Virgin Margarita (Margarita Mocktail)
If you’re looking how to make a nonalcoholic margarita or a virgin margarita, you’re in the right place! This 4-ingredient mocktail is simple to make at home and doesn’t require any specialty ingredients! Makes 1 drink, but can easily be turned into a pitcher.
Sometimes you want a margarita without the booze.
There are a myriad of reasons why you’re not drinking — and no matter the reason you’re not drinking, it’s yours and yours alone.
This delicious virgin margarita recipe tastes like the real thing without any of the alcohol, so anyone can enjoy it!
Why we love this recipe:
I’m a sucker for a drink that’s perfectly balanced, and that’s exactly what this mocktail recipe is. It is the perfect thing to sip on hot summer days, whether or not you have a special occasion.
The lime and orange juice strike the perfect balance and offer a zippy, citrusy flavor. The simple syrup adds a bit of sweetness. The splash of club soda adds bubbles without making it cloyingly sweet.
This easy virgin margarita recipe does not call for zero-proof tequila (because that’s not something I have at my house, nor have I had good luck with them so far), so if you’re looking for something like that, this recipe is not for you.
However, if you’re looking for the perfect non-alcoholic option to a classic margarita on the rocks recipe, I think this one is pretty dang solid. It’s a fun drink to make for yourself or to make for a crowd to share.
Other mocktail recipes you might want to try: Grape Shrub Mocktail | Blood Orange Mocktail Mule | Sparkling Ginger Cranberry Mocktail | Strawberry Mockarita (Strawberry Virgin Margarita) | Sweet Sunrise Mocktail
In the market for a more virgin drinks? Check out my Mocktail Recipe Index for inspiration!
What you’ll need to make this recipe
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- Margarita glasses (or other glasses that will work with margaritas)
- Cocktail shaker
- 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 need:
- Limes or freshly squeezed lime juice — I purchase the fresh 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. Some recipes call for agave nectar or even maple syrup. I prefer the simple syrup.
- Orange juice — we don’t need a ton of this, but it’s enough to add a hint of orange flavor to the drink! This is playing the role of the orange liqueur in the classic drink. You can squeeze your own or use something you purchased at the store.
- Club soda — I love how this adds some bubbles and flavor without watering our mocktail down. You could also use ginger ale or a lemon-lime soda if you have those on hand.
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 in the recipe card for you.
Just be forewarned that a lot of store-bought margarita mixes are really sweet, and they might skew this mocktail margarita in that direction, so proceed with caution.
How do you make virgin margarita?
First and foremost, juice the limes (and orange, if you’re juicing an orange). I do this over a liquid measuring cup with a fine mesh strainer to separate pulp and seeds out of the fresh juices.
DID YOU KNOW?
You’ll get more juice from 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!
Rim the glass with coarse salt, if desired. If not, skip on to the next part. If you’re serving this drink to children, I do not recommend adding the salt rim.
Make the margarita mocktail. Measure the lime juice, orange juice and simple syrup into your cocktail shaker. Shake until combined and cold.
Pour the virgin margarita into your prepared glass. Top with club soda.
Garnish with fresh fruits, like a lime wedge (or wheel) and a slice of orange, then enjoy immediately.
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
Virgin Margaritas are perfect for anyone and for any kind of occasion—an at-home happy hour, a homemade Mexican dinner night or even a backyard barbecue.
They’re balanced and refreshing and perfect for any time of year. They’re also perfect for any person you might be hosting, so long as they love lime, so having the ingredients on hand is a great thing.
Margaritas at home are simple because they require few ingredients and even less time to put ‘em together! And this virgin margarita mocktail 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 virgin margaritas by request throughout the evening. I’ll explain in the recipe card below.
- 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
In this recipe, we’re using freshly squeezed lime juice, orange juice, simple syrup (for a little sweetness) and club soda.
No. A virgin margarita should not contain alcohol.
While there are zero-proof tequila substitutes, I’m not using one in this recipe. This recipe calls for lime juice, orange juice, simple syrup and club soda.
We’re omitting the tequila in this margarita mocktail recipe completely.
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 margarita mocktail
- Double or triple the recipe! While this margarita recipe makes a single drink, you might want to mix more to share. Do the simple math to make things easier on yourself.
- Make it a pitcher drink. There’s nothing like a pitcher drink at a party, and this mocktail is easy to transform into that. I’ve included the exact measurements in the recipe card below. You could also put it into a punch bowl!
- Use fresh lime juice. The shelf stable bottles just do not compare. Same goes with fresh orange juice.
Here’s how you can make it…
Virgin Margarita
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. freshly squeezed lime juice freshly squeezed
- 1 oz. simple syrup
- ¾ oz. orange juice
- 4 oz. club soda
- Lime wedges or twists for garnish
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Instructions
- Rim a margarita glass with salt, if desired. Fill with ice, and set aside.
- Measure the lime juice, simple syrup and orange juice into a cocktail shaker.
- Mix until all the ingredients are combined and super cold.
- Pour into the prepared glass, and top with club soda.
- Garnish with a wedge of lime, and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- 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…
I gave up drinking alcohol a few years ago. I sleep so much better now. But, that being said, drinking iced tea all the time is boring. So, this was a nice refreshing change. I’ll be making this often.
I love all your cocktails and never thought I’d make a mocktail in my life (lol!!) but I saw your IG post about these and decided to make them for my pregnant sister and she loved them!! She was so happy to participate in the “drinking” at our latest get together ahah THANK YOU, ERIN!!