14 Taco Salsa Recipes to Spice Up Appetizers, Main Dishes, & Dips (2024)

Fresh taco salsa is the perfect addition to so much more than just your favorite Mexican fare. It makes an ideal topping on chicken, beef, pork, or fish, and is equally delicious served as an appetizer with vegetables, tortilla chips, or pita bread. Our easy taco salsa recipes include sweet mango salsa, tangy tomato-based salsas, salsa verde, traditional Mexican salsas, and some nontraditional ideas. Whether you're looking for something with a sweet twist or want to feel the heat, you'll find a simple salsa recipe to satisfy your craving.

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Grilled Strawberry Salsa Fresca

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14 Taco Salsa Recipes to Spice Up Appetizers, Main Dishes, & Dips (1)

Instead of tomatoes, try grilling up some strawberries to make this fresh taco salsa recipe. Combined with jalapeño, onion, garlic, and lime, bring the perfect amount of tang and spice to every bite. Enjoy with chips or serve alongside grilled chicken.

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Classic Salsa Verde

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Bring bold flavor to your homemade traditional taco salsa by broiling tomatillos, serrano, and poblano chile peppers to get a bit of char. A quick blend of garlic, salt, and a hint of sugar gives the salsa a savory-sweet finish. Stir in a bit of onion and cilantro before diving in chip first.

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Salsa Picante

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Picante means "spicy" in Spanish, and this tomato salsa recipe delivers the heat. Use a couple of jalapeño or serrano peppers if you really want to set your mouth on fire. All the salsa ingredients are chopped super tiny, making it even easier to scoop up a big bite with your chips.

Test Kitchen Tip

Chile peppers contain oils that can irritate your skin and eyes. Wear plastic or rubber gloves when working with them.

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Avocado-Poblano Salsa

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This colorful salsa recipe will be the star of your next taco night. It's got broiled poblanos for a nice smoky spice and avocado for a cool, creamy finish. If you want to make this homemade taco salsa ahead, leave out the avocado and stir in the fresh fruit just before serving.

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Pico de Gallo

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This zippy salsa is a favorite for good reason. Pico de gallo is usually a little less spicy than classic Mexican salsa, which makes it great for topping taco recipes, quesadillas, and burritos. This simple recipe calls for just four ingredients, making it a cinch to chop and toss together just before dinner.

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Pineapple Salsa

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Give classic salsa a sweet spin by swapping juicy pineapple for tomato. You still use the other taco salsa ingredients like onion, cilantro, and jalapeño, but pineapple makes it fruity and appealing to any of the tomato-averse people in your life. To make this salsa recipe even easier, use canned diced pineapple to eliminate one prep step.

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Chunky Homemade Salsa

14 Taco Salsa Recipes to Spice Up Appetizers, Main Dishes, & Dips (7)

If you want to make salsa for the first time, this classic tomato version is the ticket. It's chunky, packed with peppers, and makes a big batch, so there's plenty to go around. This homemade recipe is cooked on the stove top to really develop the flavors. It looks and tastes like a better version of what you'll find in the jar at the store.

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Salsa with Dried Chiles and Tomatillos

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This taco salsa recipe gets its heat from guajillo chile and chile de arbol. The tomatillos bring a bright, slightly tart flavor to the salsa. Keep a jar in the fridge for easy snacking for up to a week.

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Quick Fruit Salsa

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Kiwi in salsa? We promise it's delicious. You might think of fresh salsa recipes as appetizers, but this fruity version can easily become a sauce for your favorite grilled meats. And if you're not a fan of cilantro, this salsa recipe uses basil for a change of pace.

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Strawberry Rhubarb Salsa

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Utilize in-season produce in this vibrant red fruit salsa. Sweet and a bit tangy, this salsa recipe makes six half-pint jars, so can them now and enjoy them later. Try dipping them with cinnamon-dusted baked pita chips for a perfect pre-dinner snack.

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Spicy Black Bean Salsa

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Heartier than your average taco salsa recipe, this appetizer features fiber-rich black beans. The zip is courtesy of lime juice and jalapeño. You can stir together this simple dish in less than 20 minutes, but it's most flavorful if it chills for a few hours before serving.

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Black Bean-Mango Salsa

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This fresh mango salsa recipe introduces tropical fruits to your family in an approachable way. It just may be their new favorite salsa recipe. As a bonus, it gets more delicious as the flavors meld, so it's an ideal make-ahead party dip.

19 Fresh Mango Recipes That Offer a Taste of the Tropics

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Roasted Salsa Roja

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Have a large tomato haul from the garden? Utilize three pounds of the fruit to make this roasted salsa recipe. Combine the tomatoes, garlic, and onion before popping them under the broiler for less than 10 minutes to achieve a deeper flavor.

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Salsa Mexicana

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This delicious authentic Mexican salsa recipe comes from Gabriela Cámara, the chef behind celebrated restaurants in Mexico City and San Francisco. The recipe calls for serrano chiles, which can have a stronger spice than jalapeños—depending on your tolerance, you can leave the seeds in our out to boost the heat.

