Easy Pico de Gallo

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Pico de gallo is a classic Mexican condiment made with tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and lime juice.  It is perfect for topping tacos, nachos, fish, and so much more.
Servings: 2 cups
Total Time: 10 minutes
pico de gallo served with avocado and chips

Pico de gallo is a perfect blend of acid, heat, and herbal flavors. It is great as a dip with chips but it is so versatile that it could become a favorite topping for grilled fish, chicken, or beef as well as your tacos, burgers, nachos, and queso.

pico de gallo served with avocado and chips

5 Tips for the Best Pico de Gallo


Here are five quick tips for getting the best pico de gallo.

  • Use ripe red tomatoes. Roma tomatoes have the best flavor for pico de gallo since they are less watery, but any ripe red tomato will do. Before chopping the tomatoes, core and remove the seeds. Grape or cherry tomatoes can also be used just chop them into small pieces.
  • Diced not Chopped. Dice everything very finely so that you can get all the flavors in every bite.
  • Let it sit. Making it 10 to 20 minutes in advance will give the ingredients more time to marinate together to get the best flavor. Stir just before serving.
  • Don’t forget the salt. Salting the tomatoes and letting them sit in a strainer will drain out additional water.
  • Customize. Pico de gallo can easily be customized. Add some fresh avocado, cucumber, mango, or pineapple.

How to Make Pico de Gallo


Here are the quick step-by-step instructions with visuals; you can find the full instructions with the exact ingredients in the recipe card below.
This post may contain paid affiliate sales links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my full disclaimer policy for details.

Pro-tip: Avoid watery pico de gallo by salting the tomatoes and letting them drain for 20-30 minutes.

pico de gallo process shots for steps 1-3

1. Salt and Drain the Tomatoes: To remove any excess water from the pico de gallo season tomatoes with 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and toss to combine. Then transfer tomatoes to a fine-mesh strainer or colander set over a bowl and allow to drain for 20 to 30 minutes. Discard liquid.

2. Combine Ingredients: Combine drained tomatoes with onion, diced jalapeno, cilantro, and lime juice. Toss to combine and season with additional salt if necessary.

3. Let’s Eat: Transfer to a serving bowl and serve with your favorite tortilla chips or as a garnish.

Frequently Asked Questions


What is the difference between pico de gallo and salsa?

Pico and salsa have many of the same basic ingredients but the difference is the texture. Pico de gallo is made fresh and has far less liquid. Pico ingredients are diced and tossed together resembling more of a salad. In comparison, salsa tends to be runnier since the ingredients are blended together.

What do I serve pico de gallo with?

Pico de gallo makes a great dip for chips but there are so many ways to serve pico. It can be a topping for tacos, chalupas, baked chicken, fish, or burgers. It can also be mixed with your corn and beans for a great cold bean salad.

pico de gallo on top of a bowl of queso

More Tortilla Chip Sides to Try


Looking for more recipes to go with tortilla chips? Try these other favorites:

  • Hatch Queso – This cheese dip is made with freshly roasted hatch green chiles, cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese. It’s rich, creamy and makes the perfect snack, appetizer or party food.
  • Habanero Mango Salsa – A little sweet, a little spicy, and perfect as a dip for chips or as a topping for tacos, chicken, or fish.
  • Grilled Avocado Guacamole – This recipe is smokey, creamy, and full of flavor. It is the ultimate dip for tortillas chips, topping for tacos, or spread on your favorite burger.

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pico de gallo served with avocado and chips

Easy Pico de Gallo

Posted by Melissa
Pico de gallo is a classic Mexican condiment made with tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and lime juice.  It is perfect for topping tacos, nachos, fish, and so much more.
5 from 1 vote

This recipe may contain paid affiliate sales links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my full disclaimer policy for details.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Dips and Sauces
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 2 cups
Calories 108 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients  

  • 2-3 ripe Roma tomatoes diced and deseeded
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ white onion diced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper diced and deseeded
  • ¼ cup cilantro finely chopped
  • ½ tablespoon lime juice freshly squeezed

Instructions 

  • Season tomatoes with 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and toss to combine.
  • Transfer tomatoes to a fine-mesh strainer or colander set over a bowl and allow to drain for 20 to 30 minutes. Discard liquid.
  • Combine drained tomatoes with onion, diced jalapeno, cilantro, and lime juice. Toss to combine and season to taste with salt.
  • Transfer to a serving bowl and serve with your favorite tortilla chips or as a garnish.

Notes

1. Onion: You can substitute white onion with yellow or red onion.
2. Cilantro: If you are not a fan of cilantro you can decrease the quantity or substitute with parsley. 
3. Nutritional information: The nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. The nutritional value is only for the pico de Gallo and does not include the nutritional value of anything served with it. It does not include the nutrition for any substitutions.
4. Be sure to check out the Key Ingredients along with the Recipe Tips and Notes sections found in the post, for more tips, options, substitutions, and variations for this recipe! You will also find step-by-step photos there.
Serving: 2cups | Calories: 108kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 5g | Sodium: 1141mg | Potassium: 530mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 62IU | Vitamin C: 53mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 3mg
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