Easy Pitcher Margarita Recipe with Natural Ingredients

(…I say this with love, but…)

You’re not doing it right. 😬🫣

I get it. You’ve got a party to throw for a bunch of thirsty friends, and that cute little margarita mix is whispering your name.

But that mix? Full of artificial flavors and a tonnnnn of sugar (hello, corn syrup). Plus, it gets pricey when you’re serving a crowd.

So, what’s the game plan?

Make your own fresh big batch margarita pitcher with only 3 ingredients. (And guess what, sugar isn’t one of them! Hurrah!)

Ready to see how?

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Real margaritas only have 3 ingredients

You heard it right. Just 3 ingredients:

• Tequila
• Cointreau
• Limes

Plus, water and a bit of salt. That’s it.

Store-bought mixes are packed with additives and sugar to stay shelf-stable, but when you juice your own limes, you cut out all the artificial junk and added sugar.

The tough part? Juicing a lot of limes. Trust me, I’ve tried many juicers, and this minimal hand-held one is by far the easiest.

What kind of tequila should you use?

Nearly every margarita recipe will tell you to use tequila blanco or silver, but I find the taste a little too harsh. I love using tequila reposado, which has aged a bit and has a more sophisticated taste.

Tequila can get expensive, but my favorite tequila reposado is actually super affordable (plus, it’s made by a women-owned company in Mexico).

You can also read my full guide of the best and worst tequilas for margaritas, picked by cocktail pros.

Why you don’t need sugar

Traditional margarita recipes actually don’t use any sugar. The Cointreau adds just the right amount of sweetness.

By making your pitcher margaritas from scratch, you’re avoiding loads of extra sugar.

Why you do need water

When you make an individual margarita, you shake it with ice, which adds a good amount of water (a big cocktail-making mistake I made for an embarrassingly long time).

Since we’re not shaking 16 drinks for this recipe (you’re welcome), we need to add the proper amount of water to dilute the drink. That’s why you add cold water and why it’s important to serve your drinks in glasses filled with ice.

Ready for the recipe?

Pitcher Margarita Recipe

Try these variations

Love this recipe but want to mix it up? Here are some fun ideas:

Fizzy margarita

Like a little sparkle in your drink? Follow the recipe to create your margaritas, but when you serve them, leave a little room at the top of your glass and top it with 2 ounces of dry prosecco. It adds the perfect amount of fizz and gives the drink a twist.

Watermelon margarita

Want a fruity variation? Try this watermelon margarita recipe.

Christmas margarita

That’s right, tequila in December. Swap in some cranberry juice to make this festive Christmas margarita for the holidays.

Over to you

So there you have it, folks! Making your own margaritas from scratch isn’t just a fun party trick—it’s easy, affordable, and way healthier. With just three simple, natural ingredients, you’re saying goodbye to artificial flavors and unnecessary sugars.

Ready to become the margarita master of your crew? Roll up your sleeves, grab those limes, and start juicing. Your perfect margarita is just a few squeezes away. Cheers to real, refreshing, and ridiculously good margaritas!