I’ve given my classic margarita recipe a dill pickle twist with this easy Pickle Margarita recipe! The cocktail is bright and citrusy and refreshing, just like the traditional version, but with an irresistible savory-tart dill pickle flavor.
You may consider yourself a pickle aficionado because of your deep, abiding love for Fried Pickles, Pickle Pizza, and Pickle Roll Ups, but I don’t think you can join the official pickle fan club until you’ve tried this Pickle Margarita recipe! It’s a new way to enjoy that tart, bright dill pickle awesomeness – but because it’s made with traditional margarita ingredients (it’s adapted from my Classic Margarita), the taste doesn’t stray too far from the original. Pickle Fan Club members, raise your glasses high!
Why I Can’t Get Enough of This Pickle Margarita
Now, I’m no stranger to pickle flavored drinks. I had my first pickle beer many years ago at the Minnesota State Fair and always welcome an extra splash of pickle juice to a loaded Bloody Mary. This pickle margarita has a novelty factor going for, I readily admit, but it’s much more than that — it’s also a seriously good marg, with balanced flavor. Here’s why I’m so enamored with this recipe:
- A pop of bright, tangy flavor. This pickle margarita doesn’t taste like drinking pickle juice straight from the jar, I promise. Instead, the pickle juice adds an unmistakeable tart freshness and a briny-savory note.
- The ultimate conversation starter. Mix these pickle margaritas up at your next party and people will talk. Everyone will be excited to give them a try and compare notes. (Pair them with chips and Dill Pickle Dip since you’ll already have the jar of pickles on hand!)
- Easy to make. Margaritas are one of the simpler cocktails to make and if you don’t have a fully stocked liquor cabinet, you’ll be glad to know you only need tequila and orange liqueur for this one.
What You’ll Need
If you’ve made your own margaritas before, you likely already have these ingredients on hand. Scroll down to the printable recipe card to find the exact ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Lime wedge + Tajín – These are optional, if you’d like to rim the glass. (I totally recommend this!)
- Pickle juice – After experimenting with a few different store-bought pickles, I landed on Claussen Kosher Dill Spears as my pickle of choice for these margs. My homemade Dill Pickles also lend a similar flavor profile.
- Tequila – Use blanco tequila, which is not aged so it has a very clean flavor that pairs well with the fresh pickles.
- Orange liqueur – Like Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec.
- Lime juice – ALWAYS use freshly squeezed lime juice for the best vibrant flavor when you’re making margaritas.
- Simple syrup – You can purchase this at a liquor store or make your own; I share instructions in the recipe card notes. This adds just a tiny bit of sweetness.
- Pickle spear + lime wedge – For garnish, if you’d like.
How to Make a Pickle Margarita
Here’s what you’ll need to do to make this margarita recipe yourself.
- Rim the glass. Rub the lime wedge around the rim of the margarita glass and dip it in a small plate of Tajín.
- Make the margarita. Add the pickle juice, tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake. Cover the cocktail shaker tightly and shake vigorously for 30 seconds to perfectly chill and dilute the drink. I love how COLD and REFRESHING this makes the margarita!
- Pour. Then strain the drink into the glass with fresh ice.
- Garnish. Add a lime wedge and pickle spear to the glass, then ENJOY!
Tips & Variations
Your pickle margarita will turn out perfect if you follow these tips. I also have some variation ideas for you!
- Use the right pickles. Some pickles have brightly colored (not naturally colored) brine in the jar; I prefer to skip the food coloring and opt for a more natural, fresh pickle with light, bright flavor, like the Claussen Kosher Dills I recommend above. Another good option is Grillo’s Classic Dill Pickle Spears – just know that their dill and garlic flavor is stronger, so you can use a touch less pickle juice.
- Skip the simple syrup if you’d like. Your pickle margarita will be less sweet, but it won’t be completely tart, as orange liqueur is sweetened.
- Add some heat. If you’d like to make a spicy pickle margarita, add slices of jalapeño to the simple syrup as you boil it. Strain them out before using the syrup. You can also simply toss some jalapeño slices directly into the shaker for more undiluted heat. Or add jalapeno slices to the cocktail shaker and use a muddler to crush them and extract their spicy flavor, then shake with the rest of the margarita ingredients.
Serving Suggestions
Whenever I shake up these dill pickle margaritas, I like to pair them up with appetizers like Macho Nachos, BBQ Chicken Sliders, or Totchos.
To serve with a meal, these dishes work really well: Chicken Fajita Bowl, Blackened Shrimp Tacos and a big, beautiful platter of Grilled Vegetables!
Make It for a Crowd
If you want to make a big batch of pickle margaritas for a party, you can easily do that without having to shake them one by one! Scale up the recipe as needed and stir everything in a pitcher. Chill until you’re ready to serve, then pour into rimmed glasses with ice and garnish.
More Creative Margarita Recipes
Pickle Margarita
Ingredients
- lime wedge and Tajin seasoning, optional for rimming the glass
- 2 ounces pickle juice see Notes
- 1½ ounces blanco tequila
- 1 ounce orange liqueur (such as Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec)
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup see Notes
- pickle spear and lime wheel/wedge, optional garnishes
Instructions
- Glass Rim (optional): Add a couple tablespoons of Tajin to a small plate. Run the cut edge of the lime wedge around the rim of a glass, then dip the rim into the salt. Set aside.
- Margarita: Add pickle juice, tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and (optional) simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Add ice to half-full. Cover and vigorously shake for 30 seconds to perfectly chill and dilute the drink.
- Add fresh ice to prepared glass and strain the margarita over the ice. Garnish as desired (I like a pickle spear + lime wheel/wedge) – and enjoy!
get new posts via email: