Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita

Why You'll Love This 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 jalapeno you add. Jalapenos are milder than other peppers which makes them perfect for a cocktail like this because you can adjust the level of spiciness for each cocktail more easily.

Tropical flavors - Pineapple juice in the margarita and tajin on the glass rim will transport you to a summer vacation in every sip! 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 - so simple.

Ingredients

• Tequila - Both Blanco 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 or Triple Sec 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 juice, the better the cocktail. Always try to go with 100% pineapple juice and not from a concentrate whenever possible.
• Lime juice - Freshly squeezed lime juice is always the best!
• 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.
• Jalapeno - 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 for a couple of hours, strain it, and you'll always be ready for spicy margaritas without needing fresh jalapenos every time!
• Tajin - You can use tajin for your glass rim as you would salt on a margarita. 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.

Alternatively, you can skip the tequila and Cointreau and add freshly squeezed orange juice and top up the drink with sparkling water 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.

Into a cocktail shaker add tequila, Cointreau, simple syrup or agave syrup, lime juice, pineapple juice, and 1 jalapeno slice.

Add a handful of ice and shake vigorously for a few seconds.

Strain the margarita into your prepared glass and garnish with a slice of lime or jalapeno, a wedge of pineapple, and pineapple leaves if desired. Enjoy!

FAQs

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 cocktails, head over to the Cocktails Category.

• Hibiscus Margarita
• Passion Fruit Margarita
• Lemon Margarita
• Raspberry Margarita