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Home » Appetizers » Chipotle Salsa Recipe

Published: January 20, 2023 Last Modified: January 20, 2023 By Sara 15 Comments

Chipotle Salsa Recipe

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This chipotle salsa is a blend of fire roasted tomatoes, onion, chipotle peppers, cilantro and lime juice, all mixed together to make a smoky and spicy salsa.
This chipotle salsa is a blend of fire roasted tomatoes, onion, chipotle peppers, cilantro and lime juice, all mixed together to make a smoky and spicy salsa.
This chipotle salsa is a blend of fire roasted tomatoes, onion, chipotle peppers, cilantro and lime juice, all mixed together to make a smoky and spicy salsa.

This chipotle salsa is a blend of fire roasted tomatoes, onion, chipotle peppers, cilantro and lime juice, all mixed together to make a smoky and spicy salsa. A quick and easy appetizer option that takes just minutes to prepare and always gets rave reviews!

I love a good homemade salsa, whether it’s a sweet and refreshing pineapple salsa, savory salsa verde or this chipotle salsa with a complex flavor.

A bowl of chipotle salsa topped with fresh cilantro and tortilla chips.

Salsa comes in all different forms and flavors, but this chipotle salsa has to be one of my all time favorites. It has just a handful of ingredients and is so quick to make with the help of a blender. I use this salsa as a dip with chips, or as a topping for grilled chicken, steak or fish.

Chipotle salsa ingredients

Ingredients including canned tomatoes, chipotle peppers, cilantro, red onion and seasonings.

This salsa is made with canned fire roasted tomatoes, fresh lime juice, chipotle peppers and the adobo sauce they’re packed in, cilantro, salt, red onion and garlic.

How do you make chipotle salsa?

Start by placing canned fire roasted tomatoes, red onion, garlic, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, lime juice and salt in a blender. Blend until you reach your desired consistency. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for later use.

Step by step shots showing how to make chipotle salsa in a blender.

Tips for the perfect salsa

  • Fire roasted tomatoes are sold with the other types of canned tomatoes, and they really add a lot of flavor to this salsa. There’s no need to drain the tomatoes before you add them to the blender.
  • No blender on hand? Use a food processor instead!
  • Chipotle peppers come in a small can in the international foods aisle near the Mexican offerings. They are packed in adobo sauce. This recipe calls for two peppers, along with some of the sauce from the can.
  • Chipotle salsa will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I don’t recommend freezing this salsa as it will become watery when thawed.
  • I prefer to use red onion because it has a milder flavor than white or yellow onions. That being said, it’s fine to use any variety you have on hand.
A bowl of chipotle salsa garnished with fresh cilantro.

Recipe FAQs

Is chipotle salsa healthy?

This salsa is a great choice for a healthy diet. It is low in calories and carbohydrates, and contains nutritious ingredients. Tomatoes are full of lycopene, vitamin C and potassium. You can also use this salsa to flavor other low calorie dishes by spooning it over chicken, using it as a dip for fresh vegetables, or topping a piece of white fish.

Is chipotle salsa spicy?

This recipe is a medium on the heat scale. If you prefer a hotter salsa, you can add an extra chipotle pepper. For mild salsa, use just one pepper, or else omit the peppers and simply add an extra teaspoon of the adobo sauce from the can.

A chip scooping up a serving of tomato salsa.

Flavor Variations

This recipe is fabulous as-is, but you can add other ingredients to make the flavors your own.

  • Chilies: Feel free to add a 4 ounce can of roasted green chilies, or roast your own anaheim or poblano chilies. You can also add fresh minced jalapenos.
  • Vegetables: Add 6 roasted tomatillos for a different flavor. You can also stir some corn kernels into the finished dish for added texture.
  • Beans: Stir in 1 cup of black beans after the salsa is blended for a boost of protein and flavor.
  • Avocado: Diced avocado is one of my favorite ways to dress up salsa!

Put out a big bowl of chipotle salsa with tortilla chips at your next gathering, it’s sure to be a total hit.

