Cilantro Ranch Dressing is a zesty, creamy salad dressing made with fresh lime juice, cilantro, chives, and garlic. Use it as a dip for veggies, drizzle it over burrito bowls, or serve it alongside Mexican grilled chicken for a fresh twist on traditional ranch dressing.
Table of Contents
The Best Creamy Cilantro Ranch Dressing
I love a kitchen short cut, but you really can’t beat the flavor of a homemade salad dressing, particularly one made with fresh herbs and citrus! Luckily, homemade dressings like this Cilantro Lime Ranch come together quickly and can be kept in your fridge for up to a week!
This dressing is everything you love about a classic ranch- the creaminess, the tang, the herbs–but with a Southwestern flair. Unlike traditional ranch, this cilantro ranch dressing is made without buttermilk, relying instead on sour cream and lime juice for its tangy flavor. Instead of dill, we use lots of cilantro for fresh, herby flavor. We’ve been putting this stuff on everything from a simple garden salad to sheet pan shrimp tacos. It’s a versatile recipe you’ll love having in your back pocket!
CourtneyKey Ingredients + Substitutions
- Mayonnaise– I strongly prefer the texture of a full fat mayonnaise, and I’m partial to Duke’s mayo. But feel free to use your favorite mayo here.
- Sour cream– This brings the TANG. You could also use unsweetened Greek yogurt.
- Cilantro– This dressing gets it’s great taste and smell from a whole lot of fresh cilantro!
- Lime– Use fresh squeezed lime juice for the best, brightest flavor.
- Chives– Fresh chives are a staple in ranch dressing, and they work well in this version, too.
- Garlic– Adds just enough bite to the dressing.
- Milk– Milk is used to make the dressing as thick or thin as you’d like.
- Salt and pepper– To make all the flavors sing!
How to Make Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing
Step 1: Whisk together the base. In a large measuring cup or bowl, whisk together the mayo, sour cream, cilantro, lime juice, chives, and garlic.
Step 2: Add milk and season. Stir in the milk until it reaches a thick but pourable consistency. Season to taste with Kosher salt and pepper. Serve or refrigerate.
Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions
- Storage: Cilantro ranch keeps well in a sealed container in the fridge for about a week.
- Make ahead: I think this dressing tastes even better when it’s made 2 to 24 hours in advance.
What to Serve with Cilantro Ranch Dressing
- Fresh veggies– Omit the milk, and you’ll have a thick, creamy cilantro ranch dip for vegetables and potato chips.
- Sandwiches, burgers, and wraps. Add some bright, herby flavor to your favorite Taco Burgers, or try it in a Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap.
- Salads. Swap cilantro ranch for blue cheese for a great twist on this Black and Blue Salad.
- Burrito bowls (or burritos)– We love it on these Pulled Pork Rice Bowls.
- Your favorite Mexican foods, like Grilled Flank Steak Tacos or Margarita Shrimp Tostadas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! In fact, I recommend just whisking this by hand. Be sure to chop the cilantro into small bits.
These are not the same, but you could easily add jalapeno to this dressing if you like. Either grate a jalapeno into the dressing or pop all the ingredients into a blender and blend. I recommend seeding half or all of the jalapeno for a manageable heat.
Absolutely. Plain Greek yogurt is an easy swap.
Adding a splash or two of milk is the easiest way to thin ranch dressing.
Because sour cream can separate when frozen and thawed, I don’t recommend freezing this dressing.
Yes, you could swap the sour cream for buttermilk if you prefer. You will not need to add any additional milk.
Stored in the refrigerator, this dressing will last about 7 days.
Yes, but we recommend making our Avocado Lime Dressing instead!
More Recipes for Cilantro Lovers
Can’t get enough cilantro lime? Try these other favorites!
- Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad
- 3 Bean Salad with Cilantro
- Southwest Pasta Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Mexican Chicken Marinade
Join Our Community
Sign up for the NeighborFood email community to get recipes in your inbox ad free and access exclusive content from us! You can also follow us on Instagram and Pinterest. Made our recipe? Leave us a star rating or comment below!
Cilantro Ranch Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup finely cilantro
- Juice of 1 lime
- 2 Tablespoons chopped chives
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 Tablespoons-1/4 cup whole milk
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- In a large measuring cup, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, cilantro, lime juice, chives, and garlic.1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup finely cilantro, Juice of 1 lime, 2 Tablespoons chopped chives, 2 cloves garlic
- Add in the milk, whisking until it's a thick but pourable consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve.2 Tablespoons-1/4 cup whole milk, Salt and pepper
Notes
- The dressing will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for about a week.
- Alternatively, you can add all the ingredients to the blender (the cilantro can just be roughly chopped) and blend until smooth.
- To make a dip, omit the milk.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review, Mention @NeighborFoodie, or tag #neighborfoodies!
Leave a Reply