This salsa recipe makes the best homemade salsa! It’s full of fresh flavor and easy to make using simple ingredients. Enjoy it with tortilla chips or spoon it over enchiladas, tacos and more.
This Salsa Recipe is Truly Amazing
You’ll often find my family and I gathered around the kitchen counter, a bowl of this salsa and tortilla chips at the center. We’re big salsa fans, and this salsa recipe is my very favorite. It’s boldly flavored, medium-spicy and so easy to make.
When you make homemade salsa you can easily adjust the spice level, texture and flavors to suit your tastes. This recipe comes together in just 10 minutes, with almost no chopping involved. While the salsa is delicious straight from the food processor, it’s even better after it chills in the fridge for a bit so that the flavors can develop.
This salsa makes a great dip for tortilla chips (of course), but I also love it with eggs or Huevos Rancheros for breakfast. I also serve it as a topping for our favorite Mexican foods, like Chicken Enchiladas and Taco Salad. This recipe makes a big batch and it stores well in the fridge, so you can enjoy it all week long!
This is seriously the best salsa I’ve ever made. This is my second time making it and it is a hit with my family.
Diana
Salsa Recipe Ingredients
- Onion and Garlic: You’ll give the onions and garlic a quick coarse chop and then your food processor will do the rest.
- Jalapeño: Most of the heat in a jalapeño is in the seeds and ribs. I recommend removing the seeds and ribs or the heat could overwhelm the other flavors in your salsa. I use half a jalapeño in this salsa recipe for medium-spicy salsa.
- Tomatoes: You’ll need two types of canned tomatoes: fire roasted diced tomatoes and diced tomatoes with green chilies (for spice). The fire roasted tomatoes give the salsa a rich, roasted tomato flavor. It is so good!
- Sugar: Just a small pinch of sugar balances out the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Salt: Salt enhances all of the flavors.
- Cumin: Ground cumin adds a subtle smoky flavor.
- Cilantro: You can adjust the amount of fresh cilantro to your tastes.
- Lime Juice: Start with a small squeeze of fresh lime juice. You can always add more.
Canned vs. Fresh Tomatoes
While I am all for using fresh ingredients whenever possible, canned tomatoes are best in this salsa recipe. Canned tomatoes are available year-round and make this recipe come together quickly. Since they’re picked at peak ripeness, canned tomatoes have a consistent flavor. Fresh tomatoes can be too juicy to make a good salsa, and, unless you roast them a bit, they typically make a less flavorful salsa. (Save those fresh tomatoes to make Pico de Gallo!)
If you have ripe, fresh tomatoes and really want to use them in this salsa recipe, I recommend using a combination of fresh and canned. Make sure your fresh tomatoes are firm and a deep red color. Adding canned tomatoes will add depth of flavor to your salsa, especially if you use fire roasted tomatoes – which I highly recommend!
How to Make Salsa
Add the onion, garlic, and jalapeno to the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times to chop.
Add the remaining ingredients: diced tomatoes with green chilies (drained), fire roasted diced tomatoes (undrained), cilantro, lime juice, cumin, salt and sugar. Pulse until the salsa reaches your desired consistency. You can make it thinner or chunkier – however you like it!
Taste it! I always taste the salsa on a tortilla chip to see if the flavors are right against the salty chip. You can add a little more lime juice, salt or sugar if needed.
Chill it! For the best flavor, chill the salsa in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours before serving to let the flavors develop. Then give it a quick stir right before serving.
Salsa Recipe Tips
- This salsa recipe makes medium-spicy salsa. For mild salsa, substitute a can of regular diced tomatoes for the diced tomatoes with green chilies. For spicy salsa, use a whole jalapeño pepper or add in some of the ribs and seeds from the jalapeño. Be careful not to go overboard with the ribs and seeds – that is where most of the spice is.
- Use a fresh onion in this recipe. I once made this salsa with half of a leftover onion that I had in my refrigerator for a few days and the pungent onion flavor was overwhelming.
- Be sure to drain off the liquid from the can of diced tomatoes with green chilies. You’ll add the liquid from the other can of diced tomatoes, but using the liquid from both cans will make your salsa too watery.
- Don’t add too much lime juice at first. You can always add more, and too much lime can overpower the other flavors.
