Get ready to become addicted to this Restaurant Style Salsa recipe! This easy salsa is made in the blender and ready in only 10 minutes.

Salsa is literally a gift from the gods, there I said it! I am a total chips and salsa addict and consume way more than I am proud to admit. This Homemade Restaurant Style Salsa recipe is my go-to simple, fast and flavorful appetizer or snack. The salsa pairs great with loads of different recipes or can of course be enjoyed on its own with tortilla chips.
This blender salsa is ready in only 10 minutes and used canned whole tomatoes, Arbol chilies, fresh jalapeno, cilantro, limes, an onion along with some spices. The salsa is thin and watery, but can easily be made more chunky and has a nice medium-hot spice level. I hope this salsa becomes a new favorite for parties or just a mid-day snack.
10-Minute Blender Salsa is the perfect party dip.
Ingredients
- Canned Whole Tomatoes: I really like using canned whole tomatoes, but canned diced tomatoes can be swapped in as well.
- Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed or from a jar is fine.
- Onion
- Garlic
- Jalapeno: Depending on how spicy you like your salsa you can add more or less jalapeno to taste. Make sure to not add the seeds to the salsa unless you really want it spicy.
- Dried Arbol Chilies: An Arbol Chili is a small Mexican chili pepper that packs a lot heat, spice and flavor and can be found by the ethnic food in major grocery stores. If you cannot find this chili you can substitute in some red pepper flakes for some heat and spice.
- Fresh Cilantro: It is no secret at this point of how much I love cilantro. Now, I understand everyone is not a fan, so you can use much less cilantro than the recipe calls for. I do recommend using a little (even if you aren't a fan) to give the salsa some dimension. I promise a little will not make the entire salsa recipe taste like a bite of cilantro.
- Dried Herbs and Spices
Kitchen Tools
- Blender or Food Processor
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- A Can Opener
- A Sharp Knife and Cutting Board
- Storage Container for Storing Leftovers
Tips and Tricks
Chunky Vs. Watery: To me the texture of this restaurant style salsa is perfect. It is watery with some small chunks in it. If you would like more chunky salsa do not blend the ingredients and instead pulse until the consistency is to your liking.
Pack More Flavor: This blender salsa is my go-to fast and quick dip in a time crunch. If you have more time and want to get even more out of this easy homemade salsa you can heat it to develop more flavor.
Follow all the recipe prep instructions, but before adding everything into the blender add the ingredients to a small saucepan and simmer for 15-20 minutes. After simmering blend the salsa and let chill in the fridge. This step isn't required, but it makes the salsa that much more mouthwatering.
Check out these other great dip recipes
Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Dip
Crockpot Chili Cheese Dip
Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip
Spicy Jalapeno Popper Dip
Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip
Common Questions
After the salsa is blended, pour in an airtight container like a mason jar or glass storage container and store in the fridge for up to 1 week. As the salsa sits in the fridge more flavor will develop and it will be even better the next day. When ready to enjoy, stir or shake the salsa to combine the ingredients and serve with tortilla chips or recipe of choice.
Yes, homemade salsa can be frozen to extend the shelf-life. Because the salsa is already blended freezing it will not affect the texture too much. To freeze salsa, pour into a glass or freezer safe container and freezer flat for up to 3 months. Let the blender salsa thaw in the fridge before eating.
Yes, you can swap in fresh tomatoes instead of canned ones. I recommend either roasting or steaming the tomatoes so you can remove the peel. Some good tomatoes to try are roma or heirloom tomatoes.
Recipe Pairing Ideas
This restaurant style salsa recipe goes great on its own with some tortilla chips but if you are looking for some wonderful Mexican style recipes to pair this salsa with check these out.
- Veggie Quesadillas
- Cauliflower Enchiladas
- Grilled Chicken Tacos
- Vegetarian Freezer Burritos
- Pork Carnitas
- Chicken Enchilada Dip
- Pork Carnitas Nachos
I hope you and your family love this tasty Restaurant Style Salsa recipe. Check out my Strawberry Pineapple Salsa, and Mango Avocado Salsa for some other great salsas to try.
Happy Eating!
Easy Restaurant Style Salsa Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 8 Oz Canned Whole Peeled Tomatoes DO NOT DRAIN
- 1 Small Jalapeno Pepper
- 1 Small Yellow Onion
- 1-2 Small Bunches Fresh Cilantro
- 10-20 Dried Arbol Chilies
- 1 tablespoon Lime Juice
- 2 Cloves Minced Garlic
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
- ½ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Remove outer skin from onion and chop into four large chunks. Remove stems, ribs and seeds from the jalapeno. Remove the stems from the dried arbol chilies. Roughly chop cilantro.
- Add all ingredients to a large blender or food processor and blend on medium until all the ingredients are well combined and no large chunks remain. Serve immediately with tortilla chips, recipe of choice or store in the fridge. Enjoy!
Abigail
This is officially salsa season and this is a winning recipe! I can see many uses for this!
Caitlyn Erhardt
Thanks you 😀
Dannii
I love salsa like this. So light and fresh.
Caitlyn Erhardt
Absolutely!
Emily Liao
This is the perfect salsa recipe! All the ingredients meld beautifully in this 🙂
Caitlyn Erhardt
Glad you liked it!
Lisa Huff
Perfect timing! We are missing going to our favorite Mexican restaurants right now and this looks like the perfect salsa substitute!
Caitlyn Erhardt
Same here! I love this one!
Kushigalu
Love thisa salsa recipe. So flavorful and delicious. Pinned!
Caitlyn Erhardt
Thank you!