Easy Southwest Ranch Dressing

Name: Easy Southwest Ranch Dressing
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: Southwest
Ingredients: 1/2 cup salsa (look for an all-natural brand or use the fresh stuff from the deli section); 1/2 cup sour cream (or plain, full-fat Greek yogurt); 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice; 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro or parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley); 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon onion powder; Pinch of cayenne pepper

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By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 4/25/24Updated: 2/1/25

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A little creamy, a hint of spicy, and 100% delicious! This easy homemade Southwest Ranch Dressing takes minutes to throw together and is super versatile.

Southwest Ranch Dressing in a small white bowl for serving.

Table of Contents

3 Reasons to Make Southwest Ranch at Home

Elevates Your Food at Home: The key to creating restaurant-quality food is often in the sauces. This southwest version of homemade Ranch dressing (or sauce) adds cool creaminess, a hint of citrus and lime, a bit of spice from the cayenne, and complexity from the cilantro and other seasonings. It’s far more interesting and tasty than any store-bought dressing or dip.
Healthier: This recipe is made with wholesome, recognizable ingredients unlike the store-bought version. Have you ever looked closely at the ingredients in a bottle of Ranch dressing or a packet of Ranch dressing mix? It’s jam-packed with additives, preservatives, MSG, high-fructose corn syrup, and many other mystery ingredients. Yuck!
So Easy: Making your own condiments at home, like BBQ sauce, salad dressings, and pesto is far easier than you may think. This Southwest Ranch Dressing is made with ingredients you already likely have on hand and just takes a few minutes.

Ingredients

This Southwest Ranch Dressing (or is it a sauce? or is it a dip?) consists of just a handful of recognizable ingredients. You may have most of these at home already.

Salsa – Look for an all-natural brand or use the fresh stuff from the deli section. My favorite from the store is Mateo’s medium salsa.
Sour Cream – Plain, full-fat Greek yogurt works well, too.
Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed is best! Lemon juice works as a substitute.
Fresh Cilantro or Parsley – This adds a pop of color and fresh flavor. Substitute dried parsley if needed.
Pantry Seasonings – Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper

How to Make Southwest Ranch

In a small bowl, stir together all the salsa, sour cream, fresh herbs, and pantry seasonings until combined. Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 week. This dressing tastes better the longer it sits, so try to make it a few hours in advance.

Southwest Ranch dressing in a bowl and drizzled on a taco.

Storage Tips

After combining all the ingredients, store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Do not freeze this because the sour cream will separate in the freezer.

How to Use Southwest Ranch

Use this tasty sauce for a variety of dishes, including these ideas:

Drizzle it on our Southwest Chicken and Bacon Wraps or Chicken Burrito Bowl. Sooo good!
Serve on salad like our Southwest Chicken Salad or Mexican Chopped Salad.
Pair it with our Oven Steak Fries or Crispy Smashed Potatoes as an appetizer.
Serve as a dip with fresh veggies like cucumber, celery, carrots, broccoli, and bell peppers.

Homemade southwest ranch dressing on a chicken wrap.

FAQs

Is southwest ranch dressing spicy?

You can control how spicy to make your dressing with the kind of salsa you select (mild, medium, or hot) and how much cayenne pepper you add. The way our recipe is written yields a mild spiciness.

Can southwest ranch dressing be used as a dip?

This particular recipe can be used as a dressing, dip, or sauce. It’s medium thickness, so it will pour easily but work well as a dip for raw veggie sticks or chips. We also have a Homemade Ranch Dip that’s a little thicker.

Can I make a vegan or dairy-free version of this recipe?

Yes! Simply replace the sour cream with a vegan or dairy-free sour cream or Greek yogurt from the health food store.

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Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!