Homemade Salsa Recipe

4.71 from 27 votes

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This easy Salsa Recipe is so fresh and easy to make! It’s a restaurant-style salsa made in a blender or food processor in about ten minutes. Canned tomatoes are blended together with onions, garlic, cilantro, jalapeños and a few spices. Buying salsa from the store is good but homemade is so much better! No matter the time of year, you can make amazing salsa at home. Delicious for Taco Tuesday served over Carnitas with Fresh Mango Salsa and Guacamole.

dipping tortilla chip into salsa

Make My BEST Salsa Recipe at Home!

The best part about eating at a Mexican restaurant is the endless chips and salsa! It’s always so good and always addicting, which is exactly why I made my own version at home so I can enjoy it without having to go to any restaurant.

The beauty of this recipe is how easily adaptable it is. Don’t like cumin? Leave it out! Love spicy food? Add in extra jalapeños. Truly, the sky is the limit.

Main Ingredients Needed

While I know lots of people prefer a fresher salsa (like a pico de gallo), this can be made in a pinch with canned tomatoes that are elevated with lots of fresh and flavorful ingredients that make them taste addictingly good. Here’s what you will need:

  • canned tomatoes– I use the petite diced tomatoes, but regular ones are just fine since they’ll get blended anyways.
  • cilantro– wash this well! Some cilantro is really clean, while other cilantro can hold a lot of dirt and sand. Don’t love
  • jalapeno– adds spice! Add as much or as little you’d like.
  • garlic + red onion– really good flavor!
  • lime juice– fresh lime juice adds acidity and really helps brighten up the canned tomatoes.
  • cumin– I only use 1/4 teaspoon, so it adds just a hint of flavor but it makes a difference.
  • sugar, salt, pepper– sugar helps counter that canned tomato flavor, and salt and pepper are general seasonings that bring out the other flavors in the salsa.
finished salsa recipe in bottom of blender

How to Make This Easy Salsa Recipe

Have 10 minutes and a blender? Then you can make this homemade salsa recipe in a flash. It’s so so simple you guys. Here’s how to do it.

  1. Pour cans of diced tomatoes into the bottom of a blender. Add in cilantro, jalapenos, garlic, red onion, and lime juice.
  2. Add in the cumin, sugar, salt and pepper.
  3. Blitz the salsa in the blender until the desired consistency is reached.
  4. Pour this into a bowl and serve.

Be the Master of Your Salsa Domain

So, while this salsa recipe is a great starting point and great as is, feel free to add more or less of certain ingredients to make this your own recipe. Don’t be afraid to make this how you like it! Don’t like cilantro? Leave it out. Want it spicy? Add more jalapeños. Don’t like it too sweet? Reduce the sugar by half. Want it even more sweet? Try adding a little pineapple! Honestly, the sky is the limit. You want to enjoy your food, so jazz up this easy salsa recipe and make it amazing!

pouring salsa recipe into bowl

Making Ahead + Storing Homemade Salsa

This salsa recipe can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for up to three weeks, only getting better and tastier by the day. I’d highly recommend making this a day or two in advance if possible to let those flavors really marinate with each other to get the best-finished product. I like adding extra garlic and cumin 🙂

Can I Freeze Salsa?

Yes, you can definitely freeze this salsa recipe.

Divide salsa into freezer safe, airtight containers. Freeze on a flat surface until solid and then move to where you want to store it for up to 3 months. To defrost, simply transfer to the refrigerator for 24-36 hours.

I don’t recommend freezing this if you’ve used fresh tomatoes (see note below about using fresh tomatoes).

dipping tortilla chip into salsa

Can I Use Fresh Tomatoes Instead of Canned Tomatoes?

Yes, you absolutely can use fresh tomatoes in place of a canned tomato for a fresher salsa recipe! You will need about 6 cups of washed and roughly chopped fresh roma tomatoes, or any other kind of tomato you’d like to use.

I’ve also known some friends who have charred their tomatoes and jalapeños whole before blending their salsa and man, its so so good. It’s an extra step that has proven delicious.

More Dip Recipes to Try!

Looking for more dip recipes? Look no further!

dipping tortilla chip into salsa
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4.71 from 27 votes

Homemade Salsa Recipe

This Salsa Recipe is so fresh and easy to make! You only need a few basic ingredients and 10 minutes. Adapt as you like!
servings 6 cups of salsa
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 cans diced tomatoes 10 oz. cans
  • 2 cloves garlic roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup diced red onion
  • 1 jalapeno seeded and roughly chopped
  • 1/2 bunch cilantro washed, about 1 cup
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt or more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into a blender or food processor. Pulse a few times until desired texture is reached. Taste, adjust seasonings, and serve with chips.
  • Store salsa in airtight containers for up to 3 weeks in refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 44kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 397mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 25.2mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 2.1mg
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: fresh salsa recipe

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Recipe Rating




52 Responses
  1. Malinda Chaney

    5 stars
    I made this and it was so good! Thank you so much for sharing all your recipes and your beautiful family. I truly enjoy reading about all of your adventures!

