Classic Micheladas are the perfect Mexican cocktail to serve at parties or to enjoy on summer days. Made with cold beer, Clamato juice, hot sauce, and lime juice, this drink is a game-changer!
Micheladas are a popular Mexican beer cocktail that typically consists of beer, lime juice, hot sauce, and tomato juice or clamato juice. Other common ingredients can include Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Maggi seasoning, and chili powder, among others.
Micheladas are usually served over ice in a salt-rimmed glass and garnished with a lime wedge. They are often enjoyed as a refreshing and spicy drink and are a popular accompaniment to Mexican seafood appetizers like ceviche.
The exact recipe and ingredients can vary depending on the region and personal preferences, there are also many variations of this drink that can be found throughout Mexico and around the world like this mango michelada.
Micheladas have a combination of spicy, sour, and salty flavors with a hint of sweetness from the tomato or clamato juice. The beer adds a refreshing and slightly bitter taste, while the lime juice adds a zesty and citrusy flavor
Ingredients
- LIGHT BEER: Choose your favorite Mexican brand beer or any other light beer you prefer.
- TOMATO JUICE: I used my homemade Clamato juice recipe, but store-bought clamato, V8 juice, and even plain tomato juice are good options to make this recipe.
- SALTY SAUCES: There are always at least two kinds of sauces when making a Michelada recipe, one is Worcestershire sauce and the other is Jugo Maggi. Other sauces such as soy or teriyaki are also good subs. All those add a nice, umami, and savory touch to the cocktail.
- SPICY SAUCE: There are lots of options for the spicy sauce, Valentina salsa is still a favorite, but many recipes include other types, such as Tapatío, Tamazula, Tabasco, and even Chamoy sauce!
- OTHER SEASONINGS: Salt, chili powder, and lime juice. You gonna need those for the rim and for some seasoning. Lately, I’ve tried adding Tajin seasoning powder, and let me tell you, it adds a nice touch!
How To Make Micheladas
On a small plate combine salt and chili powder. In a small bowl, squeeze the juice of half a lime and add a splash of hot sauce, mix to combine, and set aside.
Now take your glass and dip the rim into the lime juice mixture.
Top Tip: If you using beer mugs or another sturdy type of glass, place them in the freezer about 1 hour before. This will help to keep the michelada cold for longer.
Next, dip it into the salt and chili mixture making sure it will coat well all the rims.
Do those two steps with all glasses so you have them ready to make the drink.
Add a few cubes of ice to the glasses. I filled about 1/3 of the glass.
Add a few splashes of Jugo Maggi and Worcestershire sauce.
The amount is really up to you, but I’d start with just a dash of each sauce and then adjust later if needed.
Then add hot sauce, again, this is all about personal taste, I love mine very spicy so I like to put a lot of salsa, just add a few drops then you can adjust later.
Next, add a good squeeze of lime juice (about half a lime).
Then pour in the beer, but don’t fill completely the glass, we still have the last ingredient to add.
Pour in Clamato juice (or any tomato juice) filling the glass completely. Give it a quick mix and garnish with lime wedges. Now you can say ¡Salud!
Notes and Tips
- Choose the right glass: Micheladas are traditionally served in a sturdy beer glass with a salted rim. This type of glass helps keep the drink cold and makes it easy to add ice.
- Experiment with different sauces and seasonings: The recipe can be easily customized by adding more or fewer sauces, seasonings, and even beer or Clamato juice. You gonna need a few tries to adjust the amounts to your personal taste.
- Enjoy immediately: Don’t take too long to drink your cocktail or the ice will melt and dilute the beer, and nobody likes that!
- Make it fun: This drink is perfect to serve at parties, especially if you allow your guests to make their own. They can have fun trying different combinations with the ingredients until they perfect their own Michelada recipe.
- Make ahead: You can make ahead the sauces and seasoning mix and have it ready for parties and gatherings, just place all ingredients in a jar, besides the beer, give them a good stir, and close the lid. It will last about 5 days in the fridge. When you’re ready to make your Micheladas just rim the cups, add ice and the mix, and then pour in the beer. Easy peasy!
Variations
- CLASSIC CHELADA: The most classic recipe is without tomato juice. It has a light, still tasty, flavor.
