Let’s make sweet & spicy Strawberry Salsa! This easy strawberry salsa recipe is such a delightful change of pace. It’s a gorgeous blend of sweet & savory. You’ll love it!

I’m a major salsa fan. Here in the southwest, we have access to gorgeous, authentic salsas at restaurants, the farmers market, roadside stands, and grocery stores, and we LOVE trying new flavors.

From classic restaurant-style red salsa, to green salsa, to corn salsa, to sweet salsa, we’ve tried LOTS. Today’s recipe makes use of one of my favorite spring & summer fruits: strawberries!

If using strawberries in salsa sounds strange, remember that botanically tomatoes are actually a fruit, too! Using fruit, like mango, pineapple, or strawberries is a great way to mix things up and add bright, fresh flavor to your salsa. It makes a delicious addition to your Tex-Mex favorites, serves as a delightful appetizer, or fun dish to bring to a potluck or party.

This easy strawberry salsa recipe is a MAJOR winner. It’s made from simple ingredients, tastes amazing with tortilla chips, chicken & more, and comes together in minutes.

Here’s all you need to make it…

Overhead view of ingredients for strawberry salsa

Simple Ingredients To Get Started

Fresh Strawberries. The riper the better, so this strawberry salsa is best for strawberry season (spring & summer)! You’ll mince strawberries to use in place of tomatoes for this salsa recipe. It’s a total delight to eat!
A Little Red Onion. I don’t like when onion takes over a recipe, so I like to use just a little onion here. 2-4 Tablespoons is enough to do the job!
Jalapeño Pepper (A Little Or A Lot!). My kids aren’t into anything super spicy, so I tend to make our salsa mild. I use just a little jalapeno to add warmth and a tiny bit of kick, but you can absolutely add more to turn up the spice!
Fresh Cilantro. I’m a cilantro fan, so I love adding it here! Not only does it add fresh, bright flavor, but it also adds a pretty pop of green that looks gorgeous next to the red ripe berries.
Fresh Lime Zest & Lime Juice.
A Drizzle Of Honey or Agave (Optional). If you’re doing Whole30, skip this step, but otherwise, I love adding just a tiny drizzle of honey or agave to this strawberry salsa. It plays up the honey-lime flavors, brings out the sweetness of the berries, and helps the macerate the berries, so they get juicy and lovely.
Salt & Pepper. Then, we’ll finish balancing the flavor by adding some salt and black pepper. Like most salsa recipes, if it’s tasting a bit flat, add more salt!

Mincing strawberries to make easy strawberry salsa

Ingredients for strawberry salsa, ready to be mixed

How To Make Strawberry Salsa, Step By Step

Prep Your Ingredients. If you haven’t already, prep your strawberries & other ingredients. Remove the stems of your strawberries and finely mince them. Then, minced the red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro.
Combine In A Bowl. In a medium or large bowl, combine minced strawberries, onion, jalapeño, and cilantro, along with lime zest, lime juice, honey or agave, salt and pepper.
Stir To Combine. Next, gently stir with a fork to combine the ingredients evenly.
Let It Rest. Give the salsa at least 10 minutes or so, if possible, to allow the flavors to meld. You can also pop it in the refrigerator 1-2 hours if you like.
Taste & Adjust. Take a small taste of the salsa to decide if it needs more honey (sweetness), lime juice (acidity), salt (saltiness/vibrance), or jalapeño (heat).
Enjoy! Now, you’re ready to dive in with chips or serve it in one of our other favorite ways…

Yummy Ways To Serve Strawberry Salsa

WITH TORTILLA CHIPS. Obviously, I had to start with chips! Salty tortilla chips (or even tortilla chips with lime!) taste amazing with the sweet & spicy flavors of strawberry salsa.
WITH CINNAMON-SUGAR CHIPS. Some folks like to serve fruit salsa with cinnamon chips. I personally prefer regular tortilla chips, but if you want to go the cinnamon-sugar route, try Siete’s Churro Chips or these homemade cinnamon sugar tortilla chips.
WISH CHICKEN, SHRIMP, OR SALMON. Try using a honey-lime chicken marinade or a balsamic marinade, then top your grilled chicken with strawberry salsa. It’s a total flavor celebration! It also works with shrimp & salmon recipes, too, like honey lime shrimp tacos, shrimp burrito bowls, and glazed salmon.
FOR BURRITO BOWLS, TACOS, SALADS & MORE. It might sound crazy, but I feel like the flavors work! Especially if you’re serving chicken, black beans, marinated steak or a sweet pork recipe, strawberry salsa makes a great pairing for tacos, burrito bowls, taco salads, burrito bowls, nachos, and more.

FAQ + Tips For The Best Strawberry Salsa

How To Control The Heat (Mild Or Spicy).

To Make MILD Strawberry Salsa: Use a sharp knife to remove the seeds and white “ribs” on the inside of your jalapeño before mincing it. Only add a small amount to the salsa, then add more, if desired, depending on how spicy your jalapeño is.
To Make SPICY Strawberry Salsa: Keep the heat in your jalapeño by leaving in the seeds and ribs. You can also increase the amount of jalapeño, adding 1/2 or a full jalapeño, depending on how spicy you want it!

A Great Tip For Washing Berries In Advance. For the last few years, I’ve been using this tip for keeping my berries fresh. You wash them, then soak in a mixture of vinegar and water, then rinse & dry them off to help kill any existing bacteria and naturally prolong their shelf life. It works great for meal prep, but also makes prepping this salsa in advance even easier since the berries are already washed!

How Long Will Strawberry Salsa Stay Fresh? Like most fresh salsa recipes, our strawberry salsa will start to break down and get a softer texture over time. Strawberry salsa is best eaten within 2-3 days.

I Don’t Like Cilantro. Can I Use Something Else? Sure! Some folks make their strawberry salsa with other fresh herbs, like fresh basil, fresh mint, or even fresh parsley instead of cilantro. It’s a slightly different vibe, but it’s delicious, too!