Not to sound like a snob, but I don’t typically buy brand name, store bought salsa. How could it ever compare to the pints of fresh salsa I can buy at my local Mexican restaurant? Or something I can whip up at home with vegetables from the farmers’ market? Could the best store bought salsa change my mind?
If you can get good jarred marinara sauce and tomato chutney at the grocery store, you can get good red salsa, too. I’m now a store bought salsa convert and I’m here to impart the knowledge I gained during this taste test to hopefully heal you of your store bought salsa snobbery, too. We sat down for a taste test to figure out what store bought red salsa felt fresh, flavorful, and authentic and would be named our best store bought salsa.
The following article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here.
- Pace Medium Chunky Salsa
I can’t come across a jar of Pace salsa without thinking “New York City?!” so they get bonus points for effective advertising. To me, the wonder of Pace salsa is that it tastes familiar. I don’t want this salsa at a restaurant or from a taco truck, but I would thoroughly enjoy this salsa at a potluck-style baby shower for an acquaintance I don’t know that well. The sauce is weirdly but pleasantly thick, the flavor is extremely tomato-forward, and the energy is that of a sleepover I went to in the third grade. It’s not the best salsa, but it’s comforting.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Target
- Casa Sanchez Salsa Roja Mild
If your local grocery store’s options for classic red salsa seem kind of bleak, you can always count on Casa Sanchez. Their salsas are fresh and bright. They don’t have any of that cooked tomato thing most jarred salsas have going on. Plus, they don’t have that weird citric acid flavor that lots of store bought salsa have. This tastes like a salsa someone would make at home, and that’s what you should be going for when buying salsa at the store.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Casa Sanchez Foods Medium Salsa Roja
The Casa Sanchez Foods Medium Salsa Roja is almost as good as the hot. It is…just not as hot. The lower spice level pushes it down on the list because I prefer hot salsa and I’m the one writing this list! That being said, if you like the hot version of Casa Sanchez’s Salsa Roja, you’ll also like this medium version. It has a wonderfully textured but saucy mouthfeel and plenty of fresh onion-y, cilantro-y flavor. If you are a spice coward who wants to build your heat tolerance, this is a great medium to start with.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
- On the Border Medium Chunky Salsa
Chunky salsas have to work extra hard to win me over because I’m not a fan of big, wet pieces of tomato. Luckily, On the Border Medium Chunky Salsa brought their A-game to the taste test and made a fan out of me. The first thing I noticed when I dipped my chip is that this salsa is super aromatic. I was warmly greeted by the scent of onion, garlic, and chilies. Another plus is that, unlike most jarred salsas, it doesn’t have a weird citric acid flavor. It tastes like there’s actually lime in it! This is an awesome alternative to homemade salsa if you’re in a pinch.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
- Pace Restaurant Style Salsa
You’ve probably had regular Pace salsa and think it’s good. You’re right. It is. What you need to try, however, is Pace Restaurant Style Salsa. It is incredible. The texture is perfectly pureed and the flavor is supreme. It’s garlicky and a little spicy. I had a clear picture in my mind (or should I say taste in my mouth) of what Pace salsa tasted like, but I was completely sleeping on this rendition of it. It’s easily one of the best store bought salsas I’ve ever had.
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Mateo’s Gourmet Mild Salsa
I can’t believe I’m putting a mild salsa so high on the list, but Mateo’s Mild Gourmet Salsa definitely earned its spot. This salsa had, in my opinion, the perfect texture. It wasn’t completely liquified, but there weren’t any big chunks of cooked tomato either. It felt like a salsa that was made at home in a blender instead of something that was produced in a factory. It’s not named on the ingredient list, but I got a strong hit of cumin the second this salsa touched my tongue. Sometimes mild salsas end up being mild on flavor, but that is not the case here!
Credit: Ryan Martin / Target
- Casa Sanchez Foods Hot Salsa Roja
Casa Sanchez Food Hot Salsa Roja was easily the most flavorful salsa we tasted during our extensive research. Each item from the minimal ingredient list of tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cilantro shines, while also seamlessly melding with the others to create the perfect restaurant-style salsa. The fact that this salsa comes from the refrigerator section makes it feel extra fresh. It’s not out of this world hot, but it has a nice kick. Casa Sanchez is perfecting store bought salsa.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
Most Nostalgic
Best Mild
Best Medium
Best Chunky
Most Surprising
Best Smoky
Best of the Best
Rhett & Link’s Pick
Tostitos Chunky Mild Salsa
Between this and their favorite tortilla chip, Rhett & Link appear to be Tostitos loyalists. They enjoyed the strong flavor and the chunk that this salsa brought to the table.
Share your favorite store bought salsa with us using #SporkedTasteTest for a chance to be featured on our social pages!
Social Media