In many homes, jarred salsas are a must-have refrigerator staple — they’re convenient, tasty and an easy pre-dinner party snack. But they’re also expensive and laden with sodium and preservatives. This week, instead of reaching for grocery-store salsa, prepare a batch of the homemade variety instead. From-scratch salsas are more flavorful and just as easy to make, plus they boast the best of summer’s bounty of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Check out Food Network’s top five homemade salsa recipes below and serve them as an appetizer with tortilla chips, atop simply grilled chicken or seafood, or with authentic Mexican tacos , burritos and more.

5. Grilled Corn Salsa – To prepare this five-star salsa (pictured above), grill in-season corn and tomatoes until tender and cooked, then finish with onions, a drizzle of vinegar and fresh basil.

4. Salsa Fresca – Before serving, Tyler lets his cilantro-laced salsa stand for 15 minutes, so that its light, bright flavors can marry.

Get the top three recipes

Here in Food Network Kitchens, we love simple, classic recipes. We are also paid to think about food all day. So we’ve taken classic foods and drinks and reimagined them into three, four or five different ways. No standard recipes here, just the occasional technique and pictures. Think of it as a picture recipe.

Sometimes a basic pico de gallo isn’t enough. Check out these four spins on the classic.

Click here for salsa recipes

When you’re thinking of appetizers to serve Labor Day weekend or just any barbecue, don’t forget to include salsa and chips. While jarred salsa can be boring, try a homemade version packed with tomatoes, garlic and cilantro. Giada incorporates orange juice in her recipe, which gives it a burst of citrus.

Get the recipe: Spicy Tomato Salsa

Browse more of Food Network’s Labor Day recipes.