  2. Melissa

    5 stars
    This salsa is amazing!! I made it for the first time this week and am thrilled with it. I tried it at your cousin’s house over Labor Day weekend and she turned me onto your wonderful blog. Thank you for the wonderful recipe.

  3. susie thompson

    5 stars
    soooooo easy omg looks so good. And my tomatoes are going to come into an all red stage soon. chips are easy too but now I have to go to the store to get my ingredents

  4. Sarah

    5 stars
    This recipe is amazing! My mom flew in to visit and made me this salsa and chips, and it is so great! I could literally eat the whole bowl, and I just made myself two more batches of chips to save for later! ❤️

  5. Lauren

    No, it’s not the same. Some of the ingredients are similar {as with all salsas} but she uses Rotel and other canned tomatoes {unlike mine!} and the increments are all different.

  6. Tricia Bayer-Burkholder

    5 stars
    We made this last night with just a tiny bit less sugar (a scant tsp) and it was wonderful. I would have loved it spicier, but like you, I have kids who would not. It was a hit with the whole family and half the batch disappeared last night during the hockey game. Thanks! I had always thought about using canned tomatoes in salsa, but never tried it until now. DELISH!

  7. sherry

    hi I was wondering if you could freeze the salsa. I want to try the recipe because I have never made it before and always bought it.
    thanks sherry

  8. Lisa Richardson

    5 stars
    I use the same recipe, only with 1 can diced fire roasted tomatoes and a can of rotel ( I can my own). And I use honey instead of sugar, but lol, really the same!!! And yes, so so good. Sometimes I throw in a few tomatillos!

  9. Salsa | A Tablespoon Of Life

    […] you want to try a delicious homemade chip recipe try this baked lime tortilla chip recipe and the original salsa recipe over at Lauren’s Latest […]

    1. Lauren

      I would hand chop 3 cups worth of fresh tomatoes and add everything in from there. Using the blender might make it too watery.

  10. Esther

    5 stars
    Hi, Lauren! I’m Esther and I LOVE THIS RECIPE!! : ) I’m new to food blogging, so as I get my feet wet and learn a bit more, I love finding and trying recipes like this one : ) Thank you for such an easy, delicious salsa. This recipe is a keeper!

    http://foodieandfabulous.blogspot.com/2013/05/restaurant-style-salsa-with-baked-lime.html#more

  11. Last-Minute Party Dips | Bake Your Day

    […] Chorizo Caramelized Onion Dip from Foodie Crush Broccomole from Domestic Fits Restaurant-Style Salsa from Lauren’s Latest Hamburger Dip from Chef In Training Roasted Tomato Brie Dip from Country […]

  12. Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts

    Chips & Salsa are my favorite! This recipe looks incredible, and I love making my own chips. Not sure why I have never done a lime version. Time to try it!

  13. Carlas Confections

    Mmm this looks so good. Now I am craving some Mexican food! I think I will make something Mexican-y tonight! I hope I dont have aversions to Mexican food when I am prego, because I LOVE it! Congrats btw!!! Im glad you are having great food cravings 😉

  14. Elaine Enlightening

    I am a first time visiter to your blog. I love to eat and I love food. Thank you for the delicious looking recipes. I am vegetarian so I really appreciated something I could actually make and eat for the first one I saw. I will probably make the chips with my sprouted grain tortilIias. I love the heartier stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I will still eat white flour, but in moderation and never at home. I printed the recipe.

    Blessings of love and light!

  15. Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious

    I could totally eat the salsa with a spoon too! And those chips! Love that they’re baked with lime zest. I think Chipotle chips has a little bit of that, which I absolutely can’t get enough of, but now I can make it right at home!

  16. Katie @ Blonde Ambition

    I make salsa like this in my food processor all the time, but the fact that you made hint of lime tortilla chips OFFICIALLY makes you my hero. Love those chips!

  17. Linda | The Urban Mrs

    Ok – I need to get this stat! I can sense that tortilla chips is the bomb and I just can’t wait to try this. Glad you enjoyed your weekend with lil’ munchkin – she’s such an angel.

  18. Olivia @ Liv Lives Life

    Wow, these pictures are beautiful! I LOVE lime tortilla chips. I tried them once before, but they weren’t lime-y enough for me…I’ll have to give this recipe a go!

  19. Cassie | Bake Your Day

    From you IG posts, it looks like you two did have a fabulous weekend! And this salsa – so perfect but even more, I love those chips. And that Star olive oil with garlic has been my go-to olive oil lately!

  20. Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel

    Chips and salsa (or any dip for that matter; salsa just happens to be a fave!) is my WEAKNESS. At parties (or restaurants) I will hoard the. entire. bowl. I’m so dangerous around it, haha. This salsa looks SO delicious, Lauren! And I’m glad you and the munchkin got to have a fun girls weekend 🙂

  21. Julia

    Putting this on pinterest for later! I love salsa and this looks just yummy. I also like the idea of making my own chips- definitely have to try that.

  22. Ellen @ The Baking Bluenoser

    I was seriously just having a craving for these! Thanks for the great recipe, can’t wait to try them out 🙂

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