I Tried 15 Jarred Grocery Store Salsas — These Are the Best Ones

The spicy, the chunky, the surprisingly fruity.

7 Nov 2023

*This article includes mentions of merchants or brands who are partners of DoorDash, and DoorDash may receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase from these merchants or brands.

As I raise my salt-cured fingertips to my lips, all I can ask myself is: Was it worth it? After three short days and 15 jars once filled with salsa, all I could think was: Yes. A thousand times, yes.

With my little black notebook, an emotional-support water bottle, and an arsenal of chips, I powered through 15 jars of grocery store salsa to get both myself and my readers outside our comfort zones with some less frequently chosen flavors and brands to discover the salsas that spoke to me.

My criteria? Same as Elvis in Vegas — if it looks good, eat it.

Here’s how it went.

The Recommended Salsas:

Somos Pasilla Pepper Salsa Ranchera
Newman’s Own Black Bean & Corn Salsa
Jardines Texasalsa, Medium
Pemberton’s Spicy Mango Salsa
Cholula Salsa Verde Mild
Tostitos Medium Chunky Salsa
Casa Sanchez Foods Hot Salsa Roja
Ortega Thick and Chunky Medium Salsa

Special Thanks to These Chips:

Mi Nina Pico de Gallo Tortilla Chips
Late July Sea Salt Chips
Xochitl Blue Corn Chips
Tostitos Scoops! Tortilla Chips
On the Border Cafe Style Tortilla Chips
Tostitos Hint of Lime Tortilla Chips

THE METHODOLOGY

Dip chips in salsa, eat, take notes, repeat.

THE RESULTS

GROCERY STORE CLASSICS

Ortega Thick and Chunky Medium Salsa

This taco-lovers salsa doesn’t disappoint or surprise.

Color: An angry shade of maroon to balance a lovely flavor.

Consistency: Gotta hand it to Ortega for nailing down the consistency of salsa consistently. This is a salsa you can set your watch to.

Heat: 4 out of 10 Indeterminate Spicy Pepper Boys

HOW WAS IT?

You know what you’re getting into when you get into a jar of Ortega. A grocery store standard, Ortega’s no-frills taste works wonders on tacos, burritos, or really any combination of tortilla, beef, and cheese.

Jardines Texasalsa, Medium

This bold “Texasalsa” banger packs a big smoky taste in a Texas-sized jar that doesn’t disappoint its home state. I guess what they say about Texas is true: Everything’s bigger.

Color: An alluring shade of deep red that screams, “Put me in your mouth, y’all!”

Consistency: You’ll get some big bites of chunky roasted tomatoes, so break out the heftier corn chips.

Heat: 6 out of 10 Indeterminate Spicy Pepper Boys

HOW WAS IT?

Rich and balanced without too much or too little heat, Texasala is the designated party salsa to share with the salsa-inclined… so break out your big bowls!

Tostitos Medium Chunky Salsa

The salsa every human salsa eater has in their refrigerator. Often seen lurking around the snacks aisle with its counterpart bag of chips, Tostitos medium chunky is your grocery store darling.

Color: Webster’s Dictionary defines “salsa” as Tostitos. Well, it should! Tostitos keeps it real with a mild light red color accented by its classic green pepper chunks.

Consistency: Thick and hearty like a salsa should be!

Heat: 2 out of 10 Indeterminate Spicy Pepper Boys

HOW WAS IT?

For a grocery store brand, Tostitos sets the gold standard for salsa.

FOR THIN CHIP LOVERS

Casa Sanchez Foods Hot Salsa Roja

A hot, hot, hot, fresh-tasting salsa that’s made for the thin-chip crowd.

Color: A fiery-hot red to match its fiery-hot soul.

Consistency: Thin and light, reminiscent of a thicker hot sauce.

Heat: 9 out of 10 Indeterminate Spicy Pepper Boys

HOW WAS IT?

Unlike some heavier bean-based salsas, this refreshing (and refreshingly spicy) blend concentrates on flavor without bogging down eaters with tomato chunks.

Cholula Salsa Verde Mild

For the lovers of their must-own hot sauce, Cholula’s take on salsa sticks close to the original formula.

Color: A classic salsa-verde-green that matches its hot sauce counterpart with the same stunning hue for personality and — most importantly — brand distinction.

Consistency: Like rowing a boat through a swimming pool, baby!

Heat: 8 out of 10 Indeterminate Spicy Pepper Boys

HOW WAS IT?

Yeah, it’s a hot sauce, and, yes, it’s salsa, but once your black bean burrito hits this thick and tangy fresh tomatillo taste, you’ll remember why your brand loyalty exists.

BANGERS

Somos Pasilla Pepper Salsa Ranchera

Made from earthy pasilla and roasted tomatillo, this jammy salsa takes your senses for a spin with heat that means business.

Color: A downright gorgeous shade of reddish-black — don’t stare at it for too long or you’ll fall in love.

Consistency: Thick and gooey like peach preserves.

Heat: 10 out of 10 Indeterminate Spicy Pepper Boys

HOW WAS IT?

Bright, hot, and tangy, this is the kind of salsa you can drench your huevos rancheros in for a king-sized breakfast that burns so good.

Newman’s Own Black Bean & Corn Salsa

Gosh, that Paul Newman guy knew how to put together a sauce.

Color: Beautifully brown, with the help of beans.

Consistency: Nice and hearty, like chili!

Heat: 7 out of 10 Indeterminate Spicy Pepper Boys

HOW WAS IT?

Take all your favorite tastes from south of the border and mix them up into a rich and chunky bean-based dip: That’s Newman’s salsa in a nutshell.

