This wicked easy salsa is quick, easy, and beyond delicious! You’ll never again rush to a restaurant or resort to a jar to get your fix now that you have this tasty recipe in your arsenal!
I won’t eat jarred salsa.
No way. No how.
#salsasnob
It not only pales in comparison to the fresh stuff, but fresh salsa is so stinkin’ easy to make it would be a sin to waste my money on that sub par jar of meh.
If you’re debating whether or not to finally make your own at home… allow me to convince you!
★★★★★ “I have been experimenting with different Salsa recipes.
I am done. Yours is the bomb. Thanks for the great recipe.My Hubby said this is the one.” – Terry
Ingredients Needed
- 6 Roma tomatoes (approx. 1.5 lbs)
- ¼ medium red onion or white onion
- 1 jalapeño pepper
- 1-2 cloves fresh garlic
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar and/or fresh squeezed lime juice
- salt and fresh cilantro to taste
Wicked Easy Salsa
So how does this salsa situation go down? It’s easy!
You’ll want to either pick some tomatoes from your little backyard garden or pick some up at the grocery store/farmers market. This time of year we have loads of them awaiting all sorts of recipes.
You’ll also want to snag some red or white onion, a jalapeño pepper, fresh garlic, white vinegar and/or lime juice, and fresh cilantro. You’ll also need some salt for seasoning.
Wash tomatoes and place on a baking sheet.
Toss them in the oven
Set timer.
Remove from oven and toss in a food processor or blender w/ the rest of your goodies.
…and last but certainly not least…
Grab some crispy tortilla ships and get ready to shovel this deliciously easy salsa into your face!
Homemade Salsa Tips and Tricks
This spectacular homemade salsa can be made mild, medium, spicy, and just about everything in between!
To make it medium (a little bit of spice but not too fiery), add a whole jalapeño and further fine tune the spice level by leaving out the seeds initially and then adding back in as many as you’d like as you taste test. Easy peasy!
Want to make it mild?
To make a mild salsa without heat, remove the seeds and ribs of the jalapeno before blending.
Want it SUPER mild? White onion has less flavor than red/purple and is a little blander for kids and sensitive taste-buds.
Want your salsa super spicy?
You know what to do! Add an extra jalapeño pepper or grab a habanero or serrano pepper even!
When it comes to choosing amounts of cilantro, onion, and pepper to add, start with a little of each and then taste and add as you go. The ratio in this recipe, to me, tastes exactly like the salsa my favorite Mexican restaurants serve.
It’s so good I’ve been making a fresh batch every week!
For thicker salsa, add the onion, pepper, garlic and cilantro to the food processor first, blend, then add the cooked tomatoes and pulse just a few times.
Here are the detailed instructions for those of you ready to get your salsa on:
Restaurant-Style Easy Salsa
Ingredients
- 6 Roma tomatoes (approx 1.5 lb)
- ¼ medium red onion or white onion
- 1 jalapeño pepper
- 1-2 cloves garlic
- 1 TBSP white vinegar or fresh squeezed lime juice
- ½-1 tsp salt
- fresh chopped cilantro to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to broil on high.
- Line a baking sheet with foil and roast tomatoes, halved or whole, for 10-15 minutes on the center rack of the oven.
- Don't be alarmed when the skin of the tomatoes peels back a bit during cooking; some will bubble, some may turn inside out, but its totally normal!
- Once they're nice and toasty, remove from oven and allow your tomatoes to cool a bit.
- Decide if you want mild, medium, or spicy salsa. For mild, use a spoon to scoop out the insides from the jalapenos (ribs + seeds) entirley. For medium, leave some of the seeds in tact. For spicy – leave all the goodies in your jalapenos (minus the stem of course) and feel free to add extra if you'd like!
- Roughly chop your onion and jalapeño. Smash, peel, then mince garlic. Start with one clove as extra can always be added after.
