The Best Store-Bought Salsas

By Emily McKenna and Lindsay Funston
Updated August 29, 2014
Credit: Tostitos
Armed with tortilla chips, Real Simple staffers dug in to find the tastiest jarred salsas.
Start Slideshow

1 of 12

Best Mild

Credit: Tostitos

Tostitos All-Natural Chunky
Talk about a crowd- pleaser: Kids love the tomatoey sweetness; grown-ups appreciate the crunchy onions and bell peppers. And kudos for the excellent cling factor—it really stays on your chip.

To buy: $3.70 for 15.5 ounces.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

Wild Harvest Organic Mild Thick and Chunky Salsa

Credit: Wild Harvest

Extremely mellow and just a tad sweet, this budget-friendly jar is a reliable option for kids.

To buy: $2 for 16 ounces, wildharvestorganic.com for stores.

3 of 12

Best Medium

Credit: Green Mountain Gringo

Green Mountain Gringo
As close as you’ll get to homemade without picking up a knife. Fresh cilantro, parsley, and garlic tame the feisty jalapeño and pasilla chilies.

To buy: $4.30 for 16 ounces.

Advertisement

4 of 12

Best Hot

Credit: Jens Mortensen

Frontera Roasted Habanero
Unlike the searing, one-note competition, this scorcher has fire and flavor. Beer, please!

To buy: $5 for 16 ounces.

5 of 12

White Girl Salsa Hot

Credit: White Girl Salsa

Chili peppers deliver serious heat in a recipe produced in small batches by a Colorado foodie. With its not-too-chunky consistency, it can double as a zesty marinade for grilled chicken or pork.

To buy: $8 for 16 ounces, whitegirlsalsa.com.

6 of 12

Laurie’s Buffalo Gourmet Fire Hot Salsa With Habanero Peppers

Credit: Lauries buffalo gourmet

Feeling hot, hot, hot? Taste this fiery—but intensely addictive—habanero-loaded pick (at your own risk).

To buy: $5 for 16 ounces, lauriesbuffalogourmet.com for stores.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 12

Best Chipotle

Credit: Jens Mortensen

365 Everyday Value
Ready for a flavor bomb? Scoop up this combo of earthy chipotles (a.k.a. smoke-dried jalapeños) and juicy roasted tomatoes.

To buy: $3 for 16 ounces, Whole Foods Market.

8 of 12

Amy’s Spicy Chipotle Salsa

Credit: Amy's

A trio of peppers (fire-roasted poblanos, hot jalapeños, and smoky chipotles) makes this a tasty option for anyone who loves a chunky salsa.

To buy: $5.60 for 17.5 ounces, at grocery stores.

9 of 12

Best Salsa Verde

Credit: Stonewall Kitchen

Stonewall Kitchen
This puree vibrates with tangy tomatillos, serrano chilies, and a shot of lime. Worth every peso.

To buy: $7 for 16 ounces.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 12

Frontera Gourmet Mexican Tomatillo Salsa

Credit: Frontera

In classic salsa verde fashion, this mild favorite is loaded with tomatillos, serrano chilies, and cilantro. It’s a great topper for tacos and enchiladas.

To buy: $4 for 16 ounces, at grocery stores.

11 of 12

Best Black Bean and Corn

Credit: Newman's Own

Newman’s Own
Creamy black beans, sweet corn, and a major hit of cumin make this a tasty multitasker. Try it in a turkey wrap or dolloped on huevos rancheros or grilled chicken.

To buy: $3.50 for 16 ounces.

12 of 12

Best Tropical

Credit: Rosa Mexicano Kitchen

Rosa Mexicano Kitchen Salsa de Piña
A tropical offering from the upscale seven-branch Mexican eatery, pineapple salsa is lush with sweet and citrusy flavors. Arbol chile adds a medium heat. Serve on grilled fish or pork tacos.

To buy: $5 for 16 ounces, rosamexicano.com.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

By Emily McKenna and Lindsay Funston