Dip into this easy, and authentic, homemade Pico De Gallo recipe. This fresh and simple Mexican dip is perfect for topping your favorite tacos, burritos, and quesadillas.
Freshly made, this Pico De Gallo recipe is one of our family's favorite recipes. My husband lived in Mexico for two years and learned how to make the best authentic Pico De Gallo. One of the important things he learned is that everything in this recipe is "to taste" if you like it with more or less onions, do that. If you want more or less cilantro or salt, do that! This recipe is an example of a very traditional pico, but feel free to adapt it to any preferences you have.
Is Pico De Gallo Spicy? No, not traditionally! Pico is a mild topping. But you can make it spicy by adding finely chopped jalapeno.
Add this Pico to your favorite Mexican-inspired dishes. You can also make our homemade Guacamole, Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice, Copycat Chipotle Chicken, and Copycat Chipotle Fajita Veggies to pair with it. This pico is a great topping for our Chipotle Bowl.
For more dipping fun, try our classic hummus recipe.
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Ingredients to make Pico De Gallo
What's in Pico de Gallo? This recipe works and tastes best when you use fresh ingredients. You'll get that full flavor taste you've been craving with this DIY recipe.
- Tomatoes- It's very important that you pick firm tomatoes. Mush tomatoes will make the pico too watery and it will become more like a salsa. The best tomatoes to use are Roma tomatoes.
- Onion- For the best flavor, paired with the other fresh vegetables, use a yellow onion. It's strong flavor compliments the other ingredients.
- Cilantro- Don't forget the fresh cilantro. It adds that just right flavor. If you aren't fan, you can simply leave out the cilantro.
- Lime juice or lemon- Lime or lemon juice gives the vegetables that extra burst of flavor. We highly recommend fresh squeezed for the best taste.
- Salt- Add a little salt to taste to enhance the flavors of the fresh vegetables.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Pico De Gallo Recipe
Learn how to make Pico De Gallo with the easy to follow recipe. These step by step process photos show you simple tips, and easy ways to turn fresh veggies into the perfecting topping.
- Chop the onion and the tomato. Make sure to use a sharp knife so you don't squish the tomatoes.
- Mix the chopped vegetables with the chopped cilantro, lemon juice, and salt.
- Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Hint: If you don't want salt, or cutting back, you can easily omit the salt from the recipe.
Substitutions and Variations
Try some of our favorite substitutions and variations for different fun flavors!
- Mango- Sweeten things up by adding 1 cup roughly chopped fresh mango. Or you can add as much or as little according to taste. Try our Mango salsa!
- Pineapple- Another great way to sweeten pico is adding 1 cup chopped pineapple. You can also adjust this amount according to taste.
- Avocado- Add ½ cup chopped avocado or to taste for a smooth taste.
- Corn- Add ¾ cup corn or to taste. You can also check out our copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa recipe.
What Does Pico De Gallo Mean?
Pico de gallo, which translates to "rooster’s beak" in Spanish, is a fresh, vibrant salsa commonly used in Mexican cuisine. It’s made with simple ingredients like diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro, lime juice, and jalapeños, offering a perfect balance of tangy, spicy, and refreshing flavors. The name is thought to come from the way people would once eat it, by pinching the ingredients between their fingers like a rooster’s beak. Unlike traditional salsas, pico de gallo is chunky and not watery, making it a versatile topping for tacos, salads, and grilled meats.
Pico De Gallo vs. Salsa
Typically pico de gallo is used as a garnish to a dish such as burritos and quesadillas while salsa is used as a dip. Pico is ideal as a garnish because it has less liquid than a typical salsa. If you want a pico de gallo to use as more of a salsa, use a softer tomato like a fully ripe vine or heirloom.
What kind of tomatoes should I use in pico de Gallo?
Use Roma tomatoes for this recipe. They tend to be more firm and hold their shape better than other varieties. If you don't have roma, try using quartered cherry or grape tomatoes or tomatoes on the vine. If you use tomatoes on the vine, make sure they aren't too soft.
What to eat with pico de gallo
This is the perfect fresh and easy topping for your favorite Mexican inspired dishes. Try it with our homemade air fryer taquitos, and our chicken tacos. It also goes great in our copycat Chipotle bowl, and our black bean burritos.
Storage
How long does Pico De Gallo last? Pico last 2-3 days in the refrigerator. It won't go bad after 3 days, but the tomatoes start to mush and it isn't the consistency you want.
Can you freeze Pico De Gallo? No! This recipe does not freeze. You want to use freshly chopped vegetables and if you freeze the ingredients they will mush and break down.
Top tip
A sharp knife goes a long way when cutting tomatoes! For this dish you want the tomatoes to keep their form and not collapse. Use a super sharp knife for the best results and to prevent mushy tomato pieces.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Pico De Gallo:
Recipe
Pico De Gallo Recipe
Equipment
- Small Bowl
Ingredients
- 12 oz tomatoes see Note 1
- ½ yellow onion medium sized
- ⅓ cup cilantro chopped, fresh
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice or lemon, highly recommend fresh squeezed
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Roughly chop your tomatoes and onion and add to a bowl. Finely chop your cilantro and add to the bowl. Squeeze in fresh lime juice (from about one medium/large juicy lime). Add salt to taste (we start with about ¼ teaspoon then add more as needed), serve and enjoy!
Notes
- We prefer to use Roma tomatoes as they tend to be a little more firm and hold their shape better than other varieties. If you don't have roma, try using quartered cherry or grape tomatoes or tomatoes on the vine. If you use tomatoes on the vine, make sure they aren't too soft.
- Pico de gallo is usually mild, but if you like your pico de gallo to have a bit of kick to it, add one finely chopped jalapeno.
- If you don't like salt in your pico de gallo, feel free to omit it.
Andrea says
This Pico De Gallo recipe is authentic and just like I had it in Mexico!