Need a flavorful party dish, fast? In simply 5 minutes, you can make this Simple Pico de Gallo salsa recipe! So fresh and full of amazing flavors, this is a tasty dip for tortilla chips, as a topping for tacos or huevos rancheros, and so much more.
Salsa lovers, this post is for you!
Do you put salsa on everything? Some people love ketchup. Others BBQ sauce. We love salsa, and make the 15-minute restaurant-style salsa at least once a month. We alternate between that saucier salsa (so good!) and this super fresh and simple pico de gallo.
Over the past few years, We have made both salsas so often in the Instagram stories. We didn't even realize We didn't have this recipe published yet until a few folks asked for the recipe from the stories. Doh! Here it is, friends! We can't believe We've shared it so many times on social but never on the blog… until now! :)
Why you'll love this recipe!
This pico de gallo is one of our go-to recipes for parties, game day, and Cinco de Mayo. Here are simply a few reasons why we love making it:
- it's made with all fresh, simple-to-find ingredients
- it only takes 5 minutes to make
- great to make ahead of time and refrigerate
- each serving is less than 30 calories
Ingredient notes
This salsa is perfect when you want super fresh tasting ingredients. It's Whole30, Paleo, Keto, Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, and Gluten-Free!
Tomatoes – We love the taste of Roma tomatoes but you can also use
Red Onion – Red onions add a slight sharpness to the salsa that helps bring out the sweetness of the tomatoes. If you don't have red onions, you can also use yellow or white onions.
Garlic – Can't make this salsa without the garlic! We use three cloves but you can add more if you love garlic as much as We do. Or, use simply one or two cloves if you're not wanting a sharper garlic flavor.
Cilantro – This adds a truly nice herbal flavor to the salsa and brings it all together. If you truly truly do not like cilantro or if you have the gene that causes cilantro to taste like soap, you can substitute flat leaf parsley.
Olive oil – Use a high quality extra-virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
Lime juice – Freshly squeezed lime juice adds a lovely bright flavor to this salsa, but you can substitute store-bought lime juice too.
Kosher salt and ground black pepper– season and taste, then add more if necessary
How to make pico de gallo
This pico de gallo recipe truly is simple to make. It only takes about 5 minutes. Here's how to get started.
For the full list of ingredients, along with measurements and more detailed instructions, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Prep the tomatoes, red onion, garlic, cilantro, and jalapeno pepper.
- In a large bowl, toss together all of the ingredients with olive and lime juice until combined.
Marlynn's Tip
Recipe Tip
We add jalapeño for a bit of a kick, but simply leave it out if you prefer a milder pico de gallo.
Recipe FAQs
Is pico de gallo healthy?This low calorie, low carb, keto-friendly dish is full of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that also help protect against heart disease. The ingredients are high in Vitamin C, A, and K, as well as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, folate, and choline.
What is the difference between salsa and pico de gallo?Pico de gallo is a type of salsa. While there are many different types of salsa – thinner, restaurant-style salsa to salsa verde – pico de gallo is usually the same, with few variations. Pico de gallo always consists of uncooked vegetables and herbs, tossed together.
Can pico de gallo be frozen?The kids have heard me say at least a zillion times: simply because you can doesn't mean you should. This saying is definitely relevant for freezing pico de gallo. Yes, you can freeze this tasty fresh salsa. However, once you thaw the pico de gallo, the texture of the ingredients changes and it simply won't be as fresh and, in the opinion, as tasty as it is when it's freshly made.
Where is pico de gallo from?Pico de gallo is a popular Mexican dish. In Spanish, pico de gallo reportedly translates to "rooster's beak." Weird, right? But food historians have thought that perhaps it was called this because people would eat it by pinching their thumb and pointing finger, creating the shape of a rooster's beak.
What to serve with this salsa
As mentioned earlier, We love salsa so much and eat it as a regular daily condiment on breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Here are a few ways to enjoy this pico de gallo:
- Enjoy it as a dip with tortilla chips
- Use it as a topping, for shrimp tacos, ground meat tacos, rice and beans, taco pizza, or pulled pork nachos.
- For breakfast: enjoy it in a huevos rancheros breakfast sandwich or with your scrambled eggs
- Use it as a filling for enchiladas.
- Mix it in for tasty added flavor to shredded chicken
- Add it as an option for your loaded pub chips bar
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you truly loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Simple Pico de Gallo
By Marlynn Schotland Prep Time: 5 mins Total Time: 5 mins Servings: 8 This simple fresh salsa recipe can be made in about 5 minutes! Perfect as a dip or as a topping for nachos, tacos, and more.Ingredients
- 5-6 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
- ½ small red onion, finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- ½ jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely diced (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss together all of the ingredients until well combined. Serve immediately or refrigerate until you are ready to eat.
Notes
Storage: Store fresh pico de gallo in an airtight container (We love using mason jars for salsa) in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Spice level: Without the jalapeño, this pico de gallo is mild and not at all spicy. Add jalapeño for a bit of a kick, and increase the amount if you prefer more spice.Nutrition
Calories: 28 kcal, Carbohydrates: 3 g, Protein: 1 g, Fat: 2 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g, Sodium: 3 mg, Potassium: 114 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 1 g, Vitamin A: 344 IU, Vitamin C: 8 mg, Calcium: 8 mg, Iron: 1 mgNutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
