Chipotle Ranch Dressing

If you like ranch, you are going to LOVE this super simple Chipotle Ranch Dressing recipe! Perfect as a salad dressing, marinade, or dipping sauce!

chipotle ranch dressing pouring onto salad


 

Chipotle Ranch Dressing

Ranch dressing might be one of the most popular salad dressings in all America. It is no wonder why people started to create one-offs to only amplify it’s delicious flavor.

Chipotle ranch is just one of them! Made popular by pairing with a Southwest Chicken Salad, chipotle ranch dressing can be used for so many other things than just your favorite salads:

chipotle ranch dressing in a glass container

History of Ranch

Where did the whole ranch phenomenon start? Ranch dressing was created by Steve Henson as his signature buttermilk dressing. He made it for friends and family until later in life he purchased a ranch with his wife, Gayle.

They started calling it the dressing of the Ranch and then mass marketed. Hidden Valley Ranch is the name of their ranch and the rest is history. Homemade chipotle ranch dressing is like regular ranch’s zesty cousin.

container of chipotle dressing

Chipotle Ranch Dressing Ingredients

These simple ingredients are a bit lengthy, but all pretty standard.

  • Dry powdered buttermilk – Dry powdered buttermilk is just like any other dry powdered milk. It is made from actual buttermilk, which is the liquid left behind after churning to milk butter, but fermented so it is a little funky.
  • Dried herbs – I used a combination of dried parsley flakes, dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder. dried onion flakes, ground black pepper, dried chives and fine sea salt. These can all be found in either your spice cabinet or local grocery store.
  • milk
  • Mayonnaise – I like using mayonnaise for added flavor and a thicker dressing, but you can use plain yogurt to make your creamy chipotle ranch dressing if you’d like.
  • Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce – Chipotle chiles are dried, smoked jalapeños that are reconstituted when put into adobo sauce. Adobo is a spicy, slightly sweet red sauce. The flavors together are pretty intense so it doesn’t take a lot paint them in a recipe. I generally don’t use one or two, but a whole can has up to 6. They can keep in the fridge for a week or so.
A bowl of dry spices

How to Make Chipotle Ranch Dressing

This creamy ranch dressing could not be simpler to make:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a small food processor and pulse until smooth.
  2. For best results, refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
  3. Check out the section above for best ways to use.
Chipotle ranch dressing in a mini food processor

Variations

  • Fresh ingredients – Take the natural flavor up a notch by adding fresh dill, fresh garlic or fresh lime juice. You can also add half of an avocado, if you wish. A nice way to sneak in some extra veggies!
  • Light version – To make this a skinny or light version, substitute 1/2 cup skim milk for whole milk and 1 cup plain Greek yogurt.
  • Spicy – Add a spicy kick to your homemade chipotle ranch dressing by adding some smoky chipotle peppers or chipotle sauce. The kick of heat is sure to take your taste buds for a ride.
chipotle ranch dressing pouring on to a salad

Storage

It is stored best in an airtight container- either plastic or a mason jar with a tight lid. Since it is homemade and doesn’t have any preservatives other than salt, a natural preservative, it only last about a week.

You can make a large batch of the dry ranch seasoning and then make fresh dressing every night though. I doubt it will last a whole week since it is so good!

Chipotle ranch dressing for Pinterest

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Close up of chipotle ranch dressing
chipotle ranch dressing pouring on to a salad

Chipotle Ranch Dressing

4.53 from 48 votes
Add some zing to your homemade ranch with this Chipotle Ranch Dressing recipe! Made with only 4 simple ingredients.
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a small food processor and pulse until smooth.
  • For best results, refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
  • If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!

Video

Notes

To make this a skinny or light version, substitute 1/2 cup skim milk for whole milk and 1 cup plain Greek yogurt.

Nutrition

Calories: 220 kcal, Carbohydrates: 4 g, Protein: 1 g, Fat: 22 g, Saturated Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 15 mg, Sodium: 514 mg, Potassium: 51 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 2 g, Vitamin A: 110 IU, Vitamin C: 1 mg, Calcium: 37 mg, Iron: 1 mg
Author: Jessica Formicola
Calories: 220
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chipotle ranch dressing, homemade salad dressing
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.53 from 48 votes (35 ratings without comment)

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Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    Oh yum! Such a delicious and easy homemade dressing. The flavors sound fantastic, especially with the addition of the chipotle peppers.