with claims of inventing the first margarita.

In 1974, the Mexican government declared the term “tequila” to be the intellectual property of Mexico. To this day, tequila can only be produced in 5 regions of Mexico: Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, Tamaulipas, and Jalisco, though far and away the largest producer is Jalisco.

Tequila added to main dishes to create tequila-spiked recipes is a good idea. The flavor comes through to create some unique and delicious meals. Here are 16 dinner recipes you can make using tequila! Click the recipe titles below to go directly to the recipes so you can print them out and make them at home.

1. Tequila Almond Chicken
2. Chicken Breasts with Pineapple Tequila Marinade
3. Guadalajara Burger with Tequila Spiked Salsa
4. Tequila-Lime Shrimp Tacos with Chipotle Cream
5. Tequila-Lime Chicken
6. Drunken Tequila-Lime Shrimp
7. Chicken Tequila Fettuccine
8. Tequila-Lime Grilled Chicken Club with Chipotle Mayo
9. Grilled Tequila-Lime Chicken with Avocado-Peach Salsa
10. Grilled Margarita Steak
11. Southwest Chicken Sandwich
12. Pineapple Chicken Tinga Quesadilla Tostadas
13. Tequila-Lime Flank Steak
14. Grilled Tequila-Lime Chicken Tenders
15. Tequila-Lime Shrimp Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
16. Slow Cooker Tequila-Lime Pork Roast

Adding tequila to cocktails has been an idea that has been around for a few centuries. Margaritas are fantastic, but they aren’t the only cocktails that calls for tequila! In this collection of 16 cocktails to make with tequila, you’ll find some interesting new drinks that just might become new favorites. Click the recipe titles below to go directly to the recipes so you can print them out and make them at home.

1. Classic Margarita
2. Cranberry Margaritas
3. Mexican Mule
4. Watermelon Tequila Cocktails
5. Strawberry Margarita
6. Watermelon Mint Margaritas
7. Blackberry-Tequila Smash
8. Sangrita Cocktail
9. Shark Attack Cocktail
10. Beergaritas
11. Paloma Cocktail
12. Tequila Mojito
13. Strawberry-Tequila Sodas
14. Tequila Sunrise
15. Ranch Water
16. Tequila-Pineapple Cocktail

Believe it or not, you can make dessert with tequila too! Tequila is a tasty addition to sweet treats- mostly in “margarita style” in terms of the tequila-lime flavor. In this collection of 16 dessert recipes to make with tequila, you’ll find some tasty treats that just might become new favorites. Click the recipe titles below to go directly to the recipes so you can print them out and make them at home.

1. Margarita Cake
2. Margarita Fruit Dip
3. Tequila-Lime Cheesecake Bars
4. Margarita Cupcakes
5. Margarita Cheesecake
6. Strawberry Margarita Pie
7. Paloma Pie
8. Watermelon Margarita Cocktail Cakes
9. Tequila Sunrise Cupcakes
10. Hibiscus Margarita Sorbet
11. No Bake Margarita Cheesecake Bites
12. Margarita Popsicles
13. Watermelon-Tequila Lime Bars
14. Margarita Bundt Cake
15. Margarita Bars
16. Strawberry Margarita Cake

Fun Facts About Tequila:

• Blue agave is the best for producing tequila.
• In order to be classified as tequila, 51% must come from blue agave.
• Only the heart of the blue agave plant is used to make tequila.
• Blue agave plants take between 8 and 12 years to harvest, and they can grow 7 feet tall.
• There are three main classes of tequila: blanco (most popular and not aged), reposado (aged 2 to 11 months in a cask and has vanilla and caramel flavors) and añejo (long-aging time with woodier notes like black tea and chocolate).
• The most expensive bottle of tequila every sold was Platinum White Gold Tequila: $225,000.
• According the researchers, the sugars found in the agave plant may be linked to weight loss. So tequila might actually be healthy!