Cheladas are simple Mexican beer cocktails that use just 3 ingredients! Super refreshing and perfect on a hot day or for any celebration.
Chelada
A chelada is a refreshing Mexican beer cocktail made with just 3 simple ingredients. Easy peasy and super delicious!
Another word you may see used for this beer cocktail is “cerveza preparada” or literally “prepared beer”. In most places it means the same simple 3 ingredient beer drink.
Chelada Ingredients
The three ingredients used are beer, freshly squeezed lime juice and salt. Then you serve it over plenty of ice cubes and that’s it, incredibly simple!
Some people may use a mix of salt and ground red chile powder (or even Tajin) instead of just plain salt. But still, it’s just these 3 ingredients.
Chelada vs Michelada
A chelada and michelada are two different cocktails, and not to be confused. Though both refreshing and tasty, they are made with different ingredients.
Michelada also uses beer, lime juice, salt or salt/chile mix. But in addition to this other ingredients such as worcestershire sauce, Tabasco or other Mexican hot sauce, tomato juice or clamato, and salsa Maggi.
Another difference between these two beer cocktails is the type of beer used. For both you can use lagers, and in micheladas it’s common to use dark beers.
Michelada recipes vary greatly from person to person and so people always have difference of opinion as to what should go into one.
What Beer to Use
A lager or pilsner type of beer is perfect for drink
.
Basically any light colored and not too strong tasting beer is perfect. Below are some of the ones that I like to use
- Dos Equis XX
- Corona
- Sol
- Pacifico
- Modelo
- Tecate
How to Make This Beer Cocktail
Making a chelada is one of the EASIEST things in the world!
The first step is to slice a lime in half and rub the edge with it. Make sure to go all the way around it a few times to coat it as best as possible.
Next rim the edge of the glass with salt, make sure it’s well coated. I used pink salt but regular salt is fine, or a mix of salt and chile powder can also be used.
Next squeeze one small lime into the glass. I use my Mexican lime squeezer to make it go quicker and get out every bit of juice as possible.
Now you gotta add a lot of ice cubes into the glass. I like to fill it almost all the way up, so that the glass can stay chilled longer. I also love to use square ice cubes to make it look pretty, but any shape will do.
The last step is to pour in the ice cold beer of your choice. (See the above section on which brands I like to use.) Depending on the size of beer and glass you use it may or may not all fit into the glass, but just serve the remaining beer on the side to pour as needed.
Now the best part, drink!
¡Salud!
3 Ingredient Cocktail Recipe
So as you can see this is truly one of the easiest cocktails you can ever make. It’s incredibly refreshing on a hot day, and really anytime you’re craving an ice cold beer. The fresh lime juice raises the flavor to another delicious level.
Best of all, you only need 3 ingredients to make it
Feel free to adjust the lime amount, I happen to LOVE a lot of lime juice in my chelada.
Chelada | Mexican Beer Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 16 oz Dos Equis XX or other lager or choice, see article notes
- 1 small lime
- 1/2 small lime
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ice cubes
Instructions
- The first step is to slice a lime in half and rub the edge with it. Make sure to go all the way around it a few times to coat it as best as possible.
- Next rim the edge of the glass with salt, make sure it’s well coated. I used pink salt but regular salt is fine, or a mix of salt and chile powder can also be used.
- Next squeeze one small lime into the glass. I use my Mexican lime squeezer to make it go quicker and get out every bit of juice as possible.
- Now you gotta add a lot of ice cubes into the glass. I like to fill it almost all the way up, so that the glass can stay chilled longer. I also love to use square ice cubes to make it look pretty, but any shape will do.
- The last step is to pour in the ice cold beer of your choice. (See the above section on which brands I like to use.) Depending on the size of beer and glass you use it may or may not all fit into the glass, but just serve the remaining beer on the side to pour as needed.
- Now the best part, drink! ¡Salud!
This is the best way for me to have my cerveza!! So delish and refreshing!!
Agreed, a chelada always hits the spot.