This margarita pitcher is everything we love about the classic sweet-tart cocktail, but party size! It's tangy, cool, and crisp making it perfect for your next warm-weather fiesta. With just three simple ingredients, it's easy to make, and it's ready in just 5 minutes!

Pair your margarita pitcher with some grilled fish tacos or easy sweet potato nachos for a laid-back Mexican meal.

a Margarita Pitcher with glasses of margaritas beside it

This margarita recipe is pitcher perfect! The simple 2-1-1 margarita ratio is as easy to make by the glass as it is by the batch for a crowd.

Unlike many overly sweet store-bought mixes, a classic margarita is a strong sweet-tart drink with only three simple ingredients – good-quality tequila, orange liqueur, and freshly-squeezed lime juice.

Mix up a pitcher of this crisp cocktail for your next party, and be sure to serve it cold with plenty of salt and extra limes!

the ingredients needed to make a pitcher of margaritas

Here's what you'll need

To make a pitcher of a classic margarita, here's what you'll need:

  • Ice + sliced limes – to add to the pitcher, and to keep things cool.
  • White tequila – white tequila, also called silver tequila or tequila blanco, has a clean, colorless appearance which makes it perfect for lighter-colored cocktails.
  • Triple sec – this clear orange-flavored liqueur made from the skins of oranges is a classic margarita ingredient used for sweetening. Cointreau, another orange-flavored liqueur, is a great substitute. Simple syrup or agave can be used instead (and yields a margarita that is slightly less strong on the alcohol!)
  • Lime juice – fresh is best to give it that classic sour margarita taste!
  • Coarse salt – to rim the glass, of course.

How to make a pitcher of margarita

It's easy to make a pitcher of margarita. The classic margarita ratio is 2-1-1, which makes it really easy to scale to share with friends (two parts tequila, one part triple sec (or simple syrup), and one part lime juice.)

  1. Fill a pitcher halfway full with ice – larger ice is better as it doesn't melt as quickly. Add a few lime slices to the pitcher, if you'd like.
  2. Now add the tequila, triple sec, and lime juice and give it a stir.
  3. Salt the rims of your glasses, fill them with ice, then pour the margarita from the pitcher into your glasses and garnish them with a slice of lime. Cheers!
a tall pitcher of margaritas

How to make simple syrup

If you don't want to buy Triple Sec or would prefer a lower-alcohol drink, make some simple syrup to use instead!

Making simple syrup at home is really easy. Heat 1 cup of sugar (or honey, or agave syrup) with 2 cups of water until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool completely before using it to make a drink.Ā Store any leftovers in the fridge for about a month.

FAQS

How can I make a pitcher of margaritas with less alcohol?

Great question! The easiest way to make a lighter margarita is to replace the Triple Sec with simple syrup. You can also top your margarita with a splash of bubbly water as we do in our fizzy lime margaritas.

Can I make a pitcher of margaritas ahead of time?

If you'd like to prep as much as possible for your party ahead of time, combine the tequila, Triple Sec, and lime juice in a pitcher and keep it in your fridge. Right before serving it, fill the pitcher with ice.

Can I use gold tequila instead?

Gold tequila has a very strong flavor, which is why white tequila is commonly used in margaritas. But if you like the flavor of gold tequila then you can try that instead!

pouring a margarita from a pitcher into a glass

Variations to try

There are many different types of margaritas you can make. Here are a few simple ways you can mix up the classic:

  • Make it a spicy margarita – to give your margarita a little kick, add a few slices of jalapeƱo into your glass. Press the slices with the back of a wooden spoon to release some of the juices. Since the heat can vary, start with a few slices as you can always add more if you like.
  • Make it a mezcal margarita – we love using mezcal in margaritas for its smoky complex flavor. Depending on your preference, you could swap all the tequila for mezcal, or do a 50/50 blend of tequila and mezcal.
  • Make it a lower alcohol margarita – the easiest way to make a lighter margarita is to replace the Triple Sec with simple syrup. You can also top your margarita with a splash of bubbly water (as we do in our fizzy lime margaritas.
  • Give it a spicy rim – use TajƬn mixed with coarse salt to give your rim some heat. You could even add a bit of cane sugar to make it sweet and spicy!

Ideas for serving a margarita pitcher

Nothing beats the tangy-sweet taste of a classic margarita on a hot day. Mix up a refreshing pitcher for your next party, gathering, or even Cinco de Mayo.

Of course, it's a natural match with Mexican food (our favorite!) Pour a glass while lounging on a patio with some salty tortilla chips and chunky grilled guacamole, or pair it with tacos, nacho fries, or a Mexican hot dog. You can't go wrong!

looking down on a margarita pitcher.

Favorite margarita recipes

Margarita Pitcher

This margarita pitcher is everything we love about the classic sweet-tart cocktail, but party size! It's tangy, cool, and crisp making it perfect for your next warm-weather fiesta. With just three simple ingredients, it's easy to make, and it's ready in just 5 minutes!

If you love this recipe as much as we do, let us know with a 5-star rating!

4.88 stars (33 ratings)
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Ingredients

  • Ice and sliced limes, for the pitcher
  • 2 cups white tequila
  • 1 cup Triple Sec, see notes
  • 1 cup lime juice, fresh is best!
  • Coarse salt, to rim the glasses

Instructions 

  • Fill a pitcher halfway full with ice. Larger ice is better as it doesn't melt as quickly. If you'd like, put a few lime slices in the pitcher.
    Ice and sliced limes
    image for recipe instruction
  • Add the tequila, Triple Sec, and lime juice and stir.
    2 cups white tequila, 1 cup Triple Sec, 1 cup lime juice
    image for recipe instruction
  • Salt the rims of your glasses by running a cut lime over the rim them dipping the wet edge into a plate of salt. Add ice to the glasses then pour the margarita from the pitcher into your glasses and garnish them with a slice of lime.
    Coarse salt
    image for recipe instruction

Notes

For a lighter (less boozy) option, use simple syrup instead of Triple Sec. To make simple syrup, heat 1 cup of sugar, honey, or agave syrup with 2 cups of water until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool completely before using it to make a drink.Ā 
Serving: 1 = ½ cup, Calories: 237kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 4mg, Potassium: 45mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 15IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 5mg, Iron: 1mg
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