Easy Homemade Salsa

Make Easy Homemade Salsa with canned tomatoes and fresh ingredients in the blender. Pair this simple recipe with your favorite Mexican foods or serve with tortilla chips for an easy appetizer or snack. This mild restaurant style salsa goes with just about anything!

Here in Arizona, we have tons of amazing Mexican restaurants where you can practically make a meal out of chips and salsa alone. I’ve tried a lot of store bought salsas, but they just don’t taste the same. So, I started making this easy homemade salsa in the blender/food processor, and it tastes just like what we get at our favorite Mexican restaurant!

Using canned tomatoes is definitely the key to this easy recipe. I use fresh tomatoes in my Spicy Pico de Gallo, but canned is perfect for salsa. Plus, you can make this chip dip all year long — no need to wait for garden fresh tomatoes!

Serve the salsa with Homemade Guacamole, Instant Pot Carnitas, or Salsa Chicken tacos for your own fiesta! We also love it with Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas!

Simple Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients to make homemade restaurant style salsa. Best of all, you probably have most of them in your fridge or pantry:

• Canned tomatoes — I use a mix of crushed and diced for different texture
• Red onion — adds flavor and color
• Garlic cloves — adds flavor and texture, but you can use powder in a pinch
• Fresh cilantro — Leave it out if you don’t like it, but it really adds authentic flavor
• Jalapeño pepper — I use 1 for a mild flavor, but you can add more to suit your tastes
• Lime
• Salt
• Sugar — Helps cut the acid from tomatoes

How to Make Homemade Salsa

You can use a blender or food processor to make the salsa. I recommend cutting the onion in large chunks and peeling the garlic. If you want mild salsa, remove the seeds and membrane from the jalapeño pepper first.

If you want spicier salsa, use 2 or 3 jalapeño peppers, and leave the seeds in. You can also use different peppers. This recipe is super easy to adjust!

Just place all of the ingredients in your blender or food processor. Then, squeeze the fresh lime juice on top. Place the lid on, and pulse a few times until you get the consistency you want.

Definitely taste to see if it needs more salt or sugar. Everyone’s tastes are different, and I usually start out with less salt and add more if needed. Same goes with the sugar.

You can also leave the sugar out or replace it with the sweetener of your choice. The salsa doesn’t taste sweet, but the sugar helps to cut the acid from the tomatoes.

How Long Does it Last

This recipe makes a lot of salsa! It keeps well when covered and refrigerated for about 2 weeks. It also makes a terrific gift for the holidays or housewarmings. Just pour some in a mason jar, and gift away!

You can also freeze homemade salsa. I usually add some to a zip top freezer bag, remove as much air as possible and label the salsa before freezing. When frozen, salsa should keep for 4 to 6 months!

Easy Homemade Salsa

Published by Dee

Make Easy Homemade Salsa with canned tomatoes and fresh ingredients in the blender. Pair this simple recipe with your favorite Mexican foods or serve with tortilla chips for an easy appetizer or snack. This mild restaurant style salsa goes with just about anything!

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 0 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 12

Calories 37 kcal

Equipment

• food processor

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 15 ounces diced tomatoes
• 1 small red onion peeled and cut into large chunks
• 2 cloves garlic peeled
• 1 large jalapeño pepper seeded and membrane removed
• 1 cup fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 lime juice of

Instructions

 

• Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor, and add lid
• Pulse until desired consistency is reached
• Pour into large bowl or serving bowls

Notes

Leave seeds in jalapeño pepper for spicier salsa. Add more to suit your tastes. Add taco seasoning for more complex, deeper flavor.

Store in refrigerator or freeze for longer storage.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 37kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 286mgPotassium: 290mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 288IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1mg

Keyword homemade salsa

Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

Recipe originally published in 2015 and updated in 2021

If you like this recipe as much as we do, leave a comment or give me a shout-out on social media! Sign up to receive weekly recipes by email!