14 Taco Salsa Recipes to Spice Up Appetizers, Main Dishes, & Dips (2024)

FAQs

What are the top 10 taco toppings? ›

Toppings
  • Shredded cheese.
  • Shredded lettuce.
  • Pickled red onion.
  • Jalapeño slices.
  • Chopped tomatoes.
  • Sliced black olives.
  • Shredded Mexican cheese.
  • Diced white onion.

Which salsa is good for tacos? ›

Following this approach when it comes to pairing salsas and tacos is not a bad idea. For your red meats like beef, you could easily consider red salsas (e.g. chipotle salsa). In contrast, for other types of meat like fish or chicken, you could go with green salsa or something fresher like a pico de gallo.

How many different types of salsas are there? ›

Did you know there are 6 types of salsa that are commonly used in traditional Mexican cuisine? These salsas each have a unique flavor, texture, and preparation method. Let's discuss some of the key ingredients that go into each of the 6 types of salsa and learn more about what makes them so special!

What is the key to good salsa? ›

7 Secrets For Sensational Homemade Salsa
  • Leave your ingredients raw for a salsa with a bright, refreshing taste. ...
  • Cook the salsa, and you'll trade bright, fresh flavors for something deeper, sweeter. ...
  • Layer in flavor, color, and texture with bell peppers, jicama, radishes, fresh corn kernels, avocado, or black beans.
May 5, 2023

What sauce goes best on tacos? ›

Cilantro Lime- Cilantro Lime Sauce is fresh, vibrant, full of flavor. That is why it is one of the best sauces for all your tacos! It is made from sour cream, mayonnaise, cilantro, jalapeños, garlic, lime juice, and salt.

What is the name of the spicy Mexican salsa? ›

Salsa Taquera

It's a popular salsa served in many Mexican taco stands or taquerias. The key ingredient in salsa taquera is the chile de arbol. This thin red chili pepper is hotter than a jalapeno and gives the salsa its signature spicy kick. To make this type of salsa, the chiles and other ingredients are cooked first.

What is Mexico's favorite salsa? ›

Even if Pico de Gallo is the “classic” salsa in the eyes of those visiting from the United States, it's possible that Salsa Verde Cruda is the most popular salsa in Mexico. And once you taste this bright green concoction, you'll know why.

What is the mother of all salsas? ›

La Madre de Todas las Salsas – This salsa is the “mother” of all salsas because it has a little bit of everything. It has spice, nice texture, great taste and it will not let you down.

What do Mexicans call salsa? ›

If it's fresh chopped tomatoes, onion, chile verde/jalapeño or árbol and cilantro, it's called “Pico de gallo”. If it's cooked, it's just salsa roja or casera. I'm Mexican.

Which salsa is spicy red or green? ›

These salsas are more commonly referred to as red or green sauce. We are frequently asked how hot they are and many believe that one is spicier than the other. So, which one is hotter anyway? The real answer is; neither!

What can I add to my salsa for more flavor? ›

What can I add to salsa for more flavor?
  1. Lime or lemon for a zip of citrus.
  2. Cilantro for a pleasantly herbaceous tang.
  3. Onions because you know everything's better with onions.
  4. Roasted tomatoes, peppers, or garlic because roasting anything provides a smoky flavor that we love.
Jun 10, 2022

How do you spice up salsa? ›

9 Ways to Make Mild Salsa Spicier
  1. 1 – Add Your Preferred Brand of Hot Sauce. ...
  2. 2 – Chop or Dice Jalapenos and Add to Your Mild Salsa. ...
  3. 3 – Add Diced Raw Onions (or Even Onion Powder) ...
  4. 4 – Add Crushed Red Pepper Flakes. ...
  5. 5 – Mix Chopped Raw Chili Peppers into Mild Salsa. ...
  6. 6 – Sprinkle in Cayenne Pepper.
Sep 30, 2022

Why does Mexican restaurant salsa taste so good? ›

A unique blend of fresh tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lime juice contributes to the vibrant, lively taste of restaurant-style salsa.

What are traditional authentic taco toppings? ›

Lime is probably the most essential of authentic Mexican taco toppings. A squeeze of lime adds a dash of acid that brings out the other flavors in a taco beautifully. Onions, cilantro, pico de gallo, sliced radishes or cucumbers, avocado, and chili peppers are also standard toppings for authentic tacos.

What are traditional taco fillings? ›

You'll find an array of flavorful fillings like steak, pork, fish, or vegetables. No matter which type of taco you prefer, be sure to top them with these traditional, zesty garnishes: onion, cilantro, and lime juice.

What items should be on a taco bar? ›

Set the rest of your taco components out—in separate chafing dishes, ramekins or bowls—in the order you would build your taco:
  • Proteins.
  • Beans.
  • Rice (or other grains)
  • Veggies.
  • Salsas.
  • Cheeses.
  • Lettuce and slaws.
  • Guacamole, cremas, sour cream.

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