The quickest, most delicious blender salsa recipe ever. This restaurant-style blender salsa takes just 5 minutes to whip up, and it’s so so good. Serve it with chips or use it anywhere salsa is called for. Everyone is going to LOVE this!

white bowl with salsa on white plate on white marble

I have a confession to make.

I have a borderline inappropriate love for salsa. There; I said it.

Promise, if there is a will, there is a way. I will sneak salsa into almost ANYTHING. Okay, not like dessert or anything, because that’s just weird. But pretty much everything else. I’ve used it as dressing on a salad. Healthier, and so much tastier than salad dressing. And just plain old, gosh-darn good. I almost always have to have blender salsa with scrambled eggs in the morning — yuh huh.

I scramble the eggs up in a skillet. Then toss in some crushed up tortilla chips (just like a tablespoon or two or three) and some cheese and let it all melt. Put all of that on a warm tortilla and top with a couple of tablespoons of homemade blender salsa. That’s it. <– It’s basically migas shoved into tortillas. You’ve got to try it. It is seriously the best breakfast taco of your life. If I could, I would eat this for every meal of the day.

No joke!

hand lifting salsa on chip from jar

Making homemade salsa isn’t tricky; however, if you’re like me and like a nicely balanced red salsa, it’s important to get the proportions right. Like any other recipe, making salsa is all about balance. Too much lime juice and it’s too tart, too many spices and you can’t taste the tomatoes. Too much garlic, and you would be scaring away an army of vampires for life.

But salsa isn’t the only thing I love whipping up quickly. Homemade Pico de Gallo (recipe coming soon), salsa verde, slow cooker queso, chili cheese dip, and guacamole salsa are just some of the other homemade dips I like to add to my Cinco de Mayo menu or Saturday nights for game night.

top shot of blender salsa filled to the top in a weck jar

Ingredients to make blender salsa in 5 minutes:

  • tomatoes
  • Jalapeños
  • Lime juice
  • White onions
  • Cilantro
  • Diced green chilies
  • Garlic
  • Sugar/ salt
  • Spices

How to make the best blender salsa:

Making blender salsa is the easiest thing ever! 

  • You don’t have to mince any veggies; just a rough chop does the trick.
  • Toss it all into the blender along with the spices and pulse until the veggies breakdown.

blender with all the ingredients for blender salsa before blending

What type of tomatoes work best for this recipe?

I prefer to use diced fire-roasted canned tomatoes. I know that not everyone loves the taste of canned tomatoes, but I find that the canned tomatoes have that perfect texture for a good homemade salsa. You’re welcome to use fresh tomatoes and then grill them on your own or roast them in the oven. However,  I find that using fresh tomatoes doesn’t yield that same taste and texture for me as the canned tomatoes, but it’s an option if you’d like to use it.

Do you drain the canned tomatoes?

It’s entirely up to you. If you prefer a more liquidy salsa, I suggest using one can undrained and then draining the other can. I prefer a thicker salsa, one that won’t make my chip soggy, so I like draining both cans of tomatoes (and even the diced green chilies) before adding them to the blender.

side shot of bowl on white plate with salsa with scattered tortilla chips

Can you use a food processor instead of a blender?

Yes, you can! If you don’t have a blender, don’t worry, this is just as easy to make in your food processor. Just add all the ingredients into the food processor and be sure to use the pulse setting. That way, you get to control the texture.

Tips to make the best restaurant-style blender salsa:

  • Make sure all your ingredients are fresh! Check the expiration date on your cumin, oregano, and chili powder if you don’t cook with these spices often! Trust me; it makes a big difference in terms of flavor.
  • Pulse the salsa, don’t puree. So important I had to say it twice! Pulsing creates that perfectly minced texture without causing the salsa to turn into Picante sauce!
  • Let it chill. I learned this when I was testing my Pico de Gallo recipe. The tomatoes need a chance to hang out with the salt, onions, and garlic to make the most flavorful salsa! Ten minutes does the trick, 20-30 minutes is even better!

hand dipping tortilla chip into chunky salsa

Other Cinco De Mayo recipes to try:

scattered tortilla chips on plate with a bowl of chunky salsa

Yield: ~ 5 ½ cups

5-Minute Restaurant-Style Blender Salsa

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

The quickest, most delicious blender salsa recipe ever. This restaurant style salsa takes just 5 minutes to whip up and it's so so good. Serve it with chips or use it anywhere salsa is called for. Everyone is going to LOVE this!

5-Minute Restaurant-Style Blender Salsa

Ingredients

  • 1 (28-ounce) can fire roasted tomatoes, drained for a chunkier salsa
  • 1 jalapeño, ribs and seeds removed
  • 1 lime, juiced (2 ½ - 3 tablespoons)
  • 1 small white onion, cut into chunks
  • ½ bunch fresh cilantro
  • 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies, drained
  • 3 cloves fresh garlic
  • 2 teaspoons sugar (use less or omit if you wish)
  • 1½ teaspoon cumin powder
  • ½ teaspoon EACH: salt, oregano, AND chili powder (omit for milder salsa)

Instructions

  1. Pulse ingredients together in a food processor or blender until you reach desired consistency. Adjust seasonings to taste. Allow the salsa to sit for 10-30 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Serve fire roasted salsa fresh from the blender or place in a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. I love storing it in my weck jars

  • Make sure to purchase fire roasted tomatoes that do not contain any seasonings. Some stores sell 'salsa style' fire roasted tomatoes. Those already contain salt and that's why I've listed only ½ teaspoon. If you'res doesn't contain salt, feel free to up the salt to your taste!

  • Have you made this recipe?

    If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below. You can also share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #LITTLESPICEJAR, I'd love to see what you made!

    long image with two hero images and text for the sole purpose of pinning on pinterest