43 comments on "Best Salsa Recipe for Canning"
If you are looking for the best salsa recipe for canning, then you have come to the right place! I have been searching for a good salsa recipe for years. Personally, I like a salsa that is more like pico de gallo, or more chunky.
This post may contain affiliate links.
My husband, however, loves his La Victoria. I have been looking for a recipe that more resembles La Victoria, that is more thick like tomato sauce.
Related Recipe:Canning Peach Salsa
I finally realized that tomato sauce is what was missing from the recipe. Adding tomato sauce to your homemade salsa makes it thicker and more like store bought salsa.
Making homemade salsa is also a great way to use up all of the extra tomatoes from your garden and store them for winter. You should try this salsa recipe. You won’t be disappointed. This recipe is one of my 13 favorite tomato recipes for canning.
Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving
The Amish Canning Cookbook: Plain and Simple Living at Its Homemade Best
DIY Pickling: Step-By-Step Recipes for Fermented, Fresh, and Quick Pickles
Step by Step Canning Video
New to canning? This video will show you step by step how to can the best salsa you’ve ever eaten.
The Best Salsa Recipe
Ingredients:
8 c. tomatoes, chopped and drained
2 1/2 c. onions, chopped
1 1/2 c. green peppers
3-5 jalapeno peppers, chopped
1/4 c. fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. pepper
1 tbsp. salt
1 c. white vinegar
2 (15 oz.) cans tomato sauce
1/3 c. clear jel
(optional)
This salsa only has a few steps to it. First you need to chop the onions, green peppers, and jalapenos. You can peel the tomatoes first if you want, but I didn’t.
To make life a lot easier, if you don’t already have a vegetable chopper, you might consider getting one like this one
. It takes all the work out of chopping vegetables and makes cooking and canning much more enjoyable.
Combine the chopped vegetables, garlic, spices, vinegar, and tomato sauce together in a large pot. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. If you find the salsa is not as thick as you would like, add 1/3 c. or so of clear jel.
Clear jel is a great tasteless thickener that can be used for canning and is a great solution for runny salsas, pie fillings, etc.
Granite Ware Covered Preserving Canner with Rack, 12-Quart
Vidalia Chop Wizard
Hoosier Hill Farm Clear Jel Thickener (cook type) large bulk 2 3/4 lb.Jar
Prepworks by Progressive Canning Funnel for Regular and Wide Mouth Jars
Salsa Canning Instructions
While the tomatoes are simmering, sterilize your canning jars, rings, and lids.
Ladle hot mixture into sterilized canning jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space. You can easily measure the head space with this inexpensive canning funnel.
Related Article:Canning Green Tomato Salsa Verde
Wipe rims of jars with a clean dish towel and place lids and rings on jars.
Process jars in boiling water canner for 15 minutes.
Remove jars from canner and let them set on a towel on the counter until they cool and the jars have sealed. If any of the jars don’t seal, you can place those jars in the refrigerator to eat in the next couple of weeks. Sealed jars will last for a year or more in the pantry.
Related Article:Canning Corn Salsa
This recipe makes 4-5 pints or 2 quarts of medium salsa.
Note: You can adjust the amounts of spices, seasonings, and salt in this recipe, but don’t adjust the amount of vinegar, vegetables, or tomatoes.
This recipe needs to maintain a certain acidity level in order to process it in a boiling water canner instead of a pressure canner.
Like this recipe? Try out all of my other favorite salsa recipes for canning.
Related Articles
- Best Natural Fertilizer for Tomatoes
- Green Tomato Relish
- Canning Spaghetti Sauce
- Canning Peach Mango Salsa
- Barbecue Sauce Canning Recipe
- Canning Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Canning Sweet and Sour Chicken
Follow my canning and preserving board on Pinterest.
In case you missed it:
- Step by Step Canning Video
- The Best Salsa Recipe
- Salsa Canning Instructions
- Related Articles
43 Comments on "Best Salsa Recipe for Canning"
Melanie
September 25, 2023 3:35 pmI just made this salsa and it’s delicious! I’d like to give 1/2 pint jars to my family and was wondering if I can water bath can them and how long do I let it boil for (15 minutes like the pint size)?
Reply
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance for your help.Shelly
September 5, 2023 3:54 amJust wondering if I could pressure can this salsa? If so, do you know for how long? Thank you!
