Margarita Pitcher Recipe

This is the BEST margarita pitcher recipe because it’s fresh, easy to make, and ready to serve up to the crowd! These margaritas are loaded with tequila and fresh lime, giving you major tropical vacation vibes! This margarita recipe includes a single serving, a pitcher recipe, and frozen!

Pitcher of margaritas

If you love fun alcoholic drinks, check out my frozen strawberry watermelon margaritas, grilled pineapple jalapeño margaritas, or lavender lemonade mimosas.

How do you make a girl happy? You give her a pitcher of margaritas (or margs, as I lovingly refer to them) and some chips and queso. Want to really up the anty? Bring that idea home- with this pitcher of margaritas. There’s enough to share for everyone, and I’ve got it calculated down to a science.

Whether you’re just making a quick drink just for yourself or you are making enough for a party (a gallon water dispenser works perfectly), I’ve measured out exactly how much you’ll need for it all… because I believe margaritas deserve to be present at just about any party or occasion!

You’re going to love this pitcher of margaritas

• It takes just minutes to make. Measure and pour, my friend- that’s how easy this margarita pitcher is to make! You don’t even need to juice the limes if you buy bottled key lime juice, super easy!
• There’s enough for just you.. or everyone at the party! This recipe includes a few variations so you can have a recipe to make a margarita just for you.. or enough for everyone at the carne asada!
• No need for margarita mix. Margarita mix is soooo college years, we’re past that! This margarita pitcher recipe uses fresh ingredients so you can have an ultra tasty, chilled margarita in your clutches in no time!

Margarita pitcher key ingredients

Tequila– I’ve got you covered when it comes to picking out what tequila to use for this margarita pitcher! Just look down below under Chef’s tips!

Orange liqueur– Cointreau is a French liqueur that is orange based and provides the perfect balance of sweetness to this pitcher of margaritas. Triple sec or – This French liqueur is orange based and provides the perfect balance of sweetness to this pitcher of margaritas. Triple sec or Grand Marnier can also be used and will be super delicious!

Lime juice– You can certainly squeeze your own limes, but I’m all about easy, so I like to buy key lime juice, which I’ve also used in my authentic key lime pie recipe!

Optional ingredients

Listen, margs are super special and unique to everyone. Some like their margaritas a little more tart while others like them super sweet like the kind you’d find in a restaurant. I like mine somewhere in the middle, slightly sweetened but with just enough zing to it to call it tangy. Here are a few additional ingredients you can add to really spice these margarita pitchers up!

• Agave syrup OR simple syrup- You can add just a squeeze of either agave or simple syrup to sweeten up your drink. Adding a little sweetness will balance the tart lime juice, but be sure to add a little at a time so you don’t go over board!
• Lemon peel and juice- You can add lemon peel (just the yellow part, not the white because the white rind can be bitter) and a squeeze of lemon juice to really give that lemon lime margarita mix flavor. Super delish!
• Orange juice- Adding fresh squeezed orange juice gives these margarita pitchers a perfectly balanced sweetness that still remains very much citrusy!
• Fresh fruit- You can add fresh cubes of fruit like pineapple or mango to add an extra layer of flavor to this margarita pitcher recipe. Want to realllllly elevate your game? Add frozen tropical fruit (you know, that tropical fruit mix in the frozen aisle at the grocery store) and half the ice- it’ll get less watery and even more flavorful!

Chef’s tips

Best tequila for margarita pitcher

You have some choices here! Here’s the deal- I don’t buy the most expensive tequila, and I don’t buy the cheapest. I especially like the tequilas that are smooth!

• Tequila reposado– This tequila means “rested” in Spanish, and is aged for a minimum of 2 months and up to 12 months. The flavor of the tequila mellows over time, making it ultra smooth!
• Tequila Blanco– This tequila means “new” because it is aged less than two months. This tequila usually has more of a bite, is less smooth, but is commonly used in restaurant margaritas. My all time favorite tequila that I reach for every single time is Espolòn tequila (no, not sponsored, just a genuine love for it). It’s about $20 for a bottle (budget friendly) very smooth, and can be found just about anywhere.. plus.. the marketing?! A skeleton riding a chicken… yep, buying it!
• Mezcal– If you want to add a delicious smokiness to your margarita pitcher recipe, grab a bottle of mezcal! Mezcal is made from blue agave only. Traditional tequila steams the agave before it is distilled, but mezcal is made by cooking the agave over charcoal inside earthen pits, where it gets its famous smokey flavor.

How to make a pitcher of margaritas

1. Add the Cointreau, tequila, and lime juice to the pitcher. You can add the agave and lemon zest/juice if you are using those ingredients, as well. Stir well.
2. Add the ice. This step really depends on how hands-on you want to be with this drink and how you will be serving it. If you want to play bartender, you can pour the margarita mixture into a shaker with ice, give it a good shake for 10-15 seconds, then pour it into a glass it’s nice and cold, but not watered down. You can also just serve it up with ice in a large pitcher or water dispenser if you want a hassle-free way of serving this margarita pitcher.

How to serve a margarita pitcher

• Salt around the rim- You can add flakey salt around the rim of the drinking glasses for a little extra flavor. Salt makes tequila taste more smooth and it goes so well with the tart lime flavor. Slide a wedge of lime around the rim of a glass, then dip the glass into a bowl of salt. The lime juice will help the salt stick to the rim of the glass.
• Tajin around the rim- If you like a little chili pepper and salt, try Tajin around the rim. Like the salt rin, rub a wedge of lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the rim in a bowl of Tajin, then pour the margarita pitcher!

How to make a frozen Margarita pitcher

You can easily turn this margarita pitcher recipe into a frozen margarita pitcher! Add the Cointreau, tequila, lime juice (and agave syrup if using it) to a blender, then add the ice! I recommend using a high powered blender to get the ice super chopped. Blend it all up until it’s nice and icy! This recipe makes enough frozen margarita pitcher for 10-12 people (hey, some like those tall glasses, know what I mean?!)

• 2 1/2 cups tequila
• 1 1/4 cup orange liqueur
• 1 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/3 cup agave syrup
• 8 cups ice

More refreshing drinks

Frozen strawberry watermelon margarita
Grilled pineapple jalapeño margarita
Lavender lemonade mimosas
Frozen hibiscus lemonade
Pineapple peach agua fresca

Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram to stay in touch! I love to see your creations! Tag me at #SeaSaltSavorings to show me what you’ve made!