Matthew McConaughey’s “Hot Pants” Margarita Is My New Favorite Tequila Cocktail (5 Ingredients!)

Matthew McConaughey made an appearance in the viral recipe world this year with his slightly unhinged tuna salad, which included everything from frozen peas to crunchy jalapeño chips. For many home cooks, this was their first taste of the actor’s kitchen wisdom. But if you’re a longtime fan of the actor, you know this isn’t his first rodeo when it comes to great meals (or drinks!).

Part of that credit goes to his wife, Camila Alves, who’s often in the kitchen cooking up everything from crispy fried yucca to mouthwatering brownies. Together, the McConaugheys are always sharing fun culinary tips. Case in point: A few years ago, they dropped a recipe for a spicy margarita. My editor dug it up and encouraged me to give it a try — here’s how it turned out.

Get the recipe: Matthew McConaughey’s “Hot Pants” Margarita

First, grab a cocktail shaker and add tequila, lime juice, pineapple juice, one to two slices of jalapeño, and a bit of agave syrup. Next, shake the mixture vigorously until all the ingredients are combined. McConaughey notes, “Once your shoulders feel dislocated,” you know it’s time to stop shaking. Then, strain the drink into a glass rimmed with sea salt and filled with ice. Lastly, garnish your libation with a slice of pineapple or jalapeño.

I’m pretty much a fan of every margarita, but I’ve got a couple of must-haves: It shouldn’t taste artificial (I can’t stand those overly sweet, syrupy ones!), and it needs to be refreshing. McConaughey’s spicy take checks both boxes with its use of fresh ingredients.

The pineapple juice and agave add subtle caramel-like notes, while the lime brings a refreshing tang. The jalapeño gives it a nice kick that pairs perfectly with the earthy tequila. Overall, it took about five minutes to shake up this cocktail, and most of that time is spent prepping and chopping the ingredients.

It might not be the most innovative cocktail I’ve ever had, but it definitely reminds me of the classic spicy margarita you’d order at a dive bar while hanging out with your besties. When the weather warms up, I can definitely see myself making a big batch of this as a refreshing libation to serve to my guests during the summer.

• Make a spicy rim. To give your cocktail a spicy twist, skip the usual salt and dip the rim of your glass in Tajín to create a flavorful chili pepper-lime crust.
• Swap the agave. If you don’t have agave on hand, you can substitute it with honey or make a homemade simple syrup out of water and sugar.
• Calm the heat. A quick way to tone down the spiciness of this drink is by removing the seeds from the jalapeño before adding the slices. The seeds are where most of the heat lives, so by taking them out, you can still enjoy the flavor of the hot pepper without it being too intense.

Get the recipe: Matthew McConaughey’s “Hot Pants” Margarita

This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: Matthew McConaughey’s “Hot Pants” Margarita Is My New Favorite Tequila Cocktail (5 Ingredients!)