The Best Smoked Salsa Recipe in a Pellet Smoker

Smoked Salsa Flavors

Bright and zest tomatoes are combined with garlic, jalapeño, bell pepper and yellow onion with lime juice and salt. This takes you right to the cantina. Be prepared to have a margarita on hand with lots of chips on hand for this tasty fresh salsa. 

Easy Homemade Salsa Ingredients 

This salsa recipe will have a mild smoky flavor and will still hold on to the brightness from the fresh vegetables. 

For a medium batch to share with a family of four, you will need:

• 6 tomatoes on the vine
• 1-2 jalapeno peppers
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 or 2 bell peppers
• ½ yellow onion
• lime juice
• fresh cilantro 

For the fresh tomatoes, you have options. You can use Roma tomatoes, plum tomatoes, or beefsteak tomatoes. I have found tomatoes on the vine to give the best overall flavor to the salsa.

Sweet onions are best for this recipe. I have tried white onions and red onions, but the flavor is by far the best with sweet yellow onions.

How Spicy Are We Making This

A little guide spice:

One Jalapeño will have a mild heat and kid approved

Two jalapeño peppers will be closer to a medium heat level, especially if you leave the ribs and seeds of the peppers.

For spicier salsa, consider different types of peppers like Serrano or habanero (please proceed with caution, wear gloves when handling hot peppers, and wash your hands thoroughly after).

How to Smoke the Salsa Veggies

The first step is to preheat your Traeger smoker. Set it to 225˚F and let it preheat for 15 minutes with the lid closed.

While the smoker heats, prep the veggies by washing them and cutting everything in half. Give them a very light drizzle of olive oil and season with sea salt.

Place the veggies directly on the grill grates and cook with the lid closed for 90 minutes. They will become slightly tender and soft.

After you remove the veggies from the smoker, transfer them to a blender. Add your salt, fresh lime juice, cilantro and blend until you've reached the desired consistency.

For best results, transfer to an airtight container, refrigerate overnight, and serve the next day.

A Quick Tip for Smoking Vegetables

You have an option when it comes to placing the vegetables on the pellet smoker.

1. Lay the cut vegetables directly on the grill grates - the best option for the most smoke flavor 
2. Use a sheet pan lined with a wire rack to place the veggies in the smoker - this makes putting the veggies on the grill and taking the veggies off a little easier
3. Disposable aluminum pan is the third option for keeping the veggies together and holding saving the juices 

What to Serve with Smoked Salsa

Serve your smoky salsa with tortilla chips, loaded nachos, quesadillas, or smoked carnitas tacos.

How to Save and Store Smoked Salsa

Transfer the prepared salsa to an airtight container. I really like these glass jars that I got from Amazon

More of My Favorite Mexican Recipe

Traeger Carne Asada

Beef Enchilada Casserole

Elote Off the Cob