17 Tasty Recipes That Use Salsa Verde
By Amanda Paa – Updated October 23, 2023
If you have a jar of salsa verde sitting in your pantry, these 17 recipes will use it up in the most delicious ways! Salsa verde, also known as tomatillo salsa, is a fresh, herbaceous, and slightly tangy green salsa. It adds deep flavor to many dishes. It can be used in enchiladas, soups, stews, as a braising liquid for meats, a companion to beans, and more!
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What is Salsa Verde?
Salsa verde is a savory, vibrant, fresh green sauce that gets its color and slight tanginess from its main ingredient; tomatillos.
Tomatillos are green with a papery husk that is removed before using. I grow them each summer in my garden and make this salsa verde recipe, preserving it to use in many dishes throughout the year. To note, tomatillos are not the same as green tomatoes.
Salsa Verde is commonly used in Mexican and Central American cuisine, where it is used as a key ingredient in dishes like enchiladas, tacos, and stews. The inclusion of fresh herbs, such as cilantro and/or parsley, gives salsa verde a fresh and herbaceous taste. The freshness is key! And the combination of ingredients like garlic and onion adds depth, balancing the tanginess and spiciness of the peppers.
Typical Ingredients in Salsa Verde:
- Tomatillos
- Onion
- Garlic
- Cilantro
- Peppers
- Lime Juice
- Salt
What’s the Difference Between Salsa and Salsa Verde?
Generally, salsa is made with a tomato base giving it a red color and salsa verde with a tomatillo base giving it a green color. Their flavor profiles differ quite a bit as well. Salsa verde has a distinct tart and herbaceous taste while red salsa can be sweeter and spicier, possibly smokier, with the common use of red chiles. I like both for different reasons and used in different applications! If I’m simply eating it as a dip for tortilla chips, I’ll always reach for the jar of fire roasted salsa.
Is Salsa Verde Spicy?
The level of spiciness in salsa verde can vary depending on the type and quantity of green chilies used. Some versions are mildly spicy, while others can be quite hot, depending on personal preferences. Before using a jar of it in your cooking, be sure to taste the salsa first to assess the spiciness.
Best Ways to Use a Jar of Salsa Verde:
Enjoy salsa verde as a simple appetizer with tortilla chips, added to soup, atop tacos, in cozy casseroles, and enchiladas. Whatever you add it to, it will definitely add delicious flavor! You’ll find 17 recipes here, both vegetarian and with meat, to fit just what you’re craving.
1
Salsa Verde White Chicken Chili Dip
A bubbly, cheesy skillet dip that tastes like white chicken chili with zesty flavor from salsa verde. You'll blend white beans into the mix to make it healthier, and you can use rotisserie chicken to make things easy!
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2
Easy Green Chile Chicken Soup
A stovetop green chili chicken soup with white beans and salsa verde and warm spices like chili powder and cumin! The beauty of this soup is it’s on the table in less than an hour, but tastes like you put a whole day of prep into it.
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3
Salsa Verde Chicken and Rice Casserole
Our Salsa Verde Chicken Casserole is packed with juicy chicken, black beans, sweet corn, and tender rice cooked in a cheesy salsa verde sauce.
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4
Easy Baked Salsa Verde Chicken
Busy day? Bake boneless, skinless chicken breasts in tomatillo salsa verde sauce. Topped with oozy melted jack cheese, it’s an easy one-pot dinner.
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5
Salsa Verde Shredded Beef Bowls
The Salsa Verde Shredded Beef is so savory and has such great flavor, you could serve it in so many ways. The possibilities are endless!
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6
Braised Salsa Verde Pork Tacos
Boneless Pork Shoulder braised in a homemade salsa verde that is mildly spicy and super fresh. Make into tacos for a complete meal!
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7
Salsa Verde Pepper Jack Chicken Salad with Mango Dressing
This Chicken Salad is bursting with juicy, salsa verde chicken, sweet clementine oranges, creamy avocados, crunchy bell peppers, fresh corn, salty sunflower seeds and buttery pepperjack cheese. A dinner salad for sure!
