This homemade restaurant-style salsa recipe is quick, easy, and full of flavor! Mild or spicy, it’s easy to whip up this bold, tangy sauce that won’t affect your macros.
Where I grew up, there were Tex-Mex restaurants EVERYWHERE, and I was able to spend nearly 20 years tasting the different varieties of restaurant-style salsas that these establishments had to offer:
Warm, cold, spicy, mild, roasted, Pico de Gallo, corn, black bean, mango…
To say that I’ve tried a few different salsa recipes is an understatement.
Consider me a salsa pro.
But when we moved from Texas to California, we realized that not only were Mexican restaurants sparse, but “chips and fresh salsa” were considered a side dish that you had to ask for (and pay for separately) when you placed your order. They’re not brought out automatically with tall glasses of ice water.
WHAT?!
Oh no. That wasn’t going to work. We practically drank salsa with tortilla chips. It had its own food group in our house. We needed a better solution, pronto!
Luckily, a good friend gave me her homemade salsa recipe.
This is not just any salsa – this is the best homemade salsa recipe that one could ask for!
How do you make really good salsa?
By blending tomatoes, onions, peppers, cilantro, lime juice, and seasonings, you end up with a fresh, flavorful sauce perfect for dipping or topping all your favorite foods!
EASY SALSA RECIPE
There are so many reasons to absolutely LOVE this salsa recipe!
- Frugal. Using the items already in your pantry, this recipe is so affordable. If you have a garden, it’s even easier on your food budget!
- Delicious! Salsa from scratch tastes SO clean and fresh, with the ripe tomatoes, onion, and garlic, compared to a salsa that has been sitting in a jar on store shelves for months.
- Quick and easy. This salsa recipe can be whipped up in just a few minutes, and that alone makes it so much better than store-bought.
- No cook. Just a quick whiz in the blender or food processor and you’re set!
- Customize it! Make it a smooth or chunky texture, bump up the heat or keep it mild, use fresh tomatoes or canned…you can use this recipe for salsa sauce as a starting point.
SALSA SAUCE RECIPE INGREDIENTS
It’s SO easy to toss this salsa sauce recipe together with staple pantry ingredients that you already have on hand!
- Diced Tomatoes. I usually use canned tomatoes, but you can also use fire-roasted tomatoes or garden Roma tomatoes. Fresh ingredients will have the best flavor.
- Cilantro. In my humble opinion, a good salsa recipe needs fresh cilantro!
- Jalapeños (or any green chiles). Just enough for a bit of a kick. You can also use green bell peppers if you want a very mild salsa. We like the slightly vinegary taste of Pickled Jalapenos.
- White Onion. A red onion would also work in a pinch.
- Fresh Lime Juice. The best tasting salsa recipe also needs lime juice. Fresh is best, but bottled will work too.
- Spices: Garlic, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. Easy to find in your spice stash.
Psst! Not all salts are made the same! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!).
DO YOU PEEL TOMATOES FOR SALSA?
For this recipe, we are using canned diced tomatoes (if you want to make them yourself, here is a recipe for Canned Diced Tomatoes). So, there’s no peeling necessary there.
You can also use this recipe for fresh tomato salsa, especially if you have a beautiful garden bounty. It’s more of a preference thing, but since the salsa is blended, you won’t need to peel fresh tomatoes either. They just need to be roughly chopped to fit well in the blender.
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE FOR SALSA SAUCE
I can’t think of a recipe for making salsa that is any easier!
Step 1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender.
Step 2. Blend until you reach your desired consistency. I prefer smooth salsa, but you can also just pulse the food processor for a chunky salsa.
VOILA! Bust out the Tortilla Chips because you are finished!
Store the recipe of salsa in an airtight container in the fridge. I love these mason jars with a flip-top lid because they’re so easy to pour!
SERVE RECIPE SALSA SAUCE
Serve this recipe for salsa sauce with your favorite Tortilla Chips as a healthy snack dip or enjoy it as a part of taco night with Homemade Corn Tortillas or Flour Tortillas! Trust me…it will be better than your favorite Mexican restaurant! Add salsa to any of these:
- Tacos
- Burritos
- Burrito bowls
- Breakfast burritos
- Chicken enchiladas
- Taco salads
- Quesadillas
- Nachos
- Basically anything Mexican…
If you happen to have any salsa left, add it to Migas for breakfast in the morning. Yum!
MACRO-FRIENDLY RED SALSA RECIPE
Using homemade salsa is a great way to add a pop of zesty flavor without adding a ton of fat or calories to the dish, like you might if you added a creamy dressing or sauce.
In fact, the salsa barely changes your macros at all! If your food is feeling a little bland, recipes for salsa sauce are a perfect way to add some bold flavor. Quick Pickled Red Onions and 15-Minute Hot Sauce are similar.
And when you make this homemade red salsa recipe, you can feel good about adding flavor without adding junky ingredients.
RECIPE FOR MAKING SALSA FAQS
How long does homemade salsa last?
As long as you keep it refrigerated, this salsa recipe will last for 5-7 days. But I’ll bet it won’t last that long in the house!
What is traditional salsa made of?
Traditional red salsa recipes include ingredients like tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalapeños, garlic, and salt, all of which you’ll find here.
Why is my homemade salsa watery?
If you use fresh tomatoes from your garden, be sure to remove the seedy pulp from the inside of the tomato by first quartering, then separating the pulp from the flesh and discarding or composting it. Fresh tomato salsa recipes have the best flavor!
This seedy pulp can make salsa more watery, but since this recipe salsa sauce is blended, it will be less of an issue.
MORE TACO NIGHT FAVORITES
For more delicious condiments and sides for taco night, try these:
High Protein Recipes on Repeat
Download the top 15+ recipes that are on repeat in my house, making it easy to feed my family AND meet my protein goals!
Homemade Salsa
This homemade restaurant-style salsa recipe is quick, easy, and full of flavor! Mild or spicy, it’s easy to whip up this bold, tangy sauce that won’t affect your macros.
Ingredients
- 29 oz canned diced tomatoes (two 14.5oz cans) (822g)
- ½ fist full cilantro (8g)
- 4 whole pickled jalapenos (60g)
- ½ medium white onion (75g)
- ½ lime squeezed for juice (or 2 tsp lime juice) (10g)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tsp black pepper
Notes
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days.
- I love these mason jars with a flip-top lid because they’re so easy to pour!
Nutrition
Serving: 0.25cupCalories: 25kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 1gFat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.04gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.05gSodium: 564mgPotassium: 232mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 287IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 1mg
