Easy Salsa Ranchera Recipe

This salsa ranchera is pure magic. The combination of fresh tomatoes, punchy jalapeños, and flavorful garlic makes a bold, vibrant sauce that brings authentic Mexican flavors to your table. Ready in 30 minutes or less, you can enjoy a deliciously spicy, tangy, and zesty sauce that will brighten up your dishes!

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

If you’re a fan of salsa like me, then you’ll definitely love this salsa ranchera sauce. But what’s the difference between the two?

Salsa is typically used as a dip or a condiment and often served with chips or over tacos. Salsa ranchera, on the other hand, is traditionally used as a sauce, particularly in Mexican dishes like enchiladas, tamales, and huevos rancheros. It’s cooked and usually served warm, unlike most salsa recipes where fresh ingredients are mixed straight in a bowl and often served cold.

Salsa ranchera isn’t just a sauce served over dishes, though. Not in my house! I serve this versatile sauce with tortilla chips on movie nights and casual get-togethers, often add it to my taco bar or charcuterie table at parties, or even drizzle it over scrambled eggs or roasted veggies for a unique meal. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Simple ingredients: Made with 6 easily accessible ingredients, salsa ranchera is an easy recipe to whip up – perfect for busy days when you need a tasty snack quick!
• Bold flavors: Tomatoes, chilies, herbs, and spices create a rich and flavorful sauce that is next level delicious.
• Customizable heat: Easily adjust the level of heat to suit your taste by adding more or fewer chilies.
• Versatile: Perfect as a dip, sauce, or topping, salsa ranchera goes well with a wide variety of dishes.
• Crowd pleaser: The flavor of salsa is well-loved by everyone, so salsa ranchera will naturally be a hit, too. Just make sure to customize the spiciness according to your guests’ preference!
• Great for meal prep: Make a batch and store it in the fridge for quick use throughout the week.

How to Make Salsa Ranchera

This salsa ranchera recipe is simple and almost effortless, yet bursting with flavor that will get you hooked. All you need is 10 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cook time and you’ll have this fresh and deliciously punchy sauce ready to serve. 

Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.

Ingredients You Need

• Roma tomatoes: Tomatoes provide a sweet, tangy base for the salsa. I like to char them a bit to intensify their flavor and bring out their sweetness!
• Jalapeños: Jalapeño peppers add a spicy kick that gives the salsa its characteristic heat, which can be adjusted to taste.
• Onion
• Garlic cloves
• Cilantro: Contributes to the freshness and brightness of the recipe. It also gives the salsa its signature flavor.
• Salt

Step-By-Step Instructions

This homemade salsa ranchera is deceivingly easy to make. So easy that my kids make it for me now! Just follow along the simple steps below and you can’t go wrong.

Step 1: Prep the ingredients

First, preheat your oven broiler. Then, begin slicing the tomatoes, jalapenos, and red onion all in half lengthwise and arrange in a baking dish, skin side up. Place the garlic around also.

Step 2: Broil

Next, arrange the dish in the center of the oven and broil for 20 minutes, until the skins of tomato and pepper blister. Check frequently in the second half of the cooking time. Do not burn!

Remove the dish from the oven and let the ingredients cool slightly. Remove and discard the garlic skin.

Step 3: Blend

Transfer all ingredients to a food processor or blender. Add the fresh cilantro and salt to the mixture. Next, pulse to combine and then blend until smooth, or you can leave the sauce slightly chunky if that is your preferred texture, especially if you plan to use it as a dip.

Step 4: Serve

Finally, transfer the salsa in a container for storage or in a bowl and serve. Give it a good stir and enjoy!

Substitutions

Everything you need for this recipe should already be in your kitchen. In case you’re missing one or prefer to use another ingredient, you can substitute with these!

• Roma tomatoes: Roma tomatoes are ideal for this recipe but if they’re unavailable, use any variety of fresh, ripe tomatoes that are in season. You can also use unsalted canned tomatoes, but be sure to make the recipe again using fresh ones!
• Jalapeños: No jalapeños on hand or prefer more heat? Substitute with a serrano chile. Canned or jarred pickled chiles are also okay to use if that’s what you have.
• Salt: You can substitute salt with your favorite spice mix or ground cumin for that additional pop of flavor.

Variations

Want to add a fun and delicious twist to your salsa ranchera? Try these variations!

• Smoky: Grill or roast the tomatoes, jalapeños, and garlic before blending to add a smoky depth of flavor. Grill over medium heat for about 30 minutes or loosely wrap in foil and roast in the oven at 375 F for 1 hour.
• Zesty: Add a squeeze of lime or lemon juice for a zesty kick and added freshness.
• Fruity: Mix in diced fresh fruits like mango or pineapple for a sweet twist that complements the heat. Some corn would be great, too!
• Creamy: Stir in a bit of sour cream or Greek yogurt to make the salsa richer and creamier.

Expert Tips

• Use ripe, old tomatoes: While fresh, ripe tomatoes are ideal for this recipe, you can also use ones that are nearing the end since they will be broiled or roasted. These are tomatoes that are the oldest, ripest, and softest ones you have. I use them instead of throwing them out, preventing food waste.
• Adjust the heat: If you prefer your salsa to have milder heat, remove the jalapeño seeds and membranes (the strings inside that hold the seeds). You can also use just half a pepper or omit the jalapeño altogether.
• Blend to your preference: Blend the salsa according to your preference or how you plan to use it. Blend it smooth if using as a sauce, or pulse it lightly to leave some chunks if planning to use as a dip.
• Make it a sauce: Thin to a sauce by adding 1 cup of water and use to cook chicken breast or rice in.
• Balance the flavors: Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt. You can also add a pinch of sugar or a splash of lime juice to help balance the heat and acidity.
• Enhance with extras: Add more flavor to your salsa by mixing in additional seasonings of your choice. Ground black pepper, ground cumin, dried oregano, dried thyme, and even Worcestershire sauce are ideal options.

How to Store This Recipe

Place made-ahead salsa ranchera or leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month. When ready to use, thaw refrigerated salsa at room temperature or frozen salsa in the refrigerator overnight before using. Drain excess liquid if there’s any.

What to Serve with Salsa Ranchera

Like I mentioned above, salsa ranchera is versatile and can be used as a dip, sauce, or a topping. Enjoy with chips, tortillas, air fryer zucchini fries, or quesadillas for a filling snack. I like to serve it with protein like steak or blackened chicken tenders for a hearty meal or with grilled meats whenever I host a backyard BBQ.

More Dips and Sauces To Try

• 4-ingredient guacamole
• 3-ingredient onion dip
• Copycat Lawson’s chip dip
• Popeyes spicy mayonnaise
• Tiger sauce

If you make this salsa ranchera, please leave a review. I really appreciate each and every 5-star rating and review comment!