This pineapple margarita comes together in about 5 minutes with ingredients you can shake up in a cocktail shaker and pour straight over ice. Fresh pineapple juice, pure agave tequila, triple sec, and fresh lime juice go into the shaker together. The glass gets a kosher salt rim before you pour.
I didn’t always love margaritas. In my twenties I assumed they were all made with low quality tequila and margarita mix, and honestly I wasn’t wrong about the ones I was drinking. Once I had one made with good tequila and fresh juice, that changed completely. Now they’re my go-to cocktail at dinner and one of my favorites to make at home because they’re fast and almost impossible to mess up.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Are Margaritas Gluten-Free?
Tequila is made from the agave plant and is naturally gluten-free. The one thing to watch for is “mixto” tequila, which is blended with other alcohols and may not be gluten-free. Look for a bottle that says 100% agave on the label to be sure. As someone with celiac disease, this is the one thing I always check before buying a new bottle.
Triple sec is distilled from orange peels and is gluten-free. I use Cointreau, but Grand Marnier works too.
The most common issue with margaritas and gluten comes from margarita mix. Many commercial mixes contain gluten, which is why I skip the mix entirely and make margaritas with fresh juice instead. If you’re ordering one at a restaurant, it’s worth asking what mix they use.
Ingredient Notes
- Pineapple Juice – Fresh squeezed or store bought both work here. If you’re using store bought, look for 100% pineapple juice with no added sugar.
- Tequila – Use a pure agave tequila, not a mixto. Mixto tequilas are blended with other alcohols and aren’t always gluten-free. Some brands I like are Casamigos, Espolón, and Casa Noble.
- Triple Sec – I use Cointreau. Grand Marnier works too if that’s what you have on hand.
- Lime Juice – Fresh squeezed makes a difference here. Bottled lime juice is more acidic and can throw off the balance of the drink.
- Kosher Salt – For the rim. Kosher salt has larger granules than table salt, which gives you a better texture and less of an overwhelming salt hit. Coarse sea salt works too.
Use Good Tequila
The quality of the tequila makes a bigger difference in a simple cocktail like this than it does in something with a lot of competing flavors. Look for a bottle that says 100% agave on the label. If it doesn’t say that, it’s a mixto and the flavor will reflect it.
FAQs
Use a tequila you’d actually drink on its own. Look for 100% agave on the label. Some brands I like are Casamigos, Espolón, Casa Noble, and 1800. Avoid anything labeled “mixto,” which is blended with other alcohols and won’t taste as good or be reliably gluten-free.
No. I usually use an old-fashioned glass. Any glass works as long as it’s big enough to hold the ice and the drink.
Yes. Add all the ingredients to a blender with about 2 cups of ice and blend until smooth. You may want to add a little more pineapple juice to help it blend.
Yes. Multiply the ingredients by however many servings you need and mix everything in a large pitcher. Add the ice to individual glasses when you pour rather than to the pitcher so the drink doesn’t get watered down as it sits.
Expert Tips
Make Ahead Tips
Mix the pineapple juice, tequila, triple sec, and lime juice together in a pitcher and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add ice and shake individual servings to order, or pour over ice when you’re ready to serve.
Serving Suggestions
When I’m having people over, I usually put out two different margaritas so there’s something for everyone. My Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita is my other go-to alongside this one. The cucumber keeps it light and the jalapeño gives it a little heat that the pineapple version doesn’t have. I always put my Pineapple Salsa and 4-Ingredient Guacamole out on the table when I’m serving these too since the flavors go well together.
Pineapple Margarita
Ingredients
- 4 cups ice cubes
- 8 ounces pineapple juice
- 4 ounces pure agave tequila
- 2 ounces triple sec
- 2 ounces lime juice - freshly squeezed
For Serving:
- 1 lime - cut into wedges, for rimming the glass and garnish
- 3 tablespoons kosher salt - for the rim
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Instructions
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of each glass. Place kosher salt on a small plate and roll the rim of each glass in the salt until coated. Set aside.
- Add the ice, pineapple juice, tequila, triple sec, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker. Shake well for 10-15 seconds, or until chilled.
- Pour into the prepared glasses over fresh ice and serve immediately. Garnish with lime and pineapple wedge, if desired.
Notes
- Gluten-Free Note: Use a 100% agave tequila, not a mixto. Mixto tequilas are blended with other alcohols and may not be gluten-free. Triple sec is naturally gluten-free. Skip any margarita mix as many contain gluten.
- Pineapple Juice: Fresh squeezed or store bought both work. If you’re using store bought, look for 100% pineapple juice with no added sugar.
- Make Ahead: Mix the pineapple juice, tequila, triple sec, and lime juice together in a pitcher and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Shake individual servings with ice to order when you’re ready to serve.
