Easy Homemade Fire Roasted Salsa (5 Minute)

Amazing restaurant style fire roasted salsa can be made in your own kitchen! 5-minute prep, a few ingredients, and a food processor or blender.

Fire Roasted Salsa in a yellow bowl garnished with a cilantro leaf.

Why You’ll Love This

My family is so crazy about this restaurant-style salsa that I can’t keep it stocked fast enough.  

Fire-roasted salsa is so easy to make at home you will never buy another jar…ever!

If you like restaurant-style salsa, you will love this recipe even more. 

Spice up Taco Tuesday with this fresh-tasting homemade salsa!

We love to serve this easy salsa as an extra sauce for burrito bowls, sheet pan beef nachos, baked chicken chimichangas, and crispy cubed pork carnitas.

Fire Roasted Salsa ingredients on cutting board.

Ingredients

  • Fire Roasted Tomatoes – Using fire roasted tomatoes adds so much more flavor than regular canned tomatoes. I usually use diced tomatoes.
  • Garlic – This salsa recipe calls for 2 teaspoons of fresh minced garlic. Adjust to your taste. I use a garlic press, but you can give them a rough chop before placing them in the blender or food processor.
  • Red Onion – We dice the onion but you can give the onion a rough chop and let the processor do the rest of the chopping for you. You can also use yellow onion or white onion. Although not it’s not typically used in a salsa you can use green onion if you wish.
  • Lime Juice – I highly recommend fresh lime juice but you can substitute bottled lime juice if needed.
  • Jalapenos – Please use fresh jalapenos instead of jarred jalapenos. The jarred jalapenos are pickled and soft. You want the fresh taste of fresh jalapenos! For a mild salsa be sure to remove the seeds and veins of the jalapenos, that’s where the heat comes from. You can also throw in some serrano peppers.
  • Green Chilies – We use mild green chilies but if you like it spicy feel free to use hot green chilies.
  • Cilantro – We use one bunch of fresh cilantro. I know some people are sensitive to the taste of cilantro so adjust to taste.
  • Seasonings – Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper.

It literally takes no time at all to make this salsa.  The fire-roasted tomatoes add a perfect smoky flavor to this fresh-tasting salsa.

This salsa beats store-bought and your favorite Mexican restaurant salsa any day!

Fire Roasted Salsa in a food processor bowl.

Canned Tomatoes vs Fresh Tomatoes

I like the simplicity of using canned tomatoes. Fresh tomatoes can be very watery which will show in a salsa. You would need to roast the tomatoes to cook out some of the moisture.

If you want to make fresh tomato salsa, I recommend Roma tomatoes, they are less watery. To roast the tomatoes you will need about 8-10 ripe Roma tomatoes. Slice them in half lengthwise, and place them along with the jalapenos on a lightly greased baking sheet. Roast them in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until they begin to char. Cool the tomatoes slightly before proceeding with the recipe.

Or you can place them under the broiler (skin side up) and broil for about 8 minutes until the skins have blistered and charred.

You can also toss the whole tomatoes and jalapenos in a little olive oil and grill them, turning occasionally until they soften a little and become blistered and charred. Try throwing in a poblano pepper too.

How to Make Fire Roasted Salsa

All you have to do is chop the onion, jalapeno, and garlic. Chopping the garlic cloves will help them process better in the food processor.

Place the tomatoes, onion, garlic, green chilies, cilantro, lime juice, jalapenos, salt, and pepper in the blender or food processor and give it a whirl or few.

Fire Roasted Salsa in a yellow bowl surrounded by tortilla chips.

For the best flavor, store in the refrigerator for an hour or two to allow the flavors to combine.

Serve with your favorite tortilla chips, and enjoy!

Tips

  • Be sure to pulse the ingredients, whether you are using a food processor or blender. This will help you control the consistency. You don’t want to end up with mush.
  • Save the jalapeno seeds until you have tasted the salsa. You can add a bit of them at a time if you want it spicier.
  • Let the salsa rest in the refrigerator for at least one hour. The flavors need to combine.

Variations

Customize this homemade salsa recipe to your preferred taste and desired consistency!

