20 Salsa Recipes for Dipping, Scooping or Eating by the Spoonful

Salsa is the Spanish word for 'sauce' so it’s not surprising that there are lots of variations on the dish, each one as tasty as the next. Whether you opt for a salsa roja with dried chiles for taco night, a tomatillo-based salsa verde for Game Day snacking, a fresh-and-fruity salsa for your cookout or something else, each and every one of these recipes is perfect for adding extra flavor to your meals—or as a dip alongside guacamole and tortilla chips! Wondering where to start? We reccomend Iron Chef Jose Garces salsa roja. It tastes even better when you let it sit in the refirgerator overnight so it's the perfect choice when you need a make-ahead snack or appetizer.

Fire up the grill for a salsa packed with tomatillo, onion and cilantro and a shot of chipotle chile. The extra step may seem daunting but when you taste the flavor in this salsa, you’ll agree that it’s completely worth the effort.

This chunky salsa is great with more than just chips. Use it as a topper for baked or grilled fish. In summer, you can sub in fresh corn kernels cut straight from the cob.

This sweet-and-spicy salsa combines mangoes, habaneros, fresh cilantro and lime. It’s one of our go-to recipes during the summer because it’s ready in a flash and tastes great on tacos, grilled chicken and shrimp.