✔ Updated · fresh-juice recipe, step photos and fruity variations
A virgin margarita on the rocks is what I pour on hot afternoons when I want all the lime, salt and zing without the alcohol. Fresh juice is the whole secret, and it takes five minutes.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Squeeze the limes yourself. Bottled lime juice tastes flat, and in a drink with no tequila to hide behind, the fresh juice is what makes it taste like a margarita.
Why You'll Love This Mocktail
- Tastes like the real thing, tart, salty and bright.
- Five minutes, with ingredients you probably have.
- Easy to scale, from one glass to a party pitcher.
What Is a Virgin Margarita?
It's a margarita with no alcohol. Fresh lime is the star, orange juice stands in for the orange liqueur, and agave rounds off the sourness. The salted rim and a splash of soda water make it taste like a real bar drink.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Fresh juice, always. Two limes give about 1 1/2 ounces of juice. Roll them on the counter first and they give up more.
- Balance it to taste. Too tart? Add another teaspoon of agave. Too sweet? A squeeze more lime. I taste it straight from the shaker before it goes in the glass.
- My favorite twist. Muddle two or three ripe strawberries in the shaker before the ice goes in. The drink turns pale pink and tastes like summer in a glass.
- Spicy version. Muddle two thin slices of jalapeño in the shaker, and add a pinch of chili powder to the rim salt.
- Pitcher for a party. Multiply by 8: 12 ounces lime juice, 8 ounces orange juice and about 1/3 cup agave. Chill, then pour over ice and top each glass with soda water.
- About zero-proof spirits. Many contain a trace of alcohol (up to 0.5% ABV). If you need to avoid alcohol completely, skip it and use the fresh-juice version.
Virgin Margarita on the Rocks
1
drink5
minutes0
minutes75
kcal5
minutesAn alcohol-free margarita on the rocks: fresh lime and orange juice sweetened with agave, shaken with ice, poured into a salt-rimmed glass and finished with a splash of soda water. Add a zero-proof tequila alternative if you like.
Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
1 ounce fresh orange juice
2 teaspoons agave nectar or simple syrup
2 ounces zero-proof tequila alternative (optional)
1 to 2 ounces soda water
coarse margarita salt or kosher salt, for the rim
lime wedge and lime wheel
ice
Directions
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of a rocks glass, then dip the rim into a saucer of coarse salt and twist.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- Squeeze the limes and orange.
- Add the lime juice, orange juice, agave and the zero-proof tequila alternative (if using) to a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice. Shake hard for about 15 seconds, until frosty.
- Strain into the salted glass without touching the rim, top with a splash of soda water and stir once. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Notes
- If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, any kind of shaker will do, such as a protein shaker or even a hydration cup. If you have a metal mixing ball to go with it, so much the better.
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Fruity Variations
- Strawberry: muddle 3 strawberries in the shaker.
- Watermelon: add 2 ounces fresh watermelon juice.
- Pineapple: swap the orange juice for pineapple juice.
- Mango: blend with frozen mango and ice for a frozen version.
- Cucumber: muddle 3 cucumber slices for a cool, garden-fresh twist.
More Mocktails
Looking for more alcohol-free drinks? Try my virgin mimosa, virgin mai tai, virgin sangria or the old fashioned mocktail. For the grown-up versions, see my watermelon margarita and pineapple margarita.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make a virgin margarita?
Yes. A virgin margarita uses fresh lime juice, orange juice for the orange-liqueur flavor, and agave for sweetness, shaken with ice and served in a salt-rimmed glass. A zero-proof tequila alternative is optional.
What can I use instead of tequila in a virgin margarita?
Use a zero-proof agave spirit, or skip it and add a splash of soda water or sparkling water for body. A tiny pinch of salt in the shaker also helps it taste more like the real thing.
How many calories are in a virgin margarita?
This recipe has about 75 calories, mostly from the orange juice and agave. Bottled margarita mix is much sweeter, often 100 to 150 calories or more per glass.
Can you drink margarita mix by itself?
You can, but I wouldn't. Bottled mix on its own tastes flat and very sweet to me, and fresh lime with a little agave over ice is barely more work and so much brighter.
Can I make a frozen virgin margarita?
Yes. Blend the lime juice, orange juice and agave with about 1 1/2 cups of ice until slushy. Add a few frozen strawberries or mango chunks for a fruity frozen version.
