FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• Why You’ll Love My Homemade Salsa Recipe
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Make Homemade Salsa
• My Recipe Tips
• Common Questions
• Ways To Use It
• More Homemade Salsa Recipes
• My Food Processor For This Recipe
• Homemade Salsa (5-Minute Recipe) Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

I’ve been making my fresh tomato salsa for years and love it so much that I never felt like I needed to venture out to the canned stuff. That is, until a few weeks ago when I was making my baked tortilla chips for the umpteenth time and had an excuse to experiment. This time, my goal with this homemade salsa was to make it restaurant-style. I started with my fresh version, but played around with the ingredients to make it as close as I could to the many ( many ) restaurant versions I’ve enjoyed. Say hello to my classic homemade salsa recipe! Try it and let me know if you think I got pretty close.

Why You’ll Love My Homemade Salsa Recipe

• Effortless flavor – We’ve got the usual suspects: tangy tomatoes, zesty onions, fresh cilantro, jalapeños for a kick. But I also add a dash of chili powder and cumin, as a restaurant owner once told me they add this.
• Simple ingredients – You just need a handful from the produce aisle and a few pantry staples. In fact, I first made this homemade salsa recipe using what I had around at home.
• Quick and easy – You can whip it up in just 5 minutes! But since it keeps in the fridge for so long, I usually make it ahead.
• Perfect for any occasion – Whether you’re hosting a taco night, craving a snack with chips, or looking for a flavorful topping, my easy homemade salsa is your answer. If you liked my original salsa recipe, you’re going to love this one even more!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the ingredients for my best homemade salsa, what each one does in my recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Tomatoes – I used both fresh Roma tomatoes and canned tomatoes for this homemade salsa recipe. The canned ones give depth and thickness, while fresh ones keep it fresh and vibrant. Cut the fresh ones into large chunks. For the canned ones, I prefer regular diced tomatoes , but feel free to use diced tomatoes with green chilies if you want an extra kick.
• Onion – A white onion lends a mild flavor. You can choose a red onion for a sharper bite, or Vidalia or yellow onion for sweetness.
• Fresh Cilantro – For that classic fresh and herby pop.
• Jalapeño – I remove the seeds so that my kids can enjoy my homemade salsa, but you can leave them in or even double up on the peppers if you like more heat.
• Garlic – Chop your fresh garlic cloves coarsely. You don’t have to mince them.
• Lime Juice – I usually grab bottled lime juice for convenience, but freshly squeezed lime juice tastes even better when I make the time. If you need a substitute, lemon juice is the closest.
• Seasonings – Salt is the only must-have. But I also add chili powder , and ground cumin to get those restaurant-style salsa vibes.

How To Make Homemade Salsa

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Chop the veggies. Cut the fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic, and jalapeño into chunks. Place them in the bowl of a large food processor .
2. Blend it all together. Add the canned tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and spices. Pulse intermittently, until your homemade salsa reaches the consistency you want.

My Recipe Tips

• Pulse your food processor. Start and stop every couple seconds, so that you can control the consistency. I opted for a chunky texture this time, but you can process for longer to get it ultra smooth like many restaurants do it.
• Do a taste test early. Check the saltiness of your salsa a few pulses before it reaches your desired consistency. That way, it won’t get too mushy if you need to adjust the salt and pulse again.
• You can make a half batch. This makes a large batch, which is the most convenient way to make it because it uses the full can of diced tomatoes (and it stores well). But you can easily cut my homemade salsa recipe in half if you like.
• For a deeper and smokier flavor, roast the fresh tomatoes first. It’s an extra step, but tastes amazing if you have the time.
• Don’t have a food processor? A blender can work. I find that my blender makes a smoother, runnier salsa, so know what you’re getting.

Common Questions

• How long does homemade salsa last? It will last for 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator. I keep my homemade salsa in a mason jar , but any airtight container will work.
• Can you freeze homemade salsa? Yes! Simmer the salsa on stove for 10-20 minutes first. (This reduces the amount of moisture and improves the texture later after you thaw it.) After cooling, freeze flat in a zip lock bag. Thaw in the fridge overnight, or on the counter. I usually need to drain it before serving.
• Can you use only canned tomatoes? Yes. I prefer the combination of fresh and canned for this recipe, but if you want to use only canned, just use 2 cans instead of one.
• Can you make homemade salsa for canning? Yes, canning should work. Check out my fresh salsa post for instructions.

