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Home » Chili Pepper Recipes » Drinks » Michelada Recipe - Spicy Mexican Beer and Tomato Juice Cocktail

Michelada Recipe - Spicy Mexican Beer and Tomato Juice Cocktail

by Mike Hultquist · Dec 30, 2019 · 64 Comments

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Michelada Recipe - Beer and Tomato Juice Cocktail

Try this refreshing Michelada recipe, a classic Mexican cocktail made with beer, Clamato juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, hot sauce and more. I like mine spicy!

Michelada Recipe - Beer and Tomato Juice Cocktail

Spice up your drinks Mexican style with this traditional Mexican drink. It's called a Michelada. I compare it to the popular Bloody Mary, but made with more traditional Mexican ingredients.

There are numerous variations and can be made with or without tomato juice, depending on your preferences. 

It is super refreshing anytime of the year, whether you're in the sun on a hot day along the water, or chilling in the cool mountains. If you love a good bloody mary, you'll love this michelada drink.

I love that is is nice and spicy! Homemade is always best, so I'm going to show how you can make your own micheladas at home, my way.

Two micheladas, Mexican beer and Clamato juice cocktails, ready to enjoy

Let's talk about how to make classic Micheladas, shall we?

Michelada Ingredients

Michelada Beer. What's the best beer for a Michelada? Use your favorite light Mexican beer to make the best michelada. I have enjoyed micheladas with different beers, including Corona, Sol, Tecate and Modelo.

Any lighter Mexican beer will do. I love a good Corona or Sol Michelada.

You CAN make it with an American or other light beer, but it just won't be the same.

Clamato Juice or Tomato Juice? I'm using Clamato juice for additional flavor, and it is pretty commonly used in making Mexican micheladas.

However, tomato juice works great and it just as often used. If you do so, add in a bit of clam juice if you enjoy the flavor. You can add in extra seasonings if you'd like, as you would with a classic bloody mary cocktail.

Lime Juice. Fresh lime juice is best for a great tasting michelada. You can use lime juice out of a can or bottle, and it will work just fine, but fresh is ideal.

Worcestershire Sauce. Worcestershire sauce has an inherent sweetness and adds depth of flavor to cocktails and uncooked sauces. It is so good! You can also use teriyaki sauce.

Soy Sauce. Soy sauce adds that umami flavor as well as a touch of saltiness. You can also use maggi sauce.

Hot Sauce. Hot sauce is a must! Most recipes will call for Tabasco sauce, which is more traditional.

However, you can use any of your favorite hot sauce brands. A Louisiana style hot sauce is perfect here. I am using my own homemade tabasco hot sauce.

So good!

Add in as much or as little as you like to your own preferred spice level. I love it spicy!

For the Rim. Use lime wedges or the reserved rinds from squeeze the lime juice to moisten the rims of your beer glasses. It will help the salt stick to the rims.

You can simply dip the wet rims into salt, or use a mixture of either salt and spicy chili powder or salt and Tajin seasoning for an extra blast of lime flavor.

The Garnish. I like to keep it simple and serve my micheladas with lime wedges. However, feel free to garnish up your cocktails like you would a bloody mary, with foods like shrimp or spicy chili peppers.

Two micheladas, Mexican beer and Clamato juice cocktails, ready to enjoy

How to Make a Michelada - the Recipe Method

FOR THE RIM

Place enough salt and Tajin seasoning or chili powder in a wide, small plate to cover the bottom. Salt and chili powder is a nice combination.

Salt and Tajin mixture for the Michelada rim

Rub the rims of two glasses with the lime wedges (or use the reserved lime rinds) to moisten them up. This will help the salt mixture stick to the rims of the beer glasses.

Wetting the rim on my Michelada glass with fresh lime juice

Next, dip them into the spicy sea salt mixture. Make sure the spicy salt mixture generously coats the rims.

Salting the Michelada rim

FOR THE MICHELADAS

Fill the glasses with ice and set aside.

