Copycat Chipotle — Easy Corn Salsa Recipe (2024)

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5 from 6 votes

22 minutes minutes

by Marly

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Indulge in the simplicity of our sweet corn salsa recipe. With only 6 fresh ingredients, you can create a flavorful condiment that’s perfect for any occasion.

You can serve corn salsa with tortilla chips and a hibiscus margarita for a festive appetizer.

Copycat Chipotle — Easy Corn Salsa Recipe (1)

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There are a few things I really feel certain about in this world, and one of them is I love fresh corn salsa recipes. And “love” is not a word I toss around loosely. OK. Maybe it is, but it’s still something special when it comes to today’s recipe.

I adore adding tangy corn salsa on tacos, burritos, salads and more. Why? It elevates both the flavor, texture, and delightful burst of freshness in every bite.

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Ingredients & Substitutions

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:

  • Fresh Corn: Opt for fresh corn on the cob when available for the best flavor and texture. Alternatively, frozen or canned corn can be used as a convenient substitute.
  • Jalapeños: For a milder salsa, remove the seeds and membranes from the jalapeños. You can also substitute canned jalapeños for added convenience.
  • Red Onion: Look for firm and shiny red onions, typically located in the produce section of the grocery store. If unavailable, white or yellow onions can be used as substitutes.
  • Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds a burst of flavor to the salsa. However, if cilantro isn’t your preference, fresh parsley or chives can be used as an alternative. Also, dried cilantro is less potent and may be more tolerable for cilantro haters.

Buying Guide: When selecting fresh corn, choose ears with bright green husks and plump kernels. Avoid ears with dried or brown husks, as they may indicate older corn.

Reader Reviews

★★★★★
Having been a manager at Chipotle your recipe is…spot on.

Lyn

★★★★★
This was my favorite side dish of ALL TIME! There’s no fat and its packed full of flavor. We put it on tortilla chips…and ate it as a side dish alone. Thank you for this recipe! It’s also fun to add avocado or tomato, mix it up!

Jen

How to Make Corn Salsa

Interestingly enough, this recipe begins in the microwave. Of course, you can cook your corn the traditional way (boiling it in a pot), but the microwave makes it so easy.

  1. Cook the corn until tender.
  2. Using a serrated knife, carefully shave off the corn kernels.
  3. Combine the corn kernels with jalapeños, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Mix well.
  4. Serve immediately or refrigerate for later use.
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Marly’s Tips

  • You can add chopped tomatoes to make corn tomato salsa. I prefer using sweet cherry tomatoes because they’re firmer and sweeter.
  • For added smokiness, grill the corn on the cob before shaving off the kernels.
  • Use fresh corn right off the cob. I recommend your farmer’s market to support a local farmer. I love these tips on selecting the best corn.
Copycat Chipotle — Easy Corn Salsa Recipe (3)

What Makes This Recipe Shine?

  • Crowd Pleaser: Elevate your next gathering with this crowd-favorite sweet corn salsa.
  • Vibrant Flavor: Experience the vibrant flavors of summer with this easy-to-make sweet corn salsa.
  • Healthy Twist: Add a healthy twist to your meals with this nutritious and satisfying sweet corn salsa.

Serve it Up

This salsa is great on vegan black bean burritos. But it’s also pretty tasty on a vegan taco salad along with some Sofritas, of course!

I even add this salsa to a vegan baked potato. Of course, I also make corn salsa for tacos and vegan enchiladas. Any dish that could use a burst of freshness can be enhanced by a spoonful or two of this tasty condiment.

Here are some more ways to serve it:

  • Pair with tortilla chips for a classic appetizer.
  • Serve as a topping for tacos, salads, or grilled plant-based proteins.
  • Drizzle with avocado green goddess dressing for extra flavor.

Storage Tips

Store leftover sweet corn salsa in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.

Copycat Chipotle — Easy Corn Salsa Recipe (4)

More Vegan Corn Recipes

Do you love dishes like fresh corn salsas? You’ll definitely want to check out these tasty vegan corn recipes too:

Vegan Corn Chowder

50 mins total

Best Vegan Cornbread

40 mins total

Easy Vegan Corn Casserole

55 mins total

Copycat Chipotle — Easy Corn Salsa Recipe (9)
Copycat Chipotle — Easy Corn Salsa Recipe (10)

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Copycat Chipotle — Easy Corn Salsa Recipe (11)

Copycat Chipotle — Easy Corn Salsa Recipe (12)

Sweet Corn Salsa

This sweet corn salsa bursts with vibrant flavors, featuring fresh corn, jalapeños, and cilantro, all tossed in zesty lime juice.

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate Save

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Total Time: 22 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 29kcal

Author: Marly McMillen

Ingredients

  • 3 ears of fresh corn (still in the husk) or 1 ½ cup frozen corn
  • 2 teaspoons fresh jalapeños and rinsed to remove seeds, finely chopped
  • ¼ cup red onion minced
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro or if you’re not into cilantro, try fresh parsley, chopped
  • Juice from one lime
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  • Place the 3 ears of corn, still in the husk, in the microwave, and cook for 12 minutes. When the time is up, remove the ears of corn from the microwave (Wear oven mitts so don't get burned). Place the corn on a cutting board. Chop off the bottom of the corn, and use your mitted hands to press the corn out of the husk from the other end. No silk! Do this to all 3 ears and then allow them to sit on the cutting board to cool.

  • Allow the ears of corn some time to cool and then use a serrated knife to shave off the corn. Hold the ear of corn upright with the base of it resting on the cutting board and use your knife to cut down. Repeat this step until all the corn has been removed from the cob.

