Chelada Cocktail Recipe: Beer, Lime and Salt Done Right

The Chelada strips the Mexican beer cocktail down to three ingredients: light lager, fresh lime, and a salted rim. No tomato juice, no hot sauce, none of the Michelada’s spice. Just cold beer made a little brighter.

Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a tall glass, coat it in coarse salt or Tajin, fill with ice, squeeze in fresh lime juice, then top with the beer of your choice. Corona Extra, Modelo Especial and Pacifico all work; anything in the light Mexican lager lane is fair game.

It takes under two minutes to build and it is the drink to reach for when a straight beer feels too heavy but a full cocktail feels like too much effort.

How to Make It

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Chelada Cocktail Recipe

The Chelada is a simple and refreshing Mexican beer cocktail that primarily features Mexican lager beer with salt and lime. It offers a unique combination of flavors that set it apart from other beer-based cocktails, and it can be customized to taste. This beer cocktail recipe should provide a delicious and authentically Mexican Chelada experience, suitable for a hot summer day or pairing with Mexican cuisine such as tacos, sopes, or aguachile.

5 minutes mins

Course: Beer

Cuisine: Beer Cocktails

Keyword: Chelada beer cocktail recipe

Servings: 1

Calories: 200kcal

Author: Dan Smullen

Equipment

• A large, tall glass (for serving)
• A juicer (to juice the lime, optional as you can squeeze by hand)
• A shallow plate or saucer (for salting the rim, optional)
• A knife (to cut the lime wedge for garnish)

Ingredients

• 1 large lime juiced
• Coarse salt or Tajin for the rim
• 1 12-ounce bottle light lager (Mexican brands like Corona Extra, Modelo Especial, Pacifico, or any light lager style will work)
• Lime wedge for garnish
• Ice

Instructions

• Prepare the Glass: Rub lime juice on the rim of a large, tall glass and salt the rim with coarse salt or Tajin.
• Add Ice: Fill the glass with ice.
• Pour the Lime Juice: Add the freshly squeezed lime juice.
• Top off with Beer: Pour the chosen beer over the ice and lime juice.
• Garnish: Garnish with a lime wedge.
• Enjoy: Serve immediately and enjoy your refreshing chelada cocktail!

Notes

• Choose the Right Beer: A light lager or Mexican beer is typically preferred for a Chelada, but feel free to experiment with other beers to find your preferred taste.
• Adjust Lime Juice: The amount of lime juice can be adjusted to taste. More lime juice will make the drink tangier.
• Serving Temperature: Chilled beer and cold glassware can enhance the refreshing nature of this drink.
• Customize: Feel free to customize your Chelada with additional ingredients like hot sauce or tomato juice for a different twist.

Want more beer picks for the summer? Check our best beers for a shandy guides.

Beers Worth Trying in This One

Beer reviewModelo Chelada Especial Review★★★☆☆ 3.2/5Read the review →Beer reviewCorona Extra Review★★★★☆ 3.5/5Read the review →Beer reviewPacifico Clara Review★★★★☆ 3.6/5Read the review →Beer reviewTecate Review★★★☆☆ 3.2/5Read the review →

Gear That Helps

Making a batch for a crowd? A beverage dispenser from our shop keeps a pre-mixed pitcher cold and ready to pour.

FAQ

What is the difference between a Chelada and a Michelada?

A Chelada is beer, lime and salt only. A Michelada adds tomato or Clamato juice, hot sauce and Worcestershire on top of that base, so it is spicier and more savory.

Best beer for a Chelada?

A light Mexican lager: Corona Extra, Modelo Especial, Pacifico or Tecate. The point is a crisp, not-too-bitter base that lets the lime and salt do the work.

Coarse salt or Tajin for the rim?

Coarse salt is the classic. Tajin adds chili and lime powder to the mix, which pushes the Chelada a step closer to a Michelada in flavor without adding any liquid ingredients.

More beer cocktails: see the full Beer Cocktails guide for every recipe in this collection.