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

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:

• Corn on the cob
• Baked potatoes
• Grilled or roasted vegetables
• Pizza dipping sauce
• Dipping sauce for French fries and tater tots
• As sandwich spread
• For buffalo wings
• On burgers and hot dogs
• Burrito bowls
• Taco salads
• Sweet potato fries
• Black bean burgers
• Veggie burger
• Fish tacos
• Dip for fresh veggies
• As a marinade for chicken or pork
• Dipping raw veggies like carrots or celery
• Nachos and burritos
• Shrimp Taco Recipe

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

More Homemade Dressings

• Avocado Green Goddess Dressing
• Poppy Seed Salad Dressing
• Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing