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Fresh Mango Salsa (15 Minutes)

DF Dairy-Free GF Gluten-Free V Vegetarian
Posted by Jess Larson on August 20th, 2025
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE SALES LINKS. PLEASE SEE MY FULL DISCLAIMER POLICY FOR DETAILS.
Ready in just 15 minutes, this Easy Mango Salsa is sweet, spicy, fruity, and zesty...basically sunshine in a bowl! Made with juicy diced fresh mango, red onion, jalapeño, garlic, lime, and cilantro (plus a pinch of Tajín for extra zing!), it’s the perfect summer salsa to serve with chips, spoon over tacos, or pair with grilled fish or pork.

Naturally Vegan and Gluten-Free.

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A close-up overhead shot of a small bowl of mango salsa surrounded by tortilla chips on a blue and white platter.
Photography by Rachel Cook
Prep: 15 min
Cook: 0 min
Serves: 6

The Juicy Mango Salsa I Pair With Just About Everything

This quick mango salsa is one of my favorite back-pocket summer recipes. I first made it ages ago to give my Island-Style Seared Scallops a little tropical flair, but over the years it became a go-to for everything from taco nights to summer cookouts and just about anything off the grill.

It’s about time we give it its own spot here on PWWB! 🙌🏼

An overhead shot of a small bowl of mango salsa surrounded by tortilla chips on a blue and white platter atop a white surface. The platter is surrounded by glasses of beer, cilantro and lime wedges. this Recipe for Later!
Spicy-sweet and straight-up stunning!

What makes this mango salsa so craveable is the contrast: it’s juicy and sweet with just enough kick from jalapeño and lime. I also toss in a good dash of Tajín for a little extra wow-factor. (If you’ve had fresh mango with Tajín before, you already know how irresistible the combo is! 🥭🌶🤤)

Best of all, there’s no food processor or cooking involved. Just chop, mix, and you’ve got a fresh fruit salsa that instantly makes any meal feel more special. Spoon it over grilled seafood or BBQ pork, pile it on fish tacos or a shrimp rice bowl, or serve it with chips.

Trust me—however you pair it, it always disappears fast. 💜

How to Make Mango Salsa—Dice, Mix, and Serve!

An overhead shot of ingredients displayed on a white cutting board atop a white marbled surface: diced mango, red onion, and jalapeno, halved limes, cilantro, garlic, salt, and tajin.
This salsa comes together with 7 simple ingredients: ripe mango, jalapeño, red onion, garlic, fresh lime, cilantro, and chili lime seasoning.

The key to a great mango salsa is using perfectly ripe mangos. Look for ones that give slightly when squeezed—they should be soft and juicy, but still firm enough to dice cleanly. Most of the time, I let mine sit on the counter for a few days to ripen since grocery store mangos are usually rock-hard.

🔪🥭👩🏻‍🍳 Dicing fresh mango stress you out? ⇢ No worries! There are 2 easy approaches. You can peel the mango and cut around the pit (my preferred method—it gives you more control over the size of the dice). Or, slice the cheeks away from the pit, score the flesh, and scoop out the cubes with a spoon.

An overhead shot of diced mango, red onion, jalapeno, cilantro, garlic, salt, and tajin. in a large blue bowl atop a white marbled surface. Halved limes and fresh cilantro lay alongside the bowl.
Once diced and chopped, add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix to combine well.
An overhead shot of fresh mango salsa in a large blue bowl atop a white marbled surface alongside spent lime halves and fresh cilantro.
Juicy-ripe mango bruises easily! Be sure to stir gently to keep the fruit intact.

Jess’ Homemade Salsa Essentials

A macro close-up shot of fresh mango salsa.
Adjust to taste: add more salt to make the flavors pop, lime juice to balance sweetness, or Tajín for extra tart heat.
A close-up overhead shot of a small bowl of mango salsa surrounded by tortilla chips on a blue and white platter.
Enjoy right away with chips, or spoon over grilled fish, pork, or chicken for a sweet-and-spicy finish.

I can’t wait for you to try this Fresh Mango Salsa! If you do, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! ♡ Happy cooking!

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A macro close-up overhead shot of a small bowl of mango salsa surrounded by tortilla chips.

15-Minute Fresh Mango Salsa with Tajín

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  • Author: Jess Larson
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: serves 6
  • Category: Sauces and Condiments, Appetizer Recipes, Snack Recipes
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American, Hawaii-Inspired
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

Ready in just 15 minutes, this Easy Mango Salsa is sweet, spicy, fruity, and zesty…basically sunshine in a bowl!

Made with juicy diced fresh mango, red onion, jalapeño, garlic, lime, and cilantro (plus a pinch of Tajín for extra zing!), it’s the perfect summer salsa to serve with chips, spoon over tacos, or pair with grilled fish or pork.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 fresh mango, sliced from the core, peeled, and diced into ¼-inch pieces (approx. 1 heaping cup)
  • ¼ medium red onion, finely diced (approx. ½ cup)
  • 2 jalapeño peppers, de-seeded as desired and finely diced (approx. ½ cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
  • 2 large, juicy limes, juiced (approx. 4–5 tablespoons)
  • ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro
  • heaping ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • heaping ½ teaspoon chile lime seasoning such as Tajíin

Instructions

  1. Mix the mango salsa: Add all listed ingredients to a large bowl (diced mango – Tajín). Gently stir to combine well. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired – depending on the size of your mangos, you may need a little extra salt or lime juice.
    An overhead shot of fresh mango salsa in a large blue bowl atop a white marbled surface alongside spent lime halves and fresh cilantro.
  2. Serve: Transfer the mango salsa to a serving dish. Garnish with additional cilantro and serve immediately with tortilla chips. This salsa is also a wonderful add-on for your favorite tacos, grilled chicken, BBQ salmon, pulled pork, and more. Enjoy!
    An overhead shot of a small bowl of mango salsa surrounded by tortilla chips on a blue and white platter atop a white surface. The platter is surrounded by glasses of beer, cilantro and lime wedges.

Equipment

Notes

Jess’ Tips and Tricks

  • Picking the perfect mango: A ripe mango will have orange-red coloring and smell sweet and fruity. Similar to avocado, a ripe mango should give slightly to a very gentle squeeze; if it feels very soft, it’s over-ripe. Here in Minnesota, it’s hard to come by a perfectly ripe mangoes at the store, so I usually look for the most yellow-orange mangoes of the bunch and allow them to ripen on my countertop for 2-4 days.

Make-Ahead and Storage

  • Storage: This fresh mango salsa is best enjoyed the day it’s mixed up, though leftovers will keep for 2-3 days. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy chilled.

Follow along with Plays Well With Butter on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest for more unfussy recipes that pack a big punch of flavor!

A macro close-up angled shot of a small bowl of mango salsa surrounded by tortilla chips.

Hi there, I'm Jess!

If there’s 1 thing to know about me, it’s this: I am head-over-heels in love with food. I’m on a mission to make weeknight cooking flavorful, fast, & fun for other foodies, & PWWB is where I share foolproof recipes that deliver major flavor with minimal effort. Other true loves: pretty shoes, puppies, Grey’s Anatomy, & my cozy kitchen in Minneapolis, MN.

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