A margarita is one of the most beloved of the traditional sour cocktails; containing equal parts sweet (agave syrup) and sour (lime juice), with two parts strong (tequila), millions of alcoholic margaritas are enjoyed every year. However, non-alcoholic drinkers shouldn't have to miss out on the delicious flavors of the original drink, and since lime juice and agave syrup minus the tequila would only create a delicious limeade, it begs the question of how you can make a virgin margarita just as tasty as the original. Never fear, for each of these margarita mocktail recipes will teach you just how to make a couple of 'ritas that you can enjoy during business hours.
Virgin Margarita
You can mix up this mouth-puckering mocktail in five easy steps using lime juice, orange juice, agave syrup, and lemon lime soda. Enjoy morning, noon, or night, your entire family from ages 6 to 106 can down a glass of this classic nonalcoholic Margarita mix.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge for garnish
- Rock salt for garnish
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce orange syrup
- ½ ounce agave syrup
- 2 ounces lemon lime soda
- Ice
Instructions
- Take a lime wedge and gently run it along a margarita glass' rim; take the rim and dip it into a plate of rock salt.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, orange syrup, and agave syrup.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain into the prepared margarita glass filled with ice and top with lemon-lime soda.
- Stir and garnish with the lime wedge.
Virgin Margarita Pitcher
If you're getting ready for a big party or you want to meal-prep your weekly happy hour, turn to trying this Virgin Margarita Pitcher recipe. This recipe yields about fifteen individual servings.
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons lime zest plus 1 teaspoon lime zest, divided,
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1½ cups freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 4 cups freshly squeezed orange juice
- ¼ cup agave syrup
- 2 tablespoons salt
- Lime slices, for garnish
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, mix the water and sugar together and place over medium heat.
- Add the two tablespoons of lime zest and the lemon zest.
- Slowly bring to a boil, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar.
- When the sugar dissolves, remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool.
- After the citrus syrup reaches room temperature, add the lime juice, lemon juice, orange juice, and agave syrup.
- Mix well and chill for at least two hours and preferably overnight, so the flavors can marry.
- Mix one teaspoon of lime zest with the salt in a large saucer or shallow pie pan.
- Rim the edges of the margarita glasses with a lime wedge and then dip them into a plate full of rock salt.
- Pour into the prepared glasses and garnish with a lime slice.
Frozen Margarita Mocktail
Although there are hundreds of variations on which ingredients can be included in a traditional virgin margarita recipe, this combination is easy to mix and keeps its ingredients list to readily available items. If possible, serve the drink in a traditional stemmed margarita glass, and garnish with salt and a lime wedge.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge for garnish
- Rock salt for garnish
- 1 cup frozen lime concentrate
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce agave syrup
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup crushed ice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Take a lime wedge and coat the rim of a margarita glass, then take the margarita glass and dip it into a plate of rock salt. Set aside.
- In a blender, combine the lime concentrate, lime juice, agave syrup, water, and ice.
- Blend together and pour the mixture into the prepared margarita glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel and serve.
Frozen Strawberry Margarita Mocktail
Some people like their margaritas to be a little fruitier, and strawberry is often the first fruit flavor of choice. There are a number of different recipes for frozen virgin strawberry margaritas you can try, but this recipe makes you a big batch of the mixture so that you'll have have enough on-hand to last you more than a few rounds.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce agave syrup
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup crushed ice
- Strawberry for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, combine the strawberries, lime juice, agave syrup, and water.
- Blend until smooth and pour the mixture into a margarita glass.
- Garnish with a strawberry and serve.
Mango Lime Margarita Mocktail
For a tropical twist on the fruity varieties of margarita mocktails, mango is a flavor that people gravitate towards using. Fresh ingredients like mango can lend the drink a rich flavor that you'll enjoy til the last drop.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cubed mango
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce agave syrup
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup crushed ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, combine the mango, lime juice, agave syrup, water, and ice.
- Blend until smooth and pour the mixture into a margarita glass.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.
Margarita Mocktails Seven Days A Week
Omitting the alcohol in a margarita doesn't mark the end of your go-to chips and salsa beverage; rather, any alcoholic drink that centers fruit as its main flavor can easily be converted into a delicious mocktail. Whether you like it frozen or prefer it on the rocks, each of these virgin margaritas will quench your thirst on the first sip.
