Fresh Homemade Salsa Recipe

Homemade salsa is a game-changer. This easy salsa recipe is loaded with fresh tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and jalapeno for a little kick, and it comes together quickly in a blender or food processor.

This restaurant-style salsa only requires a handful of fresh ingredients. Whether you need a topping for Taco Salad or Breakfast Tacos, or just want to munch on some tortilla chips with salsa, you’ll love this fresh salsa recipe.

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Homemade Salsa

This salsa reminds me of the appetizer salsas at restaurants that always have me wishing they’d just bring a bigger bowl! It’s actually really easy to make a restaurant-style salsa – it comes together in minutes and it keeps well in the refrigerator.

The fresh tomatoes make the salsa taste vibrant and fresh while adding canned diced tomatoes gives it a great depth of flavor just like the irresistible salsa appetizers that are served at Mexican restaurants.

Flavor: The perfect salsa is a little spicy, tangy, and savory. If you prefer a spicy salsa, you can adjust the level of spice to your liking by simply adding more jalapenos.
Texture: A nice, restaurant-quality table salsa is fine in texture. Unlike chunky Pico de Gallo, you want this salsa to come out a bit saucier. This is why using a blender or food processor is an absolute must. This makes it perfect for chip dipping or smothering over a burrito, taco, or some grilled meat.
Quick: All you have to do is toss your ingredients into the food processor and let your salsa marinate for a couple of hours before serving. Once the flavors meld, it tastes even better.

Ingredients for fresh salsa with tomatoes, cilantro, onion, lime, jalapeno

How to Make Homemade Salsa

In just two simple steps, you’ll have a homemade salsa that is perfect for any occasion. Follow the simple steps below and you’ll be dipping in no time.

Blend – Place ingredients into a food processor or blender. Pulse in two-second bursts, or until all the ingredients are chopped and combined.
Rest – Place in the refrigerator to marinate for a couple of hours or overnight.

Pro Tip: Do not over-blend your salsa. If you pulse it too much, it will turn into soup. You still want it to maintain some texture. Just a couple of pulses in a food processor will do the trick.

How to blend Salsa ingredients in a food processor

Tips for the Best Homemade Salsa

Even though making this salsa is simple, but here are some tips to ensure your fresh salsa turns out perfect every time:

Adjust the spice – Use as many or as few jalapenos as you prefer. Note: Jalapenos with vertical lines on the outside indicate that the peppers have been aging for some time. The more lines, the spicier they are.
Don’t over-blend – Only blend the salsa just until it’s incorporated. You want a nice, fine texture where you can still see all the colors of the ingredients (see the picture above for reference).
Let the salsa rest – Letting your salsa marinate for a few hours in the refrigerator will yield the best flavors. Don’t skip this step!
Pick the right canned tomatoes – Petite diced is the best cut for this recipe. Also, take note if you are using a can with seasoning or added salt, you will need to add salt to taste.

To Serve

Homemade salsa is so versatile and isn’t just an appetizer. The possibilities for serving are endless, but here are some of our favorite ways to serve homemade salsa:

Appetizer dip: scoop up the salsa with your tortilla chips, Cheese Sticks, or Baked Nachos.
Topping: Use the salsa as a topping for Tostadas, Mexican Stuffed Peppers and Street Tacos.
Breakfast: Salsa is also great for breakfast or brunch, especially with Breakfast Quesadillas or Breakfast Burritos. This salsa will make your breakfasts more exciting.

Fresh salsa served on an appetizer platter with tortilla chips

Common Questions

Can this homemade salsa be canned?

This salsa is not intended for canning since it isn’t a ‘cooked’ salsa, nor does it have the correct proportion of acid for canning so we do not recommend canning this salsa. If you are looking for a salsa that keeps longer, our favorite is Roasted Salsa which tastes just like fresh once it’s thawed.

Can I omit canned tomatoes?

If you omit the canned tomatoes, you will essentially have a Pico de Gallo, which has a different flavor profile.

How long does homemade salsa last?

You can safely keep homemade salsa for up to a week in the refrigerator. See storage tips below.

Storing Fresh Homemade Salsa

Refrigerating: Pour your salsa into an airtight container or Mason Jar and pop it in the refrigerator for up to a week. The longer the salsa marinates in the refrigerator, the better it tastes.
Freezing: Fresh tomato salsa does not freeze well because it has fresh vegetables which can turn mushy and watery when thawed. If you’re looking for a freezer-friendly salsa, try our Roasted Tomato Salsa.

Pro Tip: Airtight storage containers keep food fresh longer and look so organized in your fridge.

More Salsa Recipes

These salsa recipes are some of our favorite summer appetizers and they are a great way to use up garden-grown vegetables and even fruit.

Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya is a food blogger who founded Momsdish.com to make cooking easier. Growing up on a farm in Ukraine, Natalya was inspired by the amazing dishes that were prepared using simple ingredients. Natalya is most notably known for making cooking approachable for any person.