This delicious, easy Pico de Gallo recipe is made from fresh tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, and cilantro, with a touch of salt and lime juice. Fresh, crisp and perfect for scooping with tortilla chips.
Making your own dips and marinades helps you control the flavors you love best. Try our homemade tzatziki next! Or give this easy homemade hummus recipe a try.
Why This Recipe Works
Pico de gallo is a fresh Mexican salsa with lots of chunky texture and the perfect fusion of spicy, zesty, and juicy flavors.
Today’s recipe is easy—you only need 5 fresh ingredients plus a hint of salt.
Making the perfect pico that hits all those flavor notes just right can take a little trial and error at first.
This recipe takes out the guess work. I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about how to make the BEST pico de gallo every time, from how to choose the right tomatoes to how to serve it.
Ingredient Notes
Roma tomatoes are usually best for pico de gallo because they are less watery than other varieties. Whatever tomatoes you use, make sure they are bright red, plump and ripe!
When tomatoes are in season where you live, grab some freshly picked tomatoes from your garden or farmer’s market. The fresher the better for pico de gallo. Heirloom tomatoes, beef steak tomatoes and even cherry tomatoes can be used.
Jalapeños give the pico de gallo its spicy kick. Serrano peppers can be used instead. I used two in this recipe, but you could add more peppers for a spicier pico!
You will also need fresh cilantro, red onion, and a few good squeezes of fresh lime juice bring everything together.
Tips and Tricks
- Dice finely. The tomatoes, onions and jalapeños need to be diced into extremely small pieces for the right texture.
- Let marinate for an hour before serving. This gives the flavors the chance to mingle and combine for best taste.
- Serve with a slotted spoon. The excess juice from the tomatoes will be strained out of the pico so you get the best chunky texture.
- Enjoy it fast! Pico de gallo is best eaten within 2-3 days of making it, before the tomatoes and onion soften. It’s not hard to eat all the salsa that quickly because once I start eating it I can’t stop!
Recipe FAQs
Pico de gallo is a good-for-you topping option, especially compared to many other dips and sauces you’re likely to pair with chips.
The plant based salsa is high in vitamins, antioxidants and fiber while remaining low in calories and fat free. A win-win!
You can use white onion but the flavor will not be the same. White and yellow onions are both sweeter than red, which will affect the taste of the pico.
Red onion has a spicy bite and tastes delicious paired with the cooling cilantro and juicy tomatoes.
Pico de gallo should be kept chilled in the refrigerator until you’re ready to enjoy it. Enjoy fresh salsa within 1-2 days of making it for peak flavor and texture.
Love homemade salsa and dip recipes? It’s my thing too….
- Watermelon Peach Salsa: the sweet, juicy fruit with the spicy jalapeno and onion is a perfect combo!
- Mango Salsa: another great fruit and veggie combo! And the pomegranate in this is amazing!
- Fruit Salsa Recipe: this fresh fruit salsa is great with cinnamon pita chips. And the hint of mint is spectacular!
- Bruschetta Recipe
- Guacamole
What to serve with Pico de Gallo
Pico de gallo is not only great served with chips, but it also makes a great topping for so many dinners!
- Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Chicken Avocado Enchiladas
- Baked Tacos
- Carnitas Recipe
- Carne Asada
- Crockpot Barbacoa Beef
- Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa
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Pico de Gallo
Ingredients
- 8 large roma tomatoes seeded and diced
- 2 red onions diced
- 2 jalapenos seeded and diced
- 2 limes juiced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Cut all tomatoes, onions and jalapenos VERY VERY fine dice. Combine in a bowl with the lime juice, cilantro and the salt.
- Mix and taste. If desired add in additional salt. Allow flavors to mingle before serving, for at least an hour.
This looks so easy and incredibly delicious!! YUM!!
To Aimee and Sandra,
THANK YOU so much for what your families are sacrificing. So few people hear the calling to serve our country, and I respect what your children are doing for all of us in today’s world. I am a medically retired vet from the AF, but we all know Marines are top-notch. I can’t express my gratitude enough. Aimee, I know it has been a few years, but I truly hope your son was able to find his place in such an extreme environment as the Marines are placed in. How brave all of you are.
