Create the ultimate salsa bar for your next summer party or get-together with ease using homemade salsas from Mrs. Wages®!
*This post is sponsored by Mrs. Wages®. All thoughts and opinions shared here are 100% my own. To learn more, you may read my Disclosure Policy. Thank you for supporting my blog and the brands I truly love!
How To Create The Ultimate Summer Salsa Bar (+ Recipes)
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy a delicious salsa bar with friends and family. So get ready to spice up taco night or your next get-together and create the ultimate festive (and delicious!) salsa bar.
I’m sharing all the best tips to style a salsa bar this summer, PLUS recipes for easy, crowd-pleasing homemade salsas using Mrs. Wages® salsa tomato seasoning mixes.
Easy Breezy Summertime Entertaining
This salsa bar features not one, not two, but four homemade salsas. With varying levels of spiciness, there’s a salsa for everyone.
And the best part? Mrs. Wages ® salsa tomato seasoning mixes help you cut your prep time in half, so you can make all your favorite homemade salsas – fast!
Prep and chill the salsas ahead of time for stress-free party prep. Then gather your friends, grab some chips, and let the salsa tasting begin.
Salsa Selections: How To Choose Which Salsas To Serve
To create the ultimate summer salsa bar, the first step is to choose which types of salsa you want to serve.
Mrs. Wages® offers a variety of tomato salsa seasoning mixes and instant mixes to choose from. From classic medium to fiery habanero, there’s a heat level for every salsa lover.
To create my summer salsa bar I opted for the ultimate classics, including a mild, a medium, and a salsa verde. And for the more daring spicy salsa lover? A flaming hot habanero variety.
How To Make Salsa At Home…The Easy Way!
Mrs. Wages® mixes have been a household name for more than 70 years. And although I’ve only been around for about 40-ish of those years, I’ve been using Mrs. Wages® salsa mixes and canning products for as long as I can remember.
If you’re looking for the best time-saving hack to create made-from-scratch salsa, Mrs. Wages® Salsa Seasoning Mixes are it.
No expensive canning equipment required!
Even if you’ve never made salsa, Mrs. Wages ® mixes make it easy for beginners to learn how to do it.
With step-by-step directions on the back of each packet, their seasoning mixes are the secret to getting restaurant-quality salsa right at home.
Four Effortless Homemade Salsa Recipes
Once you’ve decided which varieties of salsa to create for your summer salsa bar, it’s time for the ultimate tomato dicing party!
So warm up your fingers and brush up on your knife skills. Here is the list of ingredients to make each of these four easy and delicious quick-serve salsas at home.
Mild Salsa
- 6 pounds fresh tomatoes, blanched and diced or 6 cans (14.5 oz. each) petite diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1/2 cup Mrs. Wages® White Distilled Vinegar (5% acidity) or cider vinegar
- 1 packet of Mrs. Wages® Mild Salsa Tomato Seasoning Mix
Note: This salsa recipe can be canned or made fresh and ready to serve. Be sure to check out this post for directions on how to can salsa using a water bath.
Medium Salsa
- 2 large fresh tomatoes or 1 can (14.5 oz.) petite diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 packet of Mrs. Wages® Classic Medium Salsa Tomato Seasoning Mix
Hot Salsa
- 2 large fresh tomatoes or 1 can (14.5 oz.) petite diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 packet of Mrs. Wages® Habanero Salsa Tomato Seasoning Mix
Salsa Verde
- 10-12 fresh tomatillos (about 1 lb.), husked, blanched or roasted and blended in a food processor or mixer
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of Mrs. Wages® Chipotle & Garlic Salsa Tomato Seasoning Mix
(See the notes and recipe card below for directions on how to make each salsa.)
What Is Quick-Serve Salsa?
Simply put, a quick-serve salsa combines tomatoes or tomatillos with Mrs. Wages® salsa tomato seasoning mix.
Canning is a great way to have fresh homemade salsa all year long. But if you still want that fresh-from-the-garden taste without a canning bath, you can also make quick-serve salsas.
You can create all the salsa recipes listed above in a fraction of the time for the ultimate summer snack bar set-up. Just dice, mix, chill, and serve!
More Salsas And Dips To Include On Your Salsa Bar
Craving more salsa goodness? Here are some more salsas and dips to spice up your summer salsa bar.
- Fresh Pineapple Salsa
- Guacamole made with Mrs. Wages® seasoning instant mix
- Black Bean and Corn Salsa
- Salsa Con Queso Cheese Dip made with Mrs. Wages® instant mix
- Fresh Peach and Jalapeno Salsa
Ohhh! And don’t forget about the drinks! Try these summer cocktails with your chips and salsa for the perfect pairing.
Create The Ultimate Festive Mood: How To Style Your Summer Salsa Bar
Once you’ve made all your salsas, it’s time to set the mood for your party by styling your salsa bar.
Elevate the festive feeling by hanging bright and colorful papel picado on the wall.
Next, drape your buffet or table with a vibrant tablecloth or piece of fabric to infuse it with an extra splash of color and an element of fun. I used a piece of brightly-colored striped material I found at the craft store, but anything will do.
Fresh flowers are always a must for me. Create a budget-friendly summer arrangement using a colorful bouquet from the grocery store.
