Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe (canned tomatoes)

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!

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. It tastes just like salsa from our favorite Mexican restaurant, and my family thinks it's the BEST salsa 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 blender 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!

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:

• Canned tomatoes -- I use a mix of crushed and diced tomatoes for different texture
• Red onion -- adds flavor and color
• 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 to suit your tastes
• Lime -- squeeze from a whole lime or use store bought juice
• Salt
• Cumin, ancho chili powder -- optional but adds a deeper flavor
• Sugar -- Helps cut the acid from tomatoes

How to Make Homemade 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

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.

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 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!

Variations

There are a couple ways to customize this delicious salsa to your liking.

Instead of lime juice, add lemon juice, or a blend of the two.

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.

For even more heat, substitute habanero peppers for the jalapeño peppers.

Add a teaspoon of taco seasoning for even deeper flavor.

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!

Recipe originally published in 2015 and updated in 2022

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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