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    Home » Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe

    Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe

    Published: Sep 22, 2019 · Modified: Feb 14, 2022 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    This is the best Homemade Salsa Recipe! This easy salsa is made with canned tomatoes in 5 minutes and doesn't require any chopping/prep work because it's made in the blender!

    front view of a chip being dipped into a bowl of homemade salsa

    This post is sponsored by my friends at Vitamix! As always, all opinions, photos, videos and recipes are my own!

    If you're like me, and can devour an entire bowl of chips and salsa at your favorite Mexican restaurant before the meal is even served, then you're going to love this homemade salsa recipe. 

    It has the taste and texture of restaurant-style salsa, and it's made in only 5 minutes in the Vitamix blender, which means that there's no chopping or prep work required! Plus, you can adjust the heat to be as spicy or mild as you'd like. I prefer making it kid-friendly (because I have 6 kids), so I make a very mild salsa, but we'll chat about ways to spice it up!

    Another great thing about this easy salsa recipe is that it calls for canned tomatoes, which means you can make it year round! No need to wait for the summer to use garden-fresh tomatoes, (although you can use those as well, as we'll chat about that later)! 

    overhead view of a bowl of homemade salsa and chips

    Homemade Salsa: Ingredients & Substitutions 

    First, let's chat about the ingredients & possible substitutions.

    overhead view of the ingredients in this homemade salsa recipe
    • Canned diced tomatoes. Any variety works well in this salsa recipe. I usually opt for regular diced or fire roasted diced tomatoes. If you want to use some fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes, please do! You'll need about 3 cups of fresh tomatoes, and make sure to remove the seeds to avoid a watery salsa.
    • Onion (or onion powder). I have made this blender salsa recipe with both raw onion and onion powder.
    • Fresh Cilantro. There's really no substitution fresh cilantro. I buy a bunch every time I go grocery shopping because it's cheap and we eat tacos weekly, so we always use it! 
    • Garlic powder (or minced garlic). Both garlic powder but minced garlic make a delicious homemade salsa.
    • Ground Cumin. Ground cumin is an essential spice for homemade salsa! Another pantry staple I recommend always having on hand. 
    • Granulated Sugar. Sugar is optional but just a small amount really brings out the flavor of the tomatoes. You can substitute brown sugar, coconut sugar, or honey for the sugar.
    • Lime juice. This is another ingredient I always keep on hand in the fridge. I recommend using fresh lime juice, either bottled or freshly squeezed!

    How to make salsa spicier: 

    If you like a spicer salsa here are some additions to kick up the heat: 

    • Add some hot peppers to taste:  jalapeño, habanero, etc. 
    • 1-2 TBS of your favorite hot sauce
    • Add some hot green chilies 
    side view of a chip being dipped into a bowl of homemade salsa

    How to make salsa

    Like I said before, this homemade salsa recipe is so easy to make. I only have a few tips about the method and possible ways to spice it up! But it's a very straightforward, easy salsa recipe! See below for a quick video, or in the recipe card for my full tutorial with cute little helpers!


     

    Blend

    Start by adding 1 can of diced tomatoes and the rest of the ingredients into the container of a blender - as always, I recommend using a Vitamix! In this recipe the Vitamix does all the hard work for you...chopping, mincing, etc. Yet another reason it's my BFF in the kitchen!

    If you are looking to buy a Vitamix, check out my in-depth Vitamix buying guide and learn why I chose to blend with Vitamix 10 years ago and never looked back! 

    Be sure to save one can of diced tomatoes for later!  If using fresh, start by adding 1 ½ cups of tomatoes, blending, then adding the rest. 

    overhead view of the ingredients for homemade salsa in a blender container

    Blend for 5-10 seconds until the onions are diced (if using onion powder, you don't have to worry about that). 

    Overhead view of homemade salsa being blended

    Add the second can of diced tomatoes and pulse to combine. The amount of blending here will really depend on your personal preferences. If you like a chunky salsa, just pulse once. If you want a smoother homemade salsa, pulse a few times!

    front view of homemade salsa in a blending container after being blended

    Chill

    Transfer the blender salsa to a serving dish or airtight container (if you're going to store it for later) and place it in the refrigerator. I recommend chilling this homemade salsa for at least 30 minutes, however we have dug right in with no complaints (see the video)! Chilling allows the flavors to blend together, so in my opinion, the longer the better!

    front view of a bowl of homemade salsa and chips

    Serve

    Serve this easy salsa recipe with your favorite chips. We always enjoy this salsa on our weekly taco nights with some of our favorite Mexican dishes:

    • These sweet potato tacos are my absolute favorite. 
    • This is the best nachos recipe ever - with two layers of cheese! 
    • Taco night isn't complete without homemade salsa AND homemade guacamole!
    • Make these homemade refried black beans to put inside your tacos with this easy salsa!
    • Chicken enchiladas are one of my family's favorite meals, and guacamole is a must! 
    • These crockpot chicken tacos are easy and delicious! 