More recipes for salsa lovers

  • Mango Salsa
  • Salsa Chicken
  • Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips
  • Peach Salsa
  • Salmon with Avocado Salsa

Chipotle Salsa Video

A bowl of chipotle salsa topped with fresh cilantro and tortilla chips.
Print Pin
5 from 16 votes

Chipotle Salsa

This chipotle salsa is a blend of fire roasted tomatoes, onion, chipotle peppers, cilantro and lime juice, all mixed together to make a smoky and spicy salsa. A quick and easy appetizer option that takes just minutes to prepare and always gets rave reviews!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 6 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 35kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 14 ounce can fire roasted tomatoes do not drain
  • 1/2 cup red onion diced
  • 1 teaspoon garlic chopped
  • 1/2 cup cilantro leaves
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 chipotle peppers canned
  • 2 teaspoons adobo sauce from the chipotle pepper can
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice

Instructions

  • Place all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor.
  • Blend or pulse until the desired consistency is reached.
  • Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Notes

  1. Fire roasted tomatoes are sold with the other types of canned tomatoes, and they really add a lot of flavor to this salsa. There’s no need to drain the tomatoes before you add them to the blender.
  2. Chipotle peppers come in a small can in the international foods aisle near the Mexican offerings. They are packed in adobo sauce. This recipe calls for two peppers, along with some of the sauce from the can.

Nutrition

Calories: 35kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 779mg | Potassium: 36mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Comments

    1. Rachna says

      January 29, 2023 at 8:24 pm

      5 stars
      I love Chilpotle salsa. Such an easy recipe. I love how fire roasting adds a depth of flavor to the salsa.

      Reply
    2. Saif says

      January 29, 2023 at 6:42 pm

      5 stars
      Looks amazing. Can’t wait to make Chipotle salsa tonight.

      Reply
    3. Ned says

      January 29, 2023 at 4:51 pm

      5 stars
      This salsa was amazing!!! I can’t wait to make it again for the big game, I know it will be a big hit with my extended family!

      Reply
    4. Anjali says

      January 29, 2023 at 3:34 pm

      5 stars
      This salsa was super simple to make and was so much more flavorful than store bought! We loved it!

      Reply
    5. Rhonda says

      January 29, 2023 at 1:07 pm

      5 stars
      I love salsa and chipotle takes it to the next level. The smokiness is a real win.

      Reply
    6. Angela says

      November 7, 2021 at 5:13 am

      5 stars
      Such an easy and delicious salsa recipe! Love that you can get all this flavor from simple ingredients too. Thanks for the awesome recipe!

      Reply
    7. Dannii says

      November 7, 2021 at 4:26 am

      5 stars
      Chipotle is one of my favourite flavours and this salsa looks amazing.

      Reply
    8. Wajeeha Nadeem says

      November 7, 2021 at 1:27 am

      5 stars
      This salsa turned out super delicious and I could not stop snacking on it with chips!

      Reply
    9. Tara says

      November 6, 2021 at 5:37 pm

      5 stars
      Such an amazing combination of smoky and spicy flavors in this salsa. So easy too! I also love that it can last up to three days.

      Reply
    10. Heather says

      November 6, 2021 at 4:09 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made homemade salsa before but never this food! The fire roasted tomatoes made all the difference!! Definitely a hit.

      Reply
    11. Dionne says

      October 13, 2021 at 1:41 pm

      5 stars
      Fantastic salsa! I make it pretty often as it goes very well with so many of my favorite dishes!

      Reply
    12. Tara says

      October 13, 2021 at 12:26 pm

      5 stars
      So many wonderful flavors packed into this salsa! I love how easily it all comes together too. Definitely the perfect appetizer.

      Reply
    13. Heather Johnson says

      October 13, 2021 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      so good! i love the spiciness – i added corn and black beans cuz that’s my fav!

      Reply
    14. veenaazmanov says

      October 13, 2021 at 11:50 am

      5 stars
      Love the combinations and the smoky and roasted flavors of ingredients. This is surely delicious and an exciting treat.

      Reply
    15. Jess says

      October 13, 2021 at 11:27 am

      5 stars
      This is my favorite way to make salsa. Love the addition of the adobo sauce!

      Reply

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