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Try my Chipotle Ranch Dressing recipe once, and you will find yourself saying goodbye to store-bought versions! This recipe, with its perfect mix of spicy peppers, robust adobo sauce, and creamy homemade ranch, is surprisingly simple to make in only five minutes and tastes fantastic.
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Chipotle Ranch Recipe
If there’s one condiment I can’t go without, it’s ranch dressing. Learning to make my own homemade buttermilk ranch was only the beginning! The possibilities for new condiments, like this creamy homemade Chipotle Ranch Dressing, just opened up from there.
As someone who loves a spicy ranch, this chipotle version is a blend of all my favorites: creamy and savory ranch, rich adobo sauce, zesty lime juice, and, of course, smoky, spicy chipotle peppers. Just blend them together, and it’s ready in no time.
Once prepared, you’ll want to add it to everything! Chipotle ranch makes an excellent dipping sauce for french fries and chicken nuggets, adds incredible flavor when drizzled over tacos or burritos, and is a fantastic salad dressing. The possibilities are endless – so go wild!
Chipotle Ranch Salad Dressing Ingredients
- Mayonnaise: Use a high-quality, creamy mayo for best results.
- Sour Cream: If you don’t have any sour cream or would prefer another option, you can also use plain Greek yogurt.
- Chipotles in Adobo Sauce: This is a hard ingredient to substitute, but if you have chipotle powder, it can work in a pinch. A blend of tomato paste, cayenne, chili powder, and cumin will also work, although it won’t taste exactly the same.
- Garlic: If you don’t already have a garlic press, I recommend it! This makes mincing garlic a breeze.
- Lime Juice: Lemon juice can be substituted for lime juice! It won’t have quite the same flavor, but it will still taste good.
- Parsley: You can also use dried parsley, or opt to leave it out entirely if you prefer.
- Onion Powder
- Salt and Pepper: I recommend using Sea Salt Flakes if you can.
How to Make Chipotle Ranch Dressing
- Carefully remove chipotle peppers from the can, chopping them finely – remember to wear gloves and avoid touching your face!
- Blend mayonnaise, sour cream, chopped peppers, minced garlic, lime juice, onion powder, salt, pepper, and parsley in a blender or food processor until very smooth.
- Taste, then adjust the flavorings as you see fit. Add adobo for extra spice.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour, ideally overnight, to let the flavors merge. Serve, and enjoy!
Isabel’s Top Tip
Like all dressings, this homemade Chipotle ranch tastes so much better after resting in the fridge for at least an hour, but preferably overnight. Make it the day before! No, seriously, the flavor will at least double, if not more.
Chipotle Ranch Recipe Tips
- Make sure to blend the ranch well; this will prevent it from having too many clumps.
- You can adjust the flavors as necessary after blending. I like adding a little more adobo sauce or another chipotle to really kick up the spice. A touch more lime can also add extra zing!
- I like to add a little extra milk or water if it’s going to be a dip. If used as a dressing or spread, leave it nice and thick!
What to Serve with Chipotle Ranch Sauce
- Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Nuggets
- Crispy Baked Potato Wedges
- Ground Pork Tacos
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Grilled Chicken Salad
Chipotle Ranch Recipe FAQ
Yes. Finely mince the chipotle peppers and garlic and whisk all ingredients together thoroughly until combined. The texture will be slightly chunkier, but it will still taste great.
You can make a dairy-free version by substituting vegan mayonnaise, such as an oil-based mayo, and a dairy-free sour cream alternative. Adjust the consistency with a little dairy-free milk if needed.
Yes, you can adjust the heat by reducing the amount of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in the recipe. This will give you a less spicy yet still flavorful dressing. Alternatively, if you want it spicier, add more chipotle pepper or extra adobo sauce.
Storing Leftover Chipotle Ranch
- Fridge: Store leftover spicy ranch in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Use it for dipping carrot sticks and other veggies, drizzling on nachos, and more!
- Freezer: It’s not recommended to freeze ranch dressing. While it can be done, freezing a mayonnaise-based recipe like this one can result in separation, which will make the dressing lumpy and grainy.
Dip Recipes
Try my Orange Vinaigrette next!
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Recipe
Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Equipment
- Food processor or blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- ½ cup Sour cream
- 2 Chipotle peppers in adobo
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon Lime juice about half a lime
- 1 Tablespoon Parsley minced
- ½ teaspoon Onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Carefully remove 1-2 chipotle peppers from the can, chopping them finely – remember to wear gloves and avoid touching your face!2 Chipotle peppers in adobo
- Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, chopped peppers, minced garlic, lime juice, onion powder, salt and pepper, and parsley in a blander or food processor, and blend until very smooth.1 cup Mayonnaise, ½ cup Sour cream, 2 cloves Garlic, 1 Tablespoon Lime juice, 1 Tablespoon Parsley, ½ teaspoon Onion powder, Salt and pepper
- Taste, then adjust the flavorings as you see fit. Add adobo for extra spice.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour, ideally overnight, to let the flavors merge.
Video
Notes
- Let the ranch dressing rest for optimal flavor, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld.
- Blend the ranch thoroughly to achieve a smooth texture without clumps.
- Post-blending, adjust flavors as needed. Add more adobo sauce or chipotle for extra spice, or a bit more lime for added zing.
- Sour Cream: Easily replace sour cream with unsweetened Greek yogurt without affecting the flavor.
- Chipotles in Adobo: In a pinch, use chipotle powder or a mix of tomato paste, cayenne, chili powder, and cumin as a substitute.
- Lime Juice: Substitute lime juice with lemon juice for a slightly different, yet still tasty, flavor.
- Parsley: Opt for dried parsley or omit it altogether if preferred.
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