Divide evenly between two beer glasses...

Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce. You can add in extra or dial it back. Patty likes hers with extra Worcestershire sauce.

Pouring Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce into my Michelada

Hot sauce. Add in as much as you'd like! I like mine extra spicy to I give it a few extra shakes.

Pouring Tabasco sauce into my Michelada

Lime Juice. I use freshly squeezed limes, but bottled is good if that is all you have. Better than having no michelada!

Squeezing lime juice into my Michelada

Mexican beer. Use your favorite light Mexican beer.

Pouring beer into my Michelada

Clamato juice or tomato juice. I'm using Clamato juice, but either is good!

Pouring Clamato juice or tomato juice into my Michelada

Give it all a stir if you wish, or serve it with beer on top. I like mine mixed.

Stirring up my Michelada mix

Garnish with a lime wedge.

Boom! That is how you make a classic Clamato michelada. It's hard to go wrong with a good beer and tomato juice cocktail. Beer with tomato juice? Yes! It's one of my favorite combinations. The ultimate spicy Mexican beer cocktail.

Recipe Tips & Notes

  • To Mix or Not to Mix. You don't have to mix your Micheladas. You can pour everything but the beer in first, then top with beer and serve them up. Let your guests mix as desired.
  • Clamato Juice Alternatives. If you can't find or don't like Clamato juice, you can make a Michelada with tomato juice, or find a good Michelada mix at the store. A spicy bloody mary mix can work as well.
  • Mango Michelada. Mango is a popular addition to this cocktail. Muddle some fresh mango into the cocktail, or pour in some mango juice. It adds a wonderful sweetness. Add in a bit of chamoy sauce as well. Yum!

That's it, my friends! I hope you enjoy your micheladas. Such a great cocktail. Spicy cocktails rule!

Try Some of My Other Popular Spicy Cocktail Recipes

  • Mangonada
  • Mango-Habanero Cocktail
  • Blackberry-Habanero Margarita
  • Jalapeno Margarita
  • Paloma Cocktail
  • Mexican Hot Chocolate
  • See more Spicy Cocktails and Drink Recipes
Two micheladas, Mexican beer and Clamato juice cocktails

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Michelada Recipe - Beer and Tomato Juice Cocktail
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Michelada Recipe - Spicy Mexican Beer and Tomato Juice Cocktail

Try this refreshing Michelada recipe, a classic Mexican cocktail made with beer, Clamato juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, hot sauce and more. I like mine spicy!
Save Recipe Saved!
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: beer, Clamato, cocktail, spicy
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Calories: 125kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist
Servings: 2 cocktails
Tap or hover to scale
5 from 25 votes
Leave a Review

Ingredients

FOR THE MICHELADAS

  • 12 ounces light Mexican beer Corona is good, as is Sol, Tecate or Modelo
  • 12 ounces Clamato juice (or use tomato juice)
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice rinds reserved
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or Maggi sauce)
  • 2 teaspoons hot sauce
  • Ice

FOR THE RIM

  • 1 teaspoon chili powder or Tajin seasoning for rimming the glass
  • Salt for rimming the glasses
  • Lime wedges for garnish if desired

Instructions

  • Place enough salt and Tajin seasoning or chili powder in a wide, shallow dish to cover the bottom.
  • Rub the rims of two glasses with the lime wedges (or use the reserved lime rinds) and dip them into the spicy salt mixture.
  • Fill the glasses with ice and set aside.
  • Divide the Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce hot sauce, lime juice, beer and Clamato juice into each glass. Mix well.
  • Garnish with a lime wedge.

