Chipotle lovers, get ready to take notes because this zesty and spicy copycat chipotle corn salsa is just as good, if not better, than the original! 10 key ingredients come together in just 10 minutes, making it the perfect appetizer and go-to recipe for large parties or last-minute dinner preparation.
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If you love Chipotle’s spicy, flavor-packed dishes and sides, you will certainly want to try my copycat Chipotle sofritas, plant-based chorizo, and fajita veggies. Looking for more? Be sure also to check out my compilation of 19 Chipotle copycat recipes!
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❤️ Why you’ll love it
One of the best parts about Chipotle Mexican Grill is the delicious salsas that complement its dishes. With this easy copycat chipotle corn salsa recipe, you can make your very own salsa at home in minutes!
This simple recipe requires just a handful of easy-to-find ingredients from your local grocery store, one step, and just 10 minutes to make. In no time, you will have a fresh, delicious, and nutritious appetizer to serve at your next party or to complement your favorite Mexican dishes. It is also the perfect go-to recipe for large parties, as you can easily prepare a large batch in advance and store it for later!
You will love just how customizable and versatile this recipe is. Aside from the fact that it goes great alongside just about every Mexican-style dish you can imagine, you can add more flavor, add more veggies, and adjust the spice level as needed to cater to your specific preferences and tastes!
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🧾 Key ingredients
Corn – Corn is the star of the salsa! Chipotle uses white sweet corn in their original recipe on the Chipotle website. In this recipe, I use sweet canned corn. Color does not matter, but if you can get your hands on sweet white corn, even better!
Red onion – The original recipe requires red onion, but if you only have white or yellow onion, it will work just as well. You will need a medium-sized onion for this recipe.
Peppers – A good salsa has a kick of heat, and this copycat Chipotle corn salsa is no exception! You will need one jalapeño pepper and one roasted poblano pepper.
Cilantro – For the best flavor, use fresh cilantro leaves. They will need to be finely chopped.
Lemon and lime juice – The zesty flavor in this salsa comes from the combination of freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice. Avoid using bottled juices, as they do not give the same flavor.
🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
🥘 Equipment
This easy copycat chipotle corn salsa does not require much equipment. You only need a medium bowl and a spoon to stir the ingredients together! I love my hand-crafted olive wooden spatula from Forest Decor.
👩🍳 Instructions
Making Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa
STEP 1
Lightly roast the poblano pepper in the oven or in a cast-iron skillet.
STEP 2
Finely chop the red onion, jalapeno, roasted poblano pepper, and fresh cilantro leaves.
STEP 3
Combine the chopped red onion, jalapeno, roasted poblano pepper, and fresh cilantro in a medium-sized bowl.
STEP 4
Add the salt, freshly squeezed lime, and lemon juice and stir well.
💡 Expert tip
To give the salsa the most flavor, let the onions, jalapeno, poblano peppers, and cilantro marinate in the lemon and lime juice before combining with the corn. The longer the salsa sits before serving, the better the flavors. I recommend letting it sit for at least half an hour before serving.
🔄 Variations
You can easily tweak this recipe to suit your specific tastes without taking away from the magic that Chipotle has in its original salsa.
If you prefer a less spicy salsa, you can always eliminate the jalapeno or poblano peppers and use chopped bell pepper instead. Or, if you prefer more spice, you can use fresh serrano chili peppers or habanero peppers instead.
You can also enhance it with other add-ins, such as chopped tomatoes or black beans, to make a delicious black bean corn salsa.
🥣 Serving ideas
Because of its versatility and ease of making, there are multiple ways you can enjoy this copycat chipotle corn salsa:
As an appetizer – Serve it as an appetizer with tortilla chips or as a part of an appetizer platter alongside some fresh guacamole and my homemade queso dip.
As a topping – Use it as a topping for your favorite Mexican dishes. It perfectly complements taco salads, my copycat Chipotle veggie burrito, portabello mushroom fajitas, black bean fajitas, cauliflower tacos, and Mexican rice casserole. It also makes a great addition to my tortilla soup, fajitas bowl, and copycat Chipotle burrito bowl.
As a side – Serve a fresh bowl of salsa alongside your favorite Mexican dinner entrees to use as a condiment and add some zest to your meal!
❄️ Storing tips
In the refrigerator – Store your leftover copycat Chipotle corn salsa in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
In the freezer – You can store leftover salsa in the freezer in an airtight container or plastic freezer bag for up to three months. However, I do not recommend it, as the acidity of the lemon and lime juice softens the corn over time.
🤔 FAQs
Yes! To do so, remove the husks and silks from the ears of corn and grill or boil in water a large pot for a couple of minutes until the corn kernels are tender. Let the cobs cool, cut the corn from it, and use it as the recipe directs. You can also roast fresh corn to make a delicious roasted chili corn salsa!
Yes. Simply cook the corn as instructed on the bag, let it cool, and continue using it as directed in the recipe.
While some may believe that yellow corn is sweeter, the only difference between the two is the color and nutritional content. The beta carotene in yellow corn gives it more nutrients than its white counterparts. However, the flavor is the same.
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Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa
Ingredients
- 14 oz Sweet corn (canned)
- 1 Red onion (medium)
- 1 Jalapeño pepper
- 1 Poblano pepper roasted
- 3 Tbsp Freshly chopped cilantro
- 2 tsp Lime juice
- 1 tsp Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- ½ tsp Salt
Instructions
- In a medium sized bowl mix sweet corn with chopped red onion, chopped jalapeno pepper, chopped poblano pepper (roasted), chopped fresh cilantro, lime and lemon juice and salt.
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