Easy Air Fryer Roasted Salsa Verde

Say “goodbye” to store-bought salsa forever. This Easy Air Fryer Roasted Salsa Verde is the perfect salsa recipe to enjoy this summer — preferably poolside with a bowl of crunchy, salty tortilla chips. It comes together in just a few minutes thanks to the air fryer, which speeds up the process and helps the tomatillos, jalapeño, and serrano peppers reach the perfect consistency. Enjoy it with chips, serve it on tacos, or add it to your favorite fish. No matter how you choose to enjoy this salsa, you cannot go wrong!

Friends, is there any better snack in the summertime than chips and salsa? Whether I’m at the beach, at a baseball game with my boys, or enjoying a long summer afternoon in my backyard, there is nothing that I enjoy more than a big bowl of chips and salsa. But I’ll be honest, friends: jarred salsas are not my favorite. Why? Well, for starters, they tend to be loaded with extra ingredients that, in my opinion, are just unnecessary. They also tend to be higher in sodium which, when paired with salty chips, will cause you to dehydrate faster… especially in the sun. But also, and probably the most important reason why I don’t particularly love jarred salsas, is because they’re simply not as flavorful! Salsa, in my opinion, is proof that everything really does taste better homemade. And this Roasted Salsa Verde is no exception!

While traditional salsa verde is made by roasting the tomatillos and peppers low and slow in the oven, or cooking them on a charcoal grill, this salsa verde recipe skips the heavy lifting by being prepared in an air fryer. And friends, if you don’t have an air fryer yet, then you MUST get one. It puts in all of the work that an oven does, but in an absolute fraction of the time, which is perfect if you’re someone who tends to be busier or on a tighter schedule like I am!

But, back to this salsa. Since it’s made in the air fryer, it comes together in just 20 minutes from start-to-finish, making it perfect for whipping up for any summertime gathering… or, anytime that the craving for fresh chips and salsa strikes! All that you have to do is roast the prepared tomatillos, peppers, onion, and garlic in the air fryer, blend them together with a little lime juice, cilantro, and sea salt, and boom: the perfect salsa verde is born. It’s perfect for enjoying straight out of the blender with crunchy tortilla chips, but you can also add it to your favorite taco recipes, pour it over nachos, or even serve it alongside your favorite fish. No matter how you choose to enjoy it, you can’t go wrong!

What You Need to Make This Restaurant-Style Salsa Verde

• Tomatillos: Tomatillos are what truly makes salsa verde… well, a salsa verde! You can usually find tomatillos at your local Mexican supermarket.
• Jalapeño & Serrano Pepper: A good salsa verde has a little kick to it, and the kick in this recipe comes from the jalapeño and serrano peppers! But don’t worry, since we’re scooping out the seeds (which is the spiciest part) this salsa isn’t too spicy.
• Onion & Garlic: The key here is to use fresh onions and garlic. Don’t try to substitute them with powdered or preserved alternatives here, otherwise the salsa just won’t taste the same.
• Lime Juice: Fresh lime juice is what gives this salsa that tang. You’ll need the juice of 1-2 limes, in order to make this recipe!
• Cilantro: Cilantro is a staple in any good salsa verde recipe, so this recipe requires lots of cilantro! I like to have heavy hand with it, since I love cilantro so much.
• Kosher Salt: A pinch of kosher salt adds the perfect amount of seasoning to this salsa. Just be sure to go easy on the salt — I recommend to under-salt it, if anything, since you’ll most likely be serving it with salty tortilla chips!
• Avocado Oil Spray: I like to coat the tomatillos and peppers in a better-for-you oil, such as avocado oil, to ensure that they crisp up perfectly in the air fryer!

How to Make This Salsa Recipe in Just 20 Minutes

To make this salsa, start by preheating your air fryer to 400 F. Next, prepare the tomatillos. Cut the tomatillos in half and add them to the basket of the air fryer, flesh-side down. Then, prepare the jalapeño and serrano peppers by slicing them in half and removing the seeds. Place them cut-side down into the air fryer basket, alongside the quartered onion.

Spray the tomatillos and peppers with the avocado oil spray. Allow them to air fry for 5 minutes.

After the 5 minute mark, open the air fryer and add the garlic cloves in. Then, air fry for another 6 minutes. Once they’re done, remove them from the air fryer and allow them to cool slightly. Then, add the tomatillos and peppers to a blender alongside the lime juice, cilantro, and sea salt.

Blend until the salsa comes together and reaches your desired consistency. Once it’s done, taste and adjust the lime juice and sea salt as needed. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips and enjoy!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.

** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim