We asked chefs to name the best jarred salsa—they all picked the same brand

Hint: You can find it at this popular grocer.

Key Takeaways

• Chefs say the best store-bought salsas have short, simple ingredient lists with real tomatoes or tomatillos, chiles, onion, garlic, and lime—no added sugar or preservatives.
• Texture and freshness matter: visible vegetable pieces, balanced acidity, and clearly labeled heat levels are signs of a quality salsa.
• All three chefs agree that Trader Joe’s makes the most reliable store-bought salsas, praising their flavor balance, versatility, and lineup of standout options like Pepita Salsa, Salsa Taquera, and Salsa Auténtica.

No game day (or Taco Tuesday!) is complete without salsa. The traditional Mexican condiment is equal parts tangy and spicy, and occasionally, slightly sweet. You can also enjoy it in so many ways: on top of meat, stirred into soups, folded into an omelet, or as a dip for tortilla chips. However, if you’re looking to get the most out of salsa (and you don’t have time to make it from scratch), it’s worth buying a quality product.

The tricky part is knowing what to look for in grocery stores. So, we asked three chefs to share signs of a good salsa, as well as their favorite ones.

Meet Our Expert

• Shawna Clark, chef, recipe developer, and founder of Healthy Foodie Girl
• Erin Clarke, creator of Well Plated and author of Well Plated Every Day: Recipes for Easier, Healthier, More Exciting Daily Meals
• Shawn Matijevich, lead chef-instructor of online culinary arts and food operations at the Institute of Culinary Education

What to Look for When Buying Salsa

According to all three chefs we interviewed, high-quality store-bought salsa should have a simple ingredients list. But what does that mean, exactly?

“Check for a short ingredient list that starts with tomatoes or tomatillos, real chiles, onion, garlic, and lime,” says chef and cookbook author Erin Clarke. “You want bright acidity, visible pieces of vegetables, and a heat level that is clearly labeled,” she adds.

Chef Shawna Clark also notes that good salsa should have no added sugar or preservatives. “If it looks like something you could make at home, that’s usually a win,” she says.

Stuck between salsa made with tomatoes vs. tomatillos? While it comes down to personal preference, chef-instructor Shawn Matijevich prefers tomatillos. “I’m typically looking for the salsas that include tomatillos, because they tend to hold up better to the canning [and] jarring process than tomato-based salsas,” he explains.

Finally, refrigerated salsas often taste fresher, but a good jarred salsa in a glass jar with a recent manufacturing date can be excellent, according to Clarke. 

The Best Store-Bought Salsa, According to Chefs

When asked to share their favorite store-bought salsa, all three chefs mentioned products from Trader Joe’s. So, the next time you’re looking for a top-notch salsa, you may want to head to your nearest TJ’s location.

“Trader Joe’s salsas are consistently flavorful, well-balanced, and easy to use,” says Clark. “They work just as well straight from the jar as they do in cooking, making them extremely versatile,” she adds.

Meanwhile, Matijevich appreciates the texture of the retailer’s salsa line. It also has a very fresh taste, even though it’s packaged in a jar, he points out

If you’re looking for specific recommendations, here is each chef’s favorite salsa at Trader Joe’s:

• Trader Joe’s Pepita Salsa: “Trader Joe’s Pepita Salsa is creamy in the best way, thanks to pumpkin seeds that add body without cream,” shares Clarke. It also tastes “roasty” and has a gentle heat, she notes. According to Clarke, this particular salsa “works on everything from tacos to eggs, and it doubles as a quick dressing when whisked with a little olive oil or Greek yogurt.”
• Trader Joe’s Salsa Taquera: For Matijevich, this is the closest thing he can find to his homemade salsa. “I typically use it for tacos or just to eat with some tortilla chips,” he says. Matijevich also likes to add a bit of lime juice, salt, and fresh cilantro to the product. “When you do that, nobody wonders if it is store-bought or something you made,” he adds.
• Trader Joe’s Salsa Auténtica: This one gets the green light from Clark. “I like Trader Joe’s Salsa Auténtica because it tastes fresh, isn’t overly salty, and has a great texture. It’s one of those dependable staples [that] I reach for all the time,” Clark shares.

Read the original article on Real Simple