Authentic Tasting Virgin Margarita (With Zero-Proof Tequila) (2024)

5 reasons to love this virgin margarita recipe

1. It’s the most authentic tasting margarita you can get – without any alcohol.
2. Make a single drink or a whole pitcher, the recipe has instructions and measurements for both.
3. This margarita mocktail is perfect for when you want a fancy drink or are craving a margarita but don’t want the alcohol.
4. Serve it on the rocks with a salt rim or blend it up in the blender – your choice!
5. You need only 3 ingredients (zero-proof tequila, lime juice and homemade triple sec).

Margarita mocktail recipe tips

• Fresh squeezed lime juice is essential to make an authentic tasting virgin margarita. You need the tart, sour of the lime to balance out the rest of the drink.
• A salt rim is a must (in my humble opinion). A simple kosher salt rim will do, you want a large grain, flaky salt. Avoid regular fine-grained table salt.
• If you have a co*cktail shaker, take things up a notch and make the drink in a shaker instead of a glass. See the recipe notes below for detailed instructions.

Recipe variations

Blend it – Make a frozen virgin margarita by pouring the ingredients over ice and blending. Use one cup of ice for a single drink, about 6-8 cups for a pitcher (just fill up the blender).

Make it fruity – Muddle a strawberry or two (or other fresh fruit) and mix them in with the margarita to add a fruity element.

Add a topper – If you want a little fizz, pour in a splash of club soda, sparkling water or tonic at the end before serving.

Spice it up – Muddle a couple of jalapeño pepper slices and mix them in with the margarita. You can also mix in a little chili powder with the salt for the salted rim.

The syrup – If you don’t want to make the homemade triple sec, I recommend substituting it with 2-3 tbsp of maple syrup plus a splash of orange juice. Or you can substitute regular simple syrup if you have that on hand.