Easy Southwest Ranch Dressing

Name: Creamy 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

★★★★★ 5 /5

Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe

By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 3/7/22Updated: 9/14/23

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

A little creamy, a hint of spicy, and 100% delicious, this homemade southwest ranch dressing takes minutes to throw together and is super versatile.

Southwest Ranch Dressing in a small white bowl for serving.

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.

Table of Contents

A Healthier Ranch Dressing

Not only is this homemade dressing delicious but it’s far healthier than ones at the store. 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!

When time allows, you’ll find that making your own condiments at home, like BBQ sauce, salad dressings, and pesto, is not only better for you, but they also taste fresher and more complex. This proves true with our Southwest Ranch Dressing!

What’s in Southwest Ranch Dressing?

This dressing (Or is it a sauce? Or is it a dip?) boasts 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)
Sour cream (or plain, full-fat Greek yogurt)
Freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice
Fresh cilantro or parsley (or dried parsley)
Salt and pepper
Garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper

Homemade southwest ranch dressing on a chicken wrap.

How to Store Homemade Ranch Dressing

After combining all the ingredients, store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Do not freeze (the sour cream will separate in the freezer.) This dressing tastes better the longer it sits.

How to Use This Sauce/Dressing

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

Drizzle it on our Southwest Chicken and Bacon Wraps. Sooo good!
Serve as a dip with fresh veggies like cucumber, celery, carrots, broccoli, and bell peppers.
Pair it with our Crispy Parmesan Potato Wedges as an appetizer!
Use it as a dressing on a leafy green salad. Topping ideas include our Southwest Chicken Tenders, fresh corn kernels, black beans, tortilla strips, feta or cotija cheese, and cherry tomatoes.

More Homemade Salad Dressings You’ll Love

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!