Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita

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This Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy, and it's a great summer cocktail! It's made with pineapple juice and fresh jalapeños. It can be ready in just a few minutes, and it's perfect for a summer BBQ or a day by the pool!

Bright yellow margarita in a short glass garnished with tajin, a wedge of pineapple, a slice of lime, and a slice of jalapeno with more fruits and drinks in the backround.

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Why You'll Love This Spicy Pineapple Margarita
Ingredients
Mocktail Version
Step-by-Step Instructions
Tips & Tricks!
FAQs
More Margarita Recipes
📖 Recipe

Why You'll Love This Spicy Pineapple Margarita

Perfectly spicy - If you love anything spicy, this margarita is for you! You can make it as spicy as you want based on how much jalapeño you add. Jalapeños are milder than other peppers, which makes them perfect for a cocktail like this because you can adjust the spice level for each cocktail more easily. Even just one slice of jalapeno gives the cocktail a nice kick!

Tropical flavors - Pineapple juice in the margarita and tajin on the glass rim will transport you to a summer vacation with every sip! My Classic Margarita is always my go-to but it's so fun to change up the flavors sometimes! You can even serve it with some Pineapple Pico de Gallo on the side at parties or get-togethers!

Easy to make - This margarita looks super fancy yet it's incredibly easy to make, just like the classic version we all know. Just toss everything into a blender and shake! No need for homemade syrups either; it's so simple!

Bright yellow margarita in a short glass garnished with tajin, a wedge of pineapple, a slice of lime, and a slice of jalapeno.

Ingredients

Tequila - Both Blanco tequila and Reposado tequila work here. My personal go-to is always Reposado. I don't recommend Anejo here because it's too woody.
Orange liqueur - Cointreau, Triple Sec, or Grand Marnier are the most often used ones and the ones I recommend. Cointreau is always in my liquor cabinet so it's the one I always use. Any orange liqueur you like works.
Pineapple juice - The better the quality of the juice, the better the cocktail. Always try to go with 100% pineapple juice and not one from a concentrate whenever possible. Fresh pineapple juice would be the best here, but I rarely juice my own pineapple.
Fresh lime juice - Freshly squeezed lime juice will always yield the best flavor, but you can use bottled lime juice in a pinch.
Agave syrup - You can sweeten this cocktail with pure agave syrup or with simple syrup, based on your preference and what you have on hand. You can make simple syrup by simmering cane sugar with water in a 1:1 ratio for 5-10 minutes. I also have a separate post for Pineapple Simple Syrup!
Jalapeño - Less is more here; all you need is 1-2 slices for one cocktail, and it's going to be plenty spicy! I highly recommend removing the seeds before adding it to your cocktail shaker. Alternatively, you can add sliced jalapeno into a jar of tequila to infuse it for a couple of hours, then strain it, and you'll always be ready for spicy margaritas without needing fresh jalapenos every time!
Tajin - You can use tajin seasoning for your glass rim as you would salt on a margarita. It's a mixture of ground chili powder, dehydrated limes, and sea salt. It adds a little bit of flavor and goes really well with the pineapple and spicy jalapeno.

Mocktail Version

You can use non-alcoholic tequila in your drink and freshly squeezed orange juice in place of the orange liqueur to get a mocktail that's very similar to the original. There are also non-alcoholic orange liqueurs on the market these days, so if you find one and like it, definitely use it here!

Alternatively, you can skip the tequila and Cointreau completely, add freshly squeezed orange juice, and top up the drink with sparkling water, club soda, or a flavored unsweetened soda.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To prep your glass, brush the rim of the glass with agave syrup and dip it in Tajin. Fill the glass with ice and set it aside.

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Tequila and pineapple juice being poured into a glass cocktail shaker.

Into a cocktail shaker, add tequila, Cointreau, simple syrup or agave syrup, lime juice, pineapple juice, and 1 jalapeno slice (remove the seeds if you don't want the margarita to be too spicy).
You can muddle the jalapeno with the rest of the ingredients using a muddler here, but I don't find it necessary. Shaking the cocktail makes it plenty spicy.

Lime juice and jalapeno slices being added to a glass cocktail shaker.

Add a cup of ice and shake vigorously for a few seconds.
Strain the margarita into your prepared glass and garnish with a lime wedge or a slice of lime or jalapeño slices, fresh pineapple, and pineapple leaves if desired. Enjoy!

A bright yellow cocktail being shaken in a glass cocktail shaker and being poured into a short glass.

Tips & Tricks!

Infuse your tequila with jalapenos - You can add 1-2 sliced jalapeños to a bottle of tequila and let that sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours before making your cocktails. This way, you don't have to add jalapeños to each drink! Transfer your tequila to a mason jar first; otherwise, the jalapeños will be impossible to remove. Always try this with a smaller amount first in case it's too strong to avoid wasting tequila!
Grilled pineapple - You can either serve the drink with a slice of pineapple from the grill, or you can add a few chunks of grilled pineapple straight into your shaker to infuse the cocktail with the grilled flavor!
Pitcher version - Multiply the ingredients by however many servings you need and add everything to a large pitcher. Remove the seeds of 1 fresh jalapeño and slice it up. Add it to the pitcher and let that sit for a couple of minutes. Taste it, and fish out the jalapeños with a fork if it's strong enough. Serve over ice and enjoy! You can also leave it in the fridge for a couple of hours before your guests arrive (without the jalapeño).
Blend it - Follow my Frozen Pineapple Margarita recipe, but before you add tequila to the blender, infuse it with a couple of slices of jalapeño for a few minutes. You can also infuse the Pineapple Syrup the frozen version uses with jalapeños and use it in a variety of other drinks!

FAQs

What is a spicy margarita made of?

Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, simple syrup, and a slice of jalapeno. This recipe also includes pineapple juice for added flavor and sweetness.

How spicy is this margarita?

It depends on how many slices of jalapeno peppers you add. One slice for one cocktail is plenty. If you don't want the drink to be overly spicy, I highly recommend removing the seeds before adding the jalapeno to your cocktail shaker!

How do I make jalapeno tequila?

Slice 1-2 jalapenos in half (depending on how much heat you want) and add it to a jar with 2 cups of tequila. Leave it to sit at room temperature, covered for 2-10 hours. The time will depend on how spicy you want it to be. Most recipes recommend 10-12 hours, but I find it to be spicy enough after 2-3 hours, especially if you're adding seeds as well. Strain the tequila back into the jar and store it at room temperature for up to 6 months.

More Margarita Recipes

Margarita is always my go-to cocktail, and creating new flavors is always fun! Below are four of my favorites for the summer. If you want to see all the latest ones, head over to the Cocktails!

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Have you tried this Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita? Please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!

Looking for something to serve the margarita with? Grab my free Top 10 Best Appetizers e-book for ideas! Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest and Instagram to always stay in the loop!