  • For chunkier salsa process it less.
  • For thinner salsa process it more.
  • You control the heat! More or fewer jalapeno seeds. Or add some chipotle peppers in adobo.
  • Like it with more tomato flavor? Add more tomatoes.
  • If you love cilantro add more!
  • Add more garlic.
  • We don’t use cumin in our salsa but feel free to add some.

FAQs

What is the difference between salsa and pico de gallo?

While they both use the same basic ingredients such as tomatoes, cilantro, jalapenos, onions, and lime juice they are different in consistency. Salsa is usually more liquid because it’s blended. Pico de gallo is usually chunky in texture. It is typically made of diced ingredients.

Can I use regular canned tomatoes?

You can but you will not achieve the same roasted flavor in this salsa.

Why is my salsa watery?

This can happen when using fresh tomatoes. Make sure you remove the seeds. Cut the tomatoes and gently squeeze out the seeds. The ‘goo’ you’re thinking about is called the locules.

Do you remove the jalapeno seeds when making salsa

The seeds and veins contain heat. If you want mild salsa, remove them. For a spicer version, include some seeds.

Can you freeze homemade salsa?

Yes! Place it in a freezer safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.

Storing

Place the salsa in an airtight container or jar and refrigerate for about 1 week.

Other Mexican-Inspired Recipes

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Fire Roasted Salsa in a yellow bowl.

Fire Roasted Salsa Recipe

Fire Roasted Salsa – The most amazing restaurant style salsa can be made in your own kitchen! 5-minute prep, a few ingredients, and a food processor or blender.
4.73 from 11 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dip, Sauce
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 25kcal
Author: Don’t Sweat The Recipe

Ingredients
 

  • 29 ounces fire roasted tomatoes, drained (2 – 14.5 oz cans)
  • 4 ounces green chilies, diced (1 small can)
  • 1 small red onion, diced
  • 1 bunch cilantro (you can use less if desired)
  • 1 lime (juice)
  • 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • 1-2 teaspoons salt (to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 jalapeƱos, seeded and diced (1 or 2)

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and pulse until you reach desired consistency.
    29 ounces fire roasted tomatoes, drained, 4 ounces green chilies, diced, 1 small red onion, diced, 1 bunch cilantro, 1 lime (juice), 2 teaspoons garlic, minced, 1-2 teaspoons salt (to taste), 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, 1 jalapeƱos, seeded and diced
  • For best flavor place the salsa in a jar or container and chill for 1-2 hours or longer.
  • Store chilled in airtight container.

Notes

If you like a spicier salsa, don’t seed the jalapeno.
I LOVE cilantro so I add a ton. Decrease the amount if you aren’t as fond of cilantro as I am.
This recipe makes about 3 cups in volume.
Storing – Place the salsa in an airtight container or jar and refrigerate for about 1 week.
Freezing – Place it in a freezer safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 25kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 332mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 332IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg

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25 Comments

  1. Ohh man. I love a good salsa recipe! Part of what holds me back from making my own is dealing with the tomatoes so this looks like a great way to me to get past that!5 stars

  2. This salsa looks absolutely wonderful!! I have to try it this week. I get so tired of paying so much for a bottle of salsa and it lasts one day – at least for a family of five. I will pass on this recipe. Thanks for sharing.

    1. Rebekah, you guys will like this salsa soooo much better than the jarred! Thank you for stopping, by!

  3. This sounds wonderful! Will definitely give this a try. Pinned. Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday and hope you can come and share again.

  4. What a great recipe!! I am going to feature it tomorrow!! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite things on Thursday!! Hope to see you again tomorrow!! Pinned!

  5. I haven’t tried to make salsa since collage! I used to love homemade salsa, you’ve inspired me to make some soon!

  6. We love homemade salsa, we can’t keep it in the frig! I’ve never used the fire-roasted tomatoes, I’m definitely going to look for them at the store! I agree that canned tomatoes make the most flavorful salsa, I like the fresh for pico de gallo, but canned for salsa! I am going to try your recipe, it looks so delish!5 stars

  7. Wonderful salsa recipe and I love how easy it is! Pinned. Thank you for being a part of our Hearth and Soul Hop.5 stars

  8. I love that you add fire roasted tomatoes. Will be pinning and trying. Thanks for sharing at Let’s Get Real Friday.

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