This Margarita Pitcher Recipe is perfect for serving a crowd, made with simple and fresh ingredients, and utterly delicious. There has never been a more perfect margarita! We have written the recipe to serve one or as many as 24.
What’s in a Perfect Margarita?
We love this margarita because it tastes fresh, isn’t too sweet, and is made with simple ingredients. It is super smooth, so watch out! It works great as a single serving, or as an entire pitcher. You’re going to love this!
- Cointreau: This orange liqueur is a staple in margaritas. I prefer Cointreau over triple sec, but either will work.
- Lime Juice: Freshly-squeezed lime juice is the key to a delicious margarita. Don’t use bottled lime juice; it just won’t taste the same!
- Tequila: Choose a good-quality Reposado tequila for the smoothest, best-tasting margaritas.
- Agave Syrup: Agave nectar is a great all-natural sweetener. Use more or less depending on your tastes.
- Ice: Chills down individual servings and keeps them cool all day long.
Pro Tip: Batch these margaritas early in the day, but shake up individual drinks just before serving for the best taste!
Variations on a Pitcher of Margaritas
These pitcher margaritas are so versatile. With just a few simple changes, you can customize these for any crowd!
- Mezcal Margaritas: Swap the Reposado tequila for your favorite brand of Mezcal for smoky margaritas.
- Spicy Margaritas: Muddle a few jalapeño slices in the bottom of each glass before pouring in the margarita, or add some chili powder to the salt rim.
- Skinny Margaritas: Follow my skinny margarita recipe!
- Virgin Margaritas: Swap the tequila for sparkling water and the Cointreau for orange juice. Batch these mocktails without the sparkling water (it’ll cause your shaker to leak), then top them off with sparkling water just before serving.
An easy way to remember how to mix a classic margarita is to memorize the ratio 3-2-1: three parts tequila, two parts triple sec, and one part lime juice. We changed up the ratios a bit in this recipe, and I think it’s even better this way, but you be the judge!
We have written the recipe below for just one serving and also for 24 servings in a large pitcher. You decide if it’s worth sharing with friends. This is one I might just keep all to myself.
When making margaritas, I always opt for one that isn’t the most expensive and isn’t the cheapest. You want a quality tequila that is smooth and well made, but there’s no reason to break the bank when you’re not sipping it straight. For these Pitcher Margaritas, we recommend using a Reposado Tequila which is typically smoother than a Blanco or Anejo Tequila. Once we made that change in this recipe, it made all the difference.
Cointreau is a brand of Triple Sec, so technically yes. Cointreau is a trusted brand from France and their Orange Liqueur is delicious! I find some Triple Sec has a bitter or fake taste, but not Cointreau.
The secret to a perfect margarita is to shake up each margarita before serving. You can batch this cocktail in a large pitcher, but add 2-4 servings to a shaker filled with ice and shake up the cocktails just before serving. I promise, it makes all the difference!
How to Store
Store leftover pitcher margaritas tightly covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 8 hours. Shake individual drinks over ice in a cocktail shaker just before serving.
Serving Suggestions
A pitcher of margaritas is the best easy cocktail for your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Serve them up with Baked Chicken Tacos, White Queso, Mexican Street Corn Dip, Chicken Nachos, or Homemade Tortilla Chips and Salsa.
Margarita Pitcher Recipe
Ingredients
For Individual (One, 4.5-ounce) Serving
- 1 ounce Cointreau
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces Reposado Tequila 100% pure de Agave Tequila
- ⅓ ounce Agave syrup (2 teaspoons) I use Tres Agaves, Agave Nectar – organic
- 1 cup ice
For 13 (4-ounce) Servings
- 1½ cups Cointreau
- 1½ cups freshly squeezed lime juice
- 3 cups Reposado Tequila
- ½ cup Agave syrup
- 12 cups Ice
For 18 (4-ounce) Servings
- 2¼ cups Cointreau
- 2¼ cups freshly squeezed lime juice
- 4½ cups Reposado Tequila
- ¾ cup Agave syrup
- 1 bag ice
For 24 (4 ounce) Servings:
- 3 cups Cointreau
- 3 cups freshly squeezed lime juice
- 6 cups Reposado Tequila
- 1 cup Agave syrup
- 1 bag ice
Instructions
If making for a crowd (13, 18, or 24 servings)
- In 2-quart pitcher, combine all ingredients, except the ice. Keep the margarita mixture refrigerated until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve, rim the glasses with salt (if desired) and fill each with ice.
