Making pitcher margaritas is easy. Not only will your friends love you for having the BEST margarita recipe in town, but you’ll also enjoy the benefits of being able to make a homemade drink any time of day with a bowl of queso dip by your side.
A good margarita recipe from scratch calls for some basic ingredients. First, freshly squeezed lime juice is a must. Not only will using fresh limes import a ton of flavor, but it also won’t be loaded with sugar like in some lime juice mixes that are available at the super market.
Now, on to the tequila. For me, Patron Silver Tequila and Don Julio Blanco, 100% Blue Weber Agave Tequila are equally my favorites but feel free to use another top shelf tequila.
Other alcohol. Traditionally, tequila and triple sec are commonly used to make this Mexican drink. I take it one step further and use a good flavored triple sec like Cointreau. I like to use Cointreau orange flavored triple sec which is a brandy liqueur but an orange flavored triple sec like Grand Marnier works, too.
Making an alcoholic beverage takes some science. Sure, flavor is important, too. Once you have the basics down, you’ll be able to make margaritas at home for any occasion. I enjoy them especially during the hot summer months but they occasionally make it on the table for other holiday parties.
Classic Margarita Recipe Ingredients
■ LIME: It’s not a margarita unless it’s made with freshly squeezed lime juice. Using real limes adds exceptional flavor to this classic drink recipe.
■ TEQUILA: I like to use Patron Silver Tequila. This tequila comes in a green and white box.
■ TRIPLE SEC: A good margarita recipe uses triple sec. I like to use Cointreau liqueur which is an orange flavored triple sec brandy liqueur.
■ ICE: A key ingredient. Use plenty of ice and shake, shake shake. Mixing chilled ice into the drink is key to emulsifying the ingredients together with the ice.
■ SALT: Put a tablespoon of sugar in a medium bowl. Wet the rim of the cup with a paper towel of dip the rim in another bowl. Next, dip the rim of the cup in the salt. This can also be done with sugar in place of salt.
■ SUGAR: A good margarita won’t need sugar however, some may prefer it that way. I have included instructions/ratios on how to add some sweetness to your drink in the recipe card. A good sugar syrup substitute that is commonly used is agave nectar. Find this next to the sugar in a bottle.
HOW TO MAKE A MARGARITA:
- Combine tequila and triple sec in a pitcher.
- Juice limes.
- Pour lime juice into pitcher.
- Add ice.
- Vigorously shake until chilled.
- Dip rim in a little water then in salt.
- Serve with limes slices or wedges.
FLAVORED MARGARITAS:
■ Pineapple. Simply stir in pineapple juice. A few cilantro leaves tastes great in this drink.
■ Jalapeno. Add jalapeno slices and line the rim with cayenne pepper and salt for a spicy kick. This flavor pairs beautifully with pineapple and lime.
■ Cilantro. Just a few cilantro leaves muddled into a spicy and sweet flavored margarita goes a long way. A must try if you don’t mind cilantro!
■ Strawberry. Frozen strawberries or frozen strawberry juice concentrate.
MAKING FROZEN MARGARITAS:
If you’re into frozen margaritas with shaved ice, you’ll need a good blender to fluff the ice. Simply add the ice to the blender and blend until it turns into snow. A Blendtec or Vitamix blender work best for creating that classic frosty ice in frozen margaritas.
HOW TO SERVE MARGARITAS:
Now that you are on to making your own margaritas from scratch in the comfort of your own home, serve it with some classic Mexican appetizers. No margarita is complete without a REAL QUESO DIP RECIPE. Skip the prepackaged dips and opt to make your own for a fiesta like this outrageously easy Guacamole served with tortilla chips. Another fun dip to try is this Layered Mexican Bean Dip or this Classic Mexican Taco Dip recipe. Then, serve your street tacos or taco bowls with MEXICAN STREET CORN for some real Mexican flavor.
If you’re like me and you like Mexican sweets, try these CHURRO CUPCAKES. This recipe is instantly delicious and is loaded with real churros, cream cheese frosting and plenty of cinnamon flavor. For something quick and easy, this CHURRO CHEX MIX is another favorite.
Want to make a pitcher for your next party? Simply hover over the SERVING SIZE in the recipe card below and click by scrolling the serving size to add more servings or less.
Classic Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup silver tequila I like patron or don julio
- ⅓ cup cointreau orange flavored triple sec liqueur
- ⅓ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Pour tequila and triple sec into a pitcher.TIP: To adjust servings to serve more or less, hold and drag dial next to serving size in recipe card.
- Squeeze limes. Add juice to pitcher.
- Vigorously stir in ice cubes or shake container with lid.
- Fill a bowl with a little water or lime juice. Dip rim in water or lime juice.
- Fill a bowl with a little salt or sugar. Dip rim in salt/sugar.
- Serve with lime slice.
- Optional for taste. If you'd like a sweeter version, use agave syrup or make your own simple syrup. Heat 1/2 cup water with 1/4 cup sugar and stir until sugar melts. Drizzle in simple syrup as as desired.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate and it’s accuracy is not guaranteed to be exact.
Save This Recipe To Your Favorites
Create an account on our website and save your favorite recipes. You’ll be able to access your favorite recipes on any device!
