Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita

While I could just as well say that I can’t resist any margarita, this pineapple jalapeño margarita is definitely a special one. I always gravitate toward a spicy margarita on any cocktail menu, and recently enjoyed a pineapple jalapeño version at Margarita Paradise inside the Milwaukee Public Market. It was fantastic!

A riff on a classic margarita, this gorgeous golden cocktail adds in sweet pineapple juice and spicy jalapeño. It’s a delicious combination of sweet, tart, and heat with that unique tequila flavor that margarita lovers adore.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s exactly what you’ll need to make this spicy pineapple margarita at home. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for the full list with amounts.

• Tequila – I like to use blanco (silver) tequila for a clean, fresh flavor.
• Jalapeño – A couple of thin slices is all you need… unless you want it extra spicy, of course. Then add as much as you like! For a milder drink, removing the seeds will tame the heat.
• Pineapple juice – Use fresh pineapple juice or look for 100% pineapple juice that is “not from concentrate”.
• Triple sec – An orange liqueur. I like to use the Cointreau brand in this drink.
• Lime juice – Please use FRESH-SQUEEZED lime juice. This will give you the freshest, best-tasting margarita.
• Lime wedge – I like to add one last squeeze of lime before serving, and then plop the wedge right into the drink.
• Optional garnishes – It’s always fun to fancy up a cocktail. A fresh pineapple wedge and jalapeno slice(s) are great for this cocktail!

Make a Salt Rim

First things first. Do you want a spiced salt rim on the glass? I HIGHLY recommend a salt rim. It’s not only pretty, but it also adds a fun texture and another layer of flavor.

• Combine salt and chili powder. If so, stir together some kosher salt and your favorite chili powder.
• Wet the rim. Next, run the cut side of a fresh lime wedge around the glass rim.
• Dip! Dip the glass upside-down into the salt mixture.

Another great alternative is to dip the rim in Tajin or a combination of Tajin and kosher salt. I love the zingy lime flavor in the Tajin seasoning.

How to Make a Spicy Pineapple Margarita

And now to make the margarita! It’s easy to make margaritas at home. Grab a jalapeño and let’s make it spicy. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid is more than fine.

1. Muddle the jalapeño. First, muddle tequila and jalapeño in a cocktail shaker with a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients. Add pineapple juice, orange liqueur, and lime juice to the cocktail shaker, followed by a handful of ice cubes. Tightly cap the shaker.
3. Shake and strain. Shake the cocktail vigorously for 30 seconds, until thoroughly chilled. Then, strain the margarita into your prepared glass. Add enough cubed or crushed ice to fill the glass.
4. Garnish and serve. Finish the spicy pineapple margarita by squeezing a fresh lime wedge over the top, and then add it to the drink. If you’d like, garnish the glass with a pineapple wedge and jalapeño slices. Enjoy!

Spicy Margarita Pitcher

Most often, when I make a margarita, I’m making multiple margaritas. It’s a celebratory kind of cocktail, and I enjoy mixing up pretty drinks to hand to my friends! The recipe card is written for a single drink, but I also include quantities and instructions for making a pitcher of margaritas in the notes.

Essentially, making a pitcher of margarita is the same as making a single glass, just in larger form:

• Muddle. Instead of muddling the tequila and jalapeño slices together in a cocktail shaker, you will muddle them in a pitcher.
• Mix. Add the remaining pineapple juice, orange liqueur, and lime juice to the pitcher. Place the pitcher in the fridge to chill for up to 3 hours.
• Serve. When you’re ready to serve the pineapple jalapeño margaritas, measure out the margarita mixture from the pitcher and shake individual drinks with ice in a cocktail shaker (just like the instructions for the single recipe). OR you can simply stir the margarita mixture with ice in individual cocktail glasses.

Tips for the Best Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita

• Use fresh 100% pineapple juice. So that means fresh pineapple juice that you’ve juiced or purchased. Or a container labeled “not from concentrate”, which can be found in both the refrigerated juice section and the regular juice section at the store.
• Only fresh limes will do. No lime juice concentrates allowed in my margaritas!
• Use only good-quality tequila. It’s true – the better the ingredients, the better the outcome. Look for labels that say “100% agave”. This means the tequila is distilled only from Mexican blue agave plants, with absolutely nothing else added.
• Shake that cocktail shaker! And shake it vigorously for 30 seconds. No less! This gives the drink a blast of ultra-coldness and dilutes it to the perfect strength. While the shaking method is preferred, stirring works in a pinch. Just know that the stirring method will give you a slightly stronger drink.
• Include a spiced salt rim on the glass. It’s another step, I know, but it’s an easy one that adds flavor and flair!
• Add fun garnishes. “It’s so aesthetic!” Or so our teenage daughters like to say. In other words, garnishes add visual appeal. :)

MOre Variations

I’m usually open to changing up a recipe. Here are some variations that I like for this spicy pineapple margarita:

• Include another fresh fruit juice along with the pineapple juice. A little mango, orange, or strawberry juice would be lovely.
• Alter the amount of heat. This is very easy to do. If you want more heat, add more jalapeño slices and muddle them for a longer time. The more you bruise the jalapeño, the more it will infuse its spiciness into the tequila.
• Grill some pineapple and jalapeño. Give your margarita a smoky flavor by muddling some grilled pineapple and jalapeño with the tequila.
• Add even more smoky flavor by substituting all or some of the blanco tequila for mezcal. (Have you tried my jalapeño mezcal margarita?!)
• Use a barrel-aged tequila (a gold-colored tequila that has been aged longer, such as añejo or reposado). This will add a warm, toasty flavor with notes of caramel, butter, vanilla, and spice.
• Add cilantro. Then muddle it a bit to release a lightly herbal flavor and scent.

What to Serve with a Pineapple Margarita

I never tire of Mexican meals; our family enjoys them every single week. Here are a few suggestions for you, meals that go great with margaritas!

• Pulled pork. Try carnitas tucked into a warm flour tortilla for weeknight tacos. Or, have a platter of pulled pork nachos. While it isn’t pulled pork, these mole pork tacos are quick and easy!
• Seafood. My margarita grilled shrimp is one of my favorite meals. This sweet-spicy cocktail also pairs nicely with blackened shrimp tacos, fish tacos, and this chipotle orange salmon.
• Salad. This Dorito taco salad is always a crowd-pleaser.
• Happy hour snacks. Enjoy a cold pineapple jalapeño margarita alongside a bowl of tortilla chips and queso fundido or grilled shrimp ceviche.

More Cocktail Recipes

• Americano Cocktail
• Paloma Cocktail
• Classic Daiquiri
• Tequila Mojito
• Amaretto Sour