Tomatillo Salsa Verde | The Recipe Critic

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Fresh and delicious tomatillo salsa is the key to any successful Mexican meal! This is packed with so much flavor, and you will want to use it on everything!

Who doesn’t love a good homemade salsa recipe? If you love tomatillo salsa, then you have to try out this delicious and easy blender salsa, this yummy mango lime avocado salsa or this fresh salsa tatemada! Use them in your favorite Mexican recipes or served alongside homemade tortilla chips!

Top-down view of tomatillo salsa served in a white bowl.

What is Tomatillo Salsa (and is it hot?!)

Tomatillo salsa is a delicious salsa that is commonly used in many Mexican dishes! I always use it in enchiladas, burritos, and of course, with tortilla chips! It’s made with a blend of jalapeño peppers, tomatillos, onions, and tasty seasonings. It has a bit of spice to it because of the jalapenos, but you can easily control that by taking out the seeds! The seeds bring in all of the heat so leave those out if you are craving a more mild version of this salsa.

This tomatillo salsa is incredibly delicious and is packed full of flavor. My favorite is the fresh garlic which plays well off of the other ingredients. It really is the best blend of flavors. Sweet, spicy, and savory, with a touch of citrus! You will want to gobble it right up. Homemade salsa cannot be beat, and this one will become a new family favorite in an instant!

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe uses simple ingredients to season the salsa, so all you need is some fresh jalapeño, onions, and tomatillos. Once you try this, you will want to make sure that you have those things on hand all the time because it’s so good! Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

  • Tomatillos: Remove the husks from your tomatillos before you cut them up.
  • White Onion: Remove the skin and then chop the onion up into small pieces.
  • Jalapeño: Remove the stems and take out any seeds to make this a mild salsa. If you want more heat, keep some of the seeds!
  • Garlic Cloves: If you don’t have fresh cloves of garlic, then you can use minced garlic. ½ teaspoon of minced garlic equals about one clove.
  • Cilantro: This can be a controversial ingredient in any dish! Leave it out if you aren’t a fan. I personally love the extra pop of flavor that it adds. It’s so fresh!
  • Sugar: This balances out all of the savory flavors and sweetens it up just a little bit!
  • Lime Juice: You can use fresh lime juice (this will bring in a brighter flavor) or you can use some from the bottle!
  • Coarse Salt: Sprinkle this in to enhance all of the flavors in the salsa.

How to Make Tomatillo Salsa

This tomatillo salsa is delicious and takes less than 20 minutes to make from start to finish! You may want to make extras because you’re going to want to put it on everything!

  1. Prep: Heat broiler to high and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Broil: Arrange tomatillos, onion, jalapeno, and garlic on the prepared baking sheet. Roast under the broiler until charred on all sides. Broil for about 10-15 minutes, turning every few minutes.
  3. Blend: Transfer the roasted tomatillos, onion, jalapeno, and garlic to a food processor. Then, add cilantro, sugar, lime juice, and salt. Purée until you reach your desired consistency and season with additional salt if needed.
Collage of vegetables being roasted and then added to a food processor.

Make it Mild or Spicy

The key to making any homemade salsa at home is deciding before you start to cook it whether you want it spicy or not. In this green salsa, your jalapeño peppers are going to make all of the difference.

  • Mild: If you take out all of the seeds of your jalapeños, then you will have a salsa that’s more on the mild side.
  • Spicy: When you are cutting up your jalapeños, the more seeds you leave in, the spicier your salsa will become. If you really want it hot, then add in some red pepper flakes too! You can also blend in a serrano pepper or even a habanero pepper to really kick up the spice.

How to Store Homemade Tomatillo Salsa

Homemade tomatillo salsa can be stored in a couple different ways depending on how long you want to keep it and your personal preferences. Here’s how!

  • In the Refrigerator: If you plan to consume your salsa within a week, you can store it in an airtight container or jar in the fridge.
  • In the Freezer: If you want to keep tomatillo salsa for a longer period, you can freeze it. Transfer the salsa to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag, making sure to remove as much air as possible. Store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw the salsa in the fridge before using it.

Dipping a tortilla chip into tomatillo salsa.


  • Heat broiler to high and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Arrange tomatillos, onion, jalapeno, and garlic on the prepared baking sheet. Roast under the broiler until charred on all sides. Broil for about 10-15 minutes, turning every few minutes.

  • Transfer the roasted tomatillos, onion, jalapeno, and garlic to a food processor. Then, add cilantro, sugar, lime juice, and salt. Purée until smooth and season with additional salt if needed.



Serves: 4

Calories49kcal (2%)Carbohydrates10g (3%)Protein1g (2%)Fat1g (2%)Saturated Fat0.2g (1%)Polyunsaturated Fat0.5gMonounsaturated Fat0.2gSodium584mg (24%)Potassium348mg (10%)Fiber3g (12%)Sugar6g (7%)Vitamin A285IU (6%)Vitamin C18mg (22%)Calcium16mg (2%)Iron1mg (6%)

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

Course Appetizer, Sauce

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword 20 minute, dairy free, easy salsa recipe, gluten free, homemade salsa recipe, tomatillo salsa recipe

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