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This easy small batch salsa is made with fresh ingredients and comes together in minutes. It’s the perfect homemade salsa for topping tacos, adding to meals, or enjoying with tortilla chips.
Featured Comment
“This is an excellent recipe!”
– DCW
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect Size: This small batch salsa makes just enough for one or two people.
- Fresh Ingredients: Made with fresh tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and jalapeño for bright, vibrant flavor.
- Quick and Easy: Ready in about 10 minutes, making it an ideal topping for recipes like small batch sheet pan fajitas or shrimp tacos for one.
- Customizable: Easily adjust the spice level, texture, and seasonings to suit your taste.
- Wholesome: Made with simple, whole ingredients and no added sugar or preservatives.
I’ve always loved keeping a simple, fresh salsa in my kitchen, and this single serving version has become one I turn to often. It comes together quickly with just a handful of ingredients and adds so much flavor to meals without making more than you need.
Whether you’re topping tacos, adding it to eggs, or enjoying it with tortilla chips, this easy homemade salsa is a simple way to bring bright, fresh flavor to your table.
If you’d like more small batch dips to enjoy with your salsa, try my small batch white queso, zesty Mexican corn dip, and flavorful small batch guacamole. And for a simple extra, add a batch of homemade tortilla chips for a satisfying snack.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch fresh salsa recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Roma tomatoes: Choose Roma (plum) tomatoes for this salsa because they have less water and yield a chunkier texture. Extra tomatoes? Use them in caprese pasta for one, single serve ratatouille, or cioppino for one.
- Onion: Use yellow onion for a good balance of flavor and crunch. White or red onion also work. Leftover onions can be added to caponata for one or our single serve Spanish rice recipe.
- Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds a bright, herb-forward flavor. If you prefer, skip it or substitute parsley. Leftover cilantro can be used in small batch cowboy caviar or our single serve carne asada recipe.
- Jalapeño: Adds heat – adjust the amount based on your spice preference (remove seeds for milder heat). If you’ve got leftover jalapeños, consider making a small batch of jalapeño poppers.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic adds depth to the flavor. If you don’t have fresh, a pinch of garlic powder will do.
- Lime juice: Provides acidity and brightness that lifts all the other flavors.
- Salt: Enhances all the ingredients – add to taste.
- Cumin: Gives a warm, earthy note. If you don’t have cumin, skip it or use smoked paprika for a slightly different flavor.
Recipe Variations
If you’d like to change the flavor or style of your salsa, try one of these easy variations:
- Add Avocado: Gently fold in diced avocado for a creamy, fresh-tasting salsa.
- Roasted Tomato Salsa: Roast or broil the tomatoes before chopping to create a deeper, richer flavor.
- Black Bean Salsa: Stir in a small handful of black beans for added texture and protein.
- Extra Spicy: Increase the jalapeño or add a few drops of hot sauce to boost the heat.
- Pineapple or Mango Salsa: Add chopped pineapple or mango for a sweet and tangy fruit salsa.
How To Make Salsa For One
These photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this single serving salsa recipe. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Add all of the ingredients to a food processor.
- Pulse until the salsa reaches your desired consistency. Taste and adjust the salt if needed, then pulse again briefly. If the salsa looks watery, strain off a little liquid before serving.
Expert Tips
- Use fresh ingredients: Fresh tomatoes, onions, and cilantro provide the best flavor.
- Keep some texture: Pulse lightly so the salsa doesn’t turn into a puree.
- Adjust the heat: Add more or less jalapeño based on your spice preference.
- Balance the flavors: Add a little extra lime juice or salt to suit your taste.
- Let it rest: If you have time, let the salsa sit for 30 minutes so the flavors develop.
- No food processor?: Use a blender or chop everything finely by hand.
- Soften acidity: Add a tiny pinch of sugar if the salsa tastes too sharp.
- Strain if needed: If the salsa is watery, strain off a little liquid.
Serving Suggestions
Homemade salsa is versatile and can be enjoyed in many ways. Here are some ideas:
- Nachos For One: Spoon over tortilla chips and top with cheese for a quick snack.
- Baked Black Bean Tacos: Add a spoonful of salsa to your tacos for extra flavor.
- Chicken Tacos For One: Use as a fresh topping for chicken tacos.
- Steak Fajitas For One: Serve alongside sizzling steak fajitas.
- Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos: Add to your morning burrito for a fresh kick.
- Chicken Burrito Bowl: Use as a topping for a hearty burrito bowl.
- Single Serve Black Bean Soup: Use as a topping to add a fresh flavor to your soup.
- Vegetarian Enchiladas For One: Add salsa for added zest and freshness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can use a blender and pulse gently, or finely chop all the ingredients by hand for a chunky texture.
You can. Drain them well first, and choose fire-roasted canned tomatoes for extra flavor.
It typically keeps well for 3 to 4 days when stored in an airtight container.
Either works. Pulse a few times for chunky salsa or blend longer for a smoother texture.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this single serve salsa recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Salsa For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 medium Roma tomatoes -quartered
- ¼ small onion -cut into large chunks
- ½ cup fresh cilantro
- ½ small jalapeño -seeds removed and coarsely chopped. Add more of the jalapeño if you want extra heat.
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ tablespoon lime juice
- ⅛ teaspoon salt -plus more if needed
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cumin
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a food processor.
- Pulse until the salsa reaches your desired consistency. Taste and adjust the salt if needed, then pulse again briefly. If the salsa looks watery, strain off a little liquid before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh ingredients: Fresh tomatoes, onions, and cilantro provide the best flavor.
- Keep some texture: Pulse lightly so the salsa doesn’t turn into a puree.
- Adjust the heat: Add more or less jalapeño based on your spice preference.
- Balance the flavors: Add a little extra lime juice or salt to suit your taste.
- Let it rest: If you have time, let the salsa sit for 30 minutes so the flavors develop.
- No food processor?: Use a blender or chop everything finely by hand.
- Soften acidity: Add a tiny pinch of sugar if the salsa tastes too sharp.
- Strain if needed: If the salsa is watery, strain off a little liquid.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I am happy with all of your recipes. All I have tried I like very much. I also have your recipe book and love it. Thank you !
Thank you!
Absolutely delightful flavor.
I had mine without the heat, but my nephew likes it hot. It works both ways!
I’m so happy you both enjoyed the salsa, thank you so much for your feedback.
Could you make a bigger batch, say double or triple the ingredients, and can it be frozen for future use?
Thank you
Thank you for your question! You can definitely double or triple the recipe if you’d like to make a bigger batch. However, while salsa can technically be frozen, we don’t recommend it as the texture tends to change once thawed. For best results, I suggest keeping the salsa in the fridge where it should stay fresh for about 3 to 4 days. Enjoy!
This is an excellent recipe! Thank you!
Great recipe.
Thank you!