This 5-minute Creamy Chipotle Ranch Dressing is a spicy, smoky homemade dressing that is perfect for tacos, chicken, salad, or as a dip for chips or veggies. Here is how to make it.
Homemade dips are the best! They have a fresh and unique flavor, making them much better than the store-bought ones. Here, try a few more of them – Jalapeno Garlic Feta Dip, Yogurt Dip with Mint and Garlic, and Bang Bang Sauce.
Jump to:
About Chipotle Ranch
Let’s dive into the delicious world of Chipotle Ranch Dressing! It’s like the secret weapon for your salads and starters, ready to take your meals from ordinary to extraordinary in just a few spoonfuls.
This dressing is the perfect blend of creamy, spicy, and smoky flavors, all whipped up in just 5 minutes with a blender. We’re talking mayo, sour cream, fresh lime juice, chipotle peppers, and a sprinkle of seasonings—it’s that simple.
You might wonder, “Why bother making it at home when I can grab a bottle from the store?” Well, here’s the scoop: homemade Chipotle Ranch is leagues ahead in taste compared to store-bought versions.
The best part? There are no additives, preservatives, or artificial colors here—just wholesome, fresh ingredients. Plus, making it yourself means you have full control over the quality of what goes into it.
Not to mention, it’s easy on the wallet, too! Whip up a batch of this goodness, and you’ll save some serious cash while treating your taste buds to something spectacular.
You can also tweak the spice level to your liking. Whether you like it fiery or mild, this dressing can be customized to suit your taste buds perfectly.
Now, how do you enjoy this flavor-packed dressing? The options are endless! Whether it’s Taco Tuesday, Cinco de Mayo, or just a regular day, Chipotle Ranch is your mealtime hero. Slather it on tacos, drizzle it over salads, dunk your chicken in it, or use it as a dip for chips; the possibilities are endless.
So, the next time you want to jazz up your meals, whip up a batch of homemade Chipotle Ranch and get ready to be blown away. Your taste buds will thank you, and you’ll never return to store-bought again!
Ingredients
Mayonnaise – Although you can use light mayo, the full-fat variety gives this dressing a creamier texture. Replace mayo with Greek yogurt if you want a light and healthy option.
Sour Cream – Sour cream enhances the creamy, rich texture of this dressing and adds a slightly tangy taste. Follow my detailed recipe for Sour Cream to make it at home.
Seasonings – The combination of mayonnaise and sour cream is delicious, but these seasonings add a few more flavors: garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper powder, and dried rosemary. Feel free to adjust the seasonings to your taste.
For a more prominent garlicky flavor, you can add freshly minced garlic. You can also replace dried rosemary with other herbs like parsley, dill, etc.
Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed lime juice adds a lot of freshness and zing to this dip.
Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce is the dip’s star ingredient, differentiating it from the classic ranch. Adjust the quantity by adding one pepper at a time until you reach your desired spice level. I like medium spicy, so I added 2 peppers.
Green Onions – Finish it with some finely chopped green onions, which add a slight crunch and a beautiful pop of green color to this light orange-colored dip.
How To Make Chipotle Ranch
Add the following ingredients to a blender or food processor.
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder
- 1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
Blend until completely smooth.
Taste and adjust – add more seasonings or increase the chipotle peppers to heat preference. Refrigerate for at least an hour for the flavor to meddle together.
Garnish with chopped green onions. Serve as a dip, or add some water and drizzle on salads.
Frequently Asked Questions
This dressing can be made healthier by swapping mayo for Greek yogurt and using light mayo instead of full-fat mayo.
Nowadays, vegan mayo and sour cream are available. So replace them with the original ingredients and enjoy your vegan version.
Pro Tips By Neha
I always refrigerate the dressing for about an hour before serving. This will help the flavors to meddle and come out more beautifully. At the same time, it makes the dip a little thicker and creamy.
Do not have a blender or food processor? Do not worry; mix all the ingredients in a bowl using a wire whisk. You might have to finely chop the chipotle peppers and then add them to the dip.
If you have a store-bought ranch mix, prepare it per the instructions and blend it with lime juice and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. You can even try it with bottled ranch dressing!
This dressing tends to get thick when stored for longer. Thin it out using water before serving.
You can taste and adjust the quantity of ingredients to fit your taste.
You Might Also Like
Recipe Card
Creamy Chipotle Ranch Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ tablespoon fresly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder
- 1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce ((NOT the entire can))
- 1 tablespoons chopped green onions (for garnishing)
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients (except green onions) in a blender or a food processor.
- Blend until completely smooth.
- Taste and adjust – add more seasonings or increase the chipotle peppers to heat preference.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour for the flavor to meddle together.
- Garnish with chopped green onions. Serve as a dip or add a bit of water and drizzle on top of salads.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!