Summertime is the season of ease. If you're entertaining others, or just yourself, being able to make margaritas in a batch can make the day that much smoother. A three gallon margarita mix ready to go is a great thing to have on hand or ready to pour straight from the fridge if you want to shake it up ahead of time. Each of these recipes easily separates into 3 1-gallon pitchers, making serving a breeze. Summer days should be easy, and these three gallon margaritas recipes are even easier.
Three Gallon Margarita Mix Recipe
This may seem like a strong margarita, but whether you're blending or shaking it up, the ice helps to dilute the ingredients perfectly. If you want your margaritas to be sweeter, add more simple syrup or agave according to taste.
Ingredients
- 2¼ 1.75L bottles tequila (18 cups)
- 3 1L bottles triple sec (12 cups)
- 6 cups lime juice
- 2 375mL bottles simple syrup (3 cups)
- 9 cups ice
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, add ice, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Stir carefully to mix.
- Allow to chill in fridge.
- When serving, garnish with lime wedge and optional salt rim.
Watermelon Margaritas
Watermelon margaritas are even more refreshing than original margaritas. This recipe is sure to cool you off on a warm day. If you want to enjoy this as a frozen margarita, blend the frozen watermelon puree with the ice and other ingredients, being sure to mix in smaller batches to not overload the blender. Add the small batches into the pitcher, stirring to combine all.
Ingredients
- 14 cups frozen watermelon chunks
- 2 1.75L bottles tequila (14¾ cups)
- 2½ 1L bottles triple sec (10½ cups)
- 2 cups lime juice
- ¾ 375mL bottle simple syrup (1 cup)
- 6 cups ice
- Watermelon chunk for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, puree frozen watermelon.
- In a pitcher, add ice, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Stir to mix.
- Add watermelon puree, stirring again to mix all ingredients.
- When serving, pour into cocktail glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with watermelon wedge and optional salt rim.
Frozen Strawberry Margaritas
Strawberry margaritas are a crowd favorite. The added benefit of the frozen recipe is they're sure to cool everyone down faster than a shaken margarita.
Ingredients
- 2 1.75L bottles tequila (14¾ cups)
- 2½ 1L bottles triple sec (10½ cups)
- 2 cups lime juice
- ¾ 375mL bottle simple syrup (1 cup)
- 14 cups frozen strawberries
- 6 cups ice
- Strawberry for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, puree frozen strawberries and ice. If necessary, make in small batches and add to pitcher so as not to overload blender.
- In a large pitcher, add frozen mix, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Stir to mix.
- When serving, pour into cocktail glass.
- Garnish with strawberry and optional salt rim.
Raspberry Margarita
This margarita almost drinks like a sangria, making it great for a Sunday afternoon or brunch.
Ingredients
- 5 cups frozen raspberries
- 2 1.75L bottles tequila (14¾ cups)
- 2 1L bottles triple sec (8½ cups)
- 1 1L bottle raspberry liqueur (4¼ cups)
- 3 cups lime juice
- ½ 375mL bottle simple syrup (¾ cup)
- 8 cups lemon-lime or club soda
- 4 cups ice
- Lime wheels and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, puree frozen raspberries.
- In a pitcher, add ice, tequila, triple sec, raspberry liqueur, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Stir to mix.
- Add sparkling soda.
- Garnish with lime wheels and mint sprig.
- When serving, pour into cocktail glass over fresh ice.
Cucumber Basil Margarita
This margarita won't pack as much of a punch as the others, making it a great option for when you want to serve a group something a little lighter. It does take a bit of planning, but it is well worth the effort.
Ingredients
- 2 1.75L bottles cucumber-infused tequila (14½ cups)
- 1¾ 1L bottles triple sec (7½ cups)
- 4 cups lime juice
- 1 375mL bottle simple syrup (1½ cups)
- 1 375mL bottle basil simple syrup (1½ cups)
- 10 cups club soda
- 9 cups ice
- Basil sprig and cucumber strips for garnish
Instructions
- To infuse the tequila, slice up 8 cucumbers and add to tequila. Cover and let sit for 24-36 hours. Strain cucumbers out cucumbers before using and discard cucumbers.
- In a pitcher, add ice, cucumber-infused tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and both simple syrups.
- Stir to mix.
- Add club soda, stirring again.
- When serving, garnish rocks glass with cucumber strip before filling with fresh ice.
- Pour margarita into serving glass, garnishing with basil sprig.
Margarita Machines
The beauty of modern times are the machines that make life so much easier. Margarita machines tend to be able to hold more ingredients at a time than blenders, so if margaritas or other frozen drinks are a staple for you, consider investing. Some will hold large quantities of ice to blend as you go, while others are a one-pan style approach, where you will combine all your ingredients into a single space.
Mechanical Margarita
This basic margarita recipe leaves room for modifications to make the best margarita for you.
Ingredients
- 2¼ 1.75L bottles tequila (16¾ cups)
- 3 1L bottles triple sec (12¾ cups)
- 6 cups lime juice
- 2 375mL bottles simple syrup (3 cups)
- 9 cups ice
- Lime wedges and salt for garnish
Instructions
- In the margarita machine, add all ingredients and allow to blend.
- To prepare margarita glass, rub the rim of the glass with lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- Serve blended margarita in prepared glass.
Party of One
If you're not looking to make up enough margaritas for the neighborhood, you can follow the 3-2-1 method for margaritas. Three parts tequila, 2 parts triple sec, and 1 part lime juice. Feel free to use simple syrup or agave, and add those to taste preference. Here are two quick recipes for both the shaken and stirred single serve.
Single Serving Shaken Margarita
This recipe is the quickest way to a great margarita.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces tequila
- 1 ounce triple sec
- ½ ounce lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Lime wedges and salt for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rocks glass, rub the rim of the glass with lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with fresh lime wedge.
Single Serving Blended Margarita
If your blender only gets used to make the occasional morning green smoothie, this is a great way to finally enjoy the sound in the afternoon.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tequila
- 1¼ ounces triple sec
- ¾ ounce lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1½ cups ice
- Lime wedges and salt for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare margarita glass, rub the rim of the glass with lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a blender, add ice, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Blend ingredients until it reaches your desired thickness.
- Pour margarita mix into prepared glass.
- Garnish with fresh lime wedge.
One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Gallon Tequila
Margaritas are one of the simplest of classic cocktails, whether blended or shaken. If you want to hold onto summer just a little longer, the three gallon blender recipes are sure to do the trick. But if shaken is more your style, then the pitcher will be waiting for you in your fridge once the chores are done and you're ready to greet friends and show off your new margarita recipes.