This fresh and fruity pineapple margarita is like a tropical vacation in a cocktail! It’s a delicious, juicy blend of tequila blanco, pineapple juice, Cointreau, and lime, shaken over ice. Don’t forget a salt rim!
This pineapple margarita recipe puts a tropical spin on a favorite tequila cocktail. If you love classics with a twist, also try my pineapple mimosa and this coconut mojito.
This pineapple margarita is my ticket to paradise this summer. A pineapple cocktail and a platter of fish tacos? I may as well be on a beach in Cabo. This recipe is a fun twist on a classic margarita, with the addition of fresh pineapple juice. It’s super simple to make.
You don’t need to splurge on expensive cocktails, and you don’t need to be a professional mixologist to enjoy a delicious, perfect margarita. A cocktail shaker helps, but you can even use a mason jar! I’ll show you how to do it with minimal ingredients.
Why You Should Shake Up This Pineapple Margarita This Weekend
- It’s quick and easy. Make this margarita with 4 ingredients in 4 minutes. It’s the 4×4 of cocktails.
- Fresh and tropical. This drink has all the tangy, zesty flavors of a classic margarita with a splash of fresh pineapple juice.
- Perfect for parties. I could sip on this pineapple margarita all summer long. I’m already picturing it at our next BBQ! It’s also great for casual happy hours with an aperitivo on the patio.
Margarita Ingredients
In addition to ice for serving, you’d need the following ingredients to make this easy, juicy pineapple margarita. Scroll to the recipe card for the printable cocktail ingredients list and full recipe instructions, followed by step-by-step photos.
- Tequila – I like tequila blanco or tequila reposado. You’ll find good quality options from popular brands and craft tequila brands. See below.
- Pineapple Juice – You can juice a fresh pineapple (for the best flavor) or use store-bought pineapple juice.
- Cointreau – Cointreau is a brand of orange-flavored liqueur. You can swap it for classic triple sec if needed.
- Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed is best. You’ll need the juice from 1 lime. Roll the whole, uncut lime firmly against your countertop before you squeeze it, as it helps release the juices.
- Salt – Kosher salt or flaky sea salt to rim the glass. Iodized table salt won’t work.
- Pineapple Wedges – Canned or fresh pineapple for garnishing the glass. If you wanted to get fancy, you could grill the pineapple ahead of time for an extra touch.
Which Tequila Should I Use?
You don’t have to go all-out with top-shelf tequila when you’re shaking it into a cocktail. However, a good rule of thumb is that the better quality spirit you use, the better your drink will be. Silver tequila (blanco), gold tequila, and tequila reposado (aged) from brands like Espolon, Jose Cuervo, Don Julio, or Herradura are all good options in this margarita recipe. Make a pineapple mezcal margarita for a smoky version.
Which Foods Pair Well With a Pineapple Margarita?
A pineapple margarita is made for summer meals and happy hours. These are some of my favorite food pairings:
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Rim your glass. Add some salt to a small plate. Cut the lime into wedges and run one wedge along the rim of your glass. Invert the glass into the salt to add a salt rim. You’ll use the rest of the lime wedges to squeeze the lime juice.
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Add ice. Add some ice to your glass.
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Mix your margarita. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add the tequila, pineapple juice, Cointreau, and fresh lime juice. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
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Serve. Strain the margarita into your prepared glass. Garnish with a thin pineapple wedge and enjoy!
- Want to make this a pineapple jalapeño margarita? Simply add a few slices of fresh jalapeño to your cocktail shaker along with the other liquid ingredients. Shake per usual, then strain into your glasses.
- Want to add even more spice? Add a generous pinch of cayenne to the salt when making your rim.
Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
How to Make a Pineapple Margarita
To paraphrase James Bond: We’re making this pineapple margarita shaken, not stirred. Gather your ingredients, and follow along below.
- Rim the glass. Pour salt onto a plate, and run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass to wet it. To coat the rim, invert the glass into the salt and twist. Save your leftover lime, as you’ll squeeze it for the juice.
- Add ice. Next, add ice to the glass, then set it aside while you shake your cocktail.
- Mix the margarita. Fill a cocktail shaker (or a jar with a tight-fitting lid) about halfway with ice. Pour over the tequila, pineapple juice, Cointreau, and lime juice. Give that a good shake for 20-30 seconds.
- Strain. Now, use a cocktail strainer or a mesh sieve to strain the margarita into your prepared glass, and garnish with a pineapple wedge. Salud!
Easy Variations
Who else fell hook, line, and sinker for the spicy margarita trend? Because, same. Here’s how to change up this recipe to make a spicy pineapple margarita, plus a few other variations:
- Make it spicy. To make a pineapple jalapeño margarita, add a few fresh jalapeño slices to the cocktail shaker along with the other ingredients. Shake, then strain as usual. You could also muddle the jalapeño in the bottom before you shake it.
- Want to add even more spice? Stir a generous pinch of cayenne into the salt you’ll use to rim the glass. You could also use Tajín chili-lime seasoning or chili salt.
- Make a frozen pineapple margarita. Turn a classic pineapple margarita into a frozen margarita by adding the ingredients to a high-powered blender with ice. Blend and serve in a salt-rimmed glass.
- Make it skinny. For a skinny pineapple margarita, use freshly squeezed pineapple juice and substitute Cointreau/triple sec with fresh orange juice.
Non-Alcoholic (Mocktail) Version
To make a virgin pineapple margarita, I’d suggest substituting the tequila with extra lime juice and triple sec with orange juice. Add a splash of soda water if you’d like.
Make-Ahead and Storage
This pineapple margarita tastes the best when it’s freshly shaken and strained. However, if you’re planning a margarita pitcher for a party, it’s possible to mix the drink ingredients in advance. In this case, leave out the ice. Keep the margarita mixture covered in the fridge, then stir it and pour it over ice when serving.
