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This Creamy Cilantro Ranch Dressing recipe makes the perfect addition to nachos, tacos, salads and more! With just a handful of ingredients, you can whip up a batch of this flavorful dressing in minutes.
Who doesn’t like a good condiment?? Sauces are such an easy way to take your dish to the next level, and this creamy cilantro ranch dressing is no exception! The simple dressing adds layers of flavor to anything you put it on. We like to add this dressing to tacos, salad, chips, and loaded fries.
I love how quick and easy this sauce is to make. All you have to do is throw the ingredients a blender, let it run, and add it to your dish. No matter how you use this delicious dressing, it is sure to be a big hit!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The dressing can be used as a topping on a variety of recipes.
- You can throw this sauce together in minutes with a blender and a handful of ingredients.
- It is sure to be a hit among even the pickiest of eaters.
Recipe Ingredients
- Mayonnaise—Serves as the base of your dressing.
- Buttermilk—Helps give the dressing a smooth, creamy texture.
- Tomatillos—With the husks removed
- Garlic—Adds a sharp flavor to the dressing.
- Cilantro
- Lime Juice—Bottled or freshly squeezed.
- Jalapeno—With the seeds removed.
- Spices—A combination of dried parsley, salt, and pepper.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Creamy Cilantro Ranch Dressing
- Add all of your ingredients to a blender.
- Blend the ingredients together until smooth and homogenous.
- Taste your dressing and adjust the spices as needed.
Popular Substitutions
- Mayonnaise—If you don’t have any mayo or are looking for a good substitution then I recommend using Greek yogurt. This will give the dressing a similar flavor and texture.
- Buttermilk—If you don’t have any buttermilk then you can make your own by whisking together one cup of milk and one tablespoon of white vinegar. Let the mixture sit on the counter for a few minutes and then add it to the blender.
Recipe FAQs
This dressing lasts for up to 10 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I like to make it ahead of time when I can because the flavors will continue to blend and develop as it sits. As a result, this dressing is often best after a day or two in the fridge.
I recommend making the dressing from scratch. It takes almost no time, since you just throw all the ingredients into a blender. Ranch packets also use different seasonings than this Mexican-food-inspired version, so I’d skip the packet this time around.
It is totally up to you! Since we are going to blend all of the ingredients together, you can use fresh or frozen garlic. The flavor will be about the same either way, so feel free to use whatever you have on hand!
Expert Tips
- I like to make this first and let it sit in the fridge while I get the rest of dinner ready. It gives the flavors a little time to mix and mingle.
- This dressing is naturally on the thin side. If you want to thicken your dressing then you can leave out the buttermilk.
- Greek yogurt makes the best substitution for mayo.
- Feel free to use bottled or fresh lime juice.
- For some extra lime flavor, add the zest of one lime to your dressing.
How to Serve Your Dressing
One of my favorite things about this quick and easy dressing is how versatile it is. This flavorful dressing can take just about any dish to the next level. One of my favorite ways to use this dressing is to drizzle it over some fresh barbacoa.
For a full meal, we like to drizzle this dressing over tacos and serve it alongside some beans and cilantro lime rice.
More Delicious Sauce Recipes
Condiments, Marinades & Spreads
Easy Tartar Sauce Recipe
Seasoning Mixes
Garlic Parmesan Seasoning – Perfect for Breadsticks
Dip Recipes
Lemon Garlic Hummus Recipe Without Tahini
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Creamy Cilantro Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 2 or 3 large tomatillos, husk removed
- 1 or 2 cloves garlic, outer skin removed
- 1/2 bunch cilantro, about a cup
- 1/2 a lime’s juice
- 1 jalapeno, seeds removed
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- more salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Throw everything into a blender, and blend until smooth, about one minute.
- Taste the dressing on a piece of lettuce, and adjust the seasonings as needed.
- You can keep this sauce covered in the fridge for up to 10 days.
- You can use fresh or bottled lime juice.
Notes
- I like to make this first and let it sit in the fridge while I get the rest of dinner ready. It gives the flavors a little time to mix and mingle.
- The dressing is relatively thin, but that means it covers everything well. If you want it a bit thicker, omit the buttermilk, or add just enough to reach the desired consistency.
- Miracle Whip or salad dressing can’t be used in place of the mayonnaise.
We like to make the Cafe Rio Style meal occasionally and it inspired me to come up with something new…creamy cilantro lime chicken…I just saute chicken, add a scoop of sour cream, then cilantro and lime to taste…it is really good on the cilantro lime rice 🙂