Have this homemade restaurant-style salsa recipe ready in under 10 minutes! Flavorful salsa that is loaded with fire-roasted tomatoes, cilantro, jalapenos and garlic.
Pair this with my easy Restaurant style Queso dip for the perfect combo!
HOMEMADE SALSA RECIPE
Get restaurant style tomato salsa in under 10 minutes! The salsa is smooth, fresh, loaded with flavors and comes together in no time with just a couple simple ingredients. This homemade salsa is perfect as an appetizer, as a topping, side or sauce for all your favorite Mexican-inspired meals. Once you try this easy homemade salsa recipe, you will stop buying premade salsa from the store!
WHAT YOU NEED-
- Tomatoes– The secret to the best restaurant style salsa is to use fire-roasted diced tomatoes! The aromatics and flavors from the fire-roasted tomatoes are exactly what you need. You can also use classic diced tomatoes if that’s all you have.
- Lemon– Either freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice can be used.
- Garlic– For the best results you want to use fresh garlic cloves or jarred minced garlic. I do not recommend using garlic powder, you want a rich flavor of fresh garlic in this salsa.
- Cilantro– Fresh cilantro totally brings this salsa together; the flavors are a must!
- Jalapenos– You can use either fresh or canned jalapenos for this salsa recipe! I love using canned jalapenos, along with the juices from the can. If you love heat, you can totally make this spicier, this recipe has only enough jalapenos for flavor and a mild heat.
- Flavor– All you need is salt to season this salsa, all the other ingredients are what gives this dip flavor!
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SALSA
This flavorful homemade restaurant style salsa comes together in no time!
- Add all the ingredients for the salsa to a food processor or blender.
- Pulse for 5-10 second intervals until the salsa reaches your desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust as needed, adding more salt for flavor or jalapenos for extra heat.
- Transfer the salsa to a jar, container or serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours before serving, allowing the flavors to enhance. (For the best flavor, chill overnight.)
- Serve with your favorite tortilla chips and enjoy!
MAKE AHEAD & STORING-
This dip is great to make ahead of time! Instead of buying store-bought salsa, just make this homemade salsa and enjoy it all week. Double or triple the recipe and serve it at your next party, everyone will love it.
- Once the salsa is prepared, store in an air-tight jar or container in the fridge for up to 6-7 days!
SERVING IDEAS-
Of course, the best way to enjoy salsa is with crispy tortilla chips, but there are also other ways to enjoy this dip!
- Taquitos– This salsa is so delicious when served on top of crispy air fryer taquitos!
- Tacos– Adding salsa to your chicken tacos or breakfast tacos totally elevates your tacos, great for taco Tuesdays.
- Bowls– Use this easy salsa as a topping for your Chipotle bowls or taco bowls, adding so much flavor!
- Salads– This salsa can even be used as a dressing, especially for Taco salad.
- Marinades– It can also be used as a marinade when marinade chicken or beef. It is great when using slow cooker recipes.
- Taco Meat– My taco meat recipe calls for salsa, skip the store-bought salsa and use this easy recipe.
- Quesadillas– Serve with salsa with your chicken quesadillas for added flavors!
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE:
The key difference between pico de gallo and salsa is that pico calls for fresh ingredients, is chunkier and has less liquid. Salsa can have fresh or cooked ingredients and typically is more liquid and smoother.
I find that using canned tomatoes is what gives you the closest restaurant style consistency! If you want, you can use half canned tomatoes and half fresh tomatoes.
Yes! You can control the consistency of the salsa when blending it! For a chunkier salsa pulse the salsa less. For a creamier salsa, pulse the salsa longer.
You can totally swap the jalapenos for any other favorite peppers such as serrano peppers, Fresno peppers or Anaheim peppers that can be used.
When stored in the fridge in a jar or container, this salsa will stay fresh for up to 6-7 days!
OTHER MEXICAN-INSPIRED SIDES-
Check out these other great appetizers or sides:
Homemade Salsa Recipe (Restaurant-Style Salsa)
Ingredients
- 14.5 oz canned fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 3 garlic cloves quartered
- 1 cup cilantro lightly packed
- 1 Tbsp canned jalapenos diced
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients for the salsa to a food processor or blender.14.5 oz canned fire-roasted diced tomatoes, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 3 garlic cloves, quartered, 1 cup cilantro, lightly packed, 1 Tbsp canned jalapenos, diced, ½ tsp salt
- Pulse for 5-10 second intervals until the salsa reaches your desired consistency. (For a chunkier salsa, pulse just a few times. For a smoother restaurant-style salsa, blend longer until smooth.)
- Taste and adjust as needed, adding more salt for flavor or jalapenos for extra heat.
- Transfer the salsa to a jar, container or serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours before serving, allowing the flavors to enhance. (For the best flavor, chill overnight.)
- Serve with your favorite tortilla chips and enjoy! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6-7 days.
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