A margarita pitcher is a crowd pleasing cocktail that will have you ready for a party, girl's night, or Cinco de Mayo! This recipe is so easy to make with just four ingredients you might already have on hand.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are my own.
Let's get this party started with a pitcher of margaritas!
You guys loved the mojito pitcher I shared a while back, so this was the next logical stop for me. Plus, if you spend five minutes with my girl friends and I you'll know that we love margaritas!
This is the best recipe for a big batch of margaritas because it's so easy to remember and throw together. I love cooking (and drinking) from scratch, so no margarita mix here! We're using fresh ingredients to make a classic margarita - pitcher style!
Because of the large size of this recipe, this is the perfect margarita for a night in with your girlfriends, back yard barbecues, or other parties. I love that it can be made ahead of time so you don't have to slave away mixing up cocktails while you're trying to entertain guests.
I recommend serving a pitcher style cocktail with other big batch recipes such as my healthy guacamole and sheet pan tacos!
Ingredients
- Reposado tequila
- Cointreau (triple sec)
- Lime juice
- Agave syrup
- Salt
How to make a margarita pitcher
- Combine tequila, cointreau, lime juice, and agave syrup in a large pitcher (affiliate link).
- Stir to combine.
- Refrigerate until ready to use, then add several handfuls of ice cubes and stir again.
Top tips
How to serve the perfect margarita
Serve by pouring over several ice cubes in a rocks or margarita glass with a salt rim. For an even better experience, shake individual servings with ice in a cocktail shaker before pouring into your glass. I like to keep things easy, so I often skip the shaker.
What kind of tequila to use for the best margarita
I used reposado tequila for this recipe, choosing Jose Cuervo brand because it is a nice middle ground between price and quality. I also purchase 1800 tequila frequently.
How to salt margarita glasses
I rubbed a little lime zest into coarse kosher salt on a plate. To get the salt to stick to the rim of the glass, cut a lime wedge and rub it around the rim before dipping the rim into the salt.
Tips for customizing
- Use whatever brand tequila and triple sec you have on hand
- Swap the reposado tequila for silver or gold tequila
- Use simple syrup or honey simple syrup in place of the agave, adjusting the amount to taste as needed
- Play with flavors by using a flavored simple syrup or swapping some of the lime juice with other juice such as watermelon or strawberry
- Use store bought lime juice if you don't want to squeeze fresh lime juice
- For a single serving margarita, just keep the proportions the same using 3 parts tequila, 2 parts cointreau, 1 part lime juice, and agave to taste
FAQ
Yes, Cointreau is a brand of triple sec, so if you find another brand of triple sec you prefer, such as Grand Marnier, you can definitely use that. Curacao is another option, all are orange liqueurs.
Your pitcher of margaritas will last covered in the refrigerator for about 3 days. But will it really be around that long? I don't think so (*wink*).
More cocktail recipes
- Ladies' Night Rum Punch
- Mojito Pitcher
- Pineapple Margarita
- Apple Cider Cocktail
- Strawberry Lemonade Vodka
- Blackberry Gin Smash
- Gin & Tonic
- Christmas Gin Cocktail
If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!
Recipe
Margarita Pitcher
Ingredients
Margarita Mix
- 3 cups Resposado tequila
- 2 cups Cointreau
- 1 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed
- ¼ cup agave syrup
Salted Rim
- ¼ cup coarse kosher salt
- 1 Tablespoon lime zest
- lime wedges
Instructions
To make the pitcher of margaritas
- In a large pitcher, combine tequila, cointreau, lime juice, and agave syrup. Stir to combine.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve, then add a few hand fulls of ice, stir, and pour over ice cubes in a rocks or margarita glass with a salt rim.
- Garnish with a lime wedge or slice.
To make the salt rim
- On a small plate, rub lime zest into the salt until combined.
- Rub a cut lime wedge all the way around the edge of a glass. Turn the glass over and dip into the lime salt until it sticks.
Notes
Tips for customizing
-
- Use whatever brand tequila and triple sec you have on hand
- Swap the reposado tequila for silver or gold
- Use simple syrup in place of the agave, adjusting the amount to taste as needed
- Play with flavors by using a flavored simple syrup or swapping some of the lime juice with other juice such as watermelon or strawberry
- Use store bought lime juice if you don't want to squeeze fresh lime juice
- For a single serving margarita, just keep the proportions the same using 3 parts tequila, 2 parts cointreau, 1 part lime juice, and agave to taste
Nancy says
Hi,it looks like a good recipe, but Grand Manier is not the same as triple sec. it has cognac in it. It would be great in a margarita but not the same !
Lindsay Moe says
Thanks for the clarification!
Chris says
A shot of grand Marnier makes the drink extra special. Make margaritas that way all the time