This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy
Our creamy Chipotle Ranch Dressing is packed with fresh herbs and smoky chipotle peppers for a salad dressing (or dip!) with a kick. Perfect for drizzling over a green salad, dipping fresh veggies or tortilla chips, and it even makes a great marinade for grilled chicken.
You all know I have a thing for homemade salad dressings.
A freshly made dressing is the easiest way to get me interested in that pile of leaves. 😉 Especially when it’s a spicy, smoky, vibrant flavored dressing like this chipotle ranch!
We took the base of our favorite ranch dressing, doctored it up with spicy, smoky chipotle peppers, and blended it all into creamy, dreamy dressing perfection.
This is perfect if you like a little kick!
We love to drizzle this over a green salad, dip a fried taco in it, or serve it as a unique dip with fresh veggies! You can even use it as a marinade for grilled chicken (details down below)!
Ingredient Notes:
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate and member of other qualifying programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mayonnaise & Sour Cream – This makes up the base of the creamy ranch dressing. We like the combination of mayo and sour cream, but you can use all mayonnaise if preferred or swap the sour cream for Greek yogurt.
Buttermilk – Tangy goodness! Make your own by using 1 cup dairy milk + 1 tablespoon white vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes to thicken up.
Chipotle Peppers – You’ll find these packed in adobo sauce in small cans near the other hispanic foods at your local grocery store. You can add more or less of this to taste depending on how spicy you like it!
Lime – You’re going to want a freshly juiced lime for the best flavor! This isn’t found in traditional ranch dressing, but we like the vibrant flavor it adds along with the peppers.
Garlic – Some chopped garlic will get processed in with the other ingredients to add more flavor to the dressing.
Herbs & Spices – We love using fresh herbs in our dressings. This one calls for dill, chives, and cilantro. You’ll also add in onion powder and salt.
What We Love About This Recipe:
- Homemade dressings are always better than the bottled kind! Fresh, flavorful, and easy to customize to suit your tastes.
- We put ranch dressing on just about everything and this chipotle ranch dressing is the perfect spicy twist for when you’re in the mood for something different.
- Use this on a salad, as a dip for a taco, drizzled in a burrito, as a marinade for grilled chicken, or as a dip for fresh veggies or tortilla chips!
Tools Needed:
Food Processor or Blender – We use our favorite food processor to blend this up. Here’s the one we use. It’s a total workhorse and we use it daily to shred cheese, chop veggies, and blend ingredients together. This personal blender should also work well.
Mason Jars – Perfect for storing any leftover dressing.
Citrus Juicer
Freshly squeezed lime and lemon juice is useful in lots of recipes, and this tool makes it easy and mess free.
How To Make Chipotle Ranch Dressing:
Process: This recipe is really pretty simple to prepare so long as you have a food processor or blender. I’ve linked to my favorite model above! Add all of the ingredients to the blender and process until it is smooth and creamy.
Adjust: Dip a finger in, give it a taste, and adjust the flavors as needed. You may need more salt or lime juice. If it’s thicker than you’d like, stir in a little drizzle of buttermilk.
Finish – This chipotle ranch dressing is best stored in an airtight jar, which also makes for easy pouring when you serve it. See below for serving suggestions! Keep in mind, this will get a bit spicier as it sits.
What To Serve With Chipotle Ranch Dressing:
You’re probably thinking the obvious here: a salad! And you’re right, you can serve this dressing with pretty much any kind of salad you’d like, especially a hearty taco salad!
But why limit yourself? Here are some other great ways to use this dressing:
Drizzle it over your serving of this taco lasagna or turkey tacos.
Dunk a slice of our Mexican Pizza in this dip!
Use this dressing to add some spicy heat to my broccoli salad and skip the packaged ranch mix.
Our air fryer tortilla chips are begging to be dipped in this chipotle ranch!
Serve this next to our frozen strawberry margaritas, Mexican rice recipe, and easy refried beans!
Make It a Marinade!
Our ranch grilled chicken is wildly popular with both my family and all of our readers! It’s a definite favorite and turns out such moist, juicy, flavorful chicken!
Follow the recipe for ranch grilled chicken, but swap in this chipotle ranch dressing in place of the regular ranch! Your chicken will have a little spicy kick to it – so good!
FAQ’s:
That depends on how much of the chipotle pepper with adobo sauce you use. The other ingredients like mayo, sour cream, and buttermilk will help balance out the heat. As written, this has does have some kick to it, but it’s not overwhelming.
Keep the dressing stored in an airtight mason jar in the fridge for best results. It should last for about 4 to 5 days!
MORE Spicy Favorites:
- Thai Peanut Noodles
- Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese
- Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- ¼ cup buttermilk more as needed
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo more to taste
- 1 lime juiced
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor and process until smooth and creamy.
- Add additional buttermilk, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, for a thinner consistency, if desired.
- Store tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Leave a Review