A killer combo of beans, corn, and diced tomatoes, this rich and spicy meal-in-a-jar belongs in the center of a burrito. You may want to stock up on Tums.

Pemberton’s Spicy Mango Salsa

An outlier among the rest, this fruit-filled version is a refreshingly different take on the tabletop condiment that will absolutely baffle the boomers.

Color: Bear with me here, but Pemberton’s is the color of chicken soup.

Consistency: Thick and saucy, like walking through a bog in tennis shoes.

Heat: 10 out of 10 Indeterminate Spicy Pepper Boys

HOW WAS IT?

First, you’re hit with the succulent sweetness of the blended mango and pineapple; then, mean old Mr. Spice (a.k.a. chopped up jalapeño peppers) kicks down the door and makes himself at home in your mouth. He’s here for the long haul. Ladies and gents, we’ve got a favorite.

Want more? Check out the best guacamole, hummus, and dips!

Shop Grocery

PHOTO CREDIT:

Photographer: Paul Quitoriano
Art Direction: Sarah Ceniceros Gomez

Topics

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Author

Jeremy Glass

Spice up your snack game with store-bought salsas that deliver on flavor, heat, and texture—no matter what you’re craving. Whether you prefer something smoky and earthy, bright and tangy, sweet-then-spicy, or packed with hearty ingredients, there’s a jar out there that fits your perfect chip-and-dip moment. When you browse nearby grocery and convenience stores on DoorDash, you can explore a full range of styles without the guesswork. Pick your favorite salsas and essentials, and have everything delivered fast so you can dip in without leaving home.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ordering Groceries on DoorDash

You can grab almost any grocery you need through DoorDash Grocery — from fresh produce like tomatoes and herbs to pantry staples, snacks, dairy, frozen foods, and condiments like salsa. If you’re planning tacos, a snack night, or a full week’s worth of meals, you’ll find everything in one place. Whether you need a bag of chips and salsa or ingredients for a full dinner, DoorDash makes it quick and easy to order what you need without leaving your home.

Yes — DoorDash Grocery makes it easy to get all your favorite salsa brands and pantry staples delivered straight to your doorstep, no store-run required. Whether you love classic tomato-based salsas, spicy mango blends, or mild dip-friendly jars, you’ll find a wide selection alongside staples like chips, beans, tortillas, and other ingredients. Everything ships in the same order, so you can build a full taco night (or snack spread) without ever leaving home — a convenient shortcut for busy nights or last-minute cravings.

DoorDash protects fresh produce and pantry items by treating them with care from shop to doorstep. Temperature-sensitive items like produce or refrigerated goods are picked and packed carefully, often kept separate from dry goods to avoid bruising or damage. Shoppers aim to pack items gently and securely — so fragile produce stays intact and pantry staples don’t get crushed. Once the order is handed off, a Dasher delivers promptly—in as little as 30 minutes*—so your groceries arrive fresh, intact, and ready to enjoy.

*Delivery times vary by location. See app for estimate.

Yes — you can absolutely order fresh produce, refrigerated goods, and shelf-stable pantry items all in one DoorDash Grocery delivery. Your shopper builds the cart carefully so that each item gets the right handling, and during packing they keep fragile produce apart from canned or dry goods. That way, whether you’re grabbing avocados and salsa or beans, chips, and jars of sauce, everything arrives together, fresh, and ready to use — no multiple orders necessary.

There’s no strict limit on how many groceries you can add to your cart on DoorDash — you’re free to load up with pantry staples, produce, drinks, condiments, and more in a single order. As long as the store’s order minimum and delivery guidelines are met, you can treat your cart like a full-blown supermarket run. The system handles everything from small snack runs to major restocks, so you don’t need to worry about item count. Just shop what you need, click checkout, and let DoorDash Grocery manage the rest.

You can often get groceries delivered from nearby stores in as little as 30 minutes* on DoorDash Grocery — depending on store proximity and Dasher availability. Because nearby grocers are part of the same delivery network, your order gets picked and delivered with the same speed you’d expect from larger chains. That means whether you’re grabbing fresh produce, pantry staples, or last-minute dinner ingredients, you don’t have to wait long — often just long enough to boil some water or wash lettuce.

*Delivery times vary by location. See app for estimate.

If something in your order—like a jar of salsa—arrives damaged or isn’t what you expected, the quickest fix is right in the DoorDash app. Just open your order details, tap Help, and choose the option that matches the issue, whether it’s a leak, crack, missing item, or wrong flavor. DoorDash’s Quality Guarantee covers grocery items, so you can request a refund or another resolution in just a few taps. It’s designed to make things right fast, so you can get back to enjoying the groceries you actually wanted.

Absolutely—DoorDash Grocery lets you mix as many brands and flavors as you’d like in a single order. Whether you’re grabbing a few salsa varieties to taste-test, pairing them with chips and veggies, or stocking up on different pantry staples, everything can go into one seamless checkout. Your shopper handles each item with care, keeping fragile jars protected and fresh produce separate, so everything arrives in great shape.

Yes — when a grocery partner supports loyalty integration, you can link your store loyalty account to DoorDash Grocery and earn points or access member-only deals just like in-store. During checkout (or on the store page), look for the prompt to connect your account — once linked, eligible discounts and rewards are automatically applied.

You can easily spot top-rated salsas (or any grocery item) on DoorDash by keeping an eye on a few cues while you browse. Look for products with high customer ratings, frequent reviews, and clear, appetizing photos. Many listings include short descriptions of flavor and texture — that helps you get a feel for whether a particular salsa is mild and smooth or bold and chunky.