Storage Instructions
This salsa can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
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Best Homemade Salsa Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup white onion, roughly chopped
- 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
- ½ jalapeño, seeds and ribs removed, roughly chopped
- 10 ounce can diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
- 14.5 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
- juice from ½ of a lime, start with a small squeeze and add more, to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- pinch of sugar, optional, to balance the acidity of the tomatoes
Instructions
- Add the onion, garlic, and jalapeño to the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times to chop until the onion pieces are about ¼-inch size.
- Drain off the liquid from the can of diced tomatoes with green chilies and discard the liquid. Add the tomatoes and chilies from the can to the food processor.
- Add the fire roasted diced tomatoes with their juices from the can to the food processor, along with the remaining salsa ingredients (start with a small amount of lime juice and add more, to taste).
- Pulse until the salsa reaches your desired consistency.
- Taste salsa on a tortilla chip and adjust the lime juice, salt, or sugar as needed.
- For the best taste, chill salsa in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours before serving to allow the flavors to develop.
Notes
- This salsa recipe makes medium-spicy salsa. For mild salsa, substitute a can of regular diced tomatoes in place of the diced tomatoes with green chiles. For spicier salsa, use a whole jalapeño pepper or add in some of the ribs and seeds from the jalapeño. Be careful not to go overboard with the ribs and seeds, since that is where most of the spice is.
- Homemade salsa can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
I love this salsa recipe. And I agree, it is so much better than jarred salsa!
This is delicious! I followed the recipe as is. Except I used bottled lime juice. I forgot to get a lime. I used a whole jalapeno. Thanks for the easy recipe. I’ll make it again for sure. I’ll probably have to make the less spicy version for the family that doesn’t like spice. I bet it will still be wonderful!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this! Isn’t it so addicting? 😉
This is so good! I made it 3 times this week for my extended family, and shared the recipe with them. One question – have you tried to freeze it?
Hi Mary Jo, I’m so happy to hear that! I haven’t tried to freeze it. My guess is that it would freeze ok, I’m just not sure if the raw onions would become too strong after freezing and thawing. Let me know if you try it!
What out canning
I am not sure – I don’t have experience with canning.
Will it get spicier after sitting in the ice box over night?
Hi Aubrey,
It may get a little spicier in the refrigerator overnight.
Been looking for a good salsa recipe, i wont look any further, just made this moments ago, o my gosh, taste just like my restuarant serves, love it, love it, love it.This is the best salsa ever, thanks for sharing.
I’m so glad you love this recipe as much as I do! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.
Made this for a mexican night with friends and everyone loved it! I added extra salt but that was it. Really really good and doesnt make a huge bowl so I wont be storing a ton of salsa.
A little ashamed that at 50 years old I have never attempted to make salsa. This year we are boycotting traditional Thanksgiving turkey this year and doing tacos 5 ways with all the trimming. I did a trial run of this salsa today and it is really easy to make and tastes fabulous. Will be making it again at thanksgiving
Your Thanksgiving plan sounds so delicious! I’m glad that this salsa recipe will be part of your holiday meal. 🙂
Pretty good, made it super GREAT when I added two of my homegrown ghost peppers in it. Mmm spicaaayyy.
Awesome! Made it for my daughter – she loved it.
It’s definitely a keeper. Thanks!!
Hi, haven’t tried making it yet, but wondered if sweet Vidalia or Mayan onions are also okay in this recipe.
I haven’t tried the salsa with either of those, but they would probably work fine. Enjoy!
Can I used jarred minced garlic if I don’t have whole garlic?
That should work well. Enjoy!
Very easy and tasty AND I had all ingredients on hand when I needed salsa in a hurry! Thank you for the recipe.
The best salsa ever!!! So easy and delicious!! Thank you!!
Love making salsa. I use ripe tomatoes (from garden when I have to many). I freeze them and then let thaw in colander to drain juice. I also use canned tomatoes and al the other stuff in recipe.
How long it can keep in refrigerator with n without using preservatives?
Hi Delani,
I usually refrigerate 2-3 days but it will last for a week. Be sure to spoon from the refrigerated container into a new container for use so that the original container is not left out unrefrigerated repeatedly.
OMG this was amazing!!!! I didn’t add the sugar, or garlic (I’m allergic) but OMG I’m never buying salsa again. Thank you so much for this recipe. Hope your having a great day. Also, draining the tomatoes helped greatly. The
This is such a good salsa recipe, I’ve made it several times and it’s always a hit. This most recent time instead of using jalapeños (I was out), I used the hot Rotel diced tomatoes with habaneros and it turned out really good.
