Name: Easy 5-Minute Blender Salsa (Restaurant Style!)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 16 servings
Ingredients: 28 ounces canned whole peeled tomatoes; ½ white, yellow, or red onion (coarsely chopped); 1 – 2 jalapenos (cored and seeded); 1 tablespoon garlic (minced); ½ cup cilantro (coarsely chopped, loosely packed); 2 tablespoon lime juice; 1½ teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon cumin

This is the very best salsa and it takes only 5 minutes to make! Everything just goes right into the blender to create the perfect texture. Easy, flavorful, and fast!

My favorite part of eating at a Mexican restaurant is that fresh tasting salsa. It’s just thin enough to really coat every chip!

Store-bought salsa just doesn’t taste the same to me. It’s usually packaged well in advance so it lacks the fresh flavors of cilantro and lime juice. This easy blender salsa recipe captures everything I love about that restaurant salsa but you can enjoy it from home with only a handful of simple ingredients. Plus everything just goes into the blender or food processor!

This salsa is the perfect appetizer. I can’t imagine a better way to enjoy a game day than with a bowl of salsa and chips. It’s really a necessity whenever you’re entertaining for any occasion.

Craving more easy recipes for snacking or entertaining? Try my Pico de Gallo, 5-Minute Black Bean Dip, or 5-Minute Blender Chipotle Salsa!

Ingredients for Easy 5-Minute Blender Salsa

Canned whole tomatoes: While I love using fresh tomatoes in Pico de Gallo, I’ve found that canned whole tomatoes are the best choice for restaurant-style salsa. They’ll blend quickly with the other ingredients.
Onion: I typically use a white onion in this salsa but a yellow onion will also give you the satisfying bite we want. A red onion is also a good choice too because it’s only slightly sweeter.
Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds an earthy flavor.
Jalapeño pepper: We’re using a jalapeno pepper here but the finished salsa remains mild. To amp up the heat, use two peppers.
Lime juice: The bright tangy flavor of lime adds a bit of freshness to this homemade salsa recipe. You can use prepackaged lime juice from your grocery store or fresh lime juice.
Garlic: Minced garlic has a pungent and delicious flavor. You can mince your own fresh garlic or use a jarred variety.
Seasonings: Salt and cumin are the only spices you need in this easy salsa recipe.

How to Make Easy 5-Minute Blender Salsa

Ready to make the best blender salsa? Simply add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Pulse until you’ve achieved the consistency you like. Taste and add more salt or jalapeno if desired.

Can You Use Canned Diced Tomatoes?

Yes, you can! I’ve tested this recipe with both whole and diced canned tomatoes and see no difference between the two.

Should You Drain the Canned Tomatoes?

No need to drain those tomatoes. Restaurant salsa is intended to be liquidy so I use the liquid too. If you prefer a thicker salsa you’re welcome to drain it of course.

Can You Use Fresh Tomatoes?

While I love a salsa made with fresh tomatoes, I do notice a difference in both taste and texture when using them in a blender salsa. I recommend sticking with canned for this particular recipe. If you’re looking for a way to use fresh tomatoes try my Pico de Gallo!

Should You Chop Your Ingredients?

You want to coarsely chop your onion, jalapeno, and cilantro. This means you’re just chopping them in large chunks of roughly the same size. This way they’ll blend a bit faster and won’t take significantly longer than your tomatoes.

Can You Make This Salsa in Advance?

Absolutely! We like to make a double or triple batch to ensure we’ll have leftovers. The flavors meld together a bit more as it sits in the fridge overnight. It will stay good for up to one week.

How to Customize Blender Salsa

This recipe calls for at least one jalapeno pepper for flavor. It creates a mild salsa with very little heat at all. If you want even less heat you can omit the jalapeno. If you prefer a spicy salsa, use 2 jalapeno peppers.

The finished salsa is thin (like a restaurant style salsa). If you prefer a chunky salsa, simply blend the ingredients for less time.

To further customize this flavorful salsa, try stirring in black beans or corn. You can also add this salsa to queso to really amp up the flavor!