We are three years in and I couldn’t be more proud of him. Thank you for YOUR service as well 🙂
Congrats and Semper Fi!!! From a Marine Daughter, Mother, and Mother-in-law… You Really do have reason to be proud as I can tell you are. I had my Son’s Boot Camp Graduation party instead of a High School Graduation party (my son graduated early to go in on Memorial Day 7 years ago. If you would like to touch base on anything. Marine Mom to Marine Mom feel free. Tell your son Ooh Rah!! from my family and myself. Oh and I love Mexican food too. The Pico was wonderful and will be making again. Congrats again and welcome the the Marine Family!!
Thank you 🙂
aw I’m so sorry your son is leaving but I can tell how proud you are of him!
I love this pico de gallo recipe-so need to try it!
Thank Kayle. I am so proud 🙂
Wow. Your son must be an amazing person, and you are an amazing mom for raising him. We all thank him for his service!
And I thank you for this recipe. I love pico de gallo. It’s my favorite dip, and this one looks so fresh!!
Stop making me teary eyed 🙂
Your pico recipe is identical to mine! So easy, fast and fresh – I love this stuff!
Twins!!!
Wow Aimee! So cool that your son is going into the Marines. But, I’m with you – I’d want to wrap him in my arms and not want to let him to go. 🙂 I think this Pico de Gallo is the perfect send off. You raised a great son – so you should definitely celebrate! And, this recipe sounds amazing!
Thanks Kristi 🙂
It’s been so long since I made this that I’d forgotten how, and I was thinking of pico de gallo the other day, so I will be making this soon.
Congratulations on your son becoming a marine. Mine is just getting out of the Navy after 8 years. And I agree with Debra above, boot camp will be the longest 13 weeks of your life. Getting mail from home is so important to them at that time, so yes, write often. My son asked me to, so I wrote him everyday and he was delighted. After a hard days work(out) it is something they look forward to. Your son will do fine and the experience will serve him well in his future career.
Thanks for the encouragement Cathy!! I’ll start drafting the letters now, haha!!
Awww I don’t know what I will do when my son graduates. I would be a ball of tears. I hope he enjoys this time and loves the marines. Very cool of him! This pico de gallo looks so good. I love fresh stuff like this. PS your not old enough to have a son graduating. 🙂
Well you just won the best comment award. I am definitely old enough. I love birds. Haha!!
The ingredients looks so fresh.
I love pico de gallo! Sometimes I add cubed avocado to it, it’s practically a meal!
Yes to the avocado!!!
Pico de gallo is my go-to side whenever I make tacos or quesadilla. I’ve started adding other spices like cumin or even Japanese 7-spice powder with great results!
cumin is my favorite seasoning….so that sounds amazing in pico de gallo!
Kudos to your son! We are all thankful for men like him! And what a perfect way to send him off and this pico de gallo will be the star of the show!
Thanks Julie 🙂
Congratulations on your marine, my oldest went in 5 years ago. I was proud and terrified at the same time. When he leaves, it will be the longest 13 weeks of your life. Be sure to follow all the rules regarding mail, but write often with encouragement. It will help you both.
The recipe looks great, I’ve never tried pico de gallo, but I will try this.
Thanks for the advice, and congrats on your Marine 🙂
Good for him! I can’t imagine all the emotions you must have, though. And this Pico looks perfect. I bet your son will miss your food something fierce!
That’s what we keep saying, haha!!
It’s hard to believe that graduation is just 3 weeks away! Jeremy and I were just saying that it’s only 2 years away for us…that’s crazy talk! I know the feeling of just wanting to scoop these kiddos up in our arms and never let them go. Seriously how did time go so fast? Ok, enough teary eye talk!!! Unless it’s from cutting onions while we make our salsas…too funny we both had mexican and salsa on the brain. I have a meal to share later that we ate this salsa with too 😉
ha!! that’s awesome 🙂 Can’t wait to see what you made!
What a great summer recipe! Congrats to your son!
This looks so wonderfully easy and delicious! I must try it!
Congrats to you and your son on his graduation and the marines! I hope the party goes well!
Whoa! What a big day! Congrats! And who can turn down Pico? Not me!
Thanks Meg! Big days ahead indeed!!
Congrats on your son getting into the Marines! Of course you’re proud. That’s awesome. And this pico de gallo looks pretty awesome too, kind of like the stuff from Chipotle and that’s the highest compliment I can pay.
Thank you Tom. We are so proud 🙂 And wow, that is a great compliment as we choose chipotle often as our “take out” of choice!! Thanks for stopping by!!