Nothing says "summer" like a cool margarita in your hands! If you don't drink alcohol, you may have felt like you're missing out on this summery beverage in the past, but this margarita will change all that!

Let me introduce you to the virgin margarita-all the cool, citrusy flavor, with none of the alcohol. We tested this virgin margarita recipe using a variety of different base flavors, including pure lime, a lime and orange juice mix, and finally a lime and pineapple combo. The definite winner in the taste trials was the lime pineapple mix!

It's the perfect combination of sweet and tart, and it's so delicious you won't miss the tequila. The best part is, it's super simple to make and you can whip up and freeze a large batch in advance so you're ready to beat those hot summer days with a cold non-alcoholic margarita in your hands!

What makes a cocktail "virgin"?

Most cocktails are made using some form of alcohol. In a margarita, that alcohol is tequila. In order to make a virgin margarita, you need to remove the alcohol by replacing the tequila with another ingredient. These virgin cocktails are also commonly called "mocktails," and they range from these virgin margaritas to cucumber mojitos to a kiddie cocktail. In fact, you can make almost every popular summer cocktail virgin if you find the right recipe!

What can I use instead of tequila in a virgin margarita?

Tequila adds a unique flavor to margaritas that can be difficult to replicate. Some people use pickle juice to mimic the flavor of tequila, but this virgin margarita recipe uses club soda. Club soda is the perfect base to mix with the pineapple and lime flavors of this drink. Its flavor doesn't overpower that of the fruit and it allows the sweetness of the agave syrup to shine through.

Top view of a virgin margarita with crushed ice in a smooth tumbler with a salt rim and lime wedge garnish.

Overhead of ingredients needed to make a pineapple lime virgin margarita.

Can you drink margarita mix by itself?

If you're considering just drinking the margarita mix with nothing added in, I wouldn't recommend it. By itself, margarita mix is a simple syrup that's too strong to be enjoyed properly. You'll want to mix it with some kind of liquid-alcoholic or non-alcoholic-in order to dilute the flavor a bit.

Whether you're using a homemade margarita mix or a store-bought mix, you can definitely drink margarita mix without any fancy ingredients. I'd recommend mixing it with some seltzer water or club soda as a carbonated base for the strong citrusy flavor.

Virgin margarita ingredients

You can make a virgin margarita with only a few ingredients. All you need is some fresh lime juice from a handful of limes, agave syrup, pineapple juice, and club soda. That's it!

I recommend using fresh lime juice instead of the bottled stuff because you'll really be able to taste the difference. If you're having trouble finding agave syrup, you could try substituting it with maple syrup in a 1:1 ratio. It might change the flavor slightly, but it'll still add the hint of sweetness your virgin margarita needs to balance out the tartness of the limes.

Club soda is poured into a glass tumbler topping up a margarita mocktail.

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How to make a non-alcoholic margarita

This is such a simple recipe to make, with no bartending skills or fancy equipment needed. After mixing, you can store this margarita in the fridge. Feel free to double or even triple the recipe to whip up a big batch in a pitcher for summer guests.

Start by squeezing the juice from three or four limes into a cocktail shaker.
Add the pineapple juice and agave syrup.
Shake vigorously until well mixed.
Pour half the syrup into a glass.
Add ½ cup of club soda and blend.
Garnish with a lime slice, or some coarse salt around the rim of the glass if desired.

Wholefully Protip

If you don't have a cocktail shaker, you can use a protein shaker, a mug with a lid, or even a mason jar! If you're not interested in shaking it by hand, you can also always give it a few quick pulses in a blender. As long as it's large enough to fit all your ingredients and it has a tight-fitting lid, it'll do the same job as a fancy shaker.

Are virgin margaritas gluten-free?

Yes! This margarita recipe is both non-alcoholic and gluten-free! That means you can share it with almost anyone with no worries.

A pineapple lime virgin margarita with crushed ice in a rocks glass rimmed with salt stands on a white counter.

📖 Recipe