30 Homemade Salsa Recipes

By Southern Living
Iain Bagwell

You’re going to love these salsa recipes that are ripe for riffs. Add and subtract ingredients depending on your taste to create your very own go-to salsa recipe.

Think salsa is just for chips? Think again! While we love the ease of throwing together a simple appetizer for hungry family and friends with one of our salsa recipes, chips, and guacamole; you can also use salsa as a tasty topping on your favorite tacos, grilled chicken, or fish. The possibilities are endless. If you're crunched for time, but still want homemade flavor, start with a store-bought fresh salsa and stir in a few fresh ingredients like roasted corn, cilantro, and chopped red onion. If time is no object and you're starting from scratch we recommend allowing plenty of time for your salsa mixture to chill in the refrigerator. This will help the flavors meld leaving you with a salsa recipe that is a surefire crowd pleaser. 

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Cast-Iron Salsa

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cast-Iron Salsa

Turn your skillet into a Mexican comal, aka griddle, by slowly charring onions, garlic, and peppers in a dry skillet. We like to use this traditional dry char technique because it coaxes sweet, earthy flavors from the vegetables and gives them just a hint of smokiness.

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Tomatillo Salsa

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Tomatillo Salsa

You'll love the fresh ingredients and bright flavor in our Tomatillo Salsa. Serve it as a topper for Chicken Enchiladas or as a tasty appetizer with tortilla chips. Feel free to cut down on the heat by using just half of the jalapeño pepper the recipe calls for. Likewise, if you're a fan of spice, feel free to add more. 

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Jezebel Apple Salsa

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Jezebel Apple Salsa

Stir together quick and colorful Jezebel Apple Salsa to serve with poached shrimp, grilled chicken or pork, or with your favorite chips. We love the combination of sweet apple jelly and spicy horseradish in this colorful salsa. Diced fresh mango, cilantro, and lime bring a dash of tropical flavor to the table that you won't be able to resist. 

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Southwest Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Southwest Salsa

Forget the jar and treat your guests to the freshness of home-blended salsa. This recipe has small kick, but you can double the jalapeños and red pepper, if desired.

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Watermelon-Peach Salsa and Tomatoes

Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Watermelon-Peach Salsa and Tomatoes

This flavorful salsa is almost too pretty to eat. Fresh peaches, tomatoes, and watermelon are tossed in a mixture of pepper jelly, and lime juice for the ultimate summer dish. This recipe is hearty enough to serve alone, or spoon it over your favorite grilled chicken or fish recipe for a quick and easy mealtime stunner. 

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Charred Salsa

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Charred Salsa

This chunky salsa is great served atop our Steak Tacos. If you're looking for the perfect app, cut a baguette into rounds and add a heaping tablespoon of Charred Salsa on top for a Tex-Mex take on bruschetta. 

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Fresh Salsa

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Fresh Salsa

Serve this delicious salsa with chips to munch on before—and during—the main meal.

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Crunchy Summer Salsa

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Crunchy Summer Salsa

Diced cucumber and jalapeño give this fresh salsa a nice crunch. Serve with Brisket Tacos or your favorite store-bought tortilla chips. 

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Spicy Cranberry Salsa

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Spicy Cranberry Salsa

Here's our new go-to condiment to use on everything from tamales to turkey sandwiches. 

Learn How To Make It: What to Do with Leftover Cranberries

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Grilled Salsa

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Grilled Salsa

What's a party without salsa? Make yours one to remember.

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Strawberry Salsa

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Strawberry Salsa

A confetti of bright, sunny flavors, Strawberry Salsa adds an over-the-top finish to grilled pork, beef, chicken, or even fried catfish.

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Green Tomato Salsa

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Green Tomato Salsa

Serve Green Tomato Salsa as an appetizer with chips or a topping on Green Tomato Chile Verde. This recipe only calls for 6 ingredients and comes together in a snap. We love the mix of flavors from the tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and jalapeño. 

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Grilled Corn Salsa

Recipe: Grilled Corn Salsa

This semi-homemade salsa comes together in a flash. All you need to do is give corn kernals a good char in a skillet for about 2 minutes. Stir the corn into store-bought salsa, add a hearty dose of cilantro, and this so-simple salsa is ready for noshing. We like serving it with our Pork Tenderloin Wraps, but we don't think you'll have any problem finding even more unique and interesting ways to serve it up to friends and family. 

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Strawberry Salsa

Photo: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Strawberry Salsa

Don't be fooled: Strawberries are the star here. But, throw in cool and creamy avocado, crunchy baby radishes, lime juice, and cilantro and you'll have a brand new favorite salsa that will leave everyone at the party asking for the recipe. Serve over our Grilled Chicken Cutlets at dinnertime or with hearty pita chips when you're looking for the perfect appetizer. 

