Pineapple Margarita
If you love a pineapple cocktail, you’ve got to try a fresh Pineapple Margarita recipe. This pineapple-forward drink is smooth and has the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Served with a salted rim or a Tajin rim, this pineapple cocktail will make any gathering an event. Makes 1 drink.
Love pineapple drinks? Give Strawberry Pineapple Agua Fresca and Sweet Sunrise Mocktail a try!
I’m allergic to pineapple, but this pineapple cocktail recipe is one I’ve wanted to have on my site for the Year of Margaritas because everybody (except those of us who are allergic) loves a Pineapple Margarita, yes?
In order to make this recipe come into fruition, I enlisted a group of trusty tastetesters to ensure this was done properly and that the margarita tastes de-freaking-licious.
They were and are all pleased with the results.
Why we love this recipe:
This smooth, balanced pineapple drink is exactly what we all need for the summertime.
Described as “pineapple-forward” and very drinkable, this Pineapple Margarita recipe strikes a perfect balance between sweet pineapple juice and tart lime juice.
Combined with silver tequila, Cointreau (or triple sec) and simple syrup, it’s a simple but delicious cocktail that can be served for any occasion.
Tailgate? Have a Pineapple Margarita.
Dinner party? This pineapple cocktail is a must-have.
Happy hour? Oh, absolutely.
If you like some heat in your drink, make this a Spicy Pineapple Margarita by adding jalapeno to the cocktail shaker. If you make this one, the Tajin rim is an absolute must.
Basically, what I’m trying to tell you is that this pineapple drink is a good one, and you should try it.
Other margaritas you might want to test out: Cucumber Margarita | Peach Margarita | Cadillac Margarita | Frozen Strawberry Margarita (or Fresh Strawberry Margarita or Strawberry Mockarita (Strawberry Virgin Margarita)) | How to Make a Margarita | Italian Margarita
In the market for a new drink? Check out my Cocktail Recipe Index for inspiration!
What you’ll need to make a Pineapple Margarita
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- Margarita glasses (or other glasses that will work with margaritas)
- Jigger or mini angled measuring cup
- Citrus juicer or a citrus reamer
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Pineapple juice—this is, obviously, the piece de resistance of our pineapple margarita. You can make your own if you want, but canned or bottled pineapple juice works like a charm, too.
- Silver tequila—a 100% blue agave brand, please and thank you.
- Cointreau—or your favorite triple sec, if Cointreau is unavailable
- Limes or freshly squeezed lime juice—I purchase the squeezed kind from the refrigerated section at the grocery store. It’s with the pre-chopped fruit and is worth the splurge. However, you can purchase limes and squeeze ‘em yourself.
- Simple syrup—you can make it at home or you can purchase it from the store or online.
Also, if you’ve got some homemade margarita mix at your house, you could use that in place of the lime juice and simple syrup. I have notations on how to do that below, too.
How do you make a pineapple margarita from scratch?
First and foremost, juice your limes. I typically do this over a liquid measuring cup with a fine mesh strainer on top of it to keep pulp and seeds out of the final juice.
Pro tip!
You’ll get more juice from your limes if they’re room temperature. If you keep ‘em in the fridge, pop them into the microwave for 20-30 seconds to get those juices flowing!
Also, you’ll want to rim your margarita glass (or regular ‘ol cup) with salt or Tajin if you want to make this a spicy pineapple margarita. You can also add ice to the glass, as well, if you want your pineapple margarita on the rocks to be extra cold.
Once your limes are juiced and other ingredients are acquired, measure the pineapple juice, tequila, lime juice, Cointreau and simple syrup into an ice-filled cocktail shaker.
Shake until the ingredients are incredibly cold, then pour into your prepared glasses.
Garnish with pineapple and lime wedges before enjoying immediately.
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
Pineapple Margaritas just sing of summertime sweetness to me and are excellent for an at-home happy hour, a homemade Mexican dinner night or even a backyard barbecue.