- FRUITY: Add a part of mango juice or mango puree to the mix, and enjoy the slightly sweet touch. Or use tamarind concentrate to give a tangy kick to this recipe!
- CAMARONES: This variation is one of the most popular right now in Mexico. Grilled shrimp (camarones) are added for decoration and a splash of shrimp stock to the mix. It looks and tastes amazing and makes this recipe perfect to impress your guests!
What To Eat With
Micheladas are often enjoyed as a refreshing accompaniment to Mexican cuisine. Here are some foods that pair well with:
Tacos: A classic combination. The spicy and refreshing flavors of the Michelada complement the savory and flavorful fillings of pescadillas tacos, crispy tacos dorados, or flautas ahogadas.
Guacamole and chips: The creamy and tangy flavors of guacamole pair well with the spicy and citrusy flavors of this refreshing drink, serve with totopos chips for an authentic Mexican eating experience.
Seafood: The light and refreshing flavors of seafood appetizers are a perfect match! Try with tostadas de camarón or this shrimp aguachile.
Quesadillas: Quesadillas are a great snack to enjoy with this zesty drink. The melted cheese and crispy quesadillas fritas are a satisfying complement.
These are just a few examples of foods that go well with micheladas. Ultimately, the best food pairing will depend on your personal taste preferences.
FAQ
What is the difference between a Chelada and a Michelada?
Chelada is made only with beer, lime juice, and salt. While michelada is made with a mix of sauces, spicy, and tomato juice.
Are micheladas healthy?
Micheladas can be high in sodium due to the salted rim and the addition of sauces and seasonings. They also often contain added sugars and calories from tomato juice or clamato juice. Therefore, if consumed in excess, they may not be the healthiest drink option.
What beer makes the best Michelada?
The famous recipe is made with light Mexican beer, such as Corona, Carta Blanca, Tecate, Sol, Modelo, etc. For this recipe, don’t use a strong dark beer as the taste won’t combine well with the rest of the ingredients.
If you can’t find any Mexican lager beer where you live, any light beer can do the trick.
What does chelada stand for?
The word “chelada” comes from the combination of the two Spanish words “chela” and “helada” which means beer-iced.
More Mexican Drinks Recipes
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Authentic Micheladas
Equipment
- 1 large beer mug or glass.
Ingredients
- 11 fl oz Mexican light beer (or any other light beer)
- 3.5 fl oz Clamato juice (or plain tomato juice)
- ½ lime (juice)
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Jugo Maggi (or soy sauce)
- 2 tsp Valentina salsa (or any Mexican hot salsa)
For the rim & garnish
- chili powder
- salt
- limes
Instructions
Rim
- On a small plate combine salt and chili powder.
- In a small bowl, squeeze combine the juice of half a lime and a good splash of hot sauce.
- Dip the rim of a glass or beer mug into the lime juice mixture.
- Next, dip it into the salt and chili mixture to coat well.
Make the cocktail
- Add a few cubes of ice to the glass.
- Add Jugo Maggi, Worcestershire sauce, hot salsa, and lime juice.
- Pour in the beer and finish with Clamato juice.
- Give it a quick mix and garnish with lime wedges.
Notes
- The recipe can be easily customized by adding more or fewer sauces, seasonings, and even beer or Clamato juice. You gonna need a few tries to adjust the amounts to your personal taste.
- If you using beer mugs or another sturdy type of glass, place them in the freezer about 1 hour before starting to make your Mexican Michelada recipe. This will help to keep the drink cold for longer.
- If you prepare your drink with plain tomato juice, add a pinch of ground pepper to the mix to spice things up!
Made your michelada cocktail with Corona beer for my girlfriend’s party. It was a hit, thanks!
You had me at Clamato juice. I loved the flavors of this drink. So good.
I remember the first time I had a Michelada at a restaurant years ago! It was so delicious, but I never knew how to make it. Recently, I wanted to make one for friends and I stumbled across this recipe let me just say it’s incredible! So much flavor!
I have had Mexican beer a few times and love it this cocktail will be a new favorite for sure!
This is one of the best michelada recipes that I’ve seen. Delicious!