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Michelada Recipe – A Spicy Mexican Beer Cocktail with Tomato Juice

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A Michelada recipe is the perfect way to make a bold, refreshing Mexican beer and tomato juice cocktail at home with just a few simple ingredients.

The spicy Michelada drink combines cold beer, lime juice, hot sauce, and savory tomato flavor for a zesty cocktail that’s easy to customize to your preferred spice level.

This classic Mexican beer drink comes together in minutes and pairs well with a wide variety of spicy appetizers, like these bacon-wrapped chicken bites.

Keep reading to learn how to make a traditional Michelada cocktail recipe at home.

Two beer and tomato juice drinks in Mason jar mugs with limes and a striped towel. Green text reads Michelada cocktail recipe.

Michelada – classic Mexican beer cocktail

A Michelada is a traditional Mexican beer drink made with cold beer, lime juice, tomato juice or Clamato, hot sauce, and a touch of Worcestershire sauce.

Unlike a Bloody Mary, it’s lighter, more refreshing, and typically served in a chilled, salt-rimmed glass over ice.

Micheladas are popular for brunch, barbecues, and game-day gatherings, and they can be customized with extra spice or different types of beer.

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Ingredients for the Michelada recipe

To make this spicy cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for a Michelada recipe: Mexican beer, limes, tomato juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and olives.

  • 6 ounces of tomato juice
  • 2 to 3 limes, juiced
  • 1-2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
  • 2-3 dashes of green hot sauce (adjust to your taste)
  • 12-ounce can of your favorite Mexican beer (I used Dos Equis)

Tip for readers: Worcestershire sauce adds a savory umami flavor, balancing the tang of lime and the spice from hot sauce.

You’ll also need a combination of coarse pink sea salt and chili powder to coat the glass rims. Green olives and lime wedges are used to garnish the drinks.

How to make a Michelada cocktail

This spicy drink is made in just minutes with these easy steps.

Coat the glass rims

A collage showing how to coat glass rims with salt, lime and chili for a Michelada recipe.

Mix 2 tablespoons of pink sea salt and 1 teaspoon of chili powder on a flat plate. Cut a lime and rub it around the rim of 2 drink glasses.

Dip the lime-edged rim of each glass into the pink sea salt mixture. Set the glasses aside.

Mix the ingredients

A collage with images of juiced limes and ingredients to make the mixer for the Michelada recipe.

Juice the limes with a citrus juicer.

Place the tomato juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce into a large cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake to mix the ingredients well.

Assemble the cocktail

A bottle of Dos Equis beer next to two chili and sea salt rimmed glasses.

Fill the glasses with ice and pour in the Mexican beer. Add the Michelada mixture over the top and stir gently to combine.

Garnish the glasses with 3 olives on a cocktail skewer and a wedge of lime. Enjoy!

A Michelada tastes like a lighter, fizzier cousin of a Bloody Mary. It’s bright with lime, savory from tomato and Worcestershire, and finished with a gentle spicy kick.

I’m not usually a beer drinker, but this is the exception. The lime, tomato juice, and spice transform it into something bright, savory, and totally refreshing.

2 spicy Mexican beer cocktails in Mason jar mugs with olives and limes.

Pairing the Michelada drink with appetizers

I love to serve this drink in Mason jar mugs. They add a fun, casual look to the Michelada cocktail!

This drink pairs really well with spicy appetizers, like these bacon-wrapped chicken appetizers.

Chicken wrapped in bacon on a plate with a Michelada cocktail in a Mason jar mug.

Michelada drink recipe FAQ – Quick tips

This spicy cocktail can be customized to your taste in many ways. Here are answers to common questions about making a Michelada at home.

Can I make a Michelada without alcohol?
Yes! Use non-alcoholic beer, sparkling water, or tomato-lime soda for a refreshing, alcohol-free version.

What beer works best?
Light Mexican lagers like Dos Equis, Corona, or Modelo let the spice shine. Dark beers can add depth but may overpower the flavors.

How spicy should a Michelada be?
Start with a few dashes of hot sauce and taste as you go. Rim the glass with chili powder or Tajín for extra heat if you like bold spice.

How can I customize the flavor?
Add extra Worcestershire sauce for umami, swap tomato juice for Clamato, or experiment with different beers and hot sauces to suit your taste.

Other Mexican recipes to try

If you enjoy the flavor of Mexican-inspired food and drinks, here are some other recipes to try:

A collage with images of three Mexican recipes: spicy taco wraps, dragonfruit margarita and chili con queso.

Share this Michelada cocktail recipe on X

If you enjoyed making a spicy Mexican beer and tomato juice drink, why not share this recipe with a friend?

🍹 Spice up your next brunch or game day with a Michelada! This zesty Mexican beer cocktail with lime, hot sauce & Worcestershire is ready in minutes. 🌶️🍺Pair it with your favorite spicy appetizers. Get the recipe on Recipes Just… Share on X

Pin this Micheladas recipe

Would you like a reminder of this spicy Mexican beer drink recipe? Pin this image to one of your cocktail boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

You can also watch a  YouTube slideshow video about other drinks and cocktails to try!

A red cocktail on a cutting board with cut limes. Red text reads Micheladas recipe - spicy Mexican beer drink with tomato juice and lime.

Yield: 2 Michelada cocktails

Spicy Michelada Cocktail – Refreshing Mexican Beer Drink

2 spicy Mexican beer cocktails in Mason jar mugs with olives and limes.

Enjoy a bold, zesty Michelada made with cold beer, lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Perfect for brunch, barbecues, or game-day fun!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces of tomato juice
  • 2 - 3 limes, juiced
  • 1-2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
  • 2-3 dashes of green hot sauce (adjust to your taste)
  • 12 ounce bottle of Mexican beer (I used Dos Equis)

To garnish:

  • 6 green olives
  • 2 wedges of lime

For the rim of the glass:

  • 2 tablespoons of coarse pink sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon of chili powder

Instructions

  1. Mix the pink sea salt and chili powder on a flat plate.
  2. Cut a lime and rub it around the rim of 2 drink glasses.
  3. Dip the lime-edged rim of each glass into the pink sea salt mixture. Set the glasses aside.
  4. Juice the limes.
  5. Place the tomato juice, lime juice, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce in a large cocktail shaker filled with ice and mix well.
  6. Fill each glass with ice and add the Mexican beer. Pour the Michelada drink mixture over the ice and beer. Mix lightly to combine.
  7. Garnish the glasses with olives and lime wedges. Enjoy!

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 255Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 6097mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 4gSugar: 33gProtein: 3g

Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.

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© Carol
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Cocktails and Drinks

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