Why?
They’re balanced and refreshing and perfect for the warm months… though if you want this tropical pineapple cocktail for a winter month, you can make that work, too.
Margaritas at home are simple because they require few ingredients and even less time to mix! And this margarita recipe is absolutely worth mixing up to share.
Here are a few tips and tricks to make it as easy as possible:
- Make it a pitcher. After all, if you’re hosting several friends, you might as well double or triple the recipe so you’re not mixing up margaritas by request throughout the evening. I’ll explain in the recipe card!
- Go with the fresh pineapple garnish. Yes, pineapple can be expensive if you’re not in a tropical climate, but it adds such flair to this already pretty golden cocktail.
- Make your simple syrup 1-2 days in advance… or do what I do and make a big batch so you’ve always got some in the fridge. Let it hang out in the fridge, and make a lot of it, depending on how many friends are joining you.
- Squeeze the limes an hour or so before guests arrive—or take the store-bought shortcut. Just be sure to get the fresh-squeezed lime juice instead of the shelf-stable kind. It makes all the difference, promise.
Frequently Asked Questions
A skinny margarita is typically a margarita that’s considered less calories and “lighter” than a classic margarita.
Yes, it’s a necessary ingredient for a margarita. It brings in orange flavors without you needing to add in orange juice.
Triple Sec is a colorless orange liqueur. It adds orange brightness and citrus to a drink. Cointreau is also an orange liqueur. It has a higher ABV than triple sec, and it’s my orange liqueur of choice for a margarita.
If you’ve got margarita mix (homemade margarita mix or the store-bought kind), omit the lime juice and simple syrup with 2 ½ oz. of the margarita mix.
Take a lime wedge and run it around the edge of the glass. You want there to be enough liquid to where the salt will stick, but that the juice doesn’t run down the side of your glass. (If it does, no big deal—that’ll just add a little extra lime juice to your margarita.) Pour salt onto a small, and gently press the glass into the salt, until salt coats the rim.
Quick tips and tricks for making the best pineapple cocktails
- Double or triple the recipe! While this pineapple margarita recipe makes a single drink, you might want to mix more to share. Do the simple math and throw them in a pitcher if necessary!
- Purchase good lime juice or squeeze your own. The shelf stable bottled stuff won’t cut it for a Cucumber Margarita.
- Add some heat! Toss some jalapeno rounds into the cocktail shaker to make this a Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita (or a spicy pineapple margarita.) Don’t forget the Tajin rim on the glass, too!
More tropical margarita recipes to try:
Passion fruit is one of my favorites, so this Passion Fruit Margarita would be an excellent one to mix up at home. And this Coconut Margarita is a classic!
My husband and I love, love, love our version of the Dallas classic Avocado Margarita.
Here’s how you can make this margarita recipe:
Pineapple Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 oz. pineapple juice
- 1 ½ oz. silver tequila
- 1 ½ oz. freshly squeezed lime juice freshly squeezed
- 1 oz. Cointreau or triple sec
- 1 oz. simple syrup
- Lime wedges or twists for garnish
- Pineapple wedge for garnish
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Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, filled with ice. (To make this a Spicy Pineapple Margarita, add a few slivers of jalapeno pepper to the shaker, too.)
- Shake the ingredients until ice cold, then pour into a margarita glass, rimmed with salt or Tajin.
- Garnish the margarita with wedges of pineapple and lime.
Notes
- Pineapple juice: You can purchase the refrigerated kind or the shelf-stable pineapple juice for this recipe, and it works like a charm. There’s no need to chase down the fresh juice or to make your own unless you really want to do that.
- Cold press freshly squeezed lime juice: It sounds silly, but if you can find this refrigerated lime juice that’s good to go, it’s worth the cost, especially if you’re entertaining.
- Simple syrup: If you’re unsure if you’ll have time to make and then cool simple syrup, they sell this bottled stuff in stores, too!
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
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