Jordan Myrick
Gwynedd Stuart
Ariana Losch
You won’t find the vast majority of the best store bought salsa in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Too many “freshly made” tubs of salsa have a chemical aftertaste and citric acid tang that lingers. Also important to note: Occasionally, we’re huge hypocrites here at Sporked. I mean, yes, you’re way better off buying a good jarred salsa…except in the case of our #1. According to our taste testers, the best salsa from the grocery store is, in fact, a refrigerated tub. But it’s a rare exception, we promise.
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How we sourced the salsa brands
We’ve ranked everything from hot salsa to the best fruit salsa, salsa verde, canned salsa, avocado salsa, and more. To compile our absolute favorites here, we retried all of our top contenders from those lists, found some new, never-before-tried additions, and taste tested them all side-by-side. We even filmed the whole thing for your viewing pleasure. Watch it below!
What we looked for in the best store bought salsa
- Full flavor: The best salsa can be smoky and fire-roasted, tangy and tomatillo-forward, extra hot, fresh and mild… the list goes on. But whatever genre of salsa it is, it needs to commit to a full, fresh flavor with real depth. The acid, sweetness, salt, and heat should all work together in harmony.
- Convincing freshness: Salsa textures should vary. We don’t care if it’s rustic and chunky or loose and thin. If you pour it in a bowl and convince us it came from the ingredients in your fridge (easier than you think—we’re gullible), it ranks highly on this list.
Even if you’re the kind of salsa snob who exclusively buys their salsa by the pint at your local Mexican restaurant or farmers’ market, we promise there’s a salsa on this list for you. If you can have good jarred marinara sauce or tomato chutney, why can’t you have good salsa from the store? Skeptics: There’s only one way to prove us wrong. Try them for yourself. Here’s all the best salsa at the grocery store in one convenient list.
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- Sprouts Organic Black Bean and Corn Salsa
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When I was taste testing a bunch black bean and corn salsas, it was stunning to me how many have almost zero corn or black beans. Of the options we tried, Sprouts was the best salsa by a mile. Besides, you know, actually containing corn and beans, this seems to contain pureed black beans to give it some starchy thickness, too. If black bean salsa is your style, seek this out. —Gwynedd Stuart
Credit: Liv Averett / Sprouts
- Herdez Medium Salsa Ranchera
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Who knew that you could get such tasty and affordable salsa from a can? I didn’t, but I do now! Herdez makes great salsa (this is only the first time they appear on this list). This canned Herdez medium salsa ranchera is perfectly salty, lightly spicy, and has a robust tomato flavor. The only downside is that it doesn’t come in its own resealable container. But, in reality, you probably won’t have any leftovers when you crack this can open anyway. It’s the best salsa for your apocalypse hoard, for sure. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Simple Truth Organic Pineapple Habanero Salsa
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This Kroger brand salsa is easily the best fruit salsa you can buy at the grocery store. It’s actually hot. The habanero kick pairs perfectly with the sweet pineapple. It’s not overly fruity or sweet. It is so perfectly balanced. This stuff would be incredible on fish tacos or in an al pastor burrito. Good job, Simple Truth! You made a good salsa. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Mrs. Renfros Green Jalapeno Salsa
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I might be the biggest salsa verde fan of the group. It goes on my breakfast tortillas every time I have it in the fridge; I just love that zingy tomatillo tang, which really stands out in Mrs. Renfros. It has a loose, restaurant-style texture and incredibly fresh flavor, especially for something out of a jar. (Though, surprisingly, most refrigerated salsas from the grocery store taste way over-processed.) This leans really sour and spicy thanks to the bold tomatillo and jalapenos—so if that sounds like the salsa for you, definitely pick it up. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- On the Border Medium Chunky Salsa
