Spicy, bold, and vibrantly red, this tomatillo red chili salsa recipe is quick and easy to make. Copycat Chipotle’s hot salsa, you can now recreate its signature flavor right in your own kitchen. Use this versatile homemade salsa as a dip or drizzle it over burritos, tacos, salads, and more.

this recipe is IDENTICAL to chipotle’s! I added a bit more salt because chipotle’s is pretty salty but the taste is ON POINT! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
– Rosario (From Pinterest)

Dipping tortilla chip into tomatillo red chili salsa.

You’ll Love This Hot Salsa

Chipotle Copycat – You’ll get to enjoy all the wonderful flavors of Chipotle in your own kitchen for a cheaper price point.
Customizable – Although this is one of the spicier Chipotle hot salsas, you can play around with the heat level to customize the spice to your liking.
Quick & Easy: This recipe requires minimal effort. Simply prep the ingredients, broil the tomatillos, soak the chilies, and blend—it’s that simple!

Ingredient Notes

Here is the pic of the ingredients you’ll need to make this tomatillo red chili salsa recipe aka Chipotle hot salsa.

tomatillo red chili salsa recipe ingredients on a marble surface in bowl and spoons with labels.

Tomatillos – In Spanish, tomatillos means “little tomatoes.” They’re small, green, and encased in a thin husk.
As you shop for tomatillos, look for firm and green options that are free from any brown spots.
Tomatillos add a citrus-like tangy flavor to the salsa.
Chile de árbol – These chilies are the secret ingredient that gives this Chipotle hot salsa its kick. They are small, red chilies that register between 15,000-30,000 on the Scoville Heat Unit scale, which is almost three times as hot as the average jalapeño.
New Mexico Chiles – These chilies provide that bright burst of vibrant red color to the sala. They’re more of a mild chile, compared to chile de árbol.
These chiles are available in any Latino grocery store or easily available online.
Substitute these chiles for California chiles or Anaheim chilies, if you don’t find them.
Roma Tomatoes: Also called plum tomatoes, they have low water content and softer skin, making them ideal for thick, flavorful salsas like this Chipotle hot salsa.
Garlic: Adds depth and a pungent kick to the salsa’s flavor profile.
Salt, pepper and ground cumin are also added into the salsa.

Step By Step Photos (With Tips)

Clean, Soak chilies:

Wipe the chilies with a damp napkin or paper towel if they look dusty. Otherwise, this step is optional.
Remove and discard the stem of the chilies.
In a large bowl, add the New Mexico Chiles and Chile de árbol along with boiling hot water.
Let the chilies soak for about 20 minutes and then drain the water.

Lower the Spice Level

This salsa is certainly meant to be spicy, but you can adjust the spice level to suit your personal preferences. To make the salsa a bit less hot, reduce the number of Chile de árbol.

Collage of 4 images showing cleaning chilies and soaking in hot water.

Roasting Tomatillos:

Cut the tomatoes and tomatillos in half. Arrange the peeled and washed tomatillos and tomatoes (cut side down) along with garlic cloves in a sheet pan lined with aluminum foil.
Place the sheet pan on the top rack of your oven and broil for about 12 minutes or until a nice, black char develops across the tomatillos and tomatoes.
Allow everything to cool enough to handle. Then, remove the skin from the tomatoes only.

Wash the Tomatillos

After you peel the husks from the tomatillos, be sure to give them a thorough wash. Tomatillos generate a sticky film over the skin to repel insects. It’s natural and harmless, but should be rinsed away before roasting.

Collage of 3 images showing roasting tomatillos, tomatoes and garlic.

Making Chipotle Hot salsa

In a blender or food processor, add the soaked and drained chilies.
Also, add the roasted tomatillos, tomatoes, and garlic with their juice.
Add salt, pepper, and ground cumin.
Blend everything together until the mixture is slightly coarse and a little chunky. If you like you can make a smooth puree. TIP: You may need to pause the blender every so often and scrape down the sides to incorporate all of the ingredients evenly.

Thin the Salsa – The salsa will have a slightly thick yet dippable consistency. However, you can add a bit of water to the blender to help thin the salsa out.

Collage of 4 images showing adding everything into grinder and blending to make salsa.

🍽 Serving Ideas

I recommend serving the Chipotle hot salsa at room temperature for the best flavors.
Enjoy the salsa as a snack or appetizer with a side of fresh tortilla chips.
For parties, potlucks, or large events, you can include a serving of this tomatillo red chili salsa alongside an array of dips and salsas such as:
This chipotle hot salsa can also be used as a sauce over various foods like a vegetarian taco salad, Air fryer quesadillas, or potato tacos.

Chipotle hot salsa served in a bowl with chips on the side.

Check Out Other Chipotle Copycat Recipes

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a review in the comment section below. If you’re sharing it on your Instagram then don’t forget to tag me @spice.up.the.curry