My favorite salsa. I omit the jalapeño and instead of small can tomatoes with green chilies I use small can tomatoes with habanero. Perfect amount heat!!
How long does the salsa last? I was going to put it into jars
You can store the salsa in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7-10 days.
The kids kept asking for salsa from the store, decided to try this recipe. It is fantastic! Maybe next time I’ll use fresh tomatoes, but this is outstanding! The heat was perfect with 1/2 jalapeno! Thanks!!
Great idea to try fresh tomatoes.
This is better than store bought and better than restaurant salsa!
Made this salsa today……. Loved it !!! Can’t wait to have margaritas, chips and salsa outside around the fire table this spring if we ever get “spring” in Wisconsin ?
I’ve been making this salsa for a couple of years now and it always gets rave reviews! I laugh because it tastes so fresh, yet it calls for canned items.
Love this recipe. Have made it a few times.
AWESOME SALSA! Easy to make. This is my favorite. Love the fire roasted tomatoes! Wow, wow, wow!
Excellent. The fire roasted tomato is the ticket. I added bell pepper, smaller amount of jalapeno (if it were just me I would have put ghost pepper and probably 2 but my wife…) added a tad more salt. It’s very addicting.
Just made this salsa. So fresh and yummy!!!!! For me the spice was just right. Next time I will add all the Jalapeño to meet the others in my family that like Spicy. Also so easy to make. Thank you
Is this recipe good for canning?
I don’t have experience with canning so I can’t advise.
I just made this and it was so easy and GOOD!
No kidding. Made once and now I always have these ingredients on hand. Always bought jarred salsa or paid premium prices for refrigerated salsa. NO MORE! So easy, fool-proof and the best tasting of all! Thanks Kristine!
Loved it and I am super picky about salsa, great basic recipe that can be tailored to taste!
This is seriously the best salsa I’ve ever made. This is my second time making it and it is a hit with my family.
Are we able to can this recipe using a water bath?
Hi Peggy,
I haven’t tried canning this recipe.
I was amazed that I could make something this great
I love Christine’s salsa! Thanks for providing this delicious recipe. I am a salsa junkie and must have tacos and salsa all the time.
My husband and I are obsessed with this recipe to say the least. I’m super picky about my salsa and the grocery store salsa jars just haven’t been cutting it. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t so sure about the canned tomatoes, but i hate dicing fresh tomato, so I trusted the process and yum! 🤤 I made it for him to put on his breakfast burritos in the morning, but after tasting it, I know we’ll be putting it on everything we can 😌 I also love the EASE. thanks for sharing!
Easy to make. Mine was not spicy next time I’ll just throw the whole jalapeño in
Could this be done with fresh tomatoes and one can of fire roasted?
I haven’t tried that but I think it should work fine. Enjoy!
Super delicious and easy to make! Thanks for the great recipe!
Love this salsa!
My family loves this recipe. We don’t like a lot of spice, so I leave out the jalapeño, but it is the best salsa.
Just made this salsa for a second time. I have pepper plants so I made it spicy. So good and it freezes very well so you always have when you need it.
Delicious and definitely replicates the taste of salsa from our local Mexican restaurant!
Great recipe! So easy to make and full of flavor! Barely had any left by the time dinner was ready. Daughter loved it and said it was ” fire! “
Delicious recipe!! Very easy to make too😊. I like a little more spice so I’ll add another jalapeño next time, thank you for sharing this!!
Hands-down, the best homemade salsa I’ve ever made!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This is my first time making homemade salsa and I am definitely a fan of it! The fresh onions, garlic and jalapeño paired perfectly with the fire roasted tomatoes. I almost ate the whole jar in one sitting!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I can’t believe how easy it is to make a delicious homemade salsa. I can control the heat and flavors. I love it.
So easy! Thank you for trying my recipe!
Love this salsa! Not too thick or tomato-y! So fresh, great flavors with the chopped onions, green chilies and cilantro! It’s difficult to find great restaurant salsa or any in a jar, but this is easy to make and perfect! I’ll be making this frequently!
Thank you for trying the recipe and leaving your review! I’m so glad you enjoyed the salsa!
What a delicious and easy recipe! It is so fresh and tasty and I love that I can customize the heat level to my liking. Definitely better than anything you can buy in a jar!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I’ve made a lot of salsa recipes, and this truly is the best. I also add a Serrano pepper, but that’s the only thing I do different from recipe. Thanks for sharing it!