I Asked 4 Mexican Chefs To Name the Best Store-Bought Salsa—They All Said the Same Thing

It’s widely available and very affordable.

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As one of my all-time favorite condiments, salsa is a permanent fixture in my fridge. Sure, it’s perfect for taco night or on-the-fly entertaining served alongside tortilla chips, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I often add salsa to egg dishes, enchiladas, burrito bowls, rice dishes, and even Mexican-inspired pastas!

However, as an Armenian-American woman, I am in no way an expert on the best or most authentic salsas, either homemade or store-bought. While I’ll sometimes make it from scratch, more often than not I’m purchasing salsa from the grocery store.

This has led me to wonder what brands Mexican food professionals usually reach for on their supermarket run. I reached out to talk to a handful of them, and interestingly, they all mentioned the same one!

The Mexican Food Professionals I Asked

• Alejandra Graf: Chef and creator behind the food blog Ale Cooks
• Kate Ramos: Creator of the recipe site ¡Hola! Jalapeño
• Yarely Euan Lopez, RDN, LD: Bilingual registered dietitian and food professional
• Juan C. Guerrero, MS, CDM, CSSBB, ISAK-3: Dietitian and food service professional

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The Best Store-Bought Salsa, According to Mexican Food Pros

If they aren’t whipping it up from scratch, these knowledgeable pros reach for Herdez Salsa as the ultimate store-bought brand, particularly the Salsa Casera variety. “As a pantry staple in my kitchen, it’s affordable, flavorful, and super versatile—and tastes like homemade,” says Guerrero. Graf agrees. “Classic and simple, it’s super close to homemade,” she says.

“This salsa verde combines tomatillos, jalapeño peppers, onions, salt, and cilantro, which makes it a super tangy and mildly spicy flavor that's versatile for various dishes,” Lopez explains. Ramos seconds her, praising Herdez for an ingredients list that strikes “just the right balance of heat and freshness.”

Regardless of which Herdez variety you choose, you can count on several flavors being available at most large supermarkets nationwide—with most bottles costing less than $3, to boot! 

How Mexican Chefs Use Herdez Salsa

The experts offered plenty of creative ways to utilize Herdez in the kitchen. Graf likes Herdez as a braising liquid for veggies, an ingredient in enchilada sauce, and for topping baked potatoes. “And I love using it as a shortcut in huevos rancheros,” she says.

Lopez starts her day with Herdez, too. “I keep salsa in my fridge like I keep milk,” she says. “I use it to make chilaquiles for breakfast.” At lunch or dinner, she adds it to tacos or scoops it with some tortilla chips. 

Guerrero also reaches for Herdez for every meal. “I love it with eggs, tacos, rice bowls, and even use it to make albóndigas (Mexican meatball soup),” she says. “It adds an authentic tomato-chile base without my needing to start from scratch.”

Ramos likes it as a simmer sauce for proteins like chicken, beef, and tofu, a flavorful addition to canned beans, and, of course, a dip. Her secret sauce? “Salsa and hummus make for a quick appetizer when the two are mixed together—delicious!” she raves.

That sounds like a genius idea. I’ve never tried Herdez before, but now I know which brand I’ll be reaching for on my next grocery run!

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