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    You are here: Home / Dips and Sauces / How to Make Fresh Pico de Gallo

    How to Make Fresh Pico de Gallo

    Published: Feb 27, 2023 by Kaylie This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe
    Chip with pico de gallo salsa.
    Bowl of fresh salsa dip.

    Homemade pico de gallo is so easy to make at home with fresh ingredients like tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeno, onion, garlic and lime. This recipe is perfectly balanced and so delicious, it goes great with just about everything!  Better than store bought, learn how to make this easy salsa fresca for your next gathering!

    pico de gallo salsa in bowl with sliced limes, tortilla chips and cilantro in background.

    My family and I love pico de gallo with tortilla chips, and we also use this fresh salsa to top off our turkey tacos, air fryer taquitos, and sheet pan nachos! You can easily make it kid friendly by omitting the jalapenos (though my little one loves kimchi so he doesn’t mind a little kick of heat!).

    Start with fresh ingredients – and sharpen up those knife skills – as you have more control over the size and consistency of each ingredient when you hand chop vs using a blender. When everything is mixed together, the flavors meld to create a perfect harmony of acid, aromatics, herbs and heat.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients & Notes
    • Instructions
    • Pro Tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More dip recipes to try
    • Fresh Homemade Pico de Gallo

    Ingredients & Notes

    Ingredients: cilantro, garlic, lime, jalapeno, salt, tomatoes, onion

    Tomatoes – I like to use firm Roma tomatoes which are mild and juicy with lower water content. The firm texture holds up well when mixed with all of the ingredients!

    Jalapeno – Make sure to gut and seed before chopping for a cleaner dip.

    Cilantro – Gives a fresh and citrusy flavor profile.

    Onion – Add a bit of sharpness to the dip, I don’t like to overpower it with too much.

    Garlic – I love garlic, it adds just a hint of extra flavor.

    Lime – Brightens up the fresh salsa with a bit of acid.

    Kosher salt – Helps bring all of the flavors together.

    Instructions

    Hand chop all the ingredients and mix it all together in a serving bowl.

    chopped tomatoes, chopped white onion, chopped jalapeno and chopped cilantro.

    Here I have chopped the ingredients and placed them in order from biggest to smallest to show the size of how I like each ingredients. To me, it makes a difference in taste and texture as you don’t want big chunks of onion or jalapenos to overpower your perfect bite!

    Stir the ingredients, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes to let the flavors come together.

    pico de gallo salsa in bowl with sliced limes, tortilla chips and cilantro in background.

    Serve with some tortilla chips and enjoy!

    Pro Tips

    • Removing the seeds and membranes of the jalapeno will give the salsa a milder taste.
    • Cut the ingredients in consistently small diced sizes, so you’ll have better flavor and the onion and jalapeño won’t overpower your bites.

    Frequently Asked Questions

     
    Why is my pico de gallo watery?


    The dip may be watery depending on the types of tomatoes are used. Roma has less water content so are best for pico de gallo. The salt will draw out water from the tomatoes and onions, so when it sits too long, water will accumulate in the bowl. You can easily drain this before serving.

     
    How many days is homemade pico de gallo good for?


    Homemade pico is best eaten immediately, but will last for up to two days covered in the fridge.

    Can you freeze pico de gallo?


    This is not recommended as it changes the texture and will come out super watery when defrosted.

    More dip recipes to try

    • Spinach dip with chips and vegetables.
      Fresh Spinach Artichoke Dip
    • chip dipping in ranch.
      Homemade Ranch Dip for Chips and Veggies
    • Bowl of guacamole with pepitas and diced tomatoes.
      Guacamole Dip without Cilantro

    Love a recipe you’ve tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card and a comment below! That’ll make my day!

    Let’s be friends! Follow me on social media @ Instagram, Pinterest. Give me a tag @apeachyplate when you try out a recipe!

    pico de gallo salsa in bowl.

    Fresh Homemade Pico de Gallo

    Kaylie
    Homemade pico de gallo is so easy to make with fresh ingredients like tomatoes,cilantro, jalapeno, onion, garlic and lime. This recipe is perfectly balanced and so delicious, it goes great with just about everything!
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    setting time 30 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Appetizer, dips
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Servings 4
    Calories 33 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups roma tomatoes, chopped about 2-3 tomatoes
    • ½ cup white onion, finely chopped
    • ½ cup cilantro leaves, finely chopped
    • 1 diced jalapeno, seeded and gutted
    • 1 clove garlic, minced
    • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
    • 1 tablespoon lime juice

    Instructions
     

    • In a medium serving bowl, add the chopped tomatoes, chopped onion, cilantro, garlic, jalapeno, kosher salt and lime juice.
    • Stir to combine.
    • Place the bowl in the refrigerator and let the flavors set for 30 minutes.
    • Taste and add additional salt or lime to taste.
    • Serve with tortilla chips or use as a topping.

    Notes

     
    *Nutritional facts provided are only an estimate, accuracy is not guaranteed.
    • The dip may be watery depending on the types of tomatoes used. Roma has less water content so are best for pico de gallo. The salt will draw out water from the tomatoes and onions, so when it sits too long, water will accumulate in the bowl. You can easily drain this before serving.
    • Removing the seeds and membranes of the jalapeno will give the salsa a milder taste.
    • Homemade pico is best eaten immediately, but will last for up to two days covered in the fridge.
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4peopleCalories: 33kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 1gFat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.04gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.04gSodium: 299mgPotassium: 336mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1160IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 0.4mg
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    Primary Sidebar

    Hello, I’m Kaylie -a licensed registered nurse and mommy to two hungry little boys who oversee my taste-test kitchen. Here you’ll find tasty recipes made with real ingredients that I cook for my family – from healthy and nourishing, to savory and comforting. I hope you enjoy, from my family to yours!

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    Hello, I’m Kaylie -a licensed registered nurse and mommy to two hungry little boys who oversee my taste-test kitchen. Here you’ll find tasty recipes made with real ingredients that I cook for my family – from healthy and nourishing, to savory and comforting. I hope you enjoy, from my family to yours!

    More about me →

    Easy Instant Pot Recipes

    • Closeup mashed potatoes in a bowl.
      Easy Instant Pot Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes
    • Bowl of chicken egg noodle soup with carrots and celery.
      Instant Pot (Whole) Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Sliced up pork ribs.
      Instant Pot St. Louis Ribs with Apple Juice
    • Pulled pork sandwich topped with coleslaw.
      Instant Pot Bone-In Pulled Pork Shoulder
    • Bowl of rice noodle soup with beef and herbs.
      Instant Pot Oxtail Beef Pho (Pho Duoi Bo)
    • Shredded beef tacos garnished with tomatoes, onion, cheese, and cilantro.
      Easy Instant Pot Shredded Beef Tacos

    Easy Weeknight Recipes

    • Bowl of fried rice with sausage, vegetables, eggs and green onions.
      Easy Rice Cooker Fried Rice with Eggs
    • chicken skewers with yellow rice on plate.
      Baked Chicken Skewers in the Oven
    • Close up of flaked breaded cod fillet
      Baked Panko Parmesan Encrusted Cod
    • Hamburger with tomatoes, and lettuce on plate.
      Stove Top Ground Turkey Burger
    • Bowl of yellow rice with cilantro leaves.
      Easy Rice Cooker Turmeric (Yellow) Rice
    • Noodles with shrimp on a plate.
      Vietnamese Garlic Noodles with Shrimp

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