How To Create A Salsa Bar At Home

You can build a really great Salsa Bar at home for any upcoming party or Cinco De Mayo, that will have everyone super impressed and satisfied! Creating a salsa bar doesn’t need to take a ton of time. By using a 50/50 mix of homemade salsas and store bought you can pull your party together in under 30 minutes!

In this post I will share with you how to build a salsa bar with a variety of salsas, dips, chips and veggies. Including some homemade salsa recipes that are knock-out delicious!

Related: Mexican Dinner Menu & Taco Bar Party

Make It Semi Homemade

Just like in this post for Vacation Meals and Meals for Houseguests, we say make it semi-homemade. That means you are taking 50% help from the grocery store or your favorite Mexican restaurant, and 50% of the salsa bar is homemade.

Really good salsa or pico de gallo is usually found in the refrigerated section, not the shelf stable section. Ask your local grocery manager if they have this available.

Trader Joe’s and Aldi both have excellent refrigerated salsas and pico de gallo!

If you are lucky enough to have an authentic Mexican grocery store near you, check that out! Most likely they have fresh salsa that they make daily.

Or if you have a favorite Mexican restaurant, grab a couple quarts of your favorite dips or salsas.

Salsas and Dips to Include

If you want it to feel like there is a variety of options and it is a true SALSA BAR, you will want to offer at least 4-5 different salsas and 2 dips.

Make sure you are also offering a variety of spice levels from mild to spicy!

Most of these salsas can be made the day before and stored in the fridge.

Salsas Ideas (choose 4-5):

• Restaurant Style Tomato Salsa
• Tomatillo Salsa
• Grilled Tomatillo Salsa
• Pico De Gallo
• Spicy Tomato Salsa
• Mango Salsa
• Corn Salsa
• Creamy Avocado Salsa
• Black Bean Salsa

Dip Options (choose 2):

• Guacamole
• Cheese Dip
• Refried Bean Dip
• 7 Layer Dip
• Cowboy Caviar

Chips and Veggies

Obviously you will want to have PLENTY of tortilla chips to scoop up all the delicious salsas and dips. I recommend having 3 different types of tortilla chips and 2 veggies.

Chip Options (choose 2-3):

• Traditional
• White Corn or Yellow Corn
• Blue Corn
• Multigrain
• Flavored – tortilla chips that have been seasoned with different spices and flavors, such as chili, lime, or garlic.
• Restaurant-Style – thin and crispy tortilla chips
• Sweet Potato

Veggie Ideas (choose 2):

• Jicama (Trader Joe’s has jicama sticks that are perfect!)
• Mini Peppers
• Cucumbers
• Zucchini
• Bell Peppers
• Celery

Garnishes

When you set out the Salsa Bar you may have some spaces that are not filled. These can be left open or filled with garnishes like: jalapeno slices, whole jalapenos, cilantro, radishes, or cherry tomatoes (on the vine would be extra cute).

Assembly

To pull it all together you will want to decide how you want to set it up:

1. Do you want to put it all together in a casual setting for easy grazing?
2. Do you want to make it a buffet and have guests spoon salsa onto a plate or into small bowls?

For option #1 you can lay out a couple large pieces of parchment paper on a table or counter. Place bowls for the salsa across the parchment, then fill the open spaces with chips, veggies and garnishes.

For options #2 you can make a longer buffet with plates for guests. Place the chips and veggies first, in large baskets or bowls. Then line up the salsas and dips with spoons.

Don’t Forget the Drinks

If your guests are going to be eating salty chips and spicy salsa, you better have some yummy drinks to go along with your salsa bar.

Here are some favorites, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic options:

• Margaritas on the Rocks
• Fresh Ginger Margaritas
• Michelada
• Margarita Mocktail
• Jarritos Soda – all flavors
• Ranch Water
• Topo Chico Soda
• Paloma
• Hot Honey Margaritas