Additional Coverage:
- We Compared the Most Popular Salsas and One Became the Clear Favorite (momswhothink.com)
The Great Salsa Showdown: We Crown the Champion of Mild Jarred Salsas!
Salsa, the undisputed king of dips, isn’t just a perfect partner for your tortilla chips; it’s a bonafide nutritional powerhouse! Packed with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals from its tomato, onion, and pepper base, salsa is a secret weapon for heart health. And for those who like a little fire, the capsaicin in spicier varieties might even give your metabolism a tiny kick!
But with a dizzying array of flavors and heat levels on grocery store shelves, choosing the right salsa can be a real head-scratcher. While most jars are labeled mild, medium, or hot, these categories can be as varied as the peppers themselves. Mild typically means gentle peppers with few seeds, medium often brings in jalapeños and sometimes serranos for a bit more zing, and hot salsas can unleash the fiery power of habaneros, Thai chilies, or even ghost peppers.
To keep things simple (and our taste buds intact), we ventured to our local Publix to focus on the world of mild, readily available jarred salsas. After all, when you’re faced with a wall of choices, sticking to the classics just makes sense. Of course, salsa is a deeply personal journey, and what one person swoons over, another might simply shrug at.
For this particular taste test, the final verdict rested solely with yours truly, the writer. I gathered a selection of the most common mild salsas found at our local store and put them through their paces, side by side. And after much dipping and deliberating, one salsa emerged as the clear champion.
Here’s how they stacked up:
8. Chi-Chi’s
Price: $3.39
First ingredient: Tomatoes in tomato juice (contains citric acid to acidify)
Chi-Chi’s boldly proclaims, “Let the fiesta begin!” But, sadly, this one landed at the bottom of our barrel.
While it delivers on its promise of chunkiness, it’s also incredibly watery (water is the third ingredient!), making us wonder if that’s the secret to its budget-friendly price tag. The flavor also had a distinctly mass-produced, oddly sweet vibe.
It wouldn’t be our first pick, but in a true salsa emergency, it might suffice.
7. Muir Glen Organic
Price: $6.09
All-organic, Gluten-free
First ingredient: Organic tomato puree (organic tomato paste, water)
Muir Glen earns major points for its pure, organic ingredients, which is always a plus. However, we found the flavors to be a bit on the bland and watered-down side.
While you can feel good about what you’re eating, the taste didn’t quite match the premium price. It was chunky enough, though, to still be scoopable with those classic restaurant-style chips.
6. On the Border
Price: $3.99
Gluten-free
First ingredient: Tomatoes
This salsa boasts a short and sweet ingredient list, but one of those ingredients is sugar, and that sweetness definitely made its presence known. The overall flavor leaned heavily into a smoky profile. On the upside, it offered a consistent, restaurant-style texture that was less chunky, making for a smooth chip-to-mouth journey.
5. Green Mountain Gringo
Price: $5.99
All-natural, Gluten-free
First ingredient: Tomatoes
Green Mountain Gringo impressed us by incorporating some more unique ingredients like pasilla peppers and tomatillos, suggesting a commitment to quality. This one, however, came down to personal preference.
I found it to have an almost gazpacho-like or tomato juice flavor. Despite that, its texture was fantastic and paired wonderfully with tortilla chips.
4. Newman’s Own
Price: $3.49
Gluten-free
First ingredient: Diced tomatoes in tomato juice
Newman’s Own gets immediate applause for its incredible mission: “Let’s give it all away. 100% profits to help kids.” It also sports a refreshingly clean ingredient list.
Despite no added sugar, I detected an unexpected sweetness. While advertised as chunky, it leaned more towards a smooth, restaurant-style consistency, making it very chip-friendly.
3. Tostito’s
Price: $3.91
First ingredient: Tomato puree (water, tomato paste)
Full disclosure: Tostito’s salsa holds a special place in my heart, much like Totino’s pizza. It evokes childhood memories of family gatherings, often served with fresh avocado and shredded cheddar.
It narrowly missed the top spot due to a somewhat “dicey” and salt-heavy ingredient list. It’s also incredibly chunky, so be warned: thin chips might not survive the scoop!
Opt for thicker tortilla chips or even Frito’s Scoops for this hearty salsa.
2. Ousley Ouch
Price: $5.49
All-natural, Gluten-free
First ingredient: Tomatoes (tomatoes, tomato juice, tomato puree, salt, citric acid, calcium chloride)
Ousley is known for its bold flavors that live up to the “Ouch” in its name. While I wouldn’t dare brave their “Ghost” variety, we played it safe with the mild version for a fair comparison.
Even the mild still delivered a pleasant little bite! The flavors tasted wonderfully fresh, avoiding any overly smoky or sweet notes.
Its texture was pretty close to perfection, too.
1. Mateo’s
Price: $5.49
All-natural, Gluten-free
First ingredient: Tomatoes
Mateo’s gets it right from the get-go with their motto: “Not responsible for obsession.” And while I wouldn’t call myself obsessed (yet!), as a first-time taster, I was definitely interested in a second date!
Its texture is thin but never watery, making it a perfect match for any tortilla chip. They call it gourmet, and the flavor truly backs that claim.
With a clean and easy-to-understand ingredient list, Mateo’s earns our solid gold prize-winner status!
Read More About This Story:
- We Compared the Most Popular Salsas and One Became the Clear Favorite (momswhothink.com)