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10 Best Store Bought Salsas in 2022 (Chef-Reviewed)

10 Best Store Bought Salsas in 2022 (Chef-Reviewed)

Salsa is a quintessential accompaniment to Mexican cuisine and a flavorful way to elevate the taste of all kinds of dishes. It's great as a dip for tortilla chips, a topper for meats, or as a condiment for tacos and enchiladas. However, there are many kinds of salsa, including red salsa, green salsa, and fruit salsa. So how do you know which one suits your taste buds the most?

We've researched many salsa brands in varying types, colors, heat levels, and ingredients, and have compiled a list of the 10 best store-bought salsas you can buy online. Pace's Picante Sauce was one of our favorites as this smooth sauce has a flavorful taste with a nice little kick. There's also a buying guide at the end reviewed by a chef to help you choose among the different salsas available in the market.

Last updated: 04-27-2022

Table of Contents

How We Chose Our Products

To create this list of the 10 best store-bought salsas, we took into consideration the following factors:

The heat level, texture, and ingredients of the salsa
The style of the salsa
The shelf life

Read our buying guide to know why those factors are important.

Compare the 10 Best Store Bought Salsas

Image	Tostitos	Good & Gather	Pace	Herdez	Tostitos	Newman's Own	Dessert Pepper	Great Value	Mrs. Renfro's	On The Border
Name	Restaurant Style Salsa	Mango Peach	Chunky Salsa	Guacamole Salsa	Chunky Salsa	Pineapple Salsa	Corn Black Bean Red Pepper Salsa	Cantina Style Salsa Verde	Carolina Reaper Salsa	Salsa Con Queso
Features	Best Flavorful Salsa With Few Chunks	Best Salsa With Mangoes and Peaches for a Sweet, Refreshing Taste	Best Versatile, Chunky Salsa	Best Creamy Tomatillo Salsa With Avocado	Best for the Sweet, Mildly Spicy Flavor and Thick Texture	Best for the Addition of Pineapples for a Sweet and Fruity Twist	Best Black Bean and Corn Salsa With a Hearty, Refreshing Taste	Best for the Mild, Refreshing Flavor That Pairs Well With Different Recipes	Best for Spicy Salsa Lovers	Best for the Creamy and Cheesy Flavor With a Little Kick
Price	$3.79	$2.49	$2.79	$3.29	$4.48	$2.88	$3.91	$2.58	$14.99	$3.48
Heat level	Medium	Mild	Medium	Medium	Mild	Medium	Medium	Medium	Hot	Medium
Consistency	Smooth	Chunky	Chunky	Smooth and creamy	Chunky	Smooth	Chunky	Smooth	Smooth	Smooth
Main ingredients	Diced tomatoes in tomato juice, onions, unpeeled ground tomatoes in tomato purée	Tomatoes, mango, peaches, jalapeño peppers, tomato purée, agave syrup, sugar	Crushed tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, diced tomatoes in tomato juice	Tomatillos, jalapeño peppers, avocados, onions, cilantro	Tomato purée, diced tomatoes, green bell peppers, jalapeño peppers	Tomato purée, diced tomatoes, crushed pineapple, jalapeño peppers, brown sugar	Corn, black beans, tomatoes, sweet red peppers, mild green chili peppers, onions, jalapeño peppers	Tomatillos, jalapeño peppers, onion, salt, cilantro, garlic powder	Tomatoes, tomato juice, onion, brown sugar, green chili peppers, Carolina reaper peppers, jalapeño peppers	Monterey Jack cheese, jalapeño peppers, green chilies, red bell peppers, diced tomatoes in juice
Best for	Dipping tortilla chips	Topping tacos, adding to dishes	Dipping tortilla chips, topping nachos, making quesadillas or enchiladas	Dipping tortilla chips	Dipping tortilla chips, topping nachos or tacos	Dipping tortilla chips	Dipping tortilla chips, topping meats and vegetables	Topping omelets, enchiladas, or tacos, making soups	Dipping tortilla chips, topping meats and vegetables	Dipping chips
Amount	15.5 oz.	16 oz.	16 oz.	15.7 oz.	15.5 oz.	16 oz.	16 oz.	24 oz.	16 oz. each, 2 pack	15.5 oz.
Link	View Amazon View Walmart View Target	View Target	View Amazon View Walmart	View Amazon View Walmart	View Amazon View Walmart View Target	View Amazon View Walmart	View Amazon View Kroger View Food4Less	View Walmart View Instacart	View Amazon View Mrs. Renfro's	View Amazon View Walmart View Instacart

10 Best Store Bought Salsas

To help you choose the right store-bought salsa for you, we've compiled a list of the best ones you can buy online based on the heat level, consistency, overall taste, and reviewer comments.

*Please note that these products were chosen after extensive research by mybest writers. The choices are not necessarily affiliated with or recommended by Jim Quast.

TostitosRestaurant Style Salsa

$3.79

Best Flavorful Salsa With Few Chunks

Pros:

It's said that the salsa is flavorful and tastes great with chips, tacos, or enchiladas
Smooth consistency
Spice level is medium

Cons:

Some buyers are disappointed with the watery consistency

This restaurant-style salsa is made with simple ingredients such as diced tomatoes, onions, jalapeño peppers, and spices. It's free from artificial ingredients and tastes delicious with tortilla chips. The medium heat level makes it great for liberal use. Try it as a marinade for your meat and vegetables or as a salad dressing!

One drawback of this salsa for some buyers is the watery consistency. Nonetheless, the majority find this sauce flavorful and tangy with a nice kick to it. They further mention that it goes very well with dishes like chips, tacos, and enchiladas.

Heat level	Medium
Consistency	Smooth
Main ingredients	Diced tomatoes in tomato juice, onions, unpeeled ground tomatoes in tomato purée
Best for	Dipping tortilla chips
Amount	15.5 oz.

Good & GatherMango Peach

$2.49

View product on Target

Best Salsa With Mangoes and Peaches for a Sweet, Refreshing Taste

Pros:

Inclusion of fruits like mangoes and peaches gives the salsa a refreshing, slightly sweet flavor
Great as a taco or burrito topper or for nachos
Mild heat level is suitable for those with low spice tolerance

Cons:

It's said the jar is hard to open

This salsa is made with a blend of tomatoes, mangoes, peaches, jalapeño peppers, and garlic, and its mildly sweet, mildly spicy flavor goes well with many recipes. Use this sauce as a topping for tacos or eggs, in ground beef, or in tortilla soup. It also would pair well with fish or chicken.

Some buyers find that the jar is difficult to open. Yet, the review section is overwhelmingly positive, with a lot of buyers complimenting the delicious, fruity flavor and chunky consistency of this salsa. Many also say that the spice level is just right to give you some kick without being too overwhelming.

Heat level	Mild
Consistency	Chunky
Main ingredients	Tomatoes, mango, peaches, jalapeño peppers, tomato purée, agave syrup, sugar
Best for	Topping tacos, adding to dishes
Amount	16 oz.

PaceChunky Salsa

$2.79

Best Versatile, Chunky Salsa

Pros:

Big chunks of tomato, onion and jalapeño
Can be used as a dipping sauce or added to dishes such as quesadillas, enchiladas, and nachos
Available in different heat levels

Cons:

The medium spice level is too mild for a couple of buyers

If you like your salsa chunky, you might want to consider this option from Pace. This salsa is made with chunks of tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, onions, and other spices. It's great for dipping or adding to your nachos, quesadillas, eggs, and enchiladas.

A few buyers complain that the medium salsa isn't spicy at all. On the other hand, most reviewers love that it has the right consistency. They also find this salsa fresh-tasting! A lot of buyers enjoy this sauce with dishes like scrambled eggs, nachos, and rice.

Heat level	Medium
Consistency	Chunky
Main ingredients	Crushed tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, diced tomatoes in tomato juice
Best for	Dipping tortilla chips, topping nachos, making quesadillas or enchiladas
Amount	16 oz.

HerdezGuacamole Salsa

$3.29

Best Creamy Tomatillo Salsa With Avocado

Pros:

Combination of ingredients such as tomatillos, avocados, green chili peppers, and cilantro give the salsa a creamy, zesty, and flavorful taste
Works well as a dipping sauce

Cons:

According to some buyers, the texture is too watery
Others thought it was too sour, or too spicy for "medium"

Instead of tomatoes, this salsa from Herdez is made with tomatillos for a zesty taste. The addition of avocado further gives the sauce a creamy and rich body. It isn't suitable for cooking but works great as a dipping sauce for a variety of dishes, including French fries, fish sticks, chicken tenders, sushi, and anything that suits your fancy.

The major complaint some buyers had about this salsa was its thin consistency. Still, most compliment its creamy, spicy, and tart flavor and further mention that it's great for dipping tortilla chips, taquitos, vegetables, pizza, and other dishes.