ReplyBev
August 2, 2023 8:55 pmCan I put sugar in this? I like my salsa sweet
ReplyJulie
July 31, 2023 6:51 pmCan u add sugar? It is perfect for husband. He likes heat. I added around 1/2 cup sugar. Love it. Been usunfyanother recipe for years. This is the best. Will it be ok?
ReplyRick Stewart
July 25, 2023 11:49 pmThis will be my 3rd year making this salsa. Tomatoes are starting to turn so it won’t be long. Love the recipe but I add a twist to it. I mix everything together in a cast iron pot and cook it outside on my Weber giving it a generous dose of wood smoke. Stir it constantly and it will take on a mild Smokey flavor that really sets it off. Don’t put the pot over the coals or it will cook to quickly.
ReplyKali
September 23, 2022 3:19 pmYou guys!!! The reviews are right. I followed this recipe to a T. I did not need the clear gel though. It’s AMAZING!!! The best salsa I’ve ever had. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyKendra
September 14, 2022 1:24 pmJust made yesterday…texted my husband at work “best salsa ever!” I used a green pepper plus a variety of different colored peppers. Some hot some sweet. I don’t even notice the skins from the tomatoes. Thank you!!!!! I think I have enough to make a second batch, this will be devoured quickly.
ReplySally Frenette
August 26, 2022 6:51 pmThis is my second year making this salsa and I love it as well as all our friends and family. So delicious and the spices are just right.
ReplyMelanie Denison
October 8, 2021 3:01 amHow long do I process jars in boiling water if altitude is above 1000?
ReplyBecky
August 31, 2021 2:44 pmDid you use table salt or pickling salt?
Replyadmin
November 21, 2021 4:38 amTable salt
Reply
Susen
August 10, 2021 12:28 pmWhy do you cook all 1st, then process for 15 mins? Why dbl cook? I’ve never processed bathed my salsa, jams, jellies or pickles & they last a yr & are quite fresh upon opening. I don’t waste my time in doing any job twice.
Replyadmin
November 21, 2021 5:00 amProcessing the jars isn’t the same as cooking the salsa. I know that some people can that way and that’s your choice, but it is not an approved method of canning. Blessings!
Reply
Sherie
September 17, 2020 3:23 amReplyCan I add other spices to this recipe? Like rosemary, cumin, cyanne pepper and some fresh cilantro? I have a recipe I love but can’t find a recipe for canning with these spices. I would follow all the other ingredient. Maybe cut back on the sugar. What do you think?
I have not tried this recipe yet.
Thank youKathleen Puruczky
September 5, 2020 3:00 pmIf I substitute corn starch for the clear gel, how much should I use?
ReplyCA Bauer
August 4, 2020 6:23 pmMade this salsa taste great . Didn’t have all equipment to can how long will it keep in refrigerator.
Replyadmin
August 15, 2020 8:58 pmThe salsa will last in the refrigerator for several months without canning it. 🙂
Reply
Jen
August 4, 2020 1:52 amWhen do I add the clear jel? After sealed ? It says after sealed open up and add?
Replyadmin
August 15, 2020 8:59 pmYou add the Clear Jel while the salsa is simmering, before canning 🙂
Reply
Cate
August 3, 2020 4:11 pmFinally, a blog that uses Clear Jel instead of cornstarch. Thanks!
ReplyDebbie
July 26, 2020 2:24 pmI live in small town Alaska and fresh tomatoes, in quantity, can be hard to come by and expensive. Can I use drained diced canned tomatoes instead?
Replyadmin
August 15, 2020 9:01 pmYes, you can use canned diced tomatoes to make this salsa 🙂
Reply
Kris Rillema
May 26, 2020 1:18 pmAny suggestions on making a canned cherry salsa? I have only found fresh salsa recipes.
ReplyDiana
March 30, 2020 4:22 pmHi. You mentioned you didn’t peel your tomatoes first, I was wondering if you peeled them at all or if you left the skins on and just chopped? Also I’ve seen lots of recipes that say to deseed your tomatoes, is that necessary with this recipe? I LOVE salsa but I’m having a problem finding one to make myself that’s not too soupy or tastes like apple cider vinegar .