Notes

You don't have to mix your Micheladas. You can pour everything but the beer in first, then top with beer and serve them up. Let your guests mix as desired. Also, you can make a Michelada with tomato juice or Clamato juice.
Heat Factor: Medium. Classic Michelads are a quite a bit spicy. You can tone them down by using less hot sauce. Bring up the zest and heat factor with extra hot sauce, a hotter hot sauce, or swirl in some spicy chili powder, like cayenne. Extra spicy for me, please!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 125kcal   Carbohydrates: 19g   Protein: 3g   Fat: 1g   Saturated Fat: 1g   Sodium: 733mg   Potassium: 577mg   Fiber: 1g   Sugar: 8g   Vitamin A: 1062IU   Vitamin C: 44mg   Calcium: 33mg   Iron: 2mg
Michelada Recipe - Beer and Tomato Juice Cocktail
Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

NOTE: This recipe was updated on 12/30/19 to include new photos and information. It was originally published on 4/27/14.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Lolita says

    June 24, 2024 at 10:10 am

    5 stars
    This is exactly how I make mine. Sometimes I use Tajin Sauce along with the a Bloody Mary mix.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      June 24, 2024 at 10:45 am

      Awesome! Thanks, Lolita!

      Reply
  2. Kathryn says

    July 09, 2023 at 2:49 pm

    5 stars
    Yowza! Best Michelada ever! Love, love your spicy recipes. I stumbled across this one while perusing the site today and just had to stop what I was doing and make it. I used my homemade tomato juice and homemade hot sauce. WOW - a masterpiece!! Expecting house guest soon and I can't wait to serve this with your Chile Relleno Casserole and Chorizo for brunch to my guests! YUM!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      July 09, 2023 at 3:59 pm

      Boom! I love it! Thanks, Kathryn!

      Reply
  3. Nick says

    March 04, 2023 at 6:18 pm

    hello Mike. just curious to see if you mix up all ingredients with the clamato juice in advance, and then when are ready for a michalada you add it to a glass and pour in the beer.

    thanks

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      March 05, 2023 at 12:53 pm

      You surely can do that, Nick! Time saver. Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Paul says

    February 22, 2023 at 1:21 am

    5 stars
    Mike ,have you come across Sangrita before ? Another spicy tomato based spicy non alcoholic drink ,
    Perhaps you could try it and add it too your recipe list
    Paul

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      February 22, 2023 at 6:45 am

      Thanks, Paul! I have, and will add to my list!

      Reply
  5. Kyal Bubenik says

    January 22, 2023 at 10:34 am

    5 stars
    Great article and recipes. Micheladas have been on my radar for a while but it's just in the last year that I've been experimenting and I'm absolutely obsessed.
    I have used everything that you mentioned in this article in varying combos. I agree fresh lime juice is a must. I became Gaga over limes as a child and young adult traveling in the Caribbean and Central America. Tabasco and Louisiana style hot sauce or my go-to's but I really like to kick it up with some habanero and ghost pepper hot sauces. Now a couple of little variations. I always crush some black pepper into mine and sometimes put cayenne powder in it. oh and every now and again horseradish. yummy

    I was surprised when you mentioned soy and teriyaki. exclude the Worcester all together and use the soy and teriyaki and add some real wasabi and an Asian beer for a little different slant.

    the one thing that you said that I hadn't tried was mango and that's next on the list probably later this afternoon. it's a free-for-all. have fun experimenting.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      January 22, 2023 at 10:59 am

      Thanks for sharing, Kyal. I appreciate it. We do love a good michelada here!

      Reply
  6. Larkin says

    January 01, 2023 at 9:38 am

    5 stars
    I’m a Zing Zang guy, used this many times in place of the clamato juice. Great recipe tho!!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      January 01, 2023 at 10:57 am

      We love Zing Zang. Great stuff!

      Reply
  7. Betsy Walters says

    December 30, 2022 at 10:37 am

    5 stars
    We’re in El Paso for the Sun Bowl and tried a michelada at L & J Cafe last night! I’m hooked and can’t wait to make my own when we head back to western PA! Thank you for the recipe!
    Happy New Year!!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      December 30, 2022 at 12:00 pm

      Enjoy, Betsy! They're SO GOOD! Patty's favorite.

      Reply
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