Heat level	Medium
Consistency	Smooth and creamy
Main ingredients	Tomatillos, jalapeño peppers, avocados, onions, cilantro
Best for	Dipping tortilla chips
Amount	15.7 oz.

TostitosChunky Salsa

$4.48

Best for the Sweet, Mildly Spicy Flavor and Thick Texture

Pros:

Includes ingredients such as tomato purée, green bell peppers, jalapeño peppers, onions, and diced tomatoes for a refreshing and slightly sweet flavor
Thick, chunky consistency
Great as a dipping sauce or as a topping on scrambled eggs, potatoes, meats, and more

Cons:

The mild heat level is still hot for some reviewers

This chunky salsa contains simple ingredients like tomato purée, diced tomatoes, and onions. The combination of green bell peppers and jalapeño peppers gives it a spicy and slightly sweet taste. Not only is it great as a dip for chips, but it could also be added to baked potatoes, vegetable soup, and any recipe that needs some extra kick.

A couple of customers still find this sauce a bit too hot for their preferences. On the other hand, most reviewers love this salsa for its fresh and well-balanced taste. Another bonus point for many is the thick and chunky consistency that's perfect for dipping.

Heat level	Mild
Consistency	Chunky
Main ingredients	Tomato purée, diced tomatoes, green bell peppers, jalapeño peppers
Best for	Dipping tortilla chips, topping nachos or tacos
Amount	15.5 oz.

Newman's OwnPineapple Salsa

$2.88

Best for the Addition of Pineapples for a Sweet and Fruity Twist

Pros:

Refreshing and sweet fruit salsa with crushed pineapple
Medium heat level
It's said that the sauce works well as a dipping sauce or as a base for different recipes
All profits are donated to charity

Cons:

A few reviewers complain that the taste is similar to ketchup

This recipe is simple, with ingredients like tomato purée, diced tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, and onions. It also contains crushed pineapple and a touch of brown sugar for a sweet and delicious twist. What's more, all the profits from this salsa go to charity!

For some buyers, this tastes a bit like ketchup. Even so, most are hooked on its slightly sweet and spicy flavor. They especially like the addition of pineapples, saying it gives the sauce a fresh fruity taste. According to some others, this pineapple salsa is great to use as a dip as well as a base for cooking.

Heat level	Medium
Consistency	Smooth
Main ingredients	Tomato purée, diced tomatoes, crushed pineapple, jalapeño peppers, brown sugar
Best for	Dipping tortilla chips
Amount	16 oz.

Dessert PepperCorn Black Bean Red Pepper Salsa

$3.91

Best Black Bean and Corn Salsa With a Hearty, Refreshing Taste

Pros:

Contains corn and black beans for a hearty flavor and chunky texture
Different kinds of peppers and spices such as chipotle pepper, sweet red peppers, and green chili peppers gives the salsa a medium heat and a smoky taste
Tastes great with tortilla chips or as a topping on chicken and pork

Cons:

Some found it sour and disliked the brownish color

This salsa combines black beans, corn, chipotle peppers, sweet red peppers, jalapeño peppers, tomato paste, and other spices for a spicy, smoky, and tangy flavor. It's hearty and filling with a chunky texture, and is a great topping for salads, meats, vegetables, tacos, nachos, or tortilla chips.

The review section is mostly positive, with the majority of reviewers praising its well-balanced smoky taste and chunky consistency. They further mention that it tastes great on virtually anything, from eggs, rice, soup, and salad, to chips.

Heat level	Medium
Consistency	Chunky
Main ingredients	Corn, black beans, tomatoes, sweet red peppers, mild green chili peppers, onions, jalapeño peppers
Best for	Dipping tortilla chips, topping meats and vegetables
Amount	16 oz.

Great ValueCantina Style Salsa Verde

$2.58

Best for the Mild, Refreshing Flavor That Pairs Well With Different Recipes

Pros:

Green salsa is made with tomatillos instead of tomatoes and has a tangy, refreshing flavor
Pairs nicely with tortilla chips, tacos, fatty meats or fish
Can be used to make soups
Medium spice level

Cons:

There are reports noting that the salsa spoils quickly after opening

Salsa verde is normally made with tomatillos, or the Mexican husk tomato, which doesn't technically belong in the tomato family. And with jalapeño peppers, cilantro, and spices, this tasty salsa can add a delicious zing to many different dishes like steaks, grilled chicken, fish, or vegetables. Or mix it with some cream cheese for a creamy dip.

