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  1. Food and Cooking
  2. Recipes
  3. Salsa Diablo

Salsa Diablo

A smoky, spicy make-ahead dip that's so easy to blend up!

By Ree DrummondPublished: Sep 7, 2026
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A hand dipping a tortilla chip into a bowl of salsa, with a basket of chips and a beverage in the background.
C.W. Newell
Yields:
8 serving(s)
Prep Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 15 mins

There’s not a single thing complicated about making this homemade salsa diablo, and boy does it beat anything you can find in a jar. Just throw all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse until you get the right consistency—which is totally personal! I like mine on the smoother side with only small chunks, but you can make it chunkier if you like. That’s the beauty of homemade salsa recipes—you’re in total control!

A few things you should know about this recipe: It makes a big batch (6 cups!). I recommend using a 12-cup food processor, but if you only have a smaller one on hand, just work in batches pulsing the ingredients, then stir the salsa all together in a bowl at the end. Second, this salsa comes together in just 15 minutes but it tastes so much better after it’s hung out in the fridge for an hour. That way, it has time to get nice and cold and the flavors start to meld. Plus, make-ahead appetizers just make life easier!

Stock up on tortilla chips. You’re gonna need ‘em!

Is salsa diablo spicy?

It definitely has a kick from the jalapeño, habanero, chipotle, and hot sauce! If you like things milder to serve on a spread of party dips, you can leave out the habanero—the main source of heat. You can also remove the seeds and membrane from the jalapeño.

How long does salsa diablo last in the fridge?

Salsa diablo will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Give it a good stir before serving. For longer storage, freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, leaving about ½ inch of headspace for expansion. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then stir well before serving.

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Ingredients

  • 2 (10-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies (such as Rotel)
  • 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes in juice
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 habanero chile, seeded and chopped
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, quartered and sliced thin (with seeds and membrane)
  • 1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
  • 1 tsp. hot sauce
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp. sugar
  • Juice of 1 lime

Directions

    1. Step 1Working in batches if necessary, combine the diced tomatoes with green chiles, whole tomatoes, cilantro, onion, garlic, habanero, jalapeño, chipotle pepper, hot sauce, cumin, salt, sugar, and lime juice in a large blender or food processor. Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you like; I do about 10 to 15 pulses. Test the seasonings with a tortilla chip, if you dare, adding more salt or chiles if desired. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Try One of These Recipes Next!

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