Margarita Pitcher Recipe

I absolutely love mixing up delicious cocktails for parties, and this Margarita pitcher recipe has been a longtime favorite in my rotation. It’s a recipe I developed with my mom years ago, and to this day, we both agree—it’s hands-down the best pitcher cocktail we’ve ever made. I love serving these bright, crowd-pleasing margaritas at family gatherings or when friends come over. They’re made with simple, fresh ingredients and always disappear fast! One of my favorite things about this recipe is how easy it is to scale—whether you’re making drinks for two or twenty-four, the recipe card shows you exactly how to do it.

I love this batch margarita pitcher recipe because it tastes fresh, isn’t too sweet, and it’s made with simple ingredients. It is super smooth, so watch out! I make this whenever we’re having friends over, and it never misses. It works great as a single serving or as an entire pitcher. You’re going to love this!

Tips for Success

• 
  Choose a good-quality Reposado tequila (I find this is absolutely key!) for the smoothest, best-tasting margaritas.
• I like to keep my 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!
• Freshly squeezed lime juice is the key to a delicious margarita. 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 them with ice.
• You can batch these margaritas a day early, but 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! 

Recipe Card

Pitcher Margarita Recipe

4.62 from 803 votes

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 0 minutes mins

Total: 5 minutes mins

Servings: 1 drink

Author: Becky Hardin

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This recipe resulted in the quest to find the Perfect Margarita Pitcher Recipe. The hunt for the ultimate Cinco de Mayo drinks and snacks begins early…usually on May 6th of the previous year.

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Equipment

• Equipment used for Classic Margaritas

Ingredients 

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For Individual (One, 4.5-ounce) Serving

• ▢ 1 ounce Cointreau sub for grand marnier or triple sec
• ▢ 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

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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.

Becky’s Tips

• 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.
• You want quality tequila that is smooth and well-made, but there’s no reason to break the bank when you’re not sipping it straight.

Serving: 1drinkCalories: 255kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.03gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.04gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 16mgPotassium: 43mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 14IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make a Margarita Pitcher (24 Servings) Step by Step

Mix the Margs: In a 2-quart pitcher, combine 3 cups of Cointreau, 3 cups of freshly squeezed lime juice, 6 cups of Reposado Tequila, and 1 cup of Agave syrup. Keep the margarita mixture refrigerated until ready to serve.

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Prep the Glasses: When ready to serve, rim the glasses with salt (if desired) and fill each with ice.

Shake Individual Servings: 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 for 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 and Serve: Garnish with a lime wedge or wheel.

Variations on Margarita Pitchers

• 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.

How to Store

I 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. In the recipe card, you can find a link to my favorite shakers!

Serving Suggestions

I think that a pitcher of margaritas is the best easy cocktail for Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Serve them up with Baked Chicken Tacos, White Queso, Mexican Street Corn Dip, Chicken Nachos, or Homemade Tortilla Chips and Salsa.

Spicy Mango Margarita Recipe

Watermelon Margaritas Recipe

Orange Margaritas

Strawberry Basil Margarita