Tin Can Margaritas
Classic margaritas for a crowd couldn’t be easier! These “tin can” margaritas are made with just 4 easy ingredients, including frozen limeade concentrate.
You know what your summer needs? A night with friends filled with fun, laughter, and a big pitcher of margarita. And I am 100% here for you with the easiest big batch margarita cocktail recipe. It all starts with a can of frozen limeade concentrate which you then use to measure the rest of your ingredients. Dump it all into a pitcher with some ice and you’re done! Easy-peasy.
This limeade margarita recipe is, of course, best shared with others. And it can easily be scaled up as needed to fit the size of your gathering. Cheers!
“Great recipe!! I made it 5 times (tonight) and nothing left to show for it! 5 stars in my book and all my guests raved about it as well!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐” —from reader Laura
Table of Contents
Ingredients you’ll need
- Frozen limeade concentrate, find it in the freezer section at your grocery store!
- Blanco tequila or reposado tequila, per your preference.
- Cointreau, triple sec, grand Marnier or other orange liqueur.
- Fresh lemon juice. Lemon juice is a little sweeter that lime juice and it balances the flavors nicely.
How to make tin can margaritas
You’re going to love this easy margarita recipe!
- Add limeade concentrate to a pitcher. You can let it thaw first or put it in frozen.
- Measure out other ingredients. Use the now-empty concentrate can to measure the tequila, orange liqueur, lemon juice and cold water.
- Stir to combine. Use a large spoon to combine everything and make sure the frozen concentrate is incorporated. Add ice and lime slices to the pitcher, if you want.
- Serve and enjoy! Rim glasses with coarse salt or tajin (for a bit of heat), add ice, and pour the margaritas into each glass. Garnish with lime wedges or lime slices.
Variations
Raspberry margaritas— use frozen pink lemonade concentrate, and fresh lime juice instead of lemon juice. Garnish with fresh raspberries.
Beer margaritas— omit orange liqueur and instead add 12 ounces of beer.
Frozen margaritas— fill blender with 4 cups of ice and add all ingredients except the water. Blend until smooth.
FAQs
Minute Maid is my favorite brand to use for this recipe, but more generic brands will work too. It’s been harder over the years to find limeade concentrate, so you might have to try multiple stores. If you can’t find it, you can use lemonade concentrate and swap the lemon juice for fresh lime juice instead.
This recipe is specifically a big batch recipe that uses concentrate for ease. If you’d like a different recipe, there are lots of other options out there!
Other liquors like gin or vodka can be used in place on tequila for a different cocktail taste. If you want this recipe to be alcohol-free, add one can of limeade concentrate to a pitcher and top with 2 liter bottle of sprite (or club soda for a less-sweet option). Garnish with fresh lime wedges or slices.
Absolutely! This recipe scales up really easily for larger parties and gatherings. Use a large glass beverage dispenser so you can make a super big batch once and be done.
Get the recipe
Tin Can Margaritas
Ingredients
- 12 oz (355 ml) can frozen limeade concentrate
- 1 can (355 ml) tequila
- ½ can (177 ml) triple sec liqueur
- ½ can (177 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 can (177 ml) water , plus more to taste
- Ice
- Lime slices
- Coarse salt
Instructions
- In a large pitcher add the limeade. Use the limeade can to measure out the tequila, triple sec and lemon juice and add to pitcher.
- Add 1 can of water and taste. You'll likely want to add more water, per your preference. Add ice to the pitcher (which will also water down cocktails more).
- Use a lime slice to moisten the rims of your glasses and dip in salt. Add remaining lime slices to pitcher.
- Pour and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- For easiest mixing, let the lime concentrate thaw before using.
- Flavor variations: Raspberry margaritas— use frozen pink lemonade concentrate, and fresh lime juice instead of lemon juice. Garnish with fresh raspberries. Beer margaritas— omit orange liqueur and instead add 12 ounces of beer. Frozen margaritas— fill blender with 4 cups of ice and add all ingredients except the water. Blend until smooth.
Love this simple and easy recipie. It tends to be a little tart for me so i add a can/bottle beer. I call it a beerita!!
What a fun addition!
Good blended with ice, too.
Oooh yes, I bet!!
Can I use a strawberry one instead of the limeade one to make a batch of strawberry margaritas
Sure! That’d be a fun twist!
Making this today and I don’t think there will be any leftovers to worry about!!! Sounds easy enough. Thanks
I added a can of water to make it go further and it is fine. I had lemon sugar for the rim and used a lime wedge for garnish. Very pretty and very tasty!
Thanks for sharing! I’m excited to try these with some girlfriends tomorrow night. Can I ask where you got the pitcher? I love it!
Add orangewedge in the mix. ?
Hi! Thinking about making these for a shower; we are expecting about 30 people, and I’d be putting the batch in the large Pottery Barn dispenser (https://www.potterybarn.com/products/895862/?catalogId=82&sku=895862&bnrid=3380801&cm_ven=Google_PLA&cm_cat=Shopping&cm_pla=Feed&cm_ite=Google%20Base-895862&kwid=productads-adid^154040358229-device^c-plaid^91703615611-sku^895862-adType^PLA&gclid=CLiWipujvtQCFYgkgQod2F4HCA)
Do you think tripling the recipe is enough?
Hi Beth! Sounds like a fun shower. 🙂 How many batches you’ll need will depend on how thirsty your guests are! I would bet on 3-4 batches for 30 people. Better to have too much than too little, right?
Can any leftovers be frozen for later enjoyment?
Sure! Though with its high alcohol content it probably won’t freeze solid. It should also store well in the fridge for several days, just keep it covered to keep out any odors.
Can you freeze this for frozen margaritas?
What a great idea! I’d blend about 2 quarts of ice cubes together with the remaining ingredients to make frozen margaritas. Work in batches per the size of your blender.
Can the leftovers be frozen for later enjoyment?
Hi, do you need to add water when you make the limeade? Can’t wait to try these!
No need to add water! The alcohol “waters down” the limeade enough. 🙂
It was too syrupy if I didn’t add water. I used 2 cans water. It was perfect!
how many margaritas does this make?
It makes 8 margaritas.
How ambitious are you? 😉
I have used this recipe, yes. It’s a somewhat old one and I always use Grand Marnier.
I so wish I could be having a margarita with you right now!!!
Oh so do I! Soon, my friend. 🙂
This looks so refreshing and perfect for the summer.