This Easy Homemade Salsa recipe with canned tomatoes and fresh ingredients takes minutes to make in the blender. Restaurant style salsa at home! Pair this easy salsa recipe with your favorite Mexican foods or serve with tortilla chips for an easy appetizer or snack. This mild salsa goes with just about anything!
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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 with canned diced tomatoes and crushed tomatoes in the blender/food processor. Blender salsa with canned tomatoes tastes just like salsa from our favorite Mexican restaurant. My family thinks my restaurant quality salsa is the BEST salsa recipe ever!
Using canned tomatoes is definitely the key to this easy recipe. I use fresh tomatoes in my fresh salsa, Spicy Pico de Gallo, but canned is perfect for this blender salsa recipe. Plus, you can make this chip dip all year long -- no need to wait for garden fresh tomatoes!
Serve the salsa with your favorite tortilla chips and Homemade Guacamole, Instant Pot Carnitas, or Salsa Chicken tacos for your own fiesta or Cinco de Mayo! We also love it with Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas and ground beef tacos.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this easy homemade salsa recipe. Best of all, you probably have most of them in your fridge or pantry. If not, you can find them in your grocery store or farmers market.
- Canned tomatoes -- I use a mix of crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes for different texture
- Red onion -- adds flavor and color, but you can use a white onion or yellow onion instead
- Garlic cloves -- adds flavor and texture, but you can use garlic 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 fresh jalapenos to suit your tastes
- Lime juice -- squeeze from a whole lime or use store bought juice
- Sea Salt --- or kosher salt
- Cumin, ancho chili powder -- optional but adds a deeper, smoky flavor
- Sugar -- A pinch of sugar helps cut the acid from tomatoes
How to Make Salsa with Canned Tomatoes
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 jalapeno 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. Pulse less for a more chunky salsa.
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 to Store Blender Salsa
How long does fresh homemade salsa last? This recipe makes a lot, but leftover salsa keeps well when covered or in an airtight container and refrigerated for about 2 weeks.
Yes, you can freeze canned tomato 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! Don't worry -- good salsa tastes great ever after freezing!
Recipe Variations and Tips
There are a couple ways to customize this delicious salsa to your liking.
Spice level is up to personal preference. Keep jalapeño seeds in for a spicy salsa, or add more jalapeños for more spice. Remove the seeds of the pepper for a more mild taste. Or use Serrano peppers or Anaheim peppers. For even more heat, substitute habanero peppers for the jalapeño peppers.
Instead of lime juice, add lemon juice, or a blend of the two. Add a teaspoon of taco seasoning for even deeper flavor in place of individual spices
Cilantro is traditional in salsa, but if you want salsa with no cilantro, you can substitute fresh parsley, instead.
Fresh veggies are a great option for your salsa. Use fresh tomatoes instead of canned ones, or use a blend of both. Green chiles, bell peppers and green onions also add fresh flavors!
Blender salsa also makes a terrific gift for the holidays or housewarmings. Just pour some in a mason jar, and gift away!
Recipe FAQ
The brand doesn't matter as long as you are using canned tomatoes without any extra seasoning. Use your favorite brand of canned tomates.
Canned tomatoes are perfect for restaurant-style blender salsa. If you want salsa fresca or pico de gallo, use fresh tomatoes and other fresh ingredients.
Recipe
Homemade Salsa Recipe with Canned Tomatoes
Equipment
- food processor
Ingredients
- 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 15 ounce can 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 or, to taste
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 lime juice of
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin optional
- ½ teaspoon ancho chili powder optional
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
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
This canned salsa recipe is the best homemade salsa recipe ever. The only thing separating it from my favorite restaurant salsa is that I can make it easily at home!
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If you enjoy our favorite salsa as much as we do, please leave a star rating or comment!
Recipe originally published in 2015 and updated in 2023
Patrick says
So much flavor and you can make it as spicey as you want too! Made one without jalapenos and one with with lots of them! What a hit!
Jim says
Made this yesterday and boy was it easy. Everybody loves it. Used some fresh cilantro from our garden too!
Dee says
Awesome, Jim! Thank you so much.
amanda says
Perfect for those get togethers outside, it is so tasty!
beti says
Oh my, this was SO GOOD!! I need to make this again!!