    Store

    Store any leftover salsa in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I do not recommend freezing this recipe.

    front view of a mom and her two kids eating homemade salsa

    Recipe FAQS

    What tomatoes are good for salsa? (Canned Vs. Fresh Tomatoes) 

    Canned: I personally prefer using canned tomatoes to make this homemade salsa recipe! I recommend choosing a variety with "no-salt added!" Fire roasted tomatoes are also a favorite of mine, because of the flavor! Plus, the convenience of canned tomatoes and their year-round availability make them my preferred choice! 
    Fresh: If you have a garden full of  super ripe fresh tomatoes then they would taste great in this easy salsa recipe! You'll need about 3 cups of fresh tomatoes to make this homemade salsa recipe. To use fresh, remove the seeds to avoid a watery salsa!

    How do you store homemade salsa?

    This blender salsa can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator! I do not recommend freezing this salsa recipe!

    How long does homemade salsa last? 

    This easy salsa recipe will last for 5-7 days in the refrigerator! 

    Up close view of a chip being dipped into homemade salsa

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    Homemade Salsa

    Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe

    Laura
    This Homemade Salsa Recipe is ready in 5 minutes and is the best restaurant-style salsa. This easy salsa is made with canned tomatoes and doesn't require any chopping/prep work because it's made in the blender!
    4.91 from 10 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Appetizer, condiment, dip
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 10 servings
    Calories 20 kcal

    Equipment

    • Vitamix blender
    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups
    • red spatula

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 14 oz cans cans diced tomatoes
    • ¼ cup onion or 1 tsp onion powder
    • ½ cup fresh cilantro
    • 1 tsp garlic powder or minced garlic
    • ½ tsp cumin
    • ½ tsp sea salt
    • 1 tsp granulated sugar
    • 2 TBS lime juice

    Instructions
     

    • Put onion, cilantro, garlic powder, cumin, sea salt, sugar and lime juice into the container of a Vitamix blender.
    • Pulse to combine until the onion are diced well.
    • Add 1 can of diced tomatoes and blend for 5-10 seconds.
    • Add second can, pulse to lightly blend (if desired), or leave them chunky.
    • Chill for at least 30 minutes (optional but recommended for flavors to blend together).
    • Pour into a serving dish and enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    Ingredient Substitutions  

    • Canned diced tomatoes. Any variety works well in this salsa recipe. I usually opt for regular diced or fire roasted diced tomatoes. If you want to use some fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes, please do! You'll need about 3 cups of fresh tomatoes, and make sure to remove the seeds to avoid a watery salsa.
    • Onion (or onion powder). I have made this blender salsa recipe with both raw onion and onion powder.
    • Fresh Cilantro. There's really no substitution fresh cilantro. I buy a bunch every time I go grocery shopping because it's cheap and we eat tacos weekly, so we always use it! 
    • Garlic powder (or minced garlic). Both garlic powder but minced garlic make a delicious homemade salsa.
    • Ground Cumin. Ground cumin is an essential spice for homemade salsa! Another pantry staple I recommend always having on hand. 
    • Granulated Sugar. Sugar is optional but just a small amount really brings out the flavor of the tomatoes. You can substitute brown sugar, coconut sugar, or honey for the sugar.
    • Lime juice. This is another ingredient I always keep on hand in the fridge. I recommend using fresh lime juice, either bottled or freshly squeezed!

    How to make salsa spicier: 

    If you like a spicer salsa here are some additions to kick up the heat: 
    • Add some hot peppers to taste:  jalapeño, habanero, etc. 
    • 1-2 TBS of your favorite hot sauce
    • Add some hot green chilies 

    Store

    Store any leftover salsa in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I do not recommend freezing this recipe.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.25cupCalories: 20kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 235mgPotassium: 168mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 150IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chuck G

      August 07, 2021 at 2:59 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for posting this recipe!! I've must've made it three times within the past month AND shared it work my work mates. I use it for lots of food choices...just a dip for chips, in my scrambled eggs, on pinto beans, dip for quesadillas, etc. All I know is my store bought salsa taste soooo inferior to this recipe that I keep throwing them away, then quickly making a new batch or your salsa. NOTE: To your recipe, I add 2-3 serrano peppers and 2 Tbs of white vinegar.

      Reply
    2. Diana

      May 15, 2021 at 12:52 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks so much for this recipe! It was lovely! I made it for a family that can't have raw onion, and our own family loved the leftovers as well. I'm so glad to have this in my repertoire. Thanks!

      Reply
    3. Kristin

      February 21, 2021 at 6:53 am

      5 stars
      Best salsa our family has ever had! Easy to make—we won’t be buying our salsa anymore! So good! Thank you!

      Reply
    4. Deborah Wallent

      July 08, 2020 at 3:40 pm

      5 stars
      I made the refried beans and the salsa. Both were super quick and so delicious!

      Reply
      • Laura

        July 09, 2020 at 7:18 am

        Thank you so much Deborah! I'm so glad you loved them both!

        Reply
    5. Cherese Pate

      June 04, 2020 at 2:42 pm

      5 stars
      I made this for my snack. I LOVED it. I added a little extra cilantro because I do like the taste. I forgot to take a picture. This will be my summer go to snack with homemade tortilla chips!

      Reply
      • Laura

        June 04, 2020 at 3:15 pm

        Perfect snack Cherese!!! Thank you for your comment!

        Reply

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    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

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