Pico de Gallo – Tastes Better From Scratch

Why I love homemade Pico:

• Quick and Easy – Only a few ingredients are needed, and it takes only 10 minutes to make!
• Fresh – It’s so fresh and healthy and bursting with flavor!
• Versatile – Serve it with tacos, burritos, quesadillas, on top of grilled chicken or fish, or just enjoy it plain with tortilla chips!

Pico de Gallo vs Salsa:

Although Pico de gallo and salsa contain similar ingredients, salsa has more of a “sauce” consistency, with more liquid in it, and pico de gallo contains very little liquid and is made with fresh, uncooked ingredients. Homemade Pico de Gallo always contains the same ingredients: fresh and uncooked tomatoes, onion, cilantro and jalapeño. Both pico de gallo and salsa are popular toppings on Mexican food, inside tacos or served with tortillas chips.

There are tons of different ways to make salsa, with a variety of cooked, roasted or uncooked tomatoes, peppers, spices and other ingredients. Here’s my favorite 5-minute homemade salsa recipe.

How to make Pico de Gallo:

Prep Ingredients: Chop the tomatoes, onion, cilantro and jalapeño and add to a bowl.

Season with salt and add lime juice to taste.

Serve on your favorite Mexican dishes, or with chips. Store in the fridge for 5-7 days.

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions:

To Make Ahead: I think pico tastes best when made an hour or two in advance, and depending on the freshness of the ingredients, it should keep in the fridge for about one week.

Recipe Variations:

• Spicier: Keep some or all of the jalapeño seeds in, depending on how spicy you want it. You can also add extra jalapeño peppers.
• Add Avocado: Stir in some diced avocado right before serving. Keep in mind this won’t save as well with the avocado.
• Add Mango: Dice a mango and stir it in right before serving for a fun flavor twist.

 *I originally shared this recipe April 2015. Updated May 2018 and April 2022.