Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing

This zesty and refreshing Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing is a perfect accompaniment to salads, tacos, and more. With just 5-ingredients, this homemade salad dressing and its vibrant blend of cilantro, tangy lime, and creamy goodness, is sure to elevate any dish.

This recipe reminds me of a tangy Mexican ranch dressing, and it’s perfect for your next taco salad, taco bowl, fish tacos, or burritos! This is same kind of dressing they serve over taco salads at your favorite Tex-Mex restaurant, but it’s so easy to make at home in just about 5 minutes.

Are you a fan of homemade dressings? Be sure to try my Cottage Cheese Ranch, Homemade Italian Dressing, Mom’s Salad Dressing, and Skinny buttermilk ranch. And, you’ll love all my sauces and condiments.

We appreciate your support

Please let me know if you have any questions about this recipe. I read all the comments myself and I try to help as soon as I can. I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen on my site, and I’ve tried to answer some of your questions already in the post. But if I’ve missed anything, please feel free to leave a comment and ask.

Reasons you’ll love this

Besides the fact that it’s super delicious! It has a lot going for it!

Health Benefits: This cilantro lime dressing has health benefits: cilantro is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, while lime provides a burst of vitamin C and adds a refreshing flavor.

Versatility: The dressing can be used in many ways, such as drizzling it over grilled chicken, using it as a dip for veggies, or as a marinade for seafood or chicken. Serve it over taco bowls, salads, and burritos. Make a super simple esquites by mixing some in with fire roasted corn. You can also leave the sour cream out entirely to enjoy it as a vinaigrette.

How to make

The full printable recipe ingredients and instructions are available in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. You can find important tips and tricks in the post.

First, start by simply gathering up the ingredients. The dressing comes together quickly in the food processor or blender. You can also make it by hand, chopping with a knife if you prefer.

Wash and dry the cilantro. But be sure to dry it thoroughly. If there’s water left on the leaves it will thin the dressing, making it watery and less flavorful.

The leaves and stems of the cilantro plant are edible. I usually toss in all of it. But if you prefer a smoother texture, you may want to use just the leaves, as they’re more tender.

For the sour cream, I recommend a full fat organic sour cream. It’ll have the richest creamiest flavor, and it’ll allow the flavor of the cilantro to shine.

You can also use plain Greek yogurt or avocado in place of the sour cream. If you prefer mayonnaise, use half mayo and half sour cream.

Add cilantro, sour cream, lime juice, and garlic to a food processor and pulse until smooth.

With the motor running, slowly add olive oil through the feed-tube.

Why do you have to drizzle in the oil through the feed tube? It helps create an emulsion. An emulsion is a mixture of two or more liquids that usually don’t like each other and want to separate. By drizzling in the oil, it helps everything combine.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Chill until serving. The dressing will thicken as it chills in the fridge.

Yield: This Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing recipe makes about 1 cup. This is equivalent to 16 tablespoons, making about 8, 2-tablespoon servings.

Change it up

I love making dressing at home because there are so many possible ingredient variations or substitutions for those with dietary preferences or restrictions.

Make it spicy with some jalapenos or candied jalapenos tossed into the food processor with the cilantro.

Try using roasted garlic or sauteed garlic instead of the raw garlic for a more mellow flavor. You can also use ½ teaspoon dried garlic instead of one fresh clove.

Can I use dried cilantro instead of fresh cilantro? Although it would be possible to use dried cilantro, I think fresh has a much better flavor for this particular herb. I recommend sticking with fresh cilantro for this dressing.

Can I substitute limes with lemons if I don’t have limes available? Yes, this will work with lemons as well. It changes the flavor a bit, but it’ll be a fun change. Try making a basil lemon dressing with this same recipe!

Want a thinner more drizzly dressing? Simply thin with a little milk or add a little more oil.

And, if you want to use a different oil, like maybe avocado oil or walnut oil, feel free.

Storage Tips

How long will the dressing last in the refrigerator? Store leftovers, tightly covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Since this can be made ahead of time, it makes it perfect for serving at a taco bar party where people can add it to their tacos or make a taco bowl for themselves.

Is this dressing suitable for a vegan or dairy-free diet?

Yes, this dressing can be suitable for vegans or for those who follow a dairy free diet with a few minor changes.

Use a dairy free sour cream or yogurt. Or, use avocado instead of sour cream. Avocado adds a nice flavor and a burst of nutrients and good fats as well as the creamy texture.

You can also just leave the creamy element out of the dressing and make this into a vinaigrette.

Serving Suggestions

This dressing goes so well on so many things!

It adds a bright, zesty pop to simple green salads.

Dip some cottage cheese cauliflower tots into it.

Serve it on homemade taco bowls with Cilantro lime rice, Corn Guacamole, Roasted Tomato Salsa, and Seasoned black beans.

It’s also delicious drizzled onto Shrimp & Street Corn Bowls and Winter Grain Bowls.

Try a drizzle over air fryer salmon for a delicious and easy dinner.

Let’s keep in touch

If you like seeing my recipes subscribe via email in the upper right.
Or, connect with me on your favorite social media channel for recipes, photos, & much more:
Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter!
And find my shop on Amazon for recommendations on cool tools

If you try this recipe,
please come back & leave a comment below letting us know how it goes.
Share a picture & tag @lifecurrents on Instagram.
Or you can upload a “tried it” photo (I would love to see)
via the pin.

Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing Recipe