Fresh Salsa Recipes to Shake Up Taco Night

Grilled Strawberry Salsa Fresca

Instead of tomatoes, try grilling up some strawberries to make this fresh 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.

Classic Salsa Verde

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

Salsa Picante

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.

Avocado-Poblano Salsa

This colorful salsa recipe is going to 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 salsa ahead, leave out the avocado and stir in the fresh fruit just before serving.

Pico de Gallo

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

Pineapple Salsa

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

Chunky Homemade Salsa

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

Salsa with Dried Chiles and Tomatillos

This salsa recipe gets it's heat from both guajillo and chile de arbol. The tomatillos bring a bright, slightly tart flavor to the salsa. Keep a jar of this handy in the fridge for snacking up to a week.

Quick Fruit Salsa

Kiwi in salsa? We promise, it's really 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 change of pace.

Strawberry Rhubarb Salsa

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 later. Try dipping them with the sweet cinnamon variation of this baked pita chip recipe for a perfect pre-dinner snack.

Spicy Black Bean Salsa

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

Black Bean-Mango Salsa

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, this homemade salsa gets more delicious as the flavors meld, so it's an ideal make-ahead party dip.

Roasted Salsa Roja

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

Salsa Mexicana

This delicious authentic Mexican salsa recipe comes from Gabriela Cámara, the chef behind celebrated restaurants in both 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 bring the heat.