Creamy Southwest Salad Dressing
This creamy Southwest salad dressing is smoky, tangy, and ready in just FIVE minutes. It’s the perfect homemade dressing for salads, bowls, wraps, and even as a dip! Once you try this easy dressing recipe, you’ll be looking for excuses to slather it on everything!
Check out this post for endless combinations of delicious homemade salad dressings! I know you’ll love this creamy chipotle ranch dressing and this avocado salad dressing, too!
Recipe Ingredients: Creamy Southwest Dressing
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Sour cream: I usually use light sour cream. You can substitute Greek yogurt.
Chipotle chilis in adobo: These smoky peppers come in a can or a jar and can (usually) be found in the Mexican section of the grocery store. They can be spicy, so be sure to remove the seeds for less spice. Keep the seeds in and add another chili for more spice.
Lime juice: Fresh lime juice is best for that bright, “Tex-Mex” flavor. If you don’t have any on hand, you can substitute a bit of vinegar to replace the acid in the lime juice.
Mix & Match: Customize Your Creamy Southwest Salad Dressing
This dressing is so easy to customize/adjust based on your tastes or what you’re using it for:
- Heat: Add more chipotle, leave the seeds in, or sprinkle in cayenne for more of a kick. Reduce chipotle or remove seeds for a milder version.
- Creaminess: Swap part of the mayo for avocado for extra richness. Use only sour cream or Greek yogurt for a lighter, tangier option.
- Herbs & brightness: Add fresh cilantro or extra lime juice to amp up the fresh flavor.
- Sweetness: If you like a slightly sweeter dressing, add a pinch of sugar or a drizzle of honey to complement the smoky flavors.
- Consistency/texture variations: You can adjust the amount of lime juice to thicken or thin out the dressing depending on how you’re using it. I like a thinner dressing for salads, and a slightly thicker dressing if I use it as a dipping sauce.
Expert Tips
- Chill: The flavor deepens and mellows beautifully after 30-60 minutes in the fridge.
- Storage: This dressing will stay fresh in the fridge in an airtight jar or container for 4-5 days. After storing, make sure you give the dressing a good shake or stir to get all of the ingredients incorporated again.
How to serve
Salads: Obviously, this dressing is MADE for salads and wonderful over Southwestern or taco salads like this Tex-Mex salad! It’s also a fantastic pasta salad dressing and amazing in this roasted potato salad!
Chip & veggie dip: You’ll be looking for excuses to dip something in this “dressing!” Tortilla chips, french fries and veggies make perfect dippers!
Burrito bowls: This dressing is so good drizzled over burrito bowls with rice, beans, meat, and cheese.
Burritos and wraps: Spread it on a wrap for a spicy kick!
Burger sauce: Try this dressing/sauce on a burger with pepper jack cheese! SOOOOO good!
Did you try this recipe?
Let us know your thoughts on this creamy Southwest salad dressing by leaving a star rating below or sharing it on Instagram!
Thank you! ~ Casey
Creamy Southwest Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream can substitute Greek yogurt
- 1 chipotle in adobo, chopped + 3 tbsp. adobo sauce from the can remove the seeds from the chipotle chili for less heat
- 1 tbsp. lime juice a bit more if you want a thinner consistency
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt + more to taste
- 1 pinch of sugar
Instructions
- Whisk: In a small bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients until smooth.
- Chill (optional): You can abosolutely serve this dressing right away or place it in the fridge for 30-60 minutes and allow the flavors to marry.
Notes
- Consistency/texture variations: You can adjust the amount of lime juice to thicken or thin out the dressing depending on how you’re using it. I like a thinner dressing for salads, and a slightly thicker dressing if I use it as a dipping sauce.
- Storage: This dressing will stay fresh in the fridge in an airtight jar or container for 4-5 days. After storing, make sure you give the dressing a good shake or stir to get all of the ingredients incorporated again.
I want to dip everything in this dressing/dip! I know you’ll love it and there are so many easy ways to customize it! XO ~ Casey