Margaritas are one of my favorite cocktails and as a huge fan of spicy drinks, this pineapple jalapeño margarita is one of my go-to drinks!

With my 3-ingredient jalapeño simple syrup, zesty lime juice, and pineapple – this drink is sweet, spicy, tangy, and smooth!

The jalapeños add a wonderful, front-of-mouth heat that tickles your lips and keeps you coming back for more.

What is Jalapeño Simple Syrup?

Simple syrup is usually made with equal parts water and sugar.

The mixture is heated to help the sugar dissolve, which yields a sweet syrup that can be used to sweeten and flavor just about anything!

This recipe makes a spicy simple syrup by making a jalapeño-infused simple syrup. The jalapeños pack this syrup with a delicious heat that adds the perfect kick to any drink.

How Spicy is This Jalapeño Simple Syrup?

Figuring out how spicy you want to make your spicy simple syrup is challenging. It will also vary based on a person’s preferences.

I want to preface this by saying I am not the type of person who loves spicy food. I get 2 stars when I order Thai food and I rarely add hot sauce to things.

With that in mind, for some reason, I love spicy cocktails. I’ve always loved that little tickle you get with each sip of a spicy drink.

When I order a spicy margarita, I want it to be just that. Spicy! It needs to have a kick and this spicy simple syrup delivers.

Don’t be scared! Keep in mind that it needs to be very spicy because you’re only using a small amount in each drink. Using 3 jalapeños works perfectly for me, but you can adjust this based on your preferences.

How Do You Make Spicy Simple Syrup for Cocktails?

I love this spicy simple syrup because it only takes about 15 minutes to make! Prepare your jalapeños first. Remove the stems and cut into slices.

Add the water into a small saucepan. Heat over a medium-high heat until the water begins to boil.

Add in the granulated sugar and stir continuously until the sugar is fully dissolved.

Add in the sliced jalapeños and turn the heat down to low and let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes.

Pour the mixture through a sieve to remove the jalapeños if you want a milder simple syrup. If you’re after more of a kick, leave them in.

Let the simple syrup cool to room temperature, then seal the top and store in the fridge until you’re ready to use it. I like to store my simple syrup into mason jars for easy storage.

If you’re making this in advance, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month. 

How To Make Pineapple Jalapeño Margaritas?

The key to a perfect margarita is fresh lime juice. Start by quartering the limes. Then, cut a couple slices of jalapeño.

Add the jalapeño simple syrup, limes, and jalapeño slices to the base of a cocktail shaker. Gently muddle the ingredients using a muddler or wide wooden spoon. This will help release the juice and get the flavors going!

To the cocktail shaker add in the tequila, pineapple juice, and some ice. Shake or stir to combine and chill the liquid.

To make your drink restaurant-quality, rim your glass! There are so many ways to do this but here’s an easy technique to start.

Rim the glass by running a lime around the top of the glass. Pour Tajín or chili lime salt onto a plate and roll the outer rim of the glass into the mixture.

Fill glass with ice and then carefully strain the cocktail shaker into the glass. Garnish with jalapeños and a slice of lime or pineapple. Cheers!

What Glass Should I Use?

Glasses are to cocktails as buttercream is to cake- it’s all about finding the perfect match! For my pineapple jalapeño margarita, I’m using an old fashioned glass.

These glasses will normally have a wide brim and a thick base. Traditionally, decorations are also cut into the glass.

With this glass, you can actually muddle all the ingredients right in the glass, sort of like a one-bowl cookie recipe!

Since I prefer a strained margarita, I like to shake mine in a cocktail shaker but feel free to do it all in your old fashioned glass.

How Should I Garnish My Drink?

To garnish this drink, I usually keep things classic and stick with a slice of lime and a jalapeño coin to let people know this drink packs some heat!

Feel free to get wild with your garnishes and use pineapple if you have it on hand.

Jalapeño Simple Syrup Ingredients & Substitutions

Like I mentioned above, this recipe is pretty straightforward! However, there are some substitutions and swaps you can make if needed.

• Water – Room temperature tap water works great in this recipe.
• Granulated Sugar – I like using granulated sugar because it’s what I usually have on hand, but you can also use extra fine sugar or caster sugar.
• Fresh Jalapeños – Use fresh jalapeños in this recipe! They’re what give this syrup all its spice. You can use 2 habanero peppers in place of the 3 jalapeños if needed but be prepared for a spicier simple syrup that has a back-of-throat heat if you go this route.

Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita Ingredients & Substitutions

• Limes – I prefer to use fresh limes but you can also use bottled juice, you’ll need 1 1/2 oz.
• Jalapeño Slices – I like my cocktails spicy and if you do too you can always use more slices!
• Tequila – You can use whatever brand of Tequila you like! For a smokier flavor you can substitute for mezcal.
• Pineapple Juice – If you cannot find fresh juice, try to find a brand that is 100% pineapple juice like Dole!
• Tajín – I like to use Tajín to rim my margarita, but if you prefer sugar or regular salt go for it!

How to Store Leftover Jalapeño Simple Syrup

If you make the jalapeño simple syrup in advance or have some leftover, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months!

I usually keep mine in a mason jar but any container with a good lid should work just fine.

Let Me Know What You Think

If you try this pineapple jalapeño margarita recipe, let me know what you think by sharing a rating below!

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