Pico de Gallo Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (2024)

Chips and salsa (and guacamole)are one of my all-time favorite appetizers and snacks. If I open a bag a chips and start dipping, you can count on that bag of chips being gone by the end of the hour. I have no self control when it comes to snacking on chips and salsa! I want to eat them all and I usually do.

I love making Pico de Gallo because it is so simple and fresh! You can’t go wrong with this classic salsa. It is also great with tacos, burritos, quesadillas, taquitos, enchiladas, nachos, and MORE!

What is Pico de Gallo?

Pico de Gallo is a fresh, chunky salsa, sometimes called salsa fresca. I love it because it is simple to make and SO fresh! It is a fun salsa to say and a delicious salsa to eat!

Pico de gallo is made with:

• tomatoes
• onion
• jalapeño
• cilantro
• lime juice
• salt

These six simple ingredients make one amazing salsa! Pico de gallo is served at most Mexican restaurants, but it is SO easy to make at home.

It only takes 10 minutes to make and is a staple at our house, especially during the summer when tomatoes are in season. We probably make it once a week when our garden tomatoes are ripe and ready.

How to Make Pico de Gallo

• Because there are only six ingredients necessary for making pico de gallo, you need to make sure that all of the ingredients are fresh and top quality. It is especially important that you pick the best ripe tomatoes.
• Remove the seeds from the tomato and dice the tomatoes.
• Dice half of a large white onion. You can use a yellow or red onion, but I prefer a white onion for pico de gallo.
• I like to use jalapeño peppers for pico de gallo, but you can useserrano chili peppers.
• Use 1-2 jalapeño peppers, depending on how spicy you like your salsa. Make sure you remove the seeds and ribs before dicing the peppers. Cut the jalapeño in half lengthwise, then take a spoon and scrape out the ribs and seeds, working from the bottom to the top of the pepper. Pro tip-wear plastic gloves when working with jalapeños to prevent burning. And never rub your eyes after dicing up a jalapeño, trust me!
• Chop up fresh cilantro. If you are one of those people who think cilantro tastes like soap, I am so sorry because fresh cilantro is a MUST for pico de gallo.
• Place the tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, and cilantro in a bowl. Squeeze fresh lime juice over all of the ingredients and season generously with salt. You want the pico to have a nice salty kick.
• You can serve the pico de gallo right away, but it is best after it sits for 30 minutes so all of the flavors can come together and get juicy.
• Pico de gallo is best the day it is made.

What do you Serve with Pico de Gallo?

Pico de gallo with chips is a great appetizer for parties, game day, Cinco de Mayo, or any day. Pico de gallo also goes great with any Mexican meal. You can serve pico de gallo with:

• Tortilla chips
• Taquitos
• Tacos: steak, ground beef, veggie, turkey, fish, and more!
• Burritos or burrito bowls
• Quesadillas
• Enchiladas: chicken, beef, veggie, or bean!
• Tostadas
• Enchilada quinoa bake
• Nachos
• Salads (I love using it as a dressing, it adds so much flavor to salads)

How to Store

Pico De Gallo is best the day it is made, but can be storedin an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir before serving and add more lime and/or salt, if necessary.

More Salsa Recipes

• Restaurant-Style Salsa
• Guacamole
• Pineapple Salsa
• Mango Salsa
• Peach Salsa
• Tomatillo Salsa