Pineapple Margarita Mocktail: Your New Clean Summer Drink

Pineapple Margarita Mocktail: Your New Clean Summer Drink

Taking a break from alcohol? This margarita mocktail is the perfect sip for backyard barbeques, holiday celebrations, or lazy pool days. Serve it solo for a refreshing summer drink—or pair it with our fish tacos or burrito bowls for a healthy Cinco de Mayo spread that’s cleanse-approved. 

This pineapple margarita mocktail proves you can still enjoy happy hour and live clean. Made with fresh pineapple, tangy lime juice, and citrusy cilantro, this mocktail captures that classic margarita vibe—without the alcohol, sugar, or added junk. Whether you’re cleansing, going alcohol-free, or simply taking a break from booze, this virgin margarita has got you covered.

This margarita mocktail is the perfect sip for backyard barbeques, holiday celebrations, or lazy pool days. Serve it solo for a refreshing summer drink—or pair it with our fish tacos or burrito bowls for a healthy Cinco de Mayo spread that’s cleanse-approved. 

A Healthier Spin on Margaritas

Traditional margaritas are made with tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave. While these ingredients may taste great, they can take a toll on your health. Alcohol and added sugars can stress the liver, spike your blood sugar, and leave you dehydrated. Over time, this can lead to inflammation, sluggish digestion, and energy crashes.

This non-alcoholic margarita allows you to enjoy that delicious margarita flavor while sticking to your clean lifestyle. Here’s a look at some of the beneficial ingredients in this margarita mocktail recipe:

Benefits of pineapple

Pineapple is a sweet tropical fruit that comes with some major health perks. It’s rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant that promotes immune function and protects your cells from oxidative stress. A one-cup serving of pineapple delivers 88% of your daily vitamin C needs.

Pineapple also supports a healthy digestive system. It contains bromelain, a type of enzyme that helps your body break down protein. Pineapple is also rich in fiber, which helps your food move through your digestive tract and supports gut health.

While most pineapple margaritas use juice, this version blends the fruit instead. This keeps the fiber intact, which slows down glucose absorption to support blood sugar balance.

Cilantro is a detox booster

Cilantro brings a bright, citrusy flavor to this virgin margarita, but it also enhances detox. Research shows this herb acts as a natural chelator. Meaning, it binds to heavy metals like mercury, lead, and aluminum and helps escort them out of the body.

Heavy metal buildup can contribute to inflammation, hormone imbalances, fatigue, and much more. Including more cilantro in your diet is a simple way to support your body’s natural detox pathways and prevent toxin buildup.

Cilantro is also rich in nutrients like vitamin A, C, and K, as well as potassium and manganese. It’s a flavorful way to support your body anytime, but especially while cleansing on Clean 7 or Clean 21

Pineapple Margarita Mocktail Recipe

Pineapple margarita mocktail in glass from aboveHere’s a look at the ingredients you’ll need to make this virgin margarita mocktail:

  • Pineapple: Most margarita mocktails get their sweetness from orange juice and agave—both excluded on the cleanse. To keep this recipe cleanse-friendly, we’ve chosen pureed pineapple instead. This gives this drink a delicious sweetness while keeping the fiber intact, which helps blunt the glucose spike from the fruit’s natural sugars. 
  • Lime juice: Fresh is best—for flavor and nutrition. Skip the bottled juices and squeeze your own for a brighter flavor and a boost of vitamin C. Plan on using 2 limes per serving: 1½ for juice, and ½ for garnish.  
  • Fresh cilantro: This herb brings a fresh citrusy note that complements the tropical flavors. Cilantro also supports detoxification, making it the perfect fit for a clean mocktail. You’ll need a small handful for this recipe—a few sprigs to muddle and a sprig to garnish. 
  • Sparkling water: Adds fizz and helps balance the sweet and tangy flavors. 
  • Sea salt: Enhances the flavors while adding essential minerals. However, if you’re watching your sodium intake, feel free to omit it. 

How to Make a Pineapple Margarita Mocktail

Pineapple margarita mocktail ingredients on wooden boardIngredients

Makes 1 serving

  • ¾ cup fresh pineapple
  • 3 tbsp lime juice (about 1½ small limes, plus more for garnish)
  • 4 sprigs cilantro
  • Sparkling water
  • Ice

Directions

Salting rim of margarita glass1. Sprinkle some flaky sea salt on a small plate. Cut a notch in a lime wedge and run it around the rim of a 12-ounce glass. Dip the rim of the glass into the salt. 

Pureeing fresh pineapple in blender2. Add the pineapple to a Vitamix or other high-speed blender and puree until smooth. You may need to scrape down the sides with a spatula to get it all blended up.

3. Add the lime juice, pureed pineapple, and three sprigs of cilantro to a cocktail shaker. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the blender so you get all that pineapple goodness! 

4. Muddle the cilantro with a muddler or wooden spoon for 15-20 seconds. This helps release the herb’s oil for a deeper flavor. 

5. Add the top to the cocktail shaker and give it a few good shakes. Discard the cilantro sprigs (they’ll be slimy from the muddling).

Pouring sparkling water into margarita mocktail6. Fill the salted glass with ice and pour in the pineapple lime mixture. Top with sparkling water and give it a good stir.

Pineapple margarita mocktail in glass7. Garnish with a lime slice and a sprig of cilantro and enjoy!

Margarita Mocktail Recipe Variations

  • Swap the herbs: If you’re not a fan of cilantro, you can swap it for some fresh parsley instead—just use ½ the amount. Or you can just nix it altogether. 
  • Get spicy: if you’re not cleansing, feel free to muddle a slice of jalapeno for a spicy kick. Chile peppers like jalapenos are considered nightshades, which some people are sensitive to. For this reason, they’re not allowed on the elimination diet of Clean 7 or Clean 21. 
  • Adjust the rim: Want even more spice? Rim the glass with a little Tajin, but only if not cleansing. Tajin has a mix of salt, lime, and dried chili peppers, so it’s in the nightshade family too.
  • Blend it up: Craving a frozen margarita instead? After muddling the ingredients, add the lime juice and pineapple puree to a blender (just be sure to discard the muddled cilantro). Toss in a cup of ice and blend until smooth and slushy. 
  • Make a pitcher: If you’re planning to serve these margarita mocktails at a gathering, you can easily scale this recipe to serve four. To make a pitcher, puree 3 cups of pineapple (about 2 cups puree) in a blender. Add to a pitcher along with ¾ cup lime juice (about 6 small limes). Add a few handfuls of cilantro, muddle, and remove herbs. Add 2 cans of sparkling water and stir well. Pour over serving glasses filled with ice and garnish. 

Pineapple margarita mocktail from side

Recipe and photography by Mindy Palmer 

Looking for more clean mocktails? Try our Yuzu Mojito Mocktail or Magnesium Coconut Water Mocktail.