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8
Roasted Chipotle Green Chicken Taco Stacks
Chicken is marinated and then roasted with a ton of flavors and beer and peppers. When finished, the chicken is shredded and placed between crispy tortillas that have been dipped in salsa verde.
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9
Pulled Pork Chile Verde Tostadas
This is a “drop the mic” dinner recipe. Crispy, fried tortillas topped with meat, cheese, and any other number of toppings. This version starts with a slow cooker pulled pork recipe that could not be easier to put together. You coat a small pork shoulder (I prefer boneless) with spices, salt, and pepper and sear it on all sides until golden and crisp. Then, you cook it in your slow cooker with a jar of salsa verde until it falls apart.
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10
Easy Chile Chicken Quesadillas
Chicken quesadillas loaded with tender chicken cooked in flavorful salsa verde and gooey cheese. These quesadillas are so good, it’s hard to eat just one.
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Vegetarian Recipes
11
Salsa Verde Bean & Rice Soup
This Salsa Verde Bean & Rice Soup is comforting, filling and healthy. Filled with veggies & pinto beans and served with steamed rice!
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12
Salsa Verde Pepper Jack Macaroni and Cheese
This mega creamy, 30 minute (lightened up) Salsa Verde Macaroni and Cheese is packed with flavor! The green salsa an pepperjack cheese are star ingredients.
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13
Spicy Vegan Salsa Verde Soup
A spicy jalapeno chickpea soup with hominy, salsa verde lime, zucchini and potato. Plant-based and gluten-free.
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14
Black Bean Sweet Potato Enchiladas
Amazing black bean and sweet potato enchiladas, smothered in salsa verde. A delicious, hearty vegetarian entrée.
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15
Easy Queso Verde
This Easy Queso Verde is made with a jar of verde (green) salsa, cream cheese, a can of diced green chiles, and Monterey Jack Cheese, simmered together on the the stove until melty and delicious! A fabulous last minute appetizer everyone will love.
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16
Salsa Verde Eggs
Salsa verde eggs is an easy breakfast recipe that takes less than 15 minutes start to finish. Warm corn tortillas topped with eggs cooked in salsa verde just until the whites are set. Add some crumbled cheese, sliced avocado and cilantro and you get a beautiful and delicious breakfast for one.
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17
Spicy Green Shakshuka with Feta
This Spicy Green Shakshuka with Feta is a healthy and fast meal that works anytime of day! It’s a non-traditional take on the classic red shakshuka and flavored with a Tex Mex flare using salsa verde.
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17 Tasty Recipes that Use Salsa Verde + White Chicken Chili Dip
If you need to use up a jar of salsa verde, these recipes are for you! Everything from enchiladas to tostadas, soup and this bubbly, cheesy skillet dip that tastes like white chicken chili. You'll blend white beans into the mix to make it healthier, and you can use rotisserie chicken to make things easy!
Yield: 6 servings
SCALE:
Ingredients
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can white beans, drained
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
- juice of a half lime
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 cup shredded, cooked chicken
- 1/2 cup sweet corn, fresh or frozen
- 2 tablespoons minced cilantro
- 2 cups mozzarella/cheddar cheese combination, divided
- 1/3 cup diced red pepper
- 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon salsa verde
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Brush olive oil onto bottom and halfway up sides of a 10 inch cast iron skillet. (You could also bake in any vessel you normally use for baking dips, relatively the same size.)
- Reserve 1/4 cup of the drained beans, set aside. Add the rest of the beans, sour cream, garlic, lime juice, cumin, and salt to a food processor. Puree until smooth. Taste and add a little salt if needed. Stir in chicken, corn, cilantro and 1 cup of cheese.
- Spread onto bottom of skillet, then evenly sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup white beans, red peppers and salsa verde on top of the mixture. Cover with remaining cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, until dip is bubbling. Then broil for a few minutes to brown the top. Serve immediately. Can be rewarmed as needed.
Notes
Yes, you can make homemade salsa verde for canning; this is my favorite recipe!
And a video tutorial to help you make this White Chicken Chili Dip:
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October 23, 2023
