11 Spicy Salsa Recipes

Ancho-Chipotle Salsa in a green bowl
Photo: linda2d

Delightfully fresh and with a kick of heat, you can't beat homemade spicy salsa. Usually featuring a blend of vibrant ingredients like tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and plenty of pepper varieties, you'll have a hard time ever going back to jarred salsa after the first bite. Whip up a batch for your next Taco Tuesday, or keep a bowl handy for snacking with chips during a movie marathon.

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Jen's Fresh and Spicy Salsa

Jen's Fresh and Spicy Salsa in a white bowl
Ms. Chef Esh

Bottled hot sauce, fresh jalapeños, and a squeeze of lime juice make this salsa equal parts tangy and spicy. Many reviewers recommend chopping the tomatoes first and setting them aside to drain for a minute before mixing.

02 of 12

Habanero Salsa

Habanero Salsa in a white bowl
Corey is Boston Strong

About 100 times hotter than a jalapeño, habaneros are the star of this super spicy salsa. Recipe creator Tenille Wasemiller warns, "This salsa is not for lightweights."

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Spicy Green Tomato Salsa

Spicy Green Tomato Salsa in a green bowl
Laura Davidson

Stumped with what to do with a bundle of green tomatoes? Well, consider blending them up to create this brightly colored and flavored salsa! Using four serrano peppers and four jalapeños, it packs a punch of heat.

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Spicy Salsa

Spicy Salsa in a jar
Hameed Bhatti

The unusual addition of celery adds a nice little hit of freshness and crunch to this spicy salsa. "I served this at an appetizer party. Everyone thought it had a really nice kick," says reviewer NKTAUBE.

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Jalapeño Salsa

Jalapeno Salsa in a glass bowl
LNollie

Jalapeño peppers, onions, and cilantro are the trio behind this verde salsa. Reviewer Tom Grabowski even had this to say, "Very fresh tasting and not too spicy."

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Simple Spicy Salsa

Simple Spicy Salsa in a star-shaped bowl
Baking Nana

When you want to enjoy a basic bowl of salsa with no secret ingredients or special techniques, this is the recipe for you. As a bonus, it uses canned tomatoes, meaning you can enjoy this salsa year-round.

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Roasted Salsa

Roasted Salsa in a basket with chips
Baking Nana

Charring the tomatoes and peppers in this recipe adds a deep smoky flavor that makes it irresistible. This bold recipe uses Anaheim chile peppers, jalapeños, and poblano peppers.

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Roasted Tomatillo and Garlic Salsa

Roasted Tomatillo and Garlic Salsa in jars
Eric B

No tomatoes required for this wow-worthy green salsa. Tangy tomatillos make up the base, paired with spicy jalapeños, a head of garlic, and fresh cilantro. If you want even more spice, recipe creator SairajB recommends swapping in Jamaican scotch bonnets for the jalapeños.

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Spicy Tomato Salsa

Spicy Tomato Salsa in a bowl
Lady at the Stove

Using a whopping cup of jalapeños, this salsa recipe isn't for the faint of heart. Tomatoes, green bell peppers, and onions make up the base, all brightened up with a dash of apple cider vinegar.

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Three Chile Dry Roasted Tomatillo Salsa

Three Chile Dry Roasted Tomatillo Salsa in a cup

The tasty trio of chiles in this salsa is pequin peppers, serranos, and jalapeños. Each, along with tart tomatillos, is dry roasted in a cast-iron skillet to impart a smoky cooked flavor to the final dish.

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Ancho-Chipotle Salsa

Ancho-Chipotle Salsa in a green bowl
linda2d

Get a double dose of smokiness by using both canned chipotles in adobo sauce and dried ancho chiles (smoked poblanos) in this salsa recipe. Reviewer Inhopmann raves, "This was wonderful! The smokey flavor and great texture reminded me of the fresh salsa you get at a restaurant."

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