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If you’ve been buying salsa in a jar, it may be time to rethink that. This easy recipe for Homemade Salsa is one of those pantry staples you can make yourself. It’s cheaper and tastier than the commercial varieties. And so easy!
Serve this Homemade Salsa at your next shindig, it’s a Great Game Day Appetizer to share with friends and family, alongside a Taco Layer Dip and Air Fryer Tortilla Chips.
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Since we eat so much Mexican food at our house, we eat a lot of salsa, at least a pint a week, sometimes more!
When we first married, I paid $4 for a 16-ounce container every week. It was from the refrigerated section at the store, so it had to be primo, right?
Once I realized that I could make twice as much for a fraction of the price, I quit buying it. On the occasions where I’m lazy or in a hurry and I’ve bought the old varieties, we’ve been sorely disappointed. Homemade tastes so much better!
Why Make This
It’s a good cheap eat! At only $1.51 for 4 cups of salsa, this is a great deal, especially if you enjoy salsa often. It’s a delicious addition to a Nacho Bar!
It’s a great winter option when fresh tomatoes aren’t prime. This is the homemade salsa recipe I prepare weekly, using canned tomatoes. Later in the summer when fresh garden tomatoes are in abundance, I make Homemade Pico de Gallo, but this holds us over through the rest of the year.
It’s quick and easy. There’s not much prep involved, just a quick chop of the onion, cilantro, and chile. Stir it all together and you’re off!
Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make Homemade Salsa the easy way:
![Easy Recipe for Homemade Salsa (2) Easy Recipe for Homemade Salsa (2)](https://i0.wp.com/goodcheapeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/homemade-salsa-ingredients.jpg)
tomatoes – Since this salsa is unblended, I recommend using canned petite diced tomatoes, but there are so many options you can lean on, including freshly seeded and chopped tomatoes, canned fire-roasted tomatoes, and crushed tomatoes. Each will give your salsa a slightly different texture, so experiment until you have what you love best.
fresh cilantro – Cilantro is a must-have for homemade salsa. You can grow your own or buy it from the store. Be sure to follow these tips to Keep Cilantro Fresh.
green onion – Green onion is cheap and easy to use, but you can also use yellow, red, or white onions. Taste them before you add them to the salsa. If they are bitter, rinse well with cold water to improve their taste.
jalapeño – The amount of heat will depend on which chile you use. Serrano will be hottest; crushed red pepper will be mild; jalapeño will be somewhere in between.
lime juice – Lime juice helps round out the flavors and adds another fresh layer of flavor. You can use bottled juice, but fresh is often best.
salt and pepper – Season your salsa to taste with salt and pepper.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s how to make this easy homemade salsa:
![Easy Recipe for Homemade Salsa (3) Easy Recipe for Homemade Salsa (3)](https://i0.wp.com/goodcheapeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/homemade-salsa-bowl-1-lime.jpg)
![Easy Recipe for Homemade Salsa (4) Easy Recipe for Homemade Salsa (4)](https://i0.wp.com/goodcheapeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/homemade-salsa-bowl-mixed.jpg)
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the tomatoes with their juices, the cilantro, chile pepper, and lime juice, stirring gently. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Chill until ready to serve. Serve with tortilla chips or other Mexican dishes.
FAQs & Recipe Costs
Can homemade salsa go bad?
All fresh food will experience decay at some point. Since homemade salsa does not have any preservatives in it, treat it as you would any other prepped food. Keep it refrigerated in an airtight container. It should be good for 5 to 7 days.
Can you freeze homemade salsa?
Freezing food will extend its life and postpone decay. If you wish to freeze salsa, store it in an airtight container with ½ to 1-inch headspace to allow for expansion. Use within two months. Thaw in the refrigerator, stir to recombine, and serve.
Keep in mind that the jalapeño and onion will lose their crunch after freezing, so the texture won’t be quite the same.
What kind of tomatoes should you use in homemade salsa?
You can use whatever tomatoes you have on hand, fresh or canned. You’ll want to make sure that you chop the tomatoes in a fine dice so that the salsa is dip-able.
Recipe Costs
Knowing how much it costs you to prepare a recipe can help you decide if it’s the type of recipe to make regularly or one you might want to save for special occasions. Let’s crunch some numbers and see how this recipe pencils out.
- petite diced tomatoes – $0.90
- fresh cilantro – $0.25
- green onion – $0.10
- jalapeño – $0.15
- lime juice – $0.10
- salt and pepper – $0.01
While your costs may vary depending on where and how you shop, you can expect to pay about $1.51 for a big batch of Homemade Salsa, about 9 cents/serving!
That’s a much better price than buying it in a jar!Making your own is a great way to save money on a good eat.
Here are some of the strategies I use to make this recipe more economical:
- Do a price comparison. I know that ALDI is the best place to buy ingredients in bulk, like canned tomatoes,when there isn’t a great sale elsewhere. I keep track of prices so that I know who has the best deal where.
- Stock up on ingredients when they are on sale. For instance, when I see a great price on onions, I buy a lot.
- Store your cilantro so that it lasts! Most recipes only call for a handful of the fragrant herb, so stretch that purchase as far as you can. Better yet, grow your own in a pot in the kitchen or in the back yard, weather permitting.
![Easy Recipe for Homemade Salsa (5) Easy Recipe for Homemade Salsa (5)](https://i0.wp.com/goodcheapeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/air-fryer-tortilla-chips-OH-hero-8-salsa.jpg)
Perfect Pairings
- Beef Chimichanga Recipe (61 cents each)
- 3 Ways to Make Homemade Tortilla Chips
- Cheese Enchilada Recipe
- Homemade Mexican Bean Tostadas (56 cents each!)
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Easy Homemade Salsa
If you’ve been buying salsa in a jar, it may be time to think about making Homemade Salsa. It’s cheaper and tastier than the commercial varieties. And so easy!
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 7 minutes minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes minutes
Servings: 16
Calories: 1kcal
Author: Jessica Fisher
Cost: $1.41
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 15-ounce cans petite diced tomatoes
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
- 1 green onion chopped
- 1 jalapeno
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- salt
- black pepper
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the tomatoes with their juices, the cilantro, chile pepper, and lime juice, stirring gently. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Chill until ready to serve. Serve with tortilla chips or other Mexican dishes.
Notes
Nutritional values are based on ¼ cup salsa.
Prepared salsa is good in the fridge for up to a week, covered.
Nutrition
Calories: 1kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 7mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg
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This post was originally published on June 19, 2009. It has been updated for content and clarity.