Take that humble, yet zesty jar of salsa out of the fridge or pantry and create some delicious, healthy, and easy meal in minutes. From green chili chicken enchiladas to crock pot taco casserole, these recipes with salsa show that simple meals don’t need to be boring. Trust me, you’ll wanna bookmark this list of easy recipes for later!

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Recipes with Salsa: Table of Contents

Click below to go directly to the recipes!

Healthy Recipes Using Salsa

Recipes Using Salsa Verde (Tomatillo Salsa)

Meals to Eat with Salsa

About these Recipes

You most likely have a jar of salsa lying around in your fridge or pantry – did you know there is so much more you can do with it than just serve it with chips and tacos?

Salsa is an incredibly versatile ingredient that can take a basic meal to the next level (and save you a lot of time and effort in the process!).

Since I’m all about simplifying, streamlining, and making healthy meals work in real life around here, I love taking a single ingredient (like the pantry staple, salsa) and finding lots of different ways to use it.

That way you don’t get bored with the same meals all the time, and you keep grocery shopping simple by relying on a few staple ingredients (check out my capsule grocery list for more on this).

Case in point, I am sharing over 20 wildly delicious recipes that either use jarred salsa or are served with salsa (jarred or my favorite 5-ingredient salsa) – see, there’s so much you can do with a jar of salsa!

Healthy Recipes Using Salsa

Close up photo of a shredded chicken taco on a small flour tortilla topped with avocado chunks, shredded lettuce, and salsa.
5 stars (4 ratings)

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Friends, these are the best slow cooker chicken tacos ever! I know there are a lot of slow cooker chicken taco recipes out there, but my recipe is simple, uses only 6 ingredients, and tastes incredibly fresh. The ultimate time-saving recipe, it's a dump-and-go recipe you'll turn to week in and week out.
Ingredients: garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, chicken, salsa.
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bowl of shredded slow cooker fajita salsa chicken with chips and avocado on white table
5 stars (23 ratings)

5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Fajita Salsa Chicken

The perfect recipe for when you’re short on time but still want a delicious, real food dinner, 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Fajita Salsa Chicken is a snap to prep and requires just a handful of ingredients.
Ingredients: chicken, onion, bell pepper, salsa, lime juice and salt
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5 stars (33 ratings)

3-Ingredient Crockpot Salsa Chicken Stuffed Potatoes

This Crockpot Salsa Chicken Stuffed Potatoes recipe is the easiest, most delicious, wildly simple recipe you’ll find anywhere. What’s more, everything cooks together in the slow cooker, so prep is super fast and cleanup is a breeze!
Ingredients: chicken breasts or chicken thighs, salsa, and russet potatoes.
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Brown bowl on a blue background filled with chicken and bean chili, topped with cheese, cilantro, and avocado.
4.95 stars (39 ratings)

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili (Dump and Go)

Ingredients: chicken, tomato sauce, beans, salsa, cumin, garlic and salt.
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4.84 stars (6 ratings)

3-Ingredient Instant Pot Salsa Chicken Stuffed Potatoes

The easiest, most delicious, crazy simple recipe, 3-Ingredient Instant Pot Salsa Chicken Stuffed Potatoes is your new go-to for weeknight cooking.Everything cooks at once, so dinner’s done in minutes! Gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free, paleo, and Whole30 friendly.
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or chicken thighs), salsa, Russet potatoes and salt.
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4.86 stars (7 ratings)

5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are easy to prepare in the slow cooker and make for a filling, festive and delicious meal.
Ingredients: black beans, sweet potatoes, salsa, garlic powder and smoked paprika.
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5 stars (4 ratings)

The Best Dairy-Free Salsa Cheese Sauce

Dairy-Free Salsa Cheese Sauce is an ooey-gooey, totally delicious alternative to traditional cheese sauce. Packed with veggies, and totally dairy-free, you’ve got to try this one to believe it!
Ingredients: Russet potatoes, carrots, chicken or vegetable stock, cashews, nutritional yeast, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, chunky salsa, and salt.
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wooden spoon with ground beef and a black slow cooker
5 stars (12 ratings)

Crock Pot Taco Meat

Crock pot taco meat is an easy dump-and-go recipe made with just a few simple ingredients, perfect for busy weeknights or for feeding a party crowd.
Ingredients: ground beef, salsa, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, mild chili powder, and salt.
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Serving spoon scooping taco casserole out of a slow cooker.
5 stars (4 ratings)

Crock Pot Taco Casserole

Ingredients: taco meat, salsa, enchilada sauce, black beans, cheese, tortilla chips.
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Overhead shot of a bowl of sweet potato black bean chili garnished with avocado slices and sliced green onions. You can see a second bowl of chili, a lime wedge, cilantro, and a kitchen towel in the background.
5 stars (29 ratings)

5-Ingredient Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili (Slow Cooker, Instant Pot)

