Homemade Green Chile Salsa Recipe

4.39 (21 ratings)

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This Homemade Green Chile Salsa Recipe is made with roasted green chiles and canned whole tomatoes, bringing bold, smoky flavors to your table in minutes. Whether you prefer it chunky or smooth, this versatile salsa is packed with authentic flavor and comes together in just minutes, making it a perfect addition to any meal.

close up shot of homemade salsa with canned tomatoes and green chiles in a stoneware bowl molcajete with a wooden spoon

What is Green Chile Salsa?

This is an authentic, homemade salsa casera recipe featuring roasted green chiles, jalapeรฑos, and canned tomatoes. Itโ€™s a quick and easy way to enjoy bold, smoky flavors with minimal effort.

Yvette Marquez muy bueno Mexican food blogger in an orange dress holding a molcajete.

Why Youโ€™ll Love This Recipe

Quick & Easy: Ready in just minutes using a food processor or blender.

Versatile: Perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Freezer-Friendly: Make a big batch and store it for later.

Authentic Flavor: A traditional recipe passed down in my family.

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Ingredients & Substitutions

Every year we stock our garage freezer with bushels of fire-roasted long green chile from Pueblo. Itโ€™s a tradition now since Iโ€™ve been living in Colorado. In El Paso, we always bought Hatch green chile. I honestly canโ€™t tell the difference, but Iโ€™m not a green chile connoisseur. Both are amazing, and depending on the season, one may be spicier than the other.

  • Roasted green chile peppers – Pueblo, Anaheim, or Hatch, roasted and peeled. Pueblo chiles are known for their rich, earthy flavor and a heat level that can range from mild to extra hot. Anaheim chiles are milder and slightly sweet, making them great for those who prefer less spice. Hatch chile peppers vary in heat and have a deep, smoky flavor that intensifies when roasted. Any of these chiles work beautifully in this salsa, so choose based on your preferred spice level and taste.
  • Roasted jalapeรฑo peppers – Jalapeรฑos are optional for extra spice. For more heat, leave the seeds in. For a milder salsa, remove them before blending. Swap jalapeรฑos for serrano peppers for extra spice.
  • Salt – Adjust to taste, especially if using a saltier canned tomato brand.
  • Garlic cloves – Fresh garlic enhances the bold flavor of the salsa, but you can substitute with ยฝ teaspoon garlic powder in a pinch.
  • Canned whole tomatoes – Whole tomatoes create a rich, smooth texture. My mom was the first one to simplify grandma’s salsa recipe by using Huntโ€™s whole tomatoes. For a smokier depth, opt for fire-roasted canned tomatoes. If you want to go old-school (and bless you if you do!), you can absolutely opt to make your own canned tomatoes. My grandma had a garden and would home grow tomatoes and can them herself, too!
  • Tomato sauce – Tomato sauce adds richness and helps bind the salsa together. If omitted, the salsa will have a chunkier consistency.

The complete list of ingredients, quantities, and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.

How to Make Green Chile Salsa

Step 1: Roast & Prep. If you havenโ€™t already, roast and peel your green chiles and jalapeรฑos. Learn how to roast chile peppers.

peeled, fire roasted chiles on a painted ceramic tray

Step 2: Blend. Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender. Pulse until your desired consistency is reached.

Step 3: Serve & Enjoy. Use immediately or store for later!

If you’d like more of a visual representation, you can watch this video showing how to make my favorite salsa recipe.

fire roasted tomato salsa with green chiles in a stoneware mortar with homemade tortilla chips

Serving & Topping Suggestions

This salsa recipe with green chiles is delicious on just about everything. Enjoy it with a bowl of homemade corn tortilla chips for an easy appetizer, drizzle it over Mexican tamales for a burst of flavor, or spoon it onto squash blossom quesadillas, and ground beef tacos for extra spice.

It also pairs beautifully with Mexican chicken soup or alongside breakfast eggs, like authentic huevos rancheros. No matter how you serve it, this salsa will add a smoky, spicy touch to any dish.

Green Chile Salsa Expert Tips & Tricks

Keep the juices: Donโ€™t drain the canned tomatoes; the juices help create the perfect consistency.

Roast in advance: Prep a big batch of roasted chiles and freeze them for easy salsa-making.

Chunky vs. Smooth: For a chunkier texture, pulse instead of fully blending. You can also make this salsa in a molcajete for a more rustic, traditional consistency with extra depth of flavor.

Spice Control: Remove seeds for a milder salsa or add extra jalapeรฑos for more heat.

Storage Instructions

Frequently Asked Questions

Is green chile salsa the same as salsa verde?