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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 its 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 chiles. 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 the best salsa for folks who like it chunky—and it just so happens to pair perfectly with our favorite tortilla chips. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
- Siete Mild Salsa
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Siete’s Mild Salsa was a revelatory new salsa for me in our most recent taste test. It has this smoky, umami quality that you don’t get with any of the other brands we tried, and I’m completely obsessed with it. We tried the medium and mild versions, and while both are good, the mild really brings out the fresh bite of the jalapenos and onions. It’s so zesty and roasty. It’s salty as hell, too—a pro for me, the resident salt queen at Sporked, but perhaps a con for others. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Somos Medium Cuatro Chiles Taqueria Salsa
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Somos has topped multiple best lists on Sporked. It’s one of our favorite Mexican-owned brands and this salsa was one of the best things we ate the week we tasted it (and we try, like, hundreds of foods each week). This salsa has a wonderful complexity from the four different chiles, some of which are smoked and add an incredible smoky flavor to this salsa. It’s spicy, but not super spicy. It’s the best salsa if you like it smoky. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- El Pinto Medium Fire Roasted Green Chile Salsa
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Okay, this is making the list as the best hatch chile salsa we tried, but tomato is definitely the dominant flavor profile in El Pinto’s salsa. I know that sounds obvious to say about salsa, but I can’t stress enough how deeply tomatoey this salsa is. El Pinto is a restaurant in New Mexico, and this is definitely a restaurant-style salsa. It’s thin and beautifully pureed. And the flavors are just so bold and fresh. And, yes, you can still taste the chiles in there—and feel the gentle simmering heat, too. In terms of spice, it’s a perfect medium. —Gwynedd Stuart
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Casa Sanchez Medium Roasted Salsa Verde
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Casa Sanchez makes the best store bought salsa verde. If you like chunky, rustic salsa verde, grab a container of Casa Sanchez Roasted Salsa Verde from the refrigerated aisle. The big pieces of garlic, springs of cilantro, and whole pepper and tomatillo seeds will definitely impress you. It’s the best salsa verde for dipping, but this would also be great drizzled over enchiladas or dumped into a crockpot with some pork for an easy dinner over rice. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Herdez Guacamole Salsa Medium & Herdez Guacamole Salsa Mild
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Herdez Guacamole Salsa in mild and medium is the best avocado salsa we tried in our avocado salsa taste test. It’s true perfection. It’s creamy, acidic, salty, and a tad spicy. There’s tons of cilantro. I regularly buy this salsa and consume it at home. They sell two-packs of it at Costco and it’s quite the deal. I am positive that you will love this Herdez guacamole salsa. It’s incredible. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Mateo’s Gourmet Mild Salsa
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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. In my opinion, this salsa has the perfect texture. It’s not completely liquified, but there aren’t any big chunks of cooked tomato either. It’s not listed in the ingredients, but all of Mateo’s salsas (their hot salsa made our list, too) taste powerfully of cumin, a good thing if you like that smoky backbone minus the heat of chipotle peppers. It’s the best store bought salsa for those who want mild heat but a lot of flavor. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Ryan Martin / Target
- Mateo’s Hot Gourmet Salsa
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Mateo’s rules. We love their products. And this is still one of the best store bought salsas we’ve hadd across multiple taste tests. It’s fresh and acidic. Tomatoes and jalapeños are the stars in this salsa, but you get notes of garlic, cilantro, and habanero. The ingredient list is short and there are no weird additives or preservatives. I could eat a whole jar of this stuff in one sitting (but I wouldn’t recommend it). You have to love cumin to like this, but it definitely has mass appeal. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Pace Restaurant Style Salsa