Ways To Use It

You can definitely grab some tortilla chips and call it a day, but (surprise) homemade salsa recipes are for more than just chips! Here are some of the ways I use salsa:

• Chips – Yes, I already mentioned the classic tortilla chips, but you can also scoop your salsa with lighter air fryer zucchini chips , plain or seasoned kale chips , or even cheese crisps . Pair ’em with my homemade guacamole !
• Tacos – Another classic! I used the leftovers from my last batch to whip up my taco salad , but of course you can wrap taco meat in actual tortillas, too. This salsa would also make a great topping for my taco casserole , taco dip , or even zucchini taco boats .
• Fajitas – I love this stuff over my chicken fajitas , shrimp fajitas , and steak fajitas. All the fajitas.
• Eggs – Add a dollop of homemade salsa over your scrambled eggs (or my cloud eggs if you want to get fancy) for a little zing. You can make a Mexican-inspired variation of my shakshuka with it, too.
• Chicken – My fave is to make salsa chicken with it, but you can also use it in place of diced tomatoes for my stuffed poblano peppers or mix it with shredded Instant Pot chicken breast to use in a number of other recipes.
• Beef – No matter how you serve them, salsa is a must-have to make my carne asada and slow-cooked barbacoa recipes feel complete.

More Homemade Salsa Recipes

You may be wondering why I have so many salsa recipes, but each one brings its own flavorful twist to the table. Try one of my others next:

Mango Salsa

Salsa Verde

Fresh Salsa

Pineapple Salsa

My Food Processor For This Recipe

Reminder: My homemade salsa recipe makes a big batch, so you’ll need a big food processor . I’ve had mine for almost a decade and it’s still going strong.

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 1 15-oz can Diced tomatoes (with juice from the can) ▢
• 1 lb Roma tomatoes (cut into large chunks; ~4-6 medium) ▢
• 1/2 large White onion (~1 cup) ▢
• 1/2 cup Fresh cilantro ▢
• 1 medium Jalapeno (seeds removed, coarsely chopped; or use 2 for extra heat) ▢
• 4 cloves Garlic (coarsely chopped) ▢
• 2 tbsp Lime juice ▢
• 1/2 tsp Sea salt (to taste) ▢
• 1/2 tsp Chili powder (optional) ▢
• 1/2 tsp Ground cumin (optional) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Combine all the ingredients in a food processor .
2. Pulse intermittently, until desired consistency is reached. (Check for salt a few pulses before your desired consistency, so that the homemade salsa doesn’t get too mushy if you need to adjust salt and pulse again.)

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/4 cup

Recipe makes 4 1/2 cups total.

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Fall Ebook Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Homemade Salsa

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

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The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Homemade Salsa (5-Minute Recipe)

Make this easy homemade salsa recipe in just 5 minutes! It’s bursting with flavor and perfect with chips, tacos, and other Mexican favorites.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/homemade-salsa/

Ingredients

• 1 15-oz can Diced tomatoes (with juice from the can)
• 1 lb Roma tomatoes (cut into large chunks; ~4-6 medium)
• 1/2 large White onion (~1 cup)
• 1/2 cup Fresh cilantro
• 1 medium Jalapeno (seeds removed, coarsely chopped; or use 2 for extra heat)
• 4 cloves Garlic (coarsely chopped)
• 2 tbsp Lime juice
• 1/2 tsp Sea salt (to taste)
• 1/2 tsp Chili powder (optional)
• 1/2 tsp Ground cumin (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine all the ingredients in a food processor .
2. Pulse intermittently, until desired consistency is reached. (Check for salt a few pulses before your desired consistency, so that the homemade salsa doesn’t get too mushy if you need to adjust salt and pulse again.)

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/4 cup

Recipe makes 4 1/2 cups total.

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Fall Ebook Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)