Spicy Snacking Bloody Mary
A Spicy Snacking Bloody Mary is only on the blog because of my husband. As much as I love all the components of a Bloody Mary — the salty, spicy, snackable toppings — I’m just not a fan of the drink itself. So, I had my husband write up his favorite Bloody Mary recipe, and I’m adding it here so I can make it for him without having to ask the recipe every time.
Beware: the only person I know who loves spicy food more than me is my husband, so this version has quite the kick! Of course, I couldn’t resist taking his recipe up a notch — with fancy ice cubes, a tajín rim, and plenty of extra snacks. Think of this as a meal in a glass that’s just begging to be part of your next brunch spread.
The Ingredients
Here’s everything you need to build your own spicy snacking masterpiece — from the classic drink base to the fun toppings that make it over-the-top delicious.
The Drink Base
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1 ½ ounces vodka (Tito’s or Ketel One) – Smooth and neutral, perfect for bold flavor cocktails.
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1 cup tomato juice (original or spicy V8) – The classic savory base. Use spicy for more heat.
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½ teaspoon extra spicy jarred horseradish – Adds that unmistakable nose-tingling kick.
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½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce – Deep, umami flavor to round out the acidity.
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½ teaspoon Tabasco – The spicy backbone of this drink.
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⅛ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper – A finishing touch for warmth and aroma.
Tip: If you want to keep the recipe simple, I would stop here and just pour the drink base over ice.
The Cup
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1 cup ice – Regular or fancy ice cubes (see Notes).
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1 teaspoon lemon juice – Helps the tajín stick and adds brightness.
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1 tablespoon tajín – Chili-lime-salt perfection for rimming the glass.
Optional Toppers
This is where things get fun — load your glass as much (or as little) as you’d like:
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Air-fried chicken wing with tajín dry rub (see Notes)
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Candied bacon with crushed red pepper flakes (see Notes)
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Celery stalk – Classic and crunchy.
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Pickles – For a briny bite.
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Sweetie drop peppers – Sweet-spicy pops of color and flavor.
The Method
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Rim the Glass
Pour tajín onto a small plate. Run lemon juice (or a wedge) around the rim of your glass, then dip to coat. Fill the glass with ice (fancy cubes encouraged). -
Mix the Drink
In a separate glass or shaker, combine all Drink Ingredients — vodka, tomato juice, horseradish, Worcestershire, Tabasco, and black pepper. Stir well to mix. -
Assemble
Pour your mixture over the prepared glass of ice. Garnish as desired with candied bacon, chicken wing, celery stalks, pickles, or peppers. -
Serve Immediately
Hand it to your spice-loving brunch guest and watch them light up — or in my case, my husband.
Tip: The recipe card is a single serving size but you can also multiply the amounts to serve in a pitcher and make all the toppers on the side for a build your own Bloody Mary bar.
Pairings
I think that a Bloody Mary needs to be paired with Titos or Kettle one vodka. With that being said, I don't actually drink them, so let me know if you think it should be made with a different vodka in the comments.
And of course, even with all the snacks, this Bloody Mary should still be paired with a good brunch!
Spicy Snacking Bloody Mary
Ingredients
The Drink Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces vodka Tito’s or Ketel One
- 1 cup tomato juice original or spicy V8
- ½ teaspoon extra spicy jarred horseradish
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon Tabasco
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
The Cup Ingredients
- 1 cup ice Normal or Fancy (see notes)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon tajin
Optional Toppers
- 1 air fried chicken wing in Tajin dry rub see notes
- 1 crushed red pepper candied Bacon see notes
- 1 celery stalk
- 1-2 pickles
- sweetie drop peppers
Instructions
- In a separate glass, combine all "The Drink Ingredients" and stir thoroughly.
- In a small plate or bowl, put the tajin seasoning. To serve, put lemon juice or wedge around the rim of a glass and coat in seasoning. Then add ice to the glass and pour drink mixture over. Garnish as desired with candied bacon, chicken wing, celery stalks, pickles, and/or peppers .
Notes
Freeze a mix of tomato juice, water, and pickled peppers in large ice cube trays for a slow-melting, flavor-packed chill. Air-Fried Chicken Wing:
Air fry a chicken wing at 400°F for 30 minutes, then spray lightly with oil and toss in tajín. Candied Bacon:
Lay bacon on a sheet pan and sprinkle with brown sugar, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until caramelized and crisp. Batch Option:
Multiply the recipe for a Bloody Mary Bar — serve the mix in a pitcher with all the toppings on the side for a crowd-pleasing brunch setup.
welcome!
Hi, I'm Margot Searls and my hope is to turn around recipes from my table to yours. The food you put on your table can truly turn your lifestyle around for the better—hence Turned Around Table.
