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This Virgin Margarita Recipe has all the best flavors, and none of the alcohol, of a regular Margarita. There are so many seasons in life when you, or someone you know, might not want to drink alcohol, but you can still celebrate with a fabulous mocktail.
This easy Margarita Mocktail is made with a blend of 3 citrus juices, simple syrup, and a carbonated accent such as sparkling water, tonic water, seltzer water, or club soda. It’s a fresh and fruity, family-friendly, alcohol-free choice that will be appreciated at any gathering.
A typical Margarita is made with lemon juice, lime juice, and triple sec, and orange-flavored liqueur. Here, we keep the lemon and lime, but we add orange juice to stand in for the triple sec. Add your preferred sweetener (I use simple syrup, but agave syrup is on-brand as well) to taste and serve in a salt-rimmed glass.
Serve a big batch of these Virgin Margaritas with a platter of Chicken Fajitas, chips and salsa, and some Banda.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Margarita salt: Homemade margarita salt is fun to make when you’re feeling extra. Or, use kosher salt or even sugar.
- Simple syrup: To make it yourself, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved (do not boil). Remove from heat and cool before adding 1 tablespoon (or more to taste) to your cocktail shaker with the other ingredients. Store leftover simple syrup covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks. Or, substitute your preferred sweetener (added to your preferred level of sweetness) such as agave nectar, honey, or maple syrup.
Step-by-step instructions
- In a shallow dish as wide as your serving glass, add kosher salt (or Margarita salt) to 1/4-inch deep. Run a lime wedge around the top of each glass, then dip the top of each glass upside-down into the salt and turn to coat.
- In a glass pitcher, pour in the lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, and simple syrup. Stir to combine.
- Fill each rimmed glass about half full with ice. Add 4 ounces of the Margarita mixture and top with club soda. Garnish with a lime slice or wedge.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This Margarita mocktail recipe makes one non-alcoholic Margarita.
- Glassware: A Margarita glass is the classic choice, but I love how approachable a lowball glass is for happy hour.
- Make ahead: The lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, and simple syrup can be combined in advance and stored in the fridge. Set out with glassware, a salt rimmer, ice cubes, Topo Chico, and lime wedges.
- Juicier: To change the flavor of your margarita, try grapefruit or pineapple juice.
- Frozen Margarita: Add ice to your blender to taste and blend until slushy.
- Spicy Margarita: Infuse your simple syrup with slices of fresh jalapeños and try some Tajin on the rim of the glass.
- Classic Margarita: A good margarita is made with high-quality tequila, triple sec, and the freshest citrus juice. Simple syrup is optional, and use a blend of lemon and lime for deeper flavors.
- Strawberry Margarita: This easy-breezy Strawberry Margarita is made with just 5 ingredients (including fresh strawberries) and a blender. Add a salted rim and have it on the rocks or frozen.
- Margarita Slush: It only takes 4 ingredients (plus an empty ice cream pail) to make this easy Margarita Slush, a large batch you can make in advance for backyard barbecues and parties.
- Margarita Salt: A custom-made Margarita Salt turns an ordinary drink into a handcrafted cocktail masterpiece, and it might give you a certain reputation for knowing a thing or two about mixology.
- Blenders for Frozen Margaritas: For those of us who love an icy margarita on the regular, I research the Best Blenders for Margaritas and Other Frozen Drinks and discuss all my findings, including my favorite blender.
- Shaken, not stirred: If you prefer to shake your Margaritas, see my list of Best Cocktail Shakers.
- Margarita Tools: I made a list of my Favorite Margarita Tools, from glassware to citrus squeezers, blenders, and more. These are the products I personally use and recommend to ensure Margarita-making is effortless and enjoyable.
Frequently Asked Questions
To make it yourself, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved (do not boil). Remove from heat and cool before adding 1 tablespoon (or more to taste) to your cocktail shaker with the other ingredients. Store leftover simple syrup covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks.
Most cocktails can be made in some form without alcohol, including a margarita without tequila.
Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative has the same bright fire and grassy flavor as traditional tequila without alcohol.
More non-alcoholic drinks
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Virgin Margarita
Ingredients
- kosher salt or Margarita salt, for rimming glass (see note 1)
- Lime wedges for garnish
- ice
- 1 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 pounds limes or 14 medium lines)
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 12 ounces lemons or 2 large lemons)
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice (about 12 ounces oranges or 1 large orange)
- 1/4 cup simple syrup optional (see note 2)
- 16 ounces club soda or sparkling water, for topping
Instructions
- In a shallow dish as wide as your serving glass, add kosher salt (or Margarita salt) to 1/4-inch deep. Run a lime wedge around the top of each glass, then dip the top of each glass upside-down into the salt and turn to coat.
- In a glass pitcher, add lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, and simple syrup. Stir to combine.
- Fill each rimmed glass about half full with ice. Add 4 ounces of the Margarita mixture and top with club soda. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Notes
- Margarita salt: Homemade margarita salt is fun to make when you’re feeling extra. Or, use kosher salt or even sugar.
- Simple syrup: To make it yourself, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved (do not boil). Remove from heat and cool before adding 1 tablespoon (or more to taste) to your cocktail shaker with the other ingredients. Store leftover simple syrup covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks.
- Yield: This recipe makes four non-alcoholic Margaritas.
- Glassware: A Margarita glass is the classic choice, but I love how approachable a lowball glass is for happy hour.
Nutrition
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.