Some buyers note that this salsa verde gets moldy quickly after opening, so plan to use it up fast. Yet, the majority of reviewers rave about the delicious, spicy taste of this cantina-style salsa verde. Many also praise the texture, mentioning that it strikes a nice balance between chunky and smooth.

Heat level	Medium
Consistency	Smooth
Main ingredients	Tomatillos, jalapeño peppers, onion, salt, cilantro, garlic powder
Best for	Topping omelets, enchiladas, or tacos, making soups
Amount	24 oz.

Mrs. Renfro'sCarolina Reaper Salsa

$14.99

Best for Spicy Salsa Lovers

Pros:

Features a blend of Carolina Reaper peppers, jalapeño peppers, and green chili peppers for a smoky and intensely spicy flavor
It's mentioned that this salsa goes well with chips, burritos, eggs, and many other dishes

Cons:

A few buyers find it sweet despite the hot peppers

This one's for the heat-lovers out there. It's a classic salsa recipe but spiced up with Carolina Reaper peppers, the hottest pepper around. The infusion of green chili peppers, jalapeño peppers, and other spices further enhances the complexity of the flavor as well as the heat level.

A few buyers don't like that this salsa contains added sugar. Still, even some with high tolerance find themselves burning up after eating this salsa, so start out slow with small dips before taking full scoops. They further comment that it's delicious and pairs well with many foods like chips, burritos, refried beans, or omelettes.

Heat level	Hot
Consistency	Smooth
Main ingredients	Tomatoes, tomato juice, onion, brown sugar, green chili peppers, Carolina reaper peppers, jalapeño peppers
Best for	Dipping tortilla chips, topping meats and vegetables
Amount	16 oz. each, 2 pack

On The BorderSalsa Con Queso

$3.48

Best for the Creamy and Cheesy Flavor With a Little Kick

Pros:

Contains Monterey Jack cheese
Green chilies, red bell peppers, and jalapeño peppers give the flavor a spicy kick
Works well as a dipping sauce and goes great with dishes like tacos, nachos, or quesadillas

Cons:

Taste is too mild for some buyers

This salsa has a creamy and cheesy taste thanks to the addition of Monterey Jack cheese. Made with a combination of green chilies, red bell peppers, and jalapeño peppers, it has a medium heat level. Pair this creamy salsa with tacos, enchiladas, nachos, eggs, quesadillas, and more.

A few reviewers mention that the flavor is quite mild, but others mention that this salsa tastes better when slightly heated up. Many find it cheesy and spicy with a thick and creamy texture. They say it works very well as a dipping sauce for chips and enhances the flavor of dishes like tacos and nachos, too!

Heat level	Medium
Consistency	Smooth
Main ingredients	Monterey Jack cheese, jalapeño peppers, green chilies, red bell peppers, diced tomatoes in juice
Best for	Dipping chips
Amount	15.5 oz.

How to Choose a Store Bought Salsa - Buying Guide

The guide below will help you in the decision-making process by using a systematic approach and breaking down the salsa into its main components.

Pick a Heat Level That Suits You

Perhaps the most important salsa decision to consider is its heat level. You wouldn't want something that's too hot to enjoy or something that tastes too bland. Salsas are typically broken down into three categories: mild, medium, and hot.

Mild Salsas for Beginners

Mild salsas are for those with low spice tolerance. The amount of chilies and peppers in mild salsa is less than the hot and medium versions. Moreover, the type of ingredients used are naturally sweeter and less spicy. For example, many mild salsas contain sugar or green bell peppers to cut the heat.

Medium for the Best of Both Worlds

Consider medium heat level salsa as the best of both worlds, the fail-safe of salsas. It's not too mild and not too hot and is often made with a combination of chilies, peppers, vinegar, and sugar. Therefore, it has a balanced flavor between hot, sweet, and tangy. Medium salsa pairs well with many types of food, from tortillas to pasta.

Hot Salsas for Spicy Food Lovers

If you love spicy foods, hot salsas might be a great choice for you. They are usually made with naturally spicy peppers like chilis, jalapeños, habaneros, and more.

Hot salsas often have chilies as the first few ingredients as well. This means that the chilies are the main components of the salsas. A lot of hot salsas are also free from sugar and other types of sweeteners, as they can neutralize spiciness.

Consider the Ingredients and Texture

Salsas are commonly separated into two categories based on texture or consistency: smooth or chunky. With smooth salsa, you will taste everything in one bite. It's great as a sauce for pasta or any dish add-on to compliment the taste.