Replyadmin
April 2, 2020 5:03 amHi! No I don’t peel or seed the tomatoes at all for this recipe. This salsa recipe isn’t too soupy and doesn’t taste like apple cider vinegar. You’ll love it!
ReplyDiana
April 8, 2020 6:14 pmI made this and you’re right, I LOVE it. I’m so excited to finally be able to make salsa and it taste good. I was wondering though, I’d like it to be spicier but I noticed you mentioned to not change the amount of veggies. How can I add more jalapeños without Messing it up? Also are we able to double or half the recipe without it interfering or should I make one batch at a time?
Reply
Bev
September 23, 2019 8:54 pmMade this yesterday, it’s awesome. I used Roma tomatoes and drained the juice, no clear jel. Consistency is perfect. I used 5 jalapeño peppers, it’s ok, but my family likes more of a kick. Will use more next Time. Thanks for the recipe!
ReplyBecca
September 18, 2018 8:07 pmHi! I’m curious why you don’t have to add lemon juice? All tomato recipes I’ve seen for canning require lemon juice for the proper acidity level. Thank you 🙂
Replyadmin
September 21, 2018 6:30 amHi! Vinegar also provides extra acidity, so vinegar and lemon juice are not needed for the same recipe. 🙂
Reply
Alice
September 6, 2018 12:37 amHi I just made the salsa. It looks good have not tried it yet. My only problem was it didn’t seem to thicken as much as I would have liked and I didn’t have the clear gel.
Replyadmin
September 6, 2018 7:26 amHi! The Clear Jel is definitely what makes this salsa thick. You aren’t going to get the same consistency without it. There are two kinds of Clear Jel: one that has to be cooked, and one that is instant and can be used cold. When you open a jar of the salsa you made, if you take a little of the liquid out of the salsa and whisk it with a little bit of instant Clear Jel, it will get very thick and you can mix it back in with the salsa. Cornstarch would have the same effect, but you would have to heat the salsa up again to get it to thicken, and you don’t want to do that. The instant Clear Jel works like magic, no kidding. It can be used to thicken watery gravy or any liquid you want to instantly thicken.
ReplyAngie Wilhite
August 12, 2021 1:12 amCan you use sure jel instead of clear jel? What’s the difference?
Replyadmin
November 21, 2021 4:44 amNo they are not the same. Sure Jel is for making jam, and Clear Jel is a substitute for cornstarch.
Reply
Rhonda Jackson
July 16, 2020 2:46 pmWhat kind of green peppers exactly?
Reply
Jodi Bertrand
August 30, 2018 10:08 amHi This recipe sounds really good. Just wondering if I could use tomato paste instead of sauce for this salsa?
Replyadmin
August 31, 2018 4:54 amHi! Yes I think that would be okay, you should probably add a little water to it to make it the consistency of sauce and then use the measurement the recipe for calls for.
ReplyAngela Ellis
August 1, 2019 1:19 amUsed 12 oz tomato paste with 4 oz water and used 1 can of tomato sauce, added 1/2 tsp more salt and it is awesome! Perfect consistency.
Reply
Jennifer Swann
August 7, 2018 11:32 amIs it hot or mild?
Replyadmin
August 7, 2018 10:54 pmHi Jennifer, I would say this is a medium salsa. So leave out some jalapenos for mild, or add a couple more for hot 🙂 I just made some yesterday and added a couple extra jalapenos and the salsa really had a kick to it!
Reply
Christina
August 4, 2018 10:01 pmWhat if I don’t want to use the tomato sauce??
Replyadmin
August 4, 2018 10:44 pmHi Christina, you don’t have to use tomato sauce, but the tomato sauce gives this salsa a much nicer texture than most salsas I’ve canned. It’s fine to leave it out but the salsa will be a lot more liquid.
Reply
Rhonda Tranter
June 29, 2018 9:44 pmHi, I canned some salsa last year that called for apple cider vinegar, and that’s all we could taste. It was wasted … made me so sad. Does this recipe turn out with a strong taste of vinegar??
Replyadmin
July 3, 2018 7:36 pmHi! There is no taste of vinegar at all with this recipe. I’ve made this recipe many times, and many people have told me this is the best salsa they have ever had (and I am not just saying that, ha ha). Even better than store bought. I’m not sure what the exact difference is with this recipe, but whatever it is it works!! 🙂
Reply
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
