Pico de Gallo Recipe

This Pico de Gallo Recipe is So Easy!

Fresh and flavorful pico de gallo is one of the easiest condiments or dips you can make! Chunks of fresh tomato and onion are dressed up with a squeeze of fresh lime juice and a little cilantro to make a familiar and classic side dish. I love homemade pico on tilapia fish tacos or ground turkey tacos, and it’s fantastic served as an appetizer with a big bowl of air fryer tortilla chips and a dish of easy guacamole. Or try it at breakfast as a garnish for salsa egg tacos.

• So fresh! I promise you won’t buy a package of pico at the store ever again once you make it yourself!
• Not spicy. One of my favorite things about this pico de Gallo recipe is that it’s not at all spicy, making it ideal for all ages. Of course, you can add a bit of spice if you wish, but it’s up to you.
• Goes with so many meals. As mentioned, there’s not much that pico DOESN’T go with. You can also try it on top of an easy beef burrito bowl or chicken burrito bowl!
• Everyone can eat it. Whether you’re gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, or none of the above, this pico recipe works for all!

What is Pico de Gallo?

Pico de Gallo is a fresh condiment or appetizer most often found in Mexican and South American cuisine. Its main ingredients include chopped tomatoes, onions, peppers, cilantro, and lime juice. (My version leaves out the peppers.) I learned how to make this recipe at a cooking class in Costa Rica, where it’s a popular condiment for their casado tico, or typical Costa Rican rice and beans dishes often served with eggs, steak, curry chicken, and more.

Recipe Ingredients

Just five ingredients are needed to make this simple, savory side. Make sure to scroll to the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.

• Tomato: You can use any type of tomato, just make sure it equals 1 cup of seeded and diced tomato.
• Red Onion: You can use a white or yellow onion, too.
• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro is a classic addition to pico! If you don’t eat cilantro you could try flat-leaf parsley.
• Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice adds a little sweetness. In a pinch, you can use bottled lime juice.
• Salt and Pepper

How to Make Pico de Gallo

I love how easy it is to make this recipe! Take a look at the minimal steps needed to put it together below, then scroll to the recipe card for the detailed instructions.

• Combine ingredients. Mix together the diced tomato, diced red onion, minced fresh cilantro, and freshly squeezed lime juice in a bowl.
• Stir and toss. Gently toss the ingredients together to combine.

Tips & Variation Ideas

• Add spice. Unlike Mexican-style pico de gallo, Costa Rican cuisine is not spicy, so their pico de gallo does not contain jalapeño. If you want some spice, feel free to add a whole or half minced jalapeno.
• Other additions. Expand on this base recipe with some common additions to Costa Rican pico like diced avocado, bell pepper, and even mango.
• Double the batch. This recipe is so easy to double or even triple if you want to serve a crowd!
• Add garlic. For a naturally spicy kick, or if you love garlic, add 2-3 cloves of minced garlic to the mix.

Make It a Meal

You have so many options when it comes to serving homemade pico, and it goes especially well with Mexican-inspired dishes (and I have many recipes for those!). Here’s a look at some of my favorite ways to serve pico de Gallo:

• Tacos! Pico is of course a perfect complement to all sorts of of tacos, including fish stick tacos, baked chicken tacos, and walking taco casserole.
• Chilaquiles. Finish a plate of chilaquiles rojos or easy chilaquiles verdes with a big spoonful of pico!
• Tostadas. From breakfast tostadas to barbecue chicken tostadas and easy chicken tostadas, pico de Gallo is the best accompaniment. Or add it to beef and cheese tostadas!
• Pinto Beans. Dress up a batch of instant pot pinto beans with pico either stirred into the beans or served on the side.
• Wraps. Make a batch of gluten free flour tortillas or corn tortillas and use them to make tacos or burritos with pico and cilantro lime taco slaw with your choice of protein.

More Condiment Recipes

• Homemade Ketchup Recipe
• Buffalo Ketchup
• Balsamic BBQ Sauce