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Home » Recipe Index » TexMex / Mexican

Restaurant-Quality Salsa

Published: Nov 8, 2018 · Modified: Mar 2, 2025 by Kris Longwell · This post may contain affiliate links

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Restaurant-Quality Salsa!

One of our favorite things about going to a great Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurant is the salsa with warm tortilla chips that are brought to you just as you are seated.

Doesn’t get much better than that!

Restaurant-quality salsa in a jar on a green board

MAKING RESTAURANT-QUALITY SALSA AT HOME IS EASY!

This is so good.  You’re gonna love it.  This is as good as any restaurant salsa…we promise!  Ole!

Watch us show you how easy it is to prepare this wonderful salsa!

If you want to get even deeper flavor, grab a couple fresh tomatoes and jalapeños and either roast them in your oven or cast-iron skillet. Then, add them (in place of the canned tomatoes and fresh peppers) to the food processor.

No matter how you do it, you will love this salsa!

We love putting this salsa on our homemade Tex-Mex Beef Tacos!

Tex-Mex Beef Tacos recipe

This Restaurant-Quality Salsa is so simple to make, it’s almost a crime if you don’t give it a shot!

You won’t be disappointed!

NOTE: We are constantly tasting and updating recipes. We have made a couple minor adjustments to the seasonings since this video was filmed.

restaurant-quality salsa in a glass jar

Other recipes you might like:

Roja and Roasted Verdes Salas
Roasted Corn Salsa
Chilaquiles: Fried Egg and Salsa Platter
Black Bean and Roasted Chicken Tostadas

In the meantime, go make this amazing Restaurant-Quality Salsa!

Restaurant-quality salsa

Restaurant-Quality Salsa

Don't you just love the salsa that is brought to your table with warm tortillas chips at your favorite Tex-Mex or Mexican restaurant.  Well, now you can make this kind of salsa at home!  In minutes!
5 from 12 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Tex-Mex, Mexican
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 10 people
Calories: 58kcal
Author: Kris Longwell

Video

Ingredients

  • 1 28 oz. can whole tomatoes, with juice San Marzano are best
  • 2 cans Ro-tel (tomatoes with peppers) we use 1 can mild, 1 can original
  • ¼ cup onion chopped
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 fresh jalapeño seeded and chopped
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ cup cilantro chopped (use more, if desired)
  • 1 lime juiced, about 1 tbsp

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in a large food processor (or blender).  This can also be done in batches if using a smaller processor.
  • Pulse to get desired consistency.  We like ours still with some tomato chunks left. This usually takes about 10 pulses. 
  • Taste with a tortilla chip and adjust seasoning, to taste. 
  • Store in an air-tight container in the fridge, preferably for at least 1 hour, or longer. 
  • Serve with warm tortilla chips!

Nutrition

Calories: 58kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 233mg | Potassium: 13mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 27IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Take a Picture!Mention @HowToFeedALoon or tag #HowToFeedALoon!

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Comments

  1. Janet says

    January 04, 2025 at 6:27 pm

    5 stars
    Excellent salsa. I have made it many times. I like to add peaches or mango to make a milder taste with some of the batch for my more sensitive consumers. Can I freeze this salsa? As a more empty nester I can’t go through it as fast but when they come home we devour it all. Yum.

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      January 05, 2025 at 12:43 pm

      Hi Janet! It does make a decent amount of salsa! Absolutely! This salsa freezes perfectly! Congrats to empty nesting…although we know that is a mixed bag of emotions! It makes them coming home to homemade salsa that much more enjoyable!!!!P Please stay in touch!!! xo Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  2. Amy says

    March 19, 2024 at 9:28 pm

    5 stars
    Best and easiest Salas!

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      March 23, 2024 at 11:44 am

      Hi Amy!!! We are so so happy you made the salsa and loved it! Woo hoo! Thank you so much for sharing and for the fantastic review. That means so much to us! Please stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  3. Mike says

    February 20, 2024 at 7:31 am

    5 stars
    Love watch u guys cook love ureet balls and thanks for be you guys

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      February 22, 2024 at 11:00 am

      You made our day, Mike!

      Reply
  4. Mike says

    February 20, 2024 at 7:29 am

    5 stars
    Love u guy s

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      February 22, 2024 at 11:00 am

      Thank you, Mike! Sending tons and tons of love back your way, too!!!

      Reply
  5. Alene says

    August 20, 2023 at 1:34 pm

    It says y’all made some changes since the video, please share! I’m excited to try this.

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      August 22, 2023 at 3:43 pm

      Hi Alene! Nothing major! I believed we pulled back on the canned San Marzano tomatoes. We’re constantly tweaking! This salsa is really good! Let us know if you make it and what you think!

      Reply
  6. Jay says

    September 06, 2022 at 9:56 pm

    5 stars
    Guys!
    This was awesome thanks so much,
    There is a saying here in San Antonio Texas, “If the mexican restaraunt has made an effort on the chips and salsa – then the rest of the food should be ok”.
    But if not just walk out don’t waste your time.