- Toss everything but the cilantro in the food processor and pulse a few times and blend to your favorite level of smoothness or chunkiness.
- Once blended, add some finely chopped cilantro to taste.
- Allow to cool to room temperature and dig in face first with some chips or veggies!
Notes
Nutrition
Favorite uses for homemade salsa
As if you’ve ever doubted it, this it’s absolutely awesome on anything and everything!
Since the oven was already hot, I topped some chips with organic cheddar and some of my DIY fridge pickled jalapeño peppers and made some impromptu nachos to go with it.
It’s also amazing drizzled on top of my famous Sheet Pan Nachos!
The next morning this restaurant style deliciousness went on my eggs and, as soon as I finish this post, the remainder is getting mixed into an avocado to make some loaded guacamole. Sometimes I make it pretty basic and other times I load it up with salsa, jalapeño, cilantro, and a little red onion along with my go-to guacamole seasoning blend.
There’s no right or wrong way to make salsa, and with tomatoes so deliciously in season right now, there’s no reason not to make at least one bowl this summer!
Or two.
Make two.
Three even.
MORE SENSATIONAL SALSA RECIPES
Can you tell I have a thing for dips? These are just a few as I probably have no less than 30 dip recipes on this little blog of mine. If you’re ever looking for something in particular, use the little search widget at the top of the page.
With vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, low carb, t-rex, and pescatarian options there is literally something for everyone!
Taco Night Favorites
- Black Bean Taco Salad
- Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos
- Cauliflower Rice Burrito Bowl
- Baked Bell Pepper Tacos
- Mexican Quinoa Salad with Chili Lime Dressing
If you get a chance to try this tasty recipe, let me know!
You can leave me a comment here (I absolutely LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Questions & Reviews
Many years later but this is amazing! Do you know if you can can this? If so, how?
I’m so glad you’re loving the recipe, Melissa! I believe any salsa can be canned? I know the Ball mason jar website has some awesome tutorials for salsa canning. I need to stop being timid and try it as well!
The recipe says 10-15 minutes under a high broil. Is that accurate? It seems like that would burn them crisp.
Hi Joshua! I keep my rack in the center position and start watching the veggies around the 8-10 minute mark. The goal is to get a little char starting to form to the outside skin for a smoky flavored salsa. You can yank them earlier for less char if preferred; I’ve made the salsa both ways. Hope this helps!
I noticed in your salsa verde recipe, you recommended boiling the tomatoes/onions/jalapenos before adding them to the food processor – would you recommend doing the same for this salsa? Or does the oven time accomplish the same thing?
For fire-roasted flavor you’ll want to roast them first. For a mild salsa more like a jarred variety you can boil them! My roasted cherry tomato salsa and this salsa both have the roasting step and I feel like it adds that little something extra to the salsa!
The roasting step will soften them as much as the boiling step so no need to do both in the same recipe. xoxo
Fantastic recipe!
I have been experimenting with different Salsa recipes.
I am done. Yours is the bomb. Thanks for the great recipe.My Hubby said this is the one.
Ahhhh yay! So so glad y’all love it!
Thank you for the easy and delicious restaurant style salsa! My favourite food.
Thank you Shiho!
This is my favorite salsa! I love the addition of vinegar, it makes it just perfect!
It adds that little something extra! Lime juice can be used as a swap if needed too as both work fantastic!
Love the rich flavor from roasting the tomatoes! I think it’s better than restaurant salsa!
Thank you Diana!
Homemade salsa is always the best since you can “spice it up” anyway you like it!
Totally agree!
So you don’t peel the skins off the tomatoes befor blending the?
I leave the skin in tact. It’s a great source of fiber and the skin has wonderful flavor once it’s “fire” roasted in the oven on broil. I adore it this way!
i’m totally late, but i’m making this!! I had already made salsa from scratch, but roasting the tomatoes must take it to a new level!!! Yum!!
Thanks Noelle! It turns it into an entirely different salsa! =) Hope you fall in love with it like I did!
