Pineapple Margarita

It’s no secret: Here at Delish, we love our margaritas. We’ve got every variation under the sun, from sweet peach margaritas to frozen margaritas to smoky strawberry mezcal. Personally, when I’m craving true summer vibes, I turn to these pineapple margaritas for the perfect tropical twist on the classic cocktail. Fresh and fruity with refreshing pineapple juice, this margarita takes me straight to the shore, frosty glass in hand, in just one sip. Here are all of my top tips for how to make it.

How To Make A Pineapple Margarita

INGREDIENTS

• Pineapple Juice: Fresh pineapple juice is best, but if that’s not an option, look for store-bought pineapple juice with no sugar added.
• Kosher Salt: Kosher salt is ideal for rimming the glass, as it adheres well and has a coarse texture that lends a wonderful crunch. If you want to add a bit of heat, try rimming the glass with Tajín seasoning, a powerhouse mixture of lime, chile, and salt.
• Tequila Blanco: I went with unaged tequila to keep things crisp and vibrant, without the mellowing oak and caramel notes of aged tequilas.
• Lime Juice: Provides a zing and zest that cuts through the sweetness of the pineapple juice and keeps things balanced, bright, and refreshing.
• Triple Sec: I used a simple, reliable triple sec, but if you have Cointreau on hand, by all means use it.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Start off by coating the rim of a rocks glass with kosher salt (or Tajín if you’re feeling spicy). To create the salt rim, pour some kosher salt into a small plate—use enough to form a nice, even bed. Now take a lime wedge and run it around the rim of the glass to moisten it. Dip the rim into the salt to coat. Set the glass aside while you go and mix your drink.

Okay, time to shake things up! Grab a cocktail shaker (or large glass jar) and add the pineapple juice, tequila, lime juice, and triple sec. Fill the shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously until the shaker is very cold and condensation forms on the outside, about 30 seconds. Now, fill the prepared glass with ice and strain the cocktail into the glass. Finally, perch a lime wedge and a pineapple wedge on rim for a tropical finishing touch. Cheers!

Full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.

Variations

I love this recipe as is, but you can totally get as creative as you like with it. Craving a spicy twist? Make this a spicy margarita by adding jalapeño-infused tequila. More of a mezcal fan? This sweet margarita would be great with smoky mezcal. If you’re looking for all natural ingredients, incorporate pineapple juice into our skinny margarita.

Recipe Tips

• What’s the best tequila for margaritas? If you’re searching for the perfect tequila for your margarita, there’s no shortage of options. Unsure what type of tequila to use? Blanco tequila (like I used here) is always a solid option, but a good reposado would also be an excellent choice if you’re looking for more of a caramel-like flavor to pair with your marg. Feel free to use your fave brand, or check out our list of the best tequilas we’ve tasted.
• How to make this a big-batch cocktail: If you’re making cocktails for a crowd, you can just multiply the quantities in the recipe by the number of people you’ll be serving. Pour all of the ingredients into a large glass pitcher or jar and refrigerate for up to 4 hours (no more or those limes might get weird!). When you’re ready to serve, shake the jar well (or stir the pitcher) before pouring 1/2 cup of your pre-batched cocktail mix into each glass and topping off with ice.