No, green chile salsa and salsa verde are different. Green chile salsa is typically made with roasted green chiles and tomatoes, while salsa verde is made with tomatillos for a tangier flavor.

What is the difference between chile verde and green chile?

Chile verde is a dish made with beef or pork simmered in a green chile sauce, whereas green chile refers to the type of chile peppers used in sauces, salsas, and other Mexican dishes.

What is Mexican green salsa made of?

Mexican green salsa (salsa verde) is made with tomatillos, green chiles, garlic, onion, and cilantro. It has a tangy and slightly sweet flavor, different from green chile salsa, which is tomato-based.

Why is it spelled chile instead of chili?

“Chile” with an “e” refers to the pepper itself, while “chili” with an “i” typically refers to a dish, like chili con carne. This recipe is made with roasted green chiles, which give it an authentic Mexican flavor.

more salsa inspiration

If you tried this Homemade Green Chile Salsa Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!

fire roasted salsa in a stone bowl
4.39 (21 ratings)

Homemade Salsa with Green Chiles and Tomatoes

Total Time: 3 minutes
Yield: 3 cups
Prep: 3 minutes
This Homemade Green Chile Salsa Recipe is made with roasted green chiles and canned whole tomatoes, bringing bold, smoky flavors to your table in minutes. Whether you prefer it chunky or smooth, this versatile salsa is packed with authentic flavor and comes together in just minutes, making it a perfect addition to any meal.
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Ingredients 

  • 6 to 7 green chile peppers, Anaheim orย Hatch, roasted and peeled
  • 1 jalapeรฑo peppers, roasted (optional), or 2
  • ยฝ teaspoon salt
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely diced, or ยฝ teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1 14.5-ounce can whole tomatoes
  • ยผ cup tomato sauce, (optional)

Instructions 

  • In a food processor or blender, pulse the roasted and peeled chiles, jalapeรฑo peppers (optional), salt, garlic, canned tomatoes, and tomato sauce for a few seconds.
  • You do not want to puree itโ€”chunky is best with this flavorful salsa.

Video

Notes

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 58kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 991mg | Potassium: 337mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 299IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Mention @muybuenocooking or tag #muybuenocooking!

Photography by Jenna Sparks

Originally published: February 2013. This recipe is also published in the Muy Bueno cookbook and also shared over on Today.com: Skip the jar and get creative with easy, homemade salsa.

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Recipe Rating




36 Comments

  1. Veronica says:

    So easy to make and it was delicious! Thank you for the recipe!

  2. Cynthia says:

    Hi, do you peel the jalapeรฑos as well?ย 

    Thank you,
    Cynthia

    1. Yvette says:

      You can if youโ€™d like, but not necessary.ย 

  3. Sharon says:

    Iโ€™m a native Texan and the Hispanic culture has become an integral part of my life, I consider myself a Texican. ย We use cilantro and lime in our salsas in the Texas Hill Country. I love your recipe and plan to make it today, but wanted to know if I would ruin your recipe if I added cilantro and lime juice. Thank you!ย 

    1. Yvette Marquez says:

      Hi Sharon, I hope I am not too late. I welcome you to try the salsa as-is. Taste it and if you feel you miss the flavors you love, then add. Enjoy!

  4. Bill says:

    Very flavorful. But a little too much garlic. I also added lime juice and a little cilantro.ย 

  5. Maria Palafox cruz says:

    I made your salsa casera today & I loved it . I had to modify a bit because I didnโ€™t have canned tomatoes so I roasted a few and it came out pretty good I may say. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe.ย 

  6. Angelique TheFlowerGurl says:

    Looks Da-licious. I can already taste it. I make mine basically with the same ingredients, except I use my own home grown chiles and in my molcajete. I then cook it in some olive oil, Jar it and refrigerate it. A must, much needed at my table every day…#GottaLoveIt

  7. Mary diaz says:

    Just the way my mamasita would make it, I really never paid attention to the details, thank you for your helpย 

  8. Jayme says:

    Wonderful salsa…..on another note my great grandmaโ€™s name was Jesusitaย 

  9. Mary Swayzee says:

    Do you de-seed the Anaheim Chileโ€™s? Since itโ€™s for salsa Iโ€™m not sure. Thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚ย 

    1. Muy Bueno says:

      Hi Mary! You can if you want, but I personally do not seed them because I like my salsa spicy. Please look at the blog post again. I just uploaded a NEW video that will help you see the process. Enjoy!

  10. Elizabeth Gutierrez says:

    These recipes remind me of growing up..my grams always said “real women always make salsa by hand” I am from El Paso also..interesting.