  • Transfer the corn to a dish and add the finely chopped jalapeños, red onion, and chopped cilantro. Then squeeze the juice from one lime, add the salt, and stir until well-combined.

(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)

Video

Calories: 29kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 150mg | Potassium: 91mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 95IU | Vitamin C: 2.4mg | Iron: 0.2mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a rating below then tag @namelymarly on Instagram and hashtag it #namelymarly. I love seeing your creations!

This post was originally published in 2020 and was updated to include new photos, new text, and an updated recipe in 2021.

Copycat Chipotle — Easy Corn Salsa Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Chipotle's corn salsa made of? ›

A sweet salsa with medium heat, copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa recipe is made with roasted poblano peppers, jalapeños, red onion, citrus juice, and plenty of corn. Use frozen corn like Chipotle does, or follow my easy tutorial for use fresh corn on the cob.

What corn do they use at Chipotle? ›

Corn- The Chipotle website says they use white sweet corn however you can use white or yellow corn. I love using fresh corn in the summertime however you can make this recipe all year round with frozen or canned corn. Red onion- adds color and zesty flavor. You can substitute white or yellow onion.

Why is Chipotle corn so good? ›

The corn salsa is one of my favorite things to get at Chipotle. It's fresh, it's tangy, and it's bursting with fresh corn and peppers for a truly unbeatable combo. My version tastes just like the OG, but is made even better with the addition of one of my favorite spices… cumin.

What is Chipotle salsa made of? ›

This chipotle salsa requires only seven basic ingredients, and the end result tastes so fresh. You'll need canned tomatoes, onion and garlic, fresh cilantro, jalapeño and chipotle peppers, and fresh lime. This chipotle salsa is easy to make and comes together in about 10 minutes.

Does Chipotle put sugar in their corn? ›

Chipotle doesn't add any sugar to their white corn salsa recipe, but they do mention on their website that the sweet white corn has a high sugar content, so it might taste sweeter than regular corn.

What brand of sour cream does Chipotle use? ›

Chipotle uses the brand Daisy, so that's what we're using. Put the sour cream in the bowl. All you gotta do is whisk it.

What kind of shredded cheese does Chipotle use? ›

The shredded white cheese that Chipotle uses is commonly known as Monterey Jack. It is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk that melts well when exposed to heat. Chipotle's Monterey Jack cheese is used to make quesadillas and queso dip, and it's happily added to any menu item when asked.

What kind of rice does Chipotle use? ›

In general, the longer the grain, the firmer and fluffier the rice. Short and medium grains tend to be soft, moist, and sticky. Around here, all you need to know is that we use long-grain white rice. We have always been committed to preparing real food made with real ingredients.

Does Chipotle use high fructose corn syrup? ›

Scroll deeper into the Chipotle website and you'll learn that, in fact, many of the beverages sold at Chipotle do contain GMOs (in the high-fructose corn syrup), and some of the meat and dairy served at Chipotle is “likely to come from animals given at least some GMO feed.” Still, they're trying.

Is the corn salsa at Chipotle healthy? ›

High-Sodium Salsas:

The roasted chili-corn salsa contributes 80 calories and 330 mg of sodium, so we recommend choosing either of the tomatillos.

Why do Millennials like Chipotle? ›

“It's cheap and easy and healthier than most restaurant options, fast food or otherwise,” said Huhn. A recent study by Numerator showed that Chipotle customers were 20% more likely than the average US consumer to earn more than $125,000 per year.

Why is Chipotle better than Taco Bell? ›

Essentially, they try to source the very best ingredients and prepare them by hand. By choosing to serve their Mexican cuisine with whole, fresh ingredients and high-quality meat, Chipotle has a clearly defined differentiator in the Mexican fast food category.

Does chipotle salsa have vinegar? ›

Chipotle lists vinegar in the salsa, which Tabasco definitely has.

What is the spice level of chipotle salsa? ›

Chipotle uses the chile d árbol for its Tomatillo Red Chile Salsa, which ranges from 15,000 to 30,000 Scoville units. (When mixed with other ingredients, it loses much of its punch, however.)

Which salsa is healthiest at Chipotle? ›

It makes us scratch our heads that fresh salsa isn't the healthiest salsa option at Chipotle, but it's high in sodium and, according to some employees, not chopped fresh in-house like other Chipotle ingredients. Stay away from all salsas and opt for the healthiest option we mentioned, the tomatillo green chili salsa.

What is corn salsa made of? ›

Corn Salsa Ingredients

Vegetables: You'll need canned corn, an orange bell pepper, a red onion, and a jalapeño. Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds flavor and color. Lime juice: Brighten things up with fresh lime juice. Honey: Honey lends subtle sweetness.

What is Chipotle Pico de Gallo made of? ›

This smoky Chipotle Pico de Gallo is made with fresh tomatoes, onion, lime, jalapeño, and of course, Smoked Jalapeño Hot Sauce. The combination of smoky heat from the chipotles and the fresh acidity from the tomatoes is truly unbeatable.

Is Chipotle corn salsa vegan? ›

Our tortillas, vegetables, rice, beans, salsas, chips and guacamole, are vegetarian and vegan. If you eat dairy, our shredded Monterey Jack cheese and queso are made with vegetable-based rennet and our sour cream is 100% cultured cream.

Is the corn salsa at Chipotle good? ›

The roasted chili corn salsa at Chipotle Mexican Grill is super popular for good reason! It's mild, lightly sweet, and bursting with freshness from cilantro, jalapeno, and lime.

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