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Watermelon-Mango Salsa

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Watermelon-Mango Salsa

Pair our recipe for Watermelon-Mango Salsa with Crunchy Jerk Tacos, or serve with a hearty pita chip for dipping. We love this refreshing salsa anytime of year, but it's especially suited for summertime picnics and get-togethers. Friends and family will rave over the fresh, tropical flavors with just the right amount of kick. 

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Blueberry-Peach Salsa

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Blueberry-Peach Salsa

This juicy salsa pulls sweet and savory double duty: Liven up a cheese platter with it, or spoon it over goat cheese or a wheel of Brie. We also love to serve it along with Grilled Pork Chops. Don't worry about serving this salsa the day-of, allowing the flavors to meld overnight as they chill in the refrigerator will only make it that much sweeter. 

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Avocado-Corn Salsa

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Avocado-Corn Salsa

Fresh flavors abound in this recipe. We serve Avocado-Corn Salsa over Black Bean Cakes, but feel free to make up a big batch and serve with crunchy tortilla chips. Trust us, this salsa will go fast! 

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Fresh Cherry Salsa

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Fresh Cherry Salsa

Zippy red pepper jelly sends Fresh Chery Salsa over the top. Serve Fresh Cherry Salsa over chicken, pork, with chips, or with our Pulled Pork Griddle Cakes. Crushed red pepper gives an unexpected dose of heat, but feel free to add more or less than what the recipe calls for depending on your taste. 

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Green Tomato Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Green Tomato Salsa

The tangy-sweet taste of this quick, colorful salsa pairs perfectly with grilled chicken, pork, or crisp-fried catfish.

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Watermelon Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Watermelon Salsa

This colorful salsa makes a delicious topping for sliced tomatoes, grilled chicken, or steak.

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Cranberry Salsa

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cranberry Salsa

Cilantro, jalapeño peppers, and navel oranges add a spicy-citrus kick to Cranberry Salsa.

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Spring Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Spring Salsa

Fill inexpensive, reusable glass jars with Spring Salsa and chips for easy carrying. This colorful salsa of corn, tomatoes, and cilantro would be equally delicious served over salad greens or in warm tortillas with grilled chicken.

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Blueberry Salsa

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Blueberry Salsa

Fresh blueberries provide the sweet while jalapeño pepper, bell pepper, and cilantro provide the savory.  Serve with toasted flour tortilla strips for an easy appetizer or side dish.

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Pineapple-Cucumber Salsa

Jim Franco

Recipe: Pineapple-Cucumber Salsa

Pineapple-Cucumber Salsa offers refreshing flavor with a little bite. Serve as a topping to our Mini Crab Cakes. This tropical topping also pairs beautifully with flaky white fish or grilled chicken. We also love serving it as a refreshing condiment for tacos. 

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Serrano-Cilantro Salsa

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Serrano-Cilantro Salsa

Brighten up your favorite main dishes by adding fresh Serrano-Cilantro Salsa. We love serving this as a topping on our savory flank steak Suadero Tacos. Cooking the serrano peppers along with diced onion and garlic brings out a smoky flavor. Be sure to process the pepper mixture and the rest of the ingredients in order to make sure this salsa is totally dippable.

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Blueberry Salsa

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Blueberry Salsa

This sweet salsa with a spicy kick will receive rave reviews and it couldn't be simpler to prepare. Just toss coarsely chopped blueberries with drained pineapple tidbits, green onions, basil, mango chutney, lime juice, salt, and crushed red pepper. Serve with our Jerk Pork Tenderloin or as a tasty appetizer with tortilla chips. 

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Fresh Plum Salsa

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Fresh Plum Salsa

Plums, jalapeño, basil, red onion, and a splash of lime juice come together to create a quick and fruity salsa that you and your family will love. Serve with our Pan-Grilled Chicken for a quick weeknight meal. 

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Avocado-Mango Salsa

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Avocado-Mango Salsa

Made with the freshest of ingredients, Avocado-Mango Salsa stands alone as an appetizer with your favorite chips, or serve this salsa as a topping on your favorite white chili. Here, we served it with White Lightning Chicken Chili.

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Watermelon Salsa

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Watermelon Salsa

We served this salsa as a bed for flaky Grilled Grouper, but feel free to serve as an appetizer with chips. Kalamata olives bring a slightly unexpected briny flavor to this salsa, which you won't be able to resist. 

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Grape Salsa

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Grape Salsa

If you've been hunting for a unique salsa recipe that will dazzle taste buds, look no further. Just a few simple ingredients (grapes, bell pepper, green onions, bell pepper, lime juice, and red pepper jelly) come together to create a sweet and spicy concoction that we know you'll love. Serve atop waffle-cut sweet potato fries, as we did here, or with your favorite hearty pita chip. 

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