I love salsa. Love!!! I have not, however, ever heard of roasting the tomatoes first. I learn something new everyday. 🙂
OMG it was amazing!!!! i did lime juice instead of vinegar. hubby and i ate the whole bowl with dinner 🙂 I am making more tomorrow. I am singing your praises for this salsa on my blog tomorrow. hubs goes away in a few weeks for work and i am looking forward to it so i can eat the salsa and not share 🙂 it seriously tasted like authentic mexican restaurant salsa. you rock!!
Yessss! Hope you love it!!! <3 You’ll have to give me your expert opinion
when you try it! =) hehe
i finally got enough tomatoes to make this and the tomatoes are in the oven right now!!!!
Ooh yummy, I might have to try this! So glad I found your blog and I am now your newest follower! Oh, and I’m also a fellow military wife…HOLLA! 🙂
I love *all* salsa, especially when it’s made with tomatoes from the garden.
Thanks for the recipe!!! I have a ton of Romas growing right now, and was hoping to make some salsa this summer. Thanks for sharing!!
There is nothing like homemade salsa! Love it!
This looks fantastic!!! i am so hungry right now 🙂 i have many green tomatoes in my garden this is the first thing i am making with them. after i eat one right off the vine of course 🙂
I’m making this! I’m a salsa freak! Also, if you happen to have On the Border’s queso recipe…bring it on! haha!
I may have missed this in the shuffle, but do you live in New England? I grew up in New Hampshire and we used “wicked” as an adjective for EVERYTHING. Hahahah I miss it so much!!! I can’t wait to make this salsa I hate buying store bought all the timeeee
YUM!! Anything Mexican related is the key to my heart! : )
Mmmmmm…we always have a Mexican night on vacation, and we have nachos JUST like these. I might have to make this salsa to go along with them 🙂
That does look super easy! I think salsa is an awesome summer dish!!
I love salsa. I go to Cosco and buy the biggest freaking jug and finish it in like a week. Your recipe will defs save me some money 🙂 love it!!
I love just regular fresh salsa! Nothing beats the fresh tomato taste!
P.S. Your new pic on here is super cute! 😀
NO salsa beats homemade salsa!! I took a cooking class while I was living abroad in Mexico during college, and we made fresh salsa every day. I seriously could have eaten BOWLS of that stuff. Thanks for reminding me that even though there are tons of pre-made salsas for sale in the grocery store, taking the time to make it yourself is totally worth the extra effort.
I love adding fruit to salsa–mango, pineapple, strawberry, peach…mmm!
I love GOOD salsa. Some salsas are just so meh and super runny. I like it hearty. Yours looks perfect!
YUM! I love me some good homemade salsa!
That looks perfect! I definitely want to try this.
I really like any kind of salsa – as long as there’s a chip to dip it in 😉
oh my yum. great recipe!!
Oh yum, I’ve got to try this! Guacamole too!
Jen this really does look delicious and really easy. Just the kind of recipes that I like!!
Thanks for linking up, Jenn. I’ll be back in full force at WIAW next week. We’ve been going rogue with meal plans and such… Your salsa looks amazing…can’t wait til my tomatoes come in!
Oh yay, I’m not the only one who likes to make fresh salsa! I like it a little differently, though – I prefer fresh raw tomato flavor to roasted. So I just toss’em in the blender with some peppers and stuff.
Hmm…I think I feel a WIAW coming on. 🙂
Did you get your hair cut?
This recipe for salsa looks wonderful! I don’t like things too spicy, so I bet this one would be ideal for me
I like mango and pineapple salsas a whole lot. The sweet flavor adds a nice subtle touch
Thanks for sharing! I LOVE salsa.
I’m a traditional salsa girl, in fact I just made some tonight for dinner!
I have tomatoes and jalapenos just starting on my plants — I am SO excited for homemade salsa!!!
