MY MOTHER IN LAW’S FAMOUS SALSA
on Feb 20, 2026
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You can’t beat this flavorful homemade salsa that comes together in under 15-minutes in a food processor! A tried-and-true standby for any party or gathering.
While I love the convenience of store-bought salsa, there’s something about fresh salsa that makes any gathering feel extra special. And if you’re part of my family, you already know that my Mother In Law’s Famous Food Processor Salsa always steals the spotlight.
Now, a quick caveat, this is not your normal tomato-based salsa, but that’s what makes it that much more irresistible.
Green, orange, and yellow bell peppers are added to a food processor along with sweet onion and a fresh jalapeño. After a few good blitzes, this chunky mixture is combined with canned tomatoes, green chilies, fresh tomato, chives, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, and herbs.
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The result is a vibrant, crave-worthy salsa bursting with bold flavors and a variety of textures. It’s fresh, unexpected, and always a hit. I know it will be a winner in your house just like it is in mine. Enjoy!
Key Ingredients for Food Processor Salsa
I have to thank my mother-in-law for this beloved recipe. These are the ingredients she uses, but of course, feel free to customize to your liking. Here’s what she uses!
- Bell Peppers: The unexpected star of the show! Using a variety of green, orange, and yellow bell peppers gives this salsa its vibrant color.
- Onion: I’d suggest using a sweet onion here, since it’s uncooked.
- Jalapeño: To give this appetizer a bit of a kick, you’ll want to use both a fresh jalapeño, pickled jalapeños, and pickled jalapeño juice.
- Diced Tomatoes: Two large cans of petite diced tomatoes bring that traditional salsa flavor.
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Pin It- Chopped Green Chilies: Tangy and slightly smoky, a can of these chilies adds some zest without being overly spicy.
- Roma Tomato: A fresh tomato, in addition to the canned tomatoes, is a nice textural contrast.
- Herbs: Fresh chives and plenty of cilantro are fresh additions that really liven up this salsa.
- Serving Suggestions: Chips and salsa are a no-brainer. I love @sietefoods tortilla chips!
How to Make Food Processor Salsa
Add the roughly chopped bell peppers, onion, and fresh and pickled jalapeño to a good processor
Pulse a few times, stir, and pulse again.
Repeat until the peppers and onions are chopped into small pieces but not pulverized.
Alternatively, you can chop up the ingredients and skip the food processor altogether, but I found that kitchen tool saved a lot of time.
Add the pepper mixture, minus any juices that have accumulated, to a large bowl with the remainder of the ingredients. Gently stir to combine.
Taste and season with additional salt, as needed. Serve with your favorite chips and enjoy!
Other Fun Salsa Recipes
- Barbecue Braised Chicken Tacos with Avocado Corn Salsa
- Sweet and Smoky Shrimp Bowls with Pineapple Avocado Salsa
- Fresh Sweet Corn Salsa
- Blackened Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa
MY MOTHER IN LAW’S FAMOUS SALSA
Ingredients
- 1 green bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1 orange bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1 fresh jalapeño, roughly chopped
- 1 small sweet onion, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons pickled jalapeño
- (2) 28-ounce cans petite diced tomatoes, drained
- (1) 4-ounce can chopped green chiles
- 1 Roma tomato, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon pickled jalapeño juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, minced
- 1 cup cilantro, chopped (stems and leaves)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon salt + more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon coconut sugar
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
Instructions
- Add the roughly chopped bell peppers, onion, and fresh and pickled jalapeño to a good processor.
- Pulse a few times, stir, and pulse again. Repeat until the peppers and onions are chopped into small pieces but not pulverized. Alternatively, you can chop up the ingredients and skip the food processor altogether, but I found that kitchen tool saved a lot of time.
- Add the pepper mixture, minus any juices that have accumulated, to a large bowl with the remainder of the ingredients.
- Gently stir to combine.
- Taste and season with additional salt, as needed.
- Serve with your favorite chips and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
