The Best Salsa Brands

CHI-CHI'S^® Medium Thick and Chunky Salsa - $4.79

We'll be upfront when it comes to CHI-CHI'S^® Medium Thick and Chunky Salsa: there's not much going on. This sauce is very watery and doesn't really do much for us as a dip or condiment. There isn't much heat either, whether at first or in the aftertaste. There's genuinely nothing special about this relatively expensive salsa, leaving us to label it as forgettable at best.

La Victoria^® Salsa Ranchera - $4.99

La Victoria^® Salsa Ranchera is arguably the hottest salsa on this list, with lots of jalapeño and onion flavors coming through. This is an excellent pairing for chips if you or your friends can handle the extra heat, but most of us might steer towards using the sauce as a condiment. More importantly, this hot salsa doesn't carry that jarred taste that some spicy sauces have from their recipe's high quantities of citric acid. There's a decent amount of texture in this bottle too, with the vegetables feeling not too mushy either. Overall, this is a great salsa for sandwiches, wraps, or anything that could use some heat. If you plan on using it sparingly, this $5 bottle should last you a while.

Herdez^® Salsa Casera - $1.79

A salsa casera typically has a rustic quality to it, with plenty of chunky tomatoes and roasted chilies in every spoonful. Herdez^® Salsa Casera is not that, but it does have a similarly strong tomato flavor that we really enjoy. This salsa is on the runnier side and thankfully doesn't have an overpowering vinegar aftertaste that we associate with thinner sauces. We always pick this bottle for a chips and salsa appetizer, mainly because it reminds us of the salsa roja we're used to munching on at Mexican restaurants. Available in stores for under $2 a bottle, it's fresh, tangy and packs some nice heat, making it the ideal pairing for salty tortilla chips.

Herdez^® Salsa Verde - $1.79

One of the main perks of having salsa at home is that you can use it in various ways besides just a dip. Herdez^® salsa verde is a perfect example of a versatile sauce that comes at a great price point. The green salsa's tomatillo flavor is bright, nicely acidic, and not too spicy. It also comes in a consistency that's neither too thick nor too runny, which is ideal for cooking. You can use this salsa verde on tacos, or as a sauce to rehydrate chicharrones, make chilaquiles, or marinate meat.