I’ve never liked salsa. I’m weird, I know…
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE fresh salsa! I can’t wait for our romas to grow!! (and our jalapenos, onions and garlic) My mouth is watering already! Thanks for the yummy pics and recipe:)
I love when salsa is served warmed. It really brings out the flavors for me!
For cold salsa, I like it hot, tomato-based, with chunks of PEACHES.
Om my, the salsa sounds just perfect! Thank goodness I just planted more tomatoes! 🙂
oh lady i like my salsa habanero hot so add a few ghost peppers and then we’ll talk 😉
ps. congrats on the new cam!
Yum! My husband is a salsa addict and I am totally making this for him. Thanks!
So exciting that your homegrown tomatoes are ripe…waiting is the hardest part, right? 😉 The salsa looks perfect!
Yum, I love salsa! I have made my own strawberry salsa before which was amazing! My favorite kind is anything with fruit or the good old poco de gallo.
We make fresh salsa weekly at my house! For a little more heat I like to use serrano peppers. Mmmmmm.
I need to try this asap! I love hot salsa. The hotter, the better!
That’s the cutest pic of you with the tomatoe!!!! Haha so glad they finally turned red!!
xoxo
Cat@BudgetBlonde
This looks delicious girl! Can you believe I’ve never made my own salsa?! What the heck am I waiting for?? I’m jealous of all your tomatoes! Frankie G’s only given me one eensy weensy one so far!
I love a good salsa recipe. I am book marking this to make next week. Thanks so much for sharing!! I would of never thought to put tomatoes in the oven. Brilliant!!
Your recipe looks so good. I would love it if you came over to my party “Cast Party Wednesday” tomorrow and shared some of your recipes with us.
Thanks,
I hope to see you there!
I love a good salsa recipe. I am book marking this to make next week. Thanks so much for sharing!! I would of never thought to put tomatoes in the oven. Brilliant!!
xoxo.
Can’t wait til I start getting tomatoes…that’s usually August in Chicago…
Thanks for linking up and being first in show at the linky!
🙂 Love ya, Jenn!
I need to try this recipe asap- I have TONS of tomatoes out of my garden this year! I love the idea of roasting the tomatoes first- I have never made salsa that way- can’t wait to try it out!
YUUUUUUUUUM, bookmarking!
Jen this really does look delicious and really easy. Just the kind of recipes that I like!!
Lucky!! Home grown tomatoes are heavenly. I can’t wait for mine to grow!! I’m still at the flowering stage…bit of a late bloomer over here (haha). I’ve never made homemade salsa before, which is ridiculous! Especially when it looks this good.
Oh yum, I’ve got to try this! Guacamole too!
yummmmy!!! Chips and salsa is like my favorite thing EVER! and my favorite salsa is probably spicy black bean!
The salsa looks great and so does your hair! So pretty 🙂
This looks delicious girl! Can you believe I’ve never made my own salsa?! What the heck am I waiting for?? I’m jealous of all your tomatoes! Frankie G’s only given me one eensy weensy one so far!
I am obsessed with any kind of mexican food. I love salsas with chips. I am really craving this now!!
That’s the cutest pic of you with the tomatoe!!!! Haha so glad they finally turned red!!
xoxo
Cat@BudgetBlonde
oooh that looks so good theres nothing better than restaurant salsa with fresh salty chips!
I need to try this asap! I love hot salsa. The hotter, the better!
oh my yum. great recipe!!
I love salsa! This is making me want some chips and dip lol 😀
Yuumm, I love homemade salsa! And yours is so pretty! I don’t go for the funky salsas, I like traditional (and HOT).
I tried some mango salsa this weekend and it was FANTASTIC..I feel like I have been missing out all my life. PS my ferrets are big fans of tomatoes. They try to hunt them down when they are out and about
I love homemade salsa!! Yours sounds pretty tasty!
Haha, I love this post title and your green tomato face:). So glad they finally turned red for you!
Yummers! That gray and yellow plate is so cute…where did you get it?
