Best Chelada Recipe

Enjoy an ice-cold chelada that's prepared with Mexican beer, a splash of lime, and a pinch of salt. Combined, these ingredients make for an incredibly thirst-quenching drink you're going to love!

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Course Drinks

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 1 chelada

Calories 166 kcal

Equipment

1 Bottle opener
1 Beer glass
1 Citrus squeezer

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

▢ 12-ounce cerveza (Bohemia, Modelo, Tecate, etc.)
▢ 1 lime (squeezed)
▢ Coarse rimming salt
▢ Ice optional

Instructions

Run a lime wedge along the rim of a chilled glass, or dip it in a shallow dish of lime juice. Then, dip the rim into a shallow dish filled with salt.
Squeeze lime juice directly into the glass. Add a pinch of salt and stir. Add ice if you're using it.
Pour in the beer, stopping well before it reaches the rim because it will fizz up. Stir and garnish with an extra lime wedge. Happy drinking!

Notes

Keep it light: The best chelada recipes are made from light beer (preferably a Mexican cerveza like Bohemia, Modelo, or Tecate).
Make sure it’s chilled: If you want the most flavor-intense chelada, don’t add ice. But, make sure the glass and beer are both chilled.
Make beer ice: To prevent the ice from watering down your chelada (if you’re adding it), make ice cubes out of extra beer.
Fresh lime juice: Do not substitute freshly squeezed lime juice for store-bought lime juice in a bottle. The most refreshing flavor comes from whole limes.
Rim with coarse salt: It’s best to use coarse salt for the chelada rim since it adheres better and provides a better flavor and texture.
Pour the beer slowly: Remember to pour the beer into the glass slowly and stir it gently. The salt can cause excessive fizzing up and overflowing, so just be careful!
Use a bottle: You can easily make a chelada directly in the bottle or can. Just add a squeeze of lime and a pinch of salt straight into it.
Nutritional information is a rough estimate and should not be taken as health advice.

Nutrition