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      September 07, 2022 at 11:21 am

      Hi Jay! That truly just made our day! And we feel the exact same way! You really can tell the quality of a TexMex/Mexican restaurant by the chips and salsa!! We are so so happy you enjoyed our version! And thank you SO MUCH for sharing and for the GREAT review! That means so much to us! Please stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  7. Kelli says

    May 10, 2022 at 5:53 pm

    OMG, I love you guys! Love Joe T’s in Fort Worth, too! I’m a salsa girl and totally get judgy walking into a Mexican food restaurant. You are right, if the salsa isn’t good, I’m not getting my hopes up for the rest that is to come. Gonna try this recipe out! I was searching out a copy cat recipe for a restaurant in the Houston/Spring area called La Maria and this one looks similar!

    Reply
    • Debbie says

      May 11, 2022 at 5:57 am

      5 stars
      Hi Kelli (neighbor, lol!) I live in Tomball and couldn’t agree more… if the salsa isn’t good, then all bets are off!!! Tex-Mex is the best, right? I have a few nearby favs, but mostly it’s like… well I like the enchiladas at this one, the fajitas at this one, the queso over there, etc. Martha’s is a newer venue here in Tomball and is pretty good. Can’t recall if I ever went to La Maria’s… it’s on Stuebner, right? I found this recipe and use it as a serious base for my own homemade salsa all the time! I also make a great version of “Ninfa’s Green Sauce” too! So glad you posted!!!

      Reply
  8. Amy says

    July 17, 2021 at 11:09 am

    Finally a salsa that’s easy to make and taste perfect!

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      July 19, 2021 at 2:07 pm

      Hi Amy! Right??? We played around with so many variations, and kept coming back to this version! So glad you love and thank you for letting us know!!

      Reply
  9. Heike says

    May 01, 2021 at 10:52 am

    5 stars
    We miss our Family in Texas so much. To cook your texmex recipes reminds us on good times while spending summer vacations with our loved ones.
    Hopefully corona will be over pretty soon and we are allowed to come back.

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      May 03, 2021 at 7:19 am

      We completely understand, Heike! Nothing brings the memories back much better than making TexMex at home. Stay safe and stay positive. Things will be back to normal soon. Much love! Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  10. Kelly says

    February 20, 2021 at 8:56 pm

    5 stars
    I can stop looking for salsa recipes now. This is perfection. Tossed in a few jalapeño seeds, but other than that, followed the recipe exactly. Love your website. The chicken salad is also a keeper.

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      February 21, 2021 at 2:02 pm

      Kelly, you seriously just made us tear up a little bit! We are such salsa snobs and the fact that you love our version so much literally made our month!! It’s really good, right? We are so glad you are enjoying our recipes and please stay in touch!!! xoxo Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  11. Debbie Kane says

    December 22, 2020 at 5:58 am

    5 stars
    Can you can this recipe?

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      December 22, 2020 at 12:22 pm

      Hi Debbie! We’ve never canned our salsa, we don’t see any reason that you couldn’t can them perfectly! Please let us know if you do and how it turns out!! Best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
      • Stacy Lynn Alexander says

        December 23, 2020 at 9:15 am

        5 stars
        I have canned it many times. Very easy to do.

      • Kris Longwell says

        December 23, 2020 at 1:28 pm

        YES!!

  12. Mark Hall says

    May 12, 2020 at 4:22 pm

    5 stars
    Hands down, with out a doubt, the best salsa we’ve EVA had!!!

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      May 13, 2020 at 11:15 am

      Awesome!!!! So glad you loved our salsa recipe! We’re kinda crazy for it, too! Thanks so much for letting us know and especially for the GREAT review! That means the world to us!! Stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  13. Stacy Alexander says

    January 13, 2019 at 11:27 am

    5 stars
    This is delish! I added more chopped onion and jalapeno, but it is really just so good!

    Reply
    • krislongwell says

      January 14, 2019 at 12:19 pm

      Hey Stacy!! More onion and jalapeño sounds good to us! Thank you so much for letting us know and please stay in touch. All the best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  14. William Axenfield says

    July 23, 2018 at 11:21 am

    If you know how long would this keep in the fridge?

    Reply
    • krislongwell says

      July 23, 2018 at 2:12 pm

      Hi William! You can keep this covered in the fridge for up to a week. Hope this helps!!! Best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
      • William Axenfield says

        July 24, 2018 at 10:37 am

        thank you

  15. Sarita says

    October 08, 2014 at 6:09 pm

    Yum!!!!! can’t wait to try this salsa, thanks for the recipe!!
    ~ Sarita ~

    Reply
    • The Loon says

      October 09, 2014 at 8:24 am

      Thanks Sarita! It is so good and FRESH!

      Reply
5 from 12 votes

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