That looks perfect! I definitely want to try this.
I really like any kind of salsa – as long as there’s a chip to dip it in 😉
Love nachos! Love salsa! Just made a “salsa salad” with jalapeno peppers I’ll post tomorrow for WIAW. It was a little too HOT for me though. Next time I’m gonna tone it down a little.
Ya know, when I see the word wicked it just makes me happy!! I can not wait to fresh this wicked awesome salsa.
We make fresh salsa weekly at my house! For a little more heat I like to use serrano peppers. Mmmmmm.
I love just plain medium spice salsa. Bonus points if it’s the kind in the deli that’s refrigerated because those ones usually have lime and cilantro added too!
I love traditional salsa. I eat it several times a week. Yum!
Yum, I love salsa! I have made my own strawberry salsa before which was amazing! My favorite kind is anything with fruit or the good old poco de gallo.
Love making something that’s “wicked easy” ! I’ve always made my salsa by chopping everything up, which tastes great, but can be very time consuming!!! Your version with roasted tomatoes looks great!
Your salsa looks so delish! i’m putting up my classic guac recipe up today…i bet they would be good together 😉
I love tomatillo salsa…so tangy & refreshing
Weird growing season this year leaves me waiting for my 12 tomato plants to produce something. I know they will, I just wish I was more patient!!! Looks Yummo jenn!
That looks delicious! Our favorite salsa involves habaneros and pears–the pear cuts the heat so you get the flavor of the habaneros without melting your face off 🙂
So exciting that your homegrown tomatoes are ripe…waiting is the hardest part, right? 😉 The salsa looks perfect!
Yum! I’ve never made my own salsa before. We usually make a ridiculous amount of sauce and freeze it for pasta dishes. Now if only my tomatoes would cooperate! They keep turning red ooonnneee atttt a tiiiiiime 😉
I must say that I have that same plate (the one with the lovely tomatoes on it), only mine is in miniature “appetizer” size! I love them!
I love GOOD salsa. Some salsas are just so meh and super runny. I like it hearty. Yours looks perfect!
Yum! My husband is a salsa addict and I am totally making this for him. Thanks!
NO salsa beats homemade salsa!! I took a cooking class while I was living abroad in Mexico during college, and we made fresh salsa every day. I seriously could have eaten BOWLS of that stuff. Thanks for reminding me that even though there are tons of pre-made salsas for sale in the grocery store, taking the time to make it yourself is totally worth the extra effort.
I love adding fruit to salsa–mango, pineapple, strawberry, peach…mmm!
I should have what I need to make this ready in my garden very soon. Your recipe sounds great and I do plan to try it. I like your version with roasted tomatoes to make it smooth.
1. Delish. This looks so good!
2. Where are you from? Nobody says wicked unless they’re from New England! 🙂
I love just regular fresh salsa! Nothing beats the fresh tomato taste!
P.S. Your new pic on here is super cute! 😀
I’m so jealous of your tomatoes! I can’t wait for mine to ripen!
oh lady i like my salsa habanero hot so add a few ghost peppers and then we’ll talk 😉
ps. congrats on the new cam!
Stop, its late and you are making me hungryyyy! For me the spicier the better. And I’ve been known to save taco bell hot sauce for later uses. Terrible I know.
Om my, the salsa sounds just perfect! Thank goodness I just planted more tomatoes! 🙂
Oh yum, that really does look like restaurant style salsa! I much prefer the saucier kind to the chunky pico de gallo style salsa, and it’s hard to find a good recipe for it!
It’ll be great to replace the store bought salsa I’m munching now with a homemade version!
I love when salsa is served warmed. It really brings out the flavors for me!
For cold salsa, I like it hot, tomato-based, with chunks of PEACHES.
Mmmmm I haven’t made any homemade salsa this year but I can’t WAIT!
