Copycat Chili’s Salsa

The first time I reverse-engineered this recipe, I couldn’t believe how simple it was to recreate that signature Chili’s salsa taste at home. The secret? It’s all in the careful balance of canned ingredients – yes, canned! While fresh tomatoes are wonderful, that consistent, deep flavor we love from Chili’s comes from quality canned tomatoes and the perfect blend of spices. Today, I’m sharing my perfected copycat recipe that’ll have you skipping the restaurant and making this crowd-pleasing salsa at home.

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Chili’s Famous Salsa

A meal at Chili’s is a great choice, whether out with the family or enjoying a casual date night. There’s something for everyone on the Southwestern-inspired menu, whether you’re craving Tex-Mex favorites like tacos and fajitas or American classics like baby back ribs or burgers. 

But one thing just about every diner can agree on is an order of the iconic Chili’s chips and salsa, with thin, crispy fried tortilla chips paired with a flavor-packed, medium-heat red salsa for dipping.  

What makes Chili’s Salsa so good? 

An incredible amount of flavor is packed into the few ingredients required to make this mouthwatering salsa. Rich, savory tomatoes complement perfectly preserved jalapenos and other green chiles for heat, balanced by yellow onion.

Bursts of tart lime juice and herby cilantro complete the authentic Mexican flavor profile, making it easy to polish off an entire bowl with chips in just minutes. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This copycat version delivers because it:

• Uses easily available ingredients
• It takes just 10 minutes to prepare
• It tastes even better the next day
• Freezes beautifully
• It can be customized to your heat preference
• Costs a fraction of restaurant prices

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to bring this tasty salsa together:

• Canned whole peeled tomatoes (with juice) – Provides the rich tomato base and perfect texture
• Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies = Adds consistent heat level and extra tomato depth
• Canned diced jalapeño chiles – Creates reliable heat without the variability of fresh peppers
• Yellow onion – Offers sharp, fresh flavor and crucial texture
• Garlic salt – Brings savory notes and proper seasoning
• Ground cumin – Adds essential earthy, Mexican-restaurant flavor
• Sugar – Balances acidity and enhances natural tomato sweetness

You can also add lime juice and cilantro for additional flavor if you’d like, though they’re optional.

How to Make Chili’s Salsa

There are no complicated techniques required for this copycat Chili’s salsa recipe. All you’ll need is a food processor and your ingredients:

1. Add jalapenos and diced onion to the food processor and process for a few seconds.
2. Toss in the tomatoes, spices, and sugar. If using, add the lime juice and cilantro.
3. Process again until well-blended, but not so much that it’s pureed. 

4. Place the salsa into an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator. Allow a few hours for the flavors to meld, if you can. 

As you can see, the salsa comes together in practically no time. You’ll likely spend more time assembling and prepping your ingredients than actually creating the dish itself! 

Recipe Variations

Fresh garlic can be a great flavor boost on top of the pungent garlic salt. Just chop up a clove or two and process with the jalapenos and onion in the initial step. 

While canned jalapenos are ideal for this recipe due to their more consistent flavor and level of heat (not to mention the simple prep), you can also use diced fresh jalapenos instead. Meanwhile, spice lovers can even swap out jalapenos for serranos or other hot peppers for an extra zing.  

Chili’s Chips and Salsa at Home

Enjoy the copycat salsa with a basket of your favorite thin corn tortilla chips for the most classic, authentic Chili’s experience. Store-bought versions work fine, though it’s simple enough for more adventurous cooks to fry them at home. Slightly warming the chips before enjoying them is also a good idea. 

More Ways to Use Copycat Chili’s Salsa

Don’t limit yourself just to chips and salsa. This recipe also pairs well with plenty of other types of food:

• Give your eggs a Southwestern kick by spooning some salsa on top.
• Use it as a key part of Instant Pot Salsa Chicken.
• Serve it with your favorite taco salad.
• Drizzle a spoonful over grilled meat or fish.
• Or just pair it with cheese, beans, lettuce, pickled jalapenos, or other toppings on top of chips for a delicious serving of nachos.

Naturally, this Chili’s Salsa copycat recipe will work in any recipe that calls for tomato-based salsa as an ingredient, as well.

How to Store Homemade Salsa

Keep your batch of homemade salsa in an airtight container in the refrigerator. A mason jar is great for storing salsa.

How long does Chili Salsa last in the fridge?

When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, this copycat Chili’s Salsa will keep for three to five days. However, you’ll likely end up worrying less about when it goes bad and more about running out because it’s so tasty!

Can you freeze salsa?

If you’ve got some salsa left or prefer to make it in big batches, it’s easy to preserve it for the long term in the freezer. It can be frozen for up to four months when stored in an airtight container or vacuum-sealed bag. Thaw it in the fridge overnight before enjoying it. 

Can you pressure can this salsa recipe?

Canning is a common way to preserve homemade salsa. However, a critical part of canning recipes involves ensuring an adequate acidity level required within the salsa to make it safe for hot water bath preservation. This Chili’s salsa copycat recipe isn’t approved for canning, and those looking to preserve it should freeze it instead.

More Chili’s Copycat Recipes

• Chicken Crispers
• Chili’s Margarita Chicken
• Onion Petals
• Skillet Queso
• Southwest Egg Rolls

Favorite Mexican Dips

• Best Queso Blanco Recipe
• Copycat Chipotle Guacamole Recipe
• Jalapeno Ranch Dip
• Mexican Green Sauce
• Mexican White Cheese Dip
• Pappasito’s Queso
• Rotel Dip with Ground Beef
• Sausage Cream Cheese Rotel Dip

Be sure to check out more of my easy dip recipes and the best restaurant copycat recipes here on CopyKat.com!

Common Questions & Troubleshooting

Why is my salsa too watery?

Solutions include:

• Drain whole tomatoes before processing
• Use regular diced tomatoes instead of Rotel
• Process ingredients separately and combine by hand
• Let salsa drain in strainer for 10 minutes

Can I make it spicier?

Yes! Try these adjustments:

• Use hot Rotel instead of original
• Add fresh jalapeños or serranos
• Include a pinch of cayenne
• Don’t drain the canned jalapeños

How do I fix too-spicy salsa?

• Add more whole tomatoes
• Increase sugar slightly
• Add a splash of lime juice
• Serve with sour cream

Dietary Modifications & Substitutions

Low-Sodium Version:

• Use no-salt-added tomatoes
• Replace garlic salt with fresh garlic and salt to taste
• Rinse and drain all canned ingredients

Sugar-Free:

• Omit sugar
• Add finely diced red bell pepper for natural sweetness
• Use fire-roasted tomatoes for depth

Scaling the Recipe

To Double:

• Double all ingredients
• Process in batches
• Adjust seasonings to taste
• Use a larger storage container

To Halve:

• Halve all ingredients
• Save extra canned tomatoes for another use
• Keep processing time the same
• Check seasoning levels