Pico de Gallo is fresh, delicious, and packed with flavor. Homemade pico de gallo is easy to make and pairs perfectly with chips and all of your favorite Mexican dishes.
We love traditional salsa, but if you want a dip or garnish that is a little less pureed, pico de gallo is the perfect choice. There really isn’t much better than fresh salsa or pico de gallo! This delicious recipe pairs well with tacos, chicken, or pork, and is the perfect dip for tortilla chips.
FRESH PICO DE GALLO
This delicious garnish is made with tomatoes, onion, jalapenos, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, and salt. Chop everything up, mix it together, and serve! This fresh dip is ready to eat in just a few minutes. It can also be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for several days. This fresh tomato garnish pairs so well with all of your favorite Mexican foods!
Ingredients in Pico de Gallo
Tomatoes – You will also need diced tomatoes for the recipe. Fresh tomatoes are best, but you can use canned ones if you’d like. If you use beefsteak tomatoes, you will need about 4 of them (about 3 cups of diced tomatoes).
Onion – You will need 1 red onion, diced.
Jalapeno or serrano pepper – This is the ingredient that adds a little bit of heat to the salsa. The recipe only calls for a little bit, so the salsa really won’t be too spicy. Serrano peppers are spicier than jalapeno peppers, so if you want a little more heat, use a serrano.
Cilantro – Fresh cilantro is absolutely delicious with the other ingredients. You’ll need about 1/3 cup of finely chopped cilantro. Feel free to use a little less or a little more depending on your preference.
Garlic – You will need one clove of garlic, minced. If you use minced garlic from a jar, you will need one teaspoon.
Lime juice – You can use fresh lime juice or the kind from a bottle. Either way, the lime juice adds another little splash of flavor!
Salt – A little bit of salt adds flavor and helps all of the other flavors to pop.
How to make Pico de Gallo
Finely chop or dice all of the vegetables and herbs.
Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix well.
Allow the mixture to set for about 10 minutes. I like to make the recipe a day before serving so that the flavors have more time to meld. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Pico de Gallo
Ingredients
- 4 tomatoes diced (I prefer beefsteak)
- 1 red onion diced
- 1 jalapeno or serrano pepper
- ⅓ cup cilantro finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 ½ tablespoons lime juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Finely chop or dice all of the vegetables and herbs.
- Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix well.
- Allow the mixture to set for about 10 minutes. I like to make the pico a day before serving so that the flavors have more time to meld. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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FAQs
How long does this dip last?
This recipe will stay good in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-5 days.
What’s the difference between pico de gallo and salsa?
The main difference is that salsa is more liquid, slightly pureed, and sometimes cooked. Pico de gallo is always fresh, made with chopped vegetables, and is never pureed.
How to serve pico de gallo?
Eat it as a dip with your favorite tortilla chips, or on top of crostini, nachos, in a burrito, on tacos, and more!
HOW DO YOU MAKE SALSA LESS SPICY?
This recipe isn’t super spicy but does have a little bit of a kick because of the jalapeno/serrano pepper. If you prefer less spicy, use a jalapeno pepper instead of a serrano. On the flip side, you can always crank up the heat by using a serrano!
CAN I FREEZE HOMEMADE PICO DE GALLO?
You bet you can! When you are ready to freeze, transfer the room-temperature dip to a freezer-safe container or zip-locked bag. Be sure to leave some room for expansion in the freezer container or remove air from the freezer bag. It is also best to freeze within an hour of making it in order to enhance shelf life.
TRY MORE MEXICAN-INSPIRED RECIPES HERE:
- Mexican Chicken Lasagna
- Easy Blender Salsa
- Easy Taco Salad
- Chile Lime Smoked Chicken Wings
- Mexican Chicken Alfredo Pasta
- Easy To Go Taco Soup
- Easy Salsa Chicken
- Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas
- Loaded Mexican Chicken Sweet Potato Fries
- Fiesta Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad
- Taco Bites
- Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips
- Pineapple Salsa
- Easy Taco Calzones
- Mexican Lettuce Wraps
- Simple Fresh Garden Salsa
Pico de Gallo is fresh, delicious, and packed with flavor. Easy to make and pairs perfectly with chips and all of your favorite Mexican dishes!
Jenn says
It’s not taco night without this tasty pico de gallo! Delish!
Ashley says
This recipe for homemade pico de gallo tastes so good. I will definitely make this over buying it at the store now. A new favorite!