5-Ingredient Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili is simple to prepare, totally nourishing, and absolutely delicious.
Ingredients: sweet potatoes, black beans, salsa, vegetable stock, cumin, smoked paprika and salt
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Recipes Using Salsa Verde (Tomatillo Salsa)

white bowl of crockpot white chicken chili with jalapenos and tortilla chips on top
5 stars (95 ratings)

Easy Crockpot White Chicken Chili

Crockpot white chicken chili is an easy prep, dump and go recipe, made with healthy ingredients and deliciously creamy without any dairy. Also includes Instant Pot and Stovetop instructions!
Ingredients: chicken breast, stock, white beans, mild green chilis, salsa verde, onion, garlic powder, cumin, cream cheese (traditional or dairy-free).
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An overhead shot of shredded chicken topped with cilantro and green chilis in a black slow cooker.
5 stars (6 ratings)

Slow Cooker Green Chili Chicken (5-Ingredients!)

With a short list of simple, real food ingredients this slow cooker green chili chicken is an easy and flavorful meal prep protein. Plus, there are so many ways you can use this chicken, you won’t get bored!
Ingredients: chicken, tomatillo salsa, salt, cream cheese, diced green chilis
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An overhead shot of a tablescape made up of a rectangular baking dish with enchiladas, an empty plate, a striped napkin, and small bowls with limes, cilantro, red onion, and guacamole.
5 stars (4 ratings)

Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas

With only 4 ingredients, this green chili chicken enchiladas recipe is easy to make, yields super flavorful results, and is an excellent make ahead meal.
Ingredients: chicken, salsa verde, Mexican cheese blend, tortillas
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Overhead shot of tacos on parchement paper squares.
5 stars (7 ratings)

Ground Turkey Tacos with Sweet Corn Salsa

These super tasty ground turkey tacos are quick to pull together on a busy weeknight and is full of simple, yet super flavorful fresh ingredients.
Ingredients: olive oil, ground turkey, cumin, mild chili powder, garlic powder, salt, tomatillo salsa, corn tortillas, corn, red onion, lime juice, cilantro.
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Meals to Eat with Salsa

A white bowl filled with fresh tomato salsa chipotle copycat with lime wedges and corn chips on the side.
5 stars (4 ratings)

5-Minute Fresh Tomato Salsa (Chipotle Copycat)

Inspired by Chipotle, this fresh tomato salsa recipe combines just a few simple ingredients for a quick appetizer or sauce that’s perfect for dipping or topping tacos or burrito bowls. It comes together in a matter of minutes in just one bowl, so it’s easy enough for a weeknight!
Ingredients: tomatoes, red onion, cilanto, jalapeno, lime juice, lemon juice and salt.
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Overhead shot of a baking pan filled with chicken enchiladas with fresh avocado slices and jalapenos on top.
5 stars (4 ratings)

Easy Chicken Enchiladas

This easy chicken enchilada recipe is simple to prepare and yields super flavorful, delicious results every time!
Ingredients: shredded chicken, enchilada sauce, corn tortillas, and shredded Mexican cheese blend.
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5 stars (2 ratings)

Real Food 7-Layer Dip (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Simple, delicious, and naturally gluten-free & dairy-free, Real Food 7-Layer Dip will be the hit of your next party or gathering!
Need another easy dip that can feed a crowd? Look no further than this slow cooker spinach artichoke dip recipe (it's a family favorite)!
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Image of Slow Cooker Enchilada Quinoa (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free)
5 stars (26 ratings)

Slow Cooker Enchilada Quinoa (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free)

A simple drop, stir, cover, and go recipe; Slow Cooker Enchilada Quinoa (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free) is so easy to prepare, tastes amazing, and packs well for lunch the next day.
Ingredients: quinoa, canned black beans, bell pepper, onion, cumin, garlic powder, mild chili powder, tomato sauce, diced fire-roasted tomatoes, green chilis, lime juice and salt
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Tacos on a wood board and white table with carnitas and toppings.
5 stars (5 ratings)

Slow Cooker Carnitas

This slow cooker carnitas recipe is super easy to prepare and yields wildly delicious, succulent results everytime. Serve the carnitas warm as a filling for tacos, burritos or in bowls for an easy weeknight dinner win!
Ingredients: pork loin roast (or pork shoulder), orange juice, lime juice, cumin, mild chili powder, garlic powder and salt.
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top down view of a turkey taco skillet in a blue pan on a blue background
5 stars (3 ratings)

Turkey Taco Skillet

Solve weeknight dinner tonight with this quick turkey taco skillet! Made with simple pantry ingredients like ground turkey, it’s a lighter meal on its own or can be used as a delicious taco or burrito filling or delectable nacho topping.
Ingredients: ground turkey, onion, garlic powder, cumin, canned black beans, canned fire-roasted tomatoes, frozen corn, olive oil and salt.
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two slow cooker turkey tacos on a white plate with cilantro and lime wedges
5 stars (2 ratings)

Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Tacos

These easy slow cooker turkey tacos combine ground turkey meat with tomato sauce & a few simple spices for the perfect, easy prep taco filling. Make tonight taco night!
Ingredients: ground turkey, tomato sauce, olive oil, cumin, chili powder, granulated garlic powder, paprika and salt
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An overhead shot of a white rectangular baking pan with cooked enchiladas topped with enchilada sauce, melted cheese, avocado slices, jalapeño slices, and cilantro on a white background with a white and blue stripped napkin, wooden spoon, and a bunch of a cilantro.
5 stars (5 ratings)

Ground Turkey Enchiladas

This ground turkey enchiladas recipe is a delicious and healthy meal that’s easy to make and perfect for a busy weeknight dinner or as a make ahead meal. It’s a time saving main course that uses just a handful of ingredients and is sure to be a new family favorite!
Ingredients: olive oil, onion, ground turkey, salt, cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, black beans, cheese, enchilada sauce, tortillas.
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southwest beef and sweet potato skillet surrounded by herbs and limes on white background
5 stars (17 ratings)

Southwest Beef & Sweet Potato Skillet

This easy Southwest Beef & Sweet Potato Skillet is a super simple and flavorful weeknight meal that everyone will love.
Ingredients: ground beef, sweet potato, canned diced tomatoes, mild chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, water, baby spinach, lime juice, olive oil, and salt.
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Overhead shot of black bean quinoa bowl on white table with striped blue napkin and a side of dressing in small jar.
5 stars (3 ratings)

Black Bean Quinoa Bowls

These healthy Southwest Black Bean Quinoa Bowls are quick and easy to make, and are topped with the most delicious homemade cumin lime dressing. Perfect for a light vegetarian dinner, colorful side dish or make-ahead lunch!
Ingredients: quinoa, water or stock, canned black beans, red cabbage, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, corn, pumpkin seeds, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, mild chili powder, maple syrup (or honey), olive oil and salt.
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5 stars (3 ratings)

Sheet Pan Fajita Fish Tacos

Easy, fast, and made in just one pan, Sheet Pan Fajita Fish Tacos makes the perfect weeknight dinner!
Ingredients: white fish (like cod), bell peppers, onion, cumin, garlic powder, mild chili powder, olive oil, lime juice, and salt.
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Overhead shot of sweet potato black bean enchiladas topped with avocado.
5 stars (3 ratings)

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas

This easy, vegetarian black bean and sweet potato enchiladas recipe is simple to prepare in just one pan and yields super flavorful, delicious results every time!
Ingredients: sweet potato, black beans, spices, cream cheese, tortillas, red enchilada sauce.
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White dish filled with instant pot chicken burrito bowl filling with avocado slices on top, sitting on a white background with a napkin and chips on the side.
5 stars (6 ratings)

Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Bowl (One-Pot!)

Let’s make a feel-good version of our favorite takeout! A true one-pot wonder, this easy Instant Pot chicken burrito bowl recipe is a perfect dump-and-go option for busy weeknights, meal prep, or as a chicken burrito filling.
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or chicken thighs), rice, chicken broth, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, canned black beans, corn, cumin, mild chili powder, garlic powder, lime juice and salt.
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Top down view of a white bowl filled with crockpot black bean soup on top of a striped blue napkin.
5 stars (5 ratings)

Easy Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

Super easy and incredibly delicious, this easy slow cooker black bean soup leans on pantry ingredients like canned black beans for a simple, craveable, go-to dinner recipe. It’s a family favorite that you’ll wanna make again & again!
Ingredients: canned black beans, stock, celery, carrot, onion, garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, chipotle chili powder, lime juice, olive oil and salt.
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top down view of a turkey taco skillet in a blue pan on a blue background
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Turkey Taco Skillet + Recipes Using Salsa

Servings: 4
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Solve weeknight dinner tonight with this quick turkey taco skillet! Made with simple pantry ingredients like ground turkey, it’s a lighter meal on its own or can be used as a delicious taco or burrito filling or delectable nacho topping all served with salsa. Plus 20+ recipes with salsa.
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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1 pound 93% lean dark meat ground turkey
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15-ounce) jar mild chunky salsa
  • 1 cup frozen defrosted corn

Optional Serving Suggestions:

Equipment

Instructions 

  • Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the onion, ¼ teaspoon salt, and stir to combine. Cook for 3 minutes, or until the onions soften, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the ground turkey, breaking up with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt, cumin, and garlic powder. Cook until the turkey is browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the black beans, salsa, corn, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, stirring to combine. Turn to medium low and simmer for 5 minutes for the flavors to combine.
  • Sprinkle with cheese if using, then serve with optional serving suggestions if desired.

Notes

Use mild salsa for a less spice and spicy salsa for a little heat.
Author: Robyn Conley Downs
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 (of 4), Calories: 331kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 36g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 62mg, Sodium: 714mg, Potassium: 804mg, Fiber: 10g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 566IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 86mg, Iron: 4mg
Nutrition disclaimer
Did you make this recipe?If you do, be sure to share it on Instagram and tag me at @realfoodwholelife so I can see!

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