This Chipotle Ranch Dressing goes with everything, from salads to dips. Made with just three ingredients, this creamy dressing is delicious and easy to make. We recommend you try this chipotle ranch dressing.
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Who Invented Ranch Dressing?
Ranch dressing was invented by Steven Henson, a plumbing contractor who combined buttermilk, Miracle Whip, shallots, MSG, and spices in order to keep his workers satisfied with their meals.
The dressing became a success, and in the 1950s, Henson retired early and bought a ranch in California, calling it “Hidden Valley Ranch”- sharing a name with his ranch dressing company. It became one of the nation’s favorite traditional ranch dressing recipes.
Why This Chipotle Dressing Recipe is a Keeper
- Easy Ingredients: This chipotle sauce recipe contains only three ingredients, all of which can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store.
- 5 Minute Recipe: All you have to do to make this great recipe is mix the dressing ingredients together in five minutes or less.
- Versatile: Put chipotle ranch dressing on anything you’d like or use it as a dip. The family can’t wait to try this dressing with a spicy kick. Use it place of mayonnaise.
What is Chipotle?
Chipotle chili peppers are jalapeno peppers that have been smoked and dried. The chipotle peppers are commonly used in Mexican cooking, and can be ground into powder to be used in sauces or seasonings. For instance, you can commonly find chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
Canned chipotle peppers are one of the key flavors in this chipotle dressing.
Ingredient for this Chipotle Dressing
This chipotle ranch recipe will soon become your favorite dressing! If you love chipotle, you’ll want to try this chipotle ranch dip. Here are some salad dressing ingredients for this southwest ranch dressing you’ll need:
- Lime Juice: Add lime juice to give your dressing some zest and to allow the ingredients to blend well.
- Ranch Dressing: You can make your own or use a store-bought ranch dressing.
- Chipotle Chiles in Adobo: A can of chipotle adds a spicy kick to this sandwich spread.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Substitutions and Variations for this Chipotle Ranch Dressing Recipe
- Different Levels of Heat: Add hot sauce, chipotle powder, or cayenne pepper to make this tangy homemade salad dressing spicier.
- Ranch Substitutes: To substitute for ranch dressing, make this recipe with Greek yogurt, sour cream, or a combination of mayo and sour cream for a chipotle mayo dressing.
- Chipotle: There are many ways to use chipotle peppers, and this classic ranch dressing with a kick is just one of them. Just one chipotle pepper marinated in adobo sauce will give this dressing a spicy heat, or you can make dressing without chipotle if you want a milder flavor.
- Sour Cream: The dressing will thicken with a little sour cream. This will make the dressing extra creamy. If the dressing is too thick, you may need to thin it out with some oil until you reach your desired consistency.
- Food Processor: Instead of mixing by hand, you can make homemade chipotle ranch dressing in the food processor.
How to Make Chipotle Southwest Dressing
These are the basic steps for making chipotle ranch dressing. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions it also has nutrition information provided. We love reader interactions, if you followed the recipe or pin this recipe, let us know.
Step 1: Mix
Mix together ranch dressing, lime juice, and taco seasoning until well combined. The dressing will thicken as it sits. Keep in the fridge in an airtight container.
Ranch Chipotle Dressing FAQs
Expert Tips for Making Chipotle Ranch Dressing
- Spice: To make this dressing spicier, you can add Mexican ingredients, things like chili powder, smoky paprika, hot sauce, red chili flakes, and cayenne. For some extra flavor, you can also add some onion powder or dill.
- Fat Free: Use fat free ranch if you’re looking for a healthier option.
- Thicken: If you want to thicken this chipotle salad dressing recipe, try this chipotle dressing with sour cream.
- Use as a Dip: This dressing is also perfect for dipping. Use this easy chipotle ranch dressing as a dipping sauce for sweet potato fries, raw veggies, or chips. You can also use chipotle ranch dressing as a topping for southwest chicken tacos or chicken salad.
- Blender: Throw all the ingredients to a blender for easy mixing.
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Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Equipment
- Food processor OR blender
- Medium mixing bowl
- Glass jar with lid, optional
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Ingredients
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- ½ cup Sour cream
- 3 tablespoons Whole milk
- 1 Chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
- Juice of 1 lime, about 2 tablespoons
- 1 teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon Dried dill
Instructions
- Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, chipotle pepper, lime juice, All Purpose Seasoning, dried parsley, and dried dill to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- If the dressing is thicker than you’d like, blend in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Transfer the dressing to a jar or airtight container. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
- Stir or shake well before serving.
Christina’s Notes
For an extra smoky flavor, blend in 1 to 2 teaspoons of the adobo sauce from the can along with the chipotle pepper.
If you prefer a thinner dressing for salads, add a little more milk until you reach your desired consistency. For a thicker dip, reduce or omit the extra milk.
This dressing is delicious on taco salads, burrito bowls, grilled chicken, wraps, burgers, sandwiches, roasted vegetables, or as a dipping sauce for fresh vegetables, chicken tenders, pizza, or tortilla chips.
The recipe can easily be doubled for meal prep or entertaining.
Prepare the dressing up to 5 days in advance and store it in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Stir or shake well before each use.
Freezing is not recommended, as the mayonnaise and sour cream can separate and become grainy after thawing.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.