- Fill a cocktail shaker ¾ of the way with ice. Add enough prepared margarita mixture to the top of the ice. Cover tightly and shake vigorously 10-15 seconds. Pour into prepared glasses and serve immediately. Drain excess water from the shaker. Repeat for the additional servings, adding more ice as needed.
- Garnish with a lime wedge or wheel.
For Individual Servings
- See above if salting the rim of the glass.
- Fill the shaker about halfway with ice and add all other ingredients. Shake vigorously 10-15 seconds.1 ounce Cointreau, 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice, 2 ounces Reposado Tequila, ⅓ ounce Agave syrup, 1 cup ice
- Immediately pour into the prepared glass and garnish with a lime wedge or wheel.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- We like to keep our tequila in the freezer to create the coldest margarita recipe possible with the least amount of ice. I don’t want to water this deliciousness down!
- If you want an even fresher taste, you can add a splash of freshly squeezed orange juice!
- These Margaritas are not very sweet. If you would like them sweeter, just add more agave syrup to taste.
- If you want salted glass rims: Cover the bottom of a small plate with margarita salt. Rub the rims of the glasses with a lime wedge, dip the rims in the margarita salt, and set the glasses upright to dry a tad before filling with ice.
- NOTE: It’s important to shake the margaritas before serving. Add 2-4 servings to a shaker with ice right before serving and repeat for each serving. Makes all the difference. Your guests will thank you!
- These margaritas are best made within 8 hours of serving.
Nutrition Information
Quick and easy recipe and very yummy! I’m glad we tried this one.
So glad you enjoyed it, Cindy!
Very yummy recipe!
Looks great!
Excellent! I tend to pour with my heart so this recipe is right up my alley!
Love that, enjoy!
Excellent margarita recipe! I LOVE that you use reposado – it’s my favorite! And the lime flavor is simply perfection! Quick question though, if I need to only mix up two drinks, is there any reason why I can’t just double the recipe and pour all of it in the cocktail shaker to mix up at once? Or is it better to make them individually? Thank you!! This is going on my regular drink menu!
You could definitely put both in one shaker. I wouldn’t do more than 2 at once, though, as it may overflow!
We’re hosting a birthday party next weekend and I’ve been on the hunt for a really good large batch margarita recipe. Has anyone used Triple Sec instead of Cointreau and if so how did it turn out? Thanks!
It should work just fine!
I wanted to try this for girl’s afternoon. Soo amazing! Just the right amount of sweetness. I don’t like sweet drinks. It will knock your socks off, in a good way! LOL I will tell you 2 is all I can do! So glad everyone is in walking distance do 3/4 houses. The best Margarita I have had in a long time. Thank you
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Patty! Thanks for stopping by!
My God, probably the best margarita recipe I’ve came across. Hosted a retirement party last night for my father. I had to make 3 batches throughout the night because everyone LOVED THEM! thank you for sharing your recipe! 10/10 recommend
I’m so glad they were a hit! Great pic, Danielle!
Didn’t take a picture but they were amazing! How long the leftovers last in the fridge?
You can keep this pitcher in the fridge for up to 3 days!
Love this recipe! My friends have termed it Murder Margs because they go down easy and fast—the alcohol definitely sneak attacks!
I love that!
Mmmmm! Made these last night for a little party on the front lawn. I made the 13 serving size ahead of time and did not include the Cointreau because I wanted to serve a Agave Margarita for something a bit different. I used Herradura Reposada tequila, it was delish and worth the expense!! I took your advice and shook the margaritas with ice before serving each one. Everyone loved them. Thanks for the instructions for a pitcherful.
So glad you enjoyed them!