I love salsa. I go to Cosco and buy the biggest freaking jug and finish it in like a week. Your recipe will defs save me some money 🙂 love it!!
lets be real life best friends. you make me salsa, I eat salsa.
sounds sorta wonderful, no?
Mmmmmm…we always have a Mexican night on vacation, and we have nachos JUST like these. I might have to make this salsa to go along with them 🙂
wow jen…..you are truly one of those “natural beauty” people!!!
DELICIOUS! I love homemade salsa, and this looks amazing from those fresh garden tomatoes. I like a traditional spicy red salsa. 🙂
YUM!! Anything Mexican related is the key to my heart! : )
Oh you have NOO idea how excited I am about this!! As much as I LOVE salsa… I’ve never made it! But I am so making this! This week!! Ah I can’t wait! Thank you thank you for posting Jen!!!
P.s. CUTE hair!! 😉
Easy and delicious!!! Thanks for posting 😉 MMMM
This recipe for salsa looks wonderful! I don’t like things too spicy, so I bet this one would be ideal for me
I like mango and pineapple salsas a whole lot. The sweet flavor adds a nice subtle touch
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE fresh salsa! I can’t wait for our romas to grow!! (and our jalapenos, onions and garlic) My mouth is watering already! Thanks for the yummy pics and recipe:)
I LOVE salsa. I actually buy 3-4 jars at a time. It’s a bit of a problem for me actually but I guess it’s not like I’m downing chocolate or something, right?
Great recipe. Easy recipe. I love it.
making this tomorrow 🙂
but it wont look as nearly as pretty as yours with your fancy lil dipping bowls!
xoxox
I may have missed this in the shuffle, but do you live in New England? I grew up in New Hampshire and we used “wicked” as an adjective for EVERYTHING. Hahahah I miss it so much!!! I can’t wait to make this salsa I hate buying store bought all the timeeee
yummy! looks so easy and delish!
i’ve never made my own, so i will definitely have to try this soon!
I’ve never liked salsa. I’m weird, I know…
Yum! I never would have guessed salsa would be so easy to make! We’d have to make two versions–the get the fire extinguisher ready for me and hubby and a mild one for the kiddos! I think I will be trying to make some salsa soon! + we love it on eggs too! =)
Anything that is “wicked easy” is on my must-make list! lol
I have tomatoes and jalapenos just starting on my plants — I am SO excited for homemade salsa!!!
I’m a traditional salsa girl, in fact I just made some tonight for dinner!
this looks BETTER than a restaurant salsa dish. And so does your cute face!
Thanks for sharing! I LOVE salsa.
Okay, you being such a genius in the kitchen makes me feel guilty for being lazy and constantly relying on storebought! If you start making chocolate pudding, too, we might not be able to be friends anymore 😉
I love salsa and have no problem eating it straight from the jar. Traditional is usually my favorite, and nothing too hot because I have wimpy tastebuds.
That does look super easy! I think salsa is an awesome summer dish!!
I love salsa, I’ll definitely remember this!!
Oh yum! My little tomatoes needs to ripen NOW so I can make up a huge batch of that salsa!
Mmmm delicious photos Jen! I would have to say my fave salsa is chipotle flavor! 😀
Oh yay, I’m not the only one who likes to make fresh salsa! I like it a little differently, though – I prefer fresh raw tomato flavor to roasted. So I just toss’em in the blender with some peppers and stuff.
Hmm…I think I feel a WIAW coming on. 🙂
Did you get your hair cut?
I’m making this! I’m a salsa freak! Also, if you happen to have On the Border’s queso recipe…bring it on! haha!
mm I’m gonna have to try this! I love salsa more than life itself.
I love salsa! My favorite is pineapple or a mango/peach! I hope you feel better soon my love! XOXOXO
it looks great! we’ve been baking our own chips and the salsa would go great with them
This looks fantastic!!! i am so hungry right now 🙂 i have many green tomatoes in my garden this is the first thing i am making with them. after i eat one right off the vine of course 🙂