Mix and match a variety of blooms in bold colors, like fiery reds, sunny yellows, and lime greens, to add some whimsy to your summer salsa bar fiesta.
And, adding the perfect finishing touch, a rustic chalkboard to announce the theme of your salsa celebration.
Assembling Your Summer Salsa Bar
The salsas are prepared and the decorating is done. Now, it’s time to assemble your salsa bar!
First, arrange a basket or large wooden bowl on the bar and fill it with a variety of tortilla chips.
Next, for the star of the show…the Mrs. Wages® homemade salsas! Pour your salsa into brightly colored bowls.
Arrange the bowls on your salsa bar, and don’t forget to include a serving spoon with each one.
To finish assembling your salsa bar, use mini chalkboards to create labels for each salsa so your guests can easily identify their favorites.
How To Create The Ultimate Summer Salsa Bar
That’s it! I hope you enjoyed reading all my tips to create the ultimate salsa bar for summer.
Don’t forget to snag all four delicious and simple recipes for homemade salsa listed on the recipe card below.
For more recipes and tips, check out Mrs. Wages® Home Canning Guide, or visit their website, mrswages.com.
And…If you are catching up on blog posts you may have missed, sign-up to get all of the latest recipes, DIYs, decor tips, and more sent straight to your inbox.
Until next time!
The Ultimate Summer Salsa Bar
The Ultimate Summer Salsa Bar
Ingredients
Mild Salsa
- 6 pounds Fresh tomatoes, blanched and diced OR 6 cans petite diced tomatoes, undrained (14.5 oz. cans)
- ½ cup Mrs. Wages® White Distilled Vinegar (5% acidity) or cider vinegar
- 1 packet Mrs. Wages® Mild Salsa Tomato Seasoning Mix
Medium Salsa
- 2 Large fresh tomatoes OR 1 can petite diced tomatoes, undrained (14.5 oz. can)
- 1 packet Mrs. Wages® Classic Medium Salsa Tomato Seasoning Mix
Hot Salsa
- 2 Large fresh tomatoes OR 1 can petite diced tomatoes, undrained (14.5 oz. can)
- 1 packet Mrs. Wages® Habanero Salsa Tomato Seasoning Mix
Salsa Verde
- 10-12 Fresh tomatillos, husked, blanched or roasted and blended in a food processor or mixer (about 1 pound)
- 1 and ½ teaspoons Mrs. Wages® Chipotle & Garlic Salsa Tomato Seasoning Mix
Instructions
For The Mild Salsa
- Wash, blanch, and coarsely chop tomatoes. (*Note if you use canned tomatoes, open the cans, do not drain the juices, and move to step 2.)
- To mix the salsa, combine tomatoes, vinegar, and Mrs. Wages® Medium Salsa Mix in a large non-reactive stockpot. (Do not use aluminum.)
- Bring the salsa mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. When done, your salsa is ready!
- Pour into containers and let cool. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
For The Medium and Hot Salsas
- Wash fresh tomatoes. Cut out cores and chop coarsely. If using canned tomatoes, do not drain liquid.
- Combine tomatoes and Mrs. Wages® Classic Medium Salsa Mix OR Mrs. Wages® Habanero Salsa Mix in a large mixing bowl.
- Let stand for 10 minutes before or refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. Cover leftover salsa and store in refrigerator. Use within 2-3 days.
For The Salsa Verde
- Husk and wash tomatillos. Place in boiling water and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes. Remove tomatillos with a slotted spoon.
- When cool, place tomatillos in a food processor or blender. and pulse until finely chopped.
- Combine tomatillo mixture with 1 and 1/2 teaspoons Mrs. Wages® Chipotle & Garlic Salsa Mix.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving. Cover leftover salsa verde and store in refrigerator. Use within 2-3 days.
Notes
Note: This mild salsa recipe can be canned or made fresh and ready to serve. Be sure to check out this post for directions on how to can salsa using a water bath.
To serve salsas: Arrange a bowl or basket of tortilla chips on your summer salsa bar. Serve with other Mrs. Wages® favorites like guacamole and salsa con queso for the perfect summer entertaining pairing!
I would love to see what you make! If you try any of my recipes, be sure to tag me in your photos!
IG: @midwestlifeandstyle + #midwestlifeandstyle
Did You Enjoy this Post? PIN It for Later!
This is a really cool idea!!!! Where did you get the black signs?
Hi Tracey! Thanks so much for stopping by. The little black clipboards are from Hobby Lobby. I think they still sell them. Then I made each of the labels on my computer and just cut them out and clipped them on. I hope that helps!
I love the idea of a salsa bar, Jen! So perfect for summer entertaining! I am excited to feature your post at this week’s Tuesday Turn About link party. Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you so much, Lynne. I appreciate the share!
Great ideas and selection pinned it
I visited you via Fabulous Friday Link Party 7.14.23
My entries this week = 52+53. If you have not joined us at SSPS yet, come and share your posts with us and you can be our next featured post.
We’re open Monday through Saturday every week.
You will find the linkup information (1) In the Top bar under Blogging: Weekly Senior Salon Pit Stop OR 2nd image In the sidebar
We hope to meet you there virtually
Thank you, Esme!
Wow so creative!
Thanks so much, Stacy!
This is such a great idea. So festive! I love it.
Thank you, Renae. And delicious too!😉