Chunky salsa is usually packed with chunks of diced tomatoes and offers a nice contrast in texture. You'll be able to taste more of the tomatoes. Chunky salsa is great as a dip for chips, or a relish to go on dishes like tacos or scrambled eggs.

Choose a Style of Salsa

There are many different styles of salsa, and each of them has its own unique taste. Read on to know some of the most common types of salsa!

Red Salsa for Condiments

Salsa roja or red salsa is the more popular version that everyone is familar with. It's made with ripe red tomatoes, hence the bright red color. Other common ingredients in red salsa include chiles, garlic, onion, salt, and pepper.

It's versatile and is typically used as a condiment or topper for burritos, quesadillas, tacos, and meat. You can also use red salsa to add punch to your salads or soups!

Fruit Salsa or Salsa Verde for a Refreshing Flavor

Fruit salsa is a good choice if you're craving something refreshing. The taste is usually sweet and tangy, which complements the richness of fatty meats or seafoods. Some common fruits used to make fruit salsa include mango, kiwi, peach, strawberry, and watermelon.

Salsa verde, or green salsa, is often made with tomatillos in lieu of tomatoes, thus the green color. Chimichurri, a green sauce from Argentina that uses cilantro and parsley, is another recipe that many consider to be a type of salsa verde. Salsa verde usually has a zestier and more refreshing taste compared to red salsa.

Salsa Ranchera or Queso Salsa for Bold Flavors

For those who like roasted food, salsa ranchera is the salsa for you. It's the typical tomato-based salsa but with a smoky aftertaste because of the charred tomatoes.

Salsa con queso is another famous kind. It's basically salsa with cheese. This sauce has a creamy texture and cheesy taste. As the cheese already neutralizes some of the heat, salsa con queso isn't too spicy. It's suggested to warm up the salsa con queso in the microwave a little for the best flavor and texture.

Corn or Bean Salsa for a Summery Flavor

Another salsa without tomatoes, corn salsa is a refreshing summer appetizer made with sweet corn, onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime and some chili powder. It's a bit sweet, spicy, and tangy. Serve it with some tacos and cotija cheese.

There's also bean salsa, which is a combination of ingredients such as black beans, tomato, corn, and onion. Bean salsa has a fresh taste and is quite filling as well. It works well as a dip, appetizer, or taco bar side dish.

Look at the Shelf Life

We want our salsa to last, and nobody likes throwing away food. Given the fresh ingredients used in salsa, we need to consider their shelf-life. Start by checking the expiration date on the jar.

The rule of thumb is that an unopened salsa jar lasts for one to two months in the pantry. Once opened, a store-bought salsa jar would be good in the fridge for about a couple of weeks, while a homemade one would last between five to seven days.

With salsa, there are natural preservatives being used such as lime juice, vinegar, lemon, orange, and other acidic ingredients. Not only do these add that extra zing to salsa; they also extend its shelf life so you can further enjoy the Mexican staple.

Looking for More Uses for Salsa?

Salsa is most often considered as a dip for nachos or tortilla chips; but there is so much more to this savory goodness than meets the eye.

One can indulge in some salsa at any time of the day, including breakfast. Make your scrambled eggs more interesting by topping them off with a spoonful or two of salsa for a Tex-Mex breakfast.

Salsa can also go on top of pizza. No more chopping onions, garlic, or bell peppers because all of that is in the salsa, plus hot sauce!

You can also use salsa to make traditional Mexican dishes such as tamales, enchiladas, and flautas. Mexican soups such as birria, caldo de pollo, and caldo de res can be made with salsa as well.

Looking for a sauce for meats? Try slow cooking chicken, beef or pork with salsa to make tortilla filling. It can even serve as the base for fresh-tasting bloody marys to be served over brunch. Just blend a jar and add vodka.

Love Mexican Cuisine?

Whether you prefer Tex-Mex classics or are looking for something authentic, you're sure to find something delicious in the links below!

10 Best Tortilla Chips in 2022 (Doritos, Quest, and More)

10 Best Mexican Snacks in 2022 (Takis, Pelon, and More)

10 Best Mexican Cookbooks in 2022 (Marcela Valladolid, Bricia Lopez, and More)

Amazon's Best Selling Store Bought Salsas

Still haven't found a good pick? Take a look at Amazon's best-selling salsas!

Amazon Best Sellers: Best Salsas

In Collaboration With Executive R&D Chef Jim Quast

Executive R&D Chef

Jim Quast

Author: Hana Otsuka

Updated by: Thuy Nguyen, 4/6/2022

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