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You’ve probably had regular Pace salsa and think it’s good. You’re right. It is good. But what you need to try, however, is Pace Restaurant Style Salsa. It is incredible. The texture is perfectly pureed and the flavor is surprisingly fresh. 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 this totally defied my expectations. It’s Gwynedd’s personal favorite! —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Casa Sanchez Foods Hot Salsa Roja
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Casa Sanchez knows salsa. Each item on this minimal ingredient list—tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic, and cilantro—really shines, while also seamlessly melding together to create the perfect restaurant-style salsa. The fact that this salsa comes from the refrigerator section amazes us, since most of the refrigerated tubs we tried couldn’t deliver a fresh, cohesive flavor to save their lives. This has a slow-growing heat that doesn’t outright burn but definitely earns its “hot” title. Next to every other incredible salsa on this list, Casa Sanchez still stands out for its depth and genuine homemade appeal. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
Best Black Bean and Corn Salsa
Best Salsa in a Can
Best Fruit Salsa
Best Jarred Salsa Verde
Best Chunky Salsa
Best Salty
Best Smoky
Best Hatch Chile Salsa
Best Salsa Verde
Best Avocado Salsa
Best Jarred Mild Salsa
Best Jarred Hot Salsa
Best Jarred Salsa
Best of the Best
Other salsas we tried
Sprouts Hot Salsa, Lucky Habanero Hot, Desert Pepper Hot, Casa Sanchez Hot, Patricia Quintana Authentic Mexican Roasted Tomato & Jalapeño Salsa, Green Mountain Gringo, O Organics, 365, La Mexicana Hot, Casa Martinez Habanero, Sprouts Medium, Sprouts Mild, Sprouts Hot, Private Reserve, Desert Pepper, Target Restaurant Style, Pace Hot, Target Medium, Target Mild, Walmart Medium, Mateo’s Medium, On the Border Mild, On the Border Cantina, Casa Sanchez Mild, Casa Sanchez Medium, Del Real, Tacodeli Salsa Roja, Chi-Chi’s Thick & Chunky Salsa Medium, Chi-Chi’s Restaurant Style Salsa Mild, Marketside Sweet Heat Mango Peach Medium Salsa
Vinz Karl
Danny Palumbo
Jessica Block
Good list. I’m a fan of Casa Sanchez, Mateo’s, and Siete. That Pace is a bit overrated, but it’s not bad. Somos Cuatro Chiles has great flavor but a horrible slimy mouthfeel. Not sure what is causing it, maybe the xanthan gum combined with the olive oil?
You should try Frog Ranch salsa, best I’ve ever had. Chunky for sure.
You have to try Desert Pepper’s Tequila Salsa!! It is the best in their lineup. The corn black bean is a close second.
How can you not have even tried any Better Goods or Trader Joe’s ???!?!!?!? WTH
Surprised you didn’t try any of the Trader Joe’s salsas. They have a great variety of fresh and jarred salsas, including avocado salsa.
Can we get salsas without cilantro because it is definitely a no-go for my family and many that I know.
Yet another taste test without a single Bettergoods product even tested??
This ranking is probably the worst, yet. I tried the top 3 salsas on this list and my whole family agreed they are absolute garbage. Casa Sanchez is the best one on the list, don’t buy the other ones.
Who is the other person in Jordan’s bio? It talks about her but then it says “they” as if there is someone else.
Came here to suggest Chi-Chis Medium chunky style and was not disappointed in the readers’ comments. Next time you do a review of this category, please try to find it! It should be available at Ralph’s.
Once again we would be happy to some samples. We have been making salsa for over 20 years. We have numerous national awards for our products. We are proud that we still slice and the fresh peppers that we use in our salsa. My mild has 7 peppers, our hot has 9 peppers and my Scorpion has 11 peppers. No msg, low sodium and no artifical preservatives. azspiceco.com. come check us out
Regarding salsa, I’d be really curious to hear your opinion of Mrs. Renfro’s Salsas.
I’ve been buying the same salsa my entire life but I bought the On the Border medium chunky the other day and WOW. Truly my favorite store salsa now!
How about store bought Indian foods? Trader joes has theirs and I see a bunch of others in Safeway and King soopers(or krogers and whoever else they are around the country), and then theres the meal ordering company like Cumin club.
