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).

Related ->> Make this Fresh Strawberry Mocktail (Strawberry Smash!)

How to make a virgin margarita (step-by-step)

For a salted rim, run a lime wedge around the rim of a glass.
Dip the rim of the glass in the coarse salt for the salted rim.
Always use fresh squeezed lime juice, it really makes a difference.
Hand pouring homemade triple sec into a margarita
Fill the glass with ice and pour in the lime juice, zero-proof tequila and homemade triple sec.
Give the drink a quick stir, pick it up and start sippin’!

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 cocktail 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.

Zero-proof tequila options for a non-alcoholic margarita

There are several options available to use in this recipe. We used Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative in this recipe and it tasted great.

Some other options are:

Close up straight on shot of a virgin margarita
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Get the Recipe:

Authentic Tasting Virgin Margarita (With Zero-Proof Tequila)

This is the BEST and most authentic tasting virgin margarita you could ask for! It's made with only 3 ingredients and is the perfect balance of tart and sweet. Grab some zero-proof tequila and make up a glass or pitcher of these non-alcoholic margaritas.

Ingredients

For a single drink:

  • 1/4 cup zero proof tequila, (see post above for some options)
  • 1/4 cup lime juice, (fresh squeezed is best)
  • 1/4 cup homemade triple sec, (or simple syrup)
  • ice, (to fill the glass)
  • kosher or margarita salt, (optional, for a salted rim)
  • lime wedges, (optional, for garnish)

For a pitcher (6-8 servings)

  • 1.5 cups zero proof tequila
  • 1.5 cups lime juice
  • 1.5 cups homemade triple sec
  • ice
  • kosher or margarita salt, (optional, for a salted rim)
  • lime wedges, (optional, for garnish)

Instructions
 

For a single drink:

  • For a salted rim: Using a lime wedge, run the lime around the edge of the rim of a glass. Place some salt on a plate. Dip the rim of the glass in the salt.
  • Fill the glass with ice. Pour in the zero-proof tequila, lime juice and homemade triple sec. Give the mixture a quick stir.
  • Garnish with a lime wedge if desired. Serve and enjoy.

For a pitcher:

  • Fill a pitcher 3/4 full with ice. Larger ice is better, it won't melt as quickly.
  • Pour in the zero-proof tequila, lime juice and homemade triple sec. Give the pitcher a good stir with a spoon to mix.
  • Salt the rims of glasses if desired (see step 1 above). Fill the glasses with ice and pour the margarita mixture into the glasses. Garnish glass with a lime wedge if desired for serving.

Last Step:

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Notes

If you have a cocktail shaker, you can make this drink in the shaker instead of stirring it in the glass. Simply pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake for about 10 seconds. Then, strain the margarita into a salt rimmed glass filled with ice. 
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Authentic Tasting Virgin Margarita (With Zero-Proof Tequila)Authentic Tasting Virgin Margarita (With Zero-Proof Tequila)