The Only Dips for Your Chips: 8 Trader Joe's Salsas, Ranked

Maybe you’re late for a party and forgot snacks. Maybe it’s time for a backyard hangout. Maybe you just got laid off and you need a little you-time. Whatever the occasion, tortilla chips and store-bought salsa are an elite grocery store pickup — especially at Trader Joe’s.

Whether you're picking up a thick and chunky salsa or a pineapple variety, the salsa game is strong at the beloved grocery chain, but there are a paralyzing number of options. Not sure which one to grab? Here are the best Trader Joe’s salsas, along with one you might just want to leave right there on the shelf.

Related: We Tried 20 Popular Hot Sauces. This Is the Best

Price: $2.99 / 12oz

Serving size: 2 tbsp

Calories per serving: 10

Hey TJ Pico! Long-time fan, first-time writer. I love Trader Joe's mild pico de gallo. It’s everything pico de gallo should be: bright, tangy, and bursting with life. There’s a hotter version, and while I enjoy spicy salsa, I don’t think I want it in my pico de gallo. It's all about big, fresh flavors for me on this one.

Joe, who thankfully has dropped all traces of his former alter-ego Trader José from the packaging, has the perfect balance of tomato, onion, and jalapeño going on here. I’ll never stop buying this.

Price: $2.99

Serving size: 2 tbsp

Calories per serving: 25

Tomatillos and jalapeños are a beautiful partnership, and the Trader Joe's salsa verde is a shining example. I’ve always wished it was spicier, but that’s OK. The acid of the tomatillo combined with the earthiness of the jalapeño are a match for the ages in this salsa verde. Trader Joe's chips are the only thing needed.

Editors note: At the time of update (8/15/23), this salsa is no longer on Trader Joe's website. We're not sure if this has been discontinued. 

Price $2.99 / 12oz

Serving size: 2 tbsp

Calories per serving: 15

Guajillo chiles make for a great salsa. This one is exactly what you want out of a guajillo salsa: thick and pureé-like, with roasty, smoky flavors. I love it.

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Price: $2.99 / 12oz

Serving size: 2 tbsp

Calories per serving: 10

Hatch chiles, I must admit, are a top chile for me. I’m a huge fan of Southwestern flavors in general, so give me some hatch chile salsa and I’m a happy kid. TJ’s version is tasty — I recommend throwing a few jars into a slow cooker with some pork shoulder.

Editors note: At the time of update (8/15/23), this salsa is no longer on Trader Joe's website, but it is available on Amazon in a 2-pack for $18.49. We're not sure if this has been discontinued. 

Price: $2.99 / 12oz

Serving size: 2 tbsp

Calories per serving: 5

There’s nothing wrong with this salsa at all. It’s a good version of a classic tomato salsa. Really, it's pretty similar to the Trader Joe's marinara sauce — maybe this is that very sauce, made with cilantro instead of basil. 

But look, I’m not here to speculate on Joe's recipes. I’m just here to say that this is a perfectly fine salsa with a very good consistency for dipping.

Price: $3.49 / 12oz

Serving size: 2 tbsp

Calories per serving: 10

This is a classic first-bite-not-too-bad, second-bite-very-hot situation. I do think the ghost pepper banner gets waved around a bit too much these days, because actual ghost peppers are incredibly hot, and this is just “very spicy.” I don't taste the citrusy burst that usually accompanies habanero much, either.

All that said — what are we here for? Are we here to put this on a taco or to be a dip for tortilla chips? Based on the wide-mouthed tub, it seems like the latter, and it’s simply too spicy in that case. Inside a taco or burrito, it’ll fade away and bring flavor to everything else. If you’re just cranking chip after chip of habanero-ghost pepper salsa, you’re gonna find yourself in a tough spot.

Price: $1.99

Serving size: 2 tbsp

Calories per serving: 15 

I enjoy this pineapple salsa, I do. I just don’t see a lot of utility in it beyond fish tacos, and maybe an attempt at al pastor. I’m not particularly trying to dip chips into salsa this sweet. 

Editors note: At the time of update (8/15/23), this salsa is no longer on Trader Joe's website, but it is available on Amazon for $10.50. We're not sure if this has been discontinued. 

Price: $2.99 / 16oz

Serving size: 2 tbsp

Calories per serving: 10

There is something … off about this Trader Joe's organic salsa. I spent at least 90 full seconds looking for the expiration date, and when I found it, it turned out to not be for another year and a half. So, I don’t know. Something’s just wrong. The aftertaste is not one I’m familiar with in salsa, or frankly, any other food. Skip this Trader Joe's thick and chunky salsa and buy any of the other salsas.