I’ve seen a lot of salsa in my day and I have found that Targets good and gather black bean and corn salsa is the absolute best!
Have you guys tried Costco’s two pack red and green salsa? Would love to know what you all think of that one. 🙂
Mateos all day everyday! I lived in texas for some time and never came across anything better. I used to stock up when I went back. When I came to my local grocery store I’ve never been happier!
You’ve gotta try Green Mountain Gringo medium salsa! Mateos is also great happy to see it here!
So you guys have Jack’s Special Salsa over there. It blows everything else out of the water.
Salsa in a Snap by Mama G’s with Rotel, whipped up in blender and sit for a day. Amazing
Best salsa I’ve had is Casa Mamita small batch restaurant style from Aldi. I buy it by the case.
Personally my favorite is Kylitos Hot Salsa in a jar. They also do a habanero, ghost pepper, and even a carolina reaper I believe. For me the hot has a great flavor without too much heat.
My husband loves Mateo’s! We will have to try Casa Sanchez. I hope they sell it near me.
We’re a Meteo’s family over here so I’m happy to see that so high on the list!
I know on GMM Target usually strikes out, but they don’t drop the ball with their salsa. You have to try the Good and Gather Medium Corn and Bean salsa. It’s the best of the best. I’ve tried just about every brand and flavor, this is where it’s at!
as someone with digestive issues, salsa is always iffy with me. FODY makes a great one for those who may have similar issues. Tastes great with no bad reflux, heartburn, or other tummy troubles afterward. If onions or other ingredients can be an issue for you, this is a great option to try
I’m glad to hear it tastes great! I’ve wanted to try it but didn’t want to take the risk blindly lol
I have to say I much prefer Mateo’s Gourmet Cantina Style Salsa to their other variety. It’s the one with the black label. There’s something about the flavor that’s different and addicting
pace’s restaurant style salsa is vastly superior to their original salsa imo 🤷🏻♂️
I think that the salsa from the refrigerated section is hands down better than any jarred.
The Pace medium (as well as the Chi-Chi’s medium) are store-bought defaults. Always good, never great. I’m sorry that Frontera didn’t make it to this comparison. I’m trying all their varieties because I like Rick Bayless. By the way, that GMM video is fundamentally flawed from the start. Deciding to go with all the mild varieties is…just wrong. That’s like saying you’re going to compare coffee k-cup brands but you’re only tasting the decaf varieties. Salsa is supposed to have heat, people! Fresh chilis are an essential ingredient like tomatoes and onions! Mild is for children. Children who should be grounded.
I like Herdez Salsa Casera(Hot), now I do tamper just a smidgen by blending it. I don’t add anything, just change the texture. I like it quite a bit, I will try your winner however. Can never have too many salsas to enjoy!
me too! Herdez hot casera (whizzed in the blender for a less chunky vibe) is where it’s at. sometimes if I have an extra fresh tomato or two about, I’ll throw that in too.
Can we get a best salsa without cilantro for those of us cursed with soap genetics?
I live where Bobby Salazars is from and there are two different restaurants: Bobby Salazars and Sal’s. Both serve the Bobby’s salsa and I have to say, we love it!! I can eat a whole container with just chips. It’s definitely one of the best store bought salsas (even better when you get it fresh!). Locally, the Costcos sell bulk containers of Bobby’s salsa and we buy it all the time for parties or just to have to snack on with chips.
I came to say the same!!
Cowboy Caviar from Trader Joes is my personal favorite!
My favorite from the refrigerated section is “La Mexicana Brand Cantina Salsa.” It is made here in Southern California so might not be available everywhere. It lasts forever in the fridge but tastes so fresh. I use it to make Mexican rice and other recipes too.
I would love if you all ranked store bought salsa verde. I struggle so hard to find a good one that tastes like what you get from a restaurant.
Chichi’s medium chunky is hands down the best salsa. I hope you tried it.