Creamy Lime Chipotle Dressing
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A salad without dressing is like a day without sunshine. This chipotle lime dressing will brighten up your dishes ā it's bold and zesty, with smokiness from the chipotle and tang from the lime. Bursting with flavor, this creamy and easy-to-make dressing is ideal for pasta salad, potato salad, on your favorite greens, or as a dip.
You know what they say: the dressing makes the salad! For a flavorful and healthier twist on ranch, make this avocado ranch dressing!
This chipotle lime dressing is an easy way to add maximum flavor with minimal effort. Packed with the smokiness of chipotle peppers, the tang of lime juice, and the creaminess of yogurt, this dressing brings a burst of flavor to every bite and takes mere minutes to shake together. Dress to impress!
Ingredients notes
Salad dressings can often harbor a bunch of refined sugars ā but not our chipotle lime salad dressing! There are no refined sugars, just wholesome and fresh ingredients. This is what you need:
- Yogurt: Use a thick greek yogurt ā or, if you prefer a richer flavor, sub in some mayonnaise, too! If you're vegan, you can also use vegan yogurt or vegan mayo.
- Adobo sauce: The sauce that comes in jars of chipotle peppers.
- Other ingredients: Fresh lime juice, avocado oil, sea salt, oregano, black pepper, and a garlic clove.
How to make chipotle lime dressing
Making this chipotle lime dressing isn't just a walk in the park ā it's also quite fun! You don't even have to get your blender out. This is how simple it is:
- Pour: Add everything into a mason jar. Easy!
- Shake: Now for the fun partā¦ give your jar a good shake (don't forget the lid!) and you're ready to drizzle flavor on your meals!
How to adjust the consistency
This versatile dressing can be used as a dipping sauce, a salad dressing, or a sandwich spread. Depending on what you want to use it for, you can adjust the consistency accordingly ā a thicker texture is ideal for dipping yummy things in, while a thinner consistency works best for getting a perfect drizzle over salads. Adjusting the consistency is super simple ā use a little less avocado oil for a thicker texture and opt for the thickest yogurt you can find ā plain Greek yogurt is thicker and creamier than regular yogurt. Substituting some mayo also makes it thicker and richer tasting.
What to serve with chipotle lime dressing
This creamy and delicious salad dressing recipe is ideal for pasta salad, potato salad, or on your favorite greens. It also goes well as a dip for raw veggies or drizzled over roasted veggies, or on Mexican-inspired meals! The possibilities are endless, but here are some ideas:
- Dipping sauce: Scoop some of this dressing up with raw veggie sticks, like carrots or cucumbers. You'll also love dipping sweet potato wedges, carrot fries, or chicken bites.
- Tacos or burritos: Add to your favorite taco or burrito recipe, or over a taco salad bowl or burrito bowl!
- Salads: The tangy-smoky-zesty flavor of this dressing can bring your salad to life! Drizzle it over a roasted corn and avocado salad or green salads.
- Potato: Drizzle over these easy sweet potato nachos or on top of a southwest stuffed sweet potato, or over a grilled potato salad.
- Pasta salad: This Mexican pasta salad is a match made in heaven for your chipotle lime dressing!
- Wraps, sandwiches, and burgers: Add some tang to a southwest veggie burger or a cauliflower burger. Slather some onto a pulled chicken sandwich, or drizzle some on your favorite wrap.
- Shrimp: This dressing also goes super well with shrimp ā whether it's a shrimp tacos, party shrimp, chili lime shrimp, or shrimp fajitas!
Recipe FAQs
Where can I find adobo sauce?
If you buy a jar of can of chipotle peppers, the adobo sauce is what the peppers are submerged in! In a supermarket, you'll often find these in the aisle alongside Mexican foods.
What can I do with the leftover chipotle peppers once I recover the sauce?
We have other chipotle pepper recipes! Whether you make chipotle mayo, chipotle mushroom sloppy joes, or chipotle bourbon pumpkin chili, they certainly won't go to waste.
How do I store chipotle lime dressing?
In a sealed jar or airtight container, each batch of this dressing will keep well for 5-6 days in your fridge. Give it a little shake each time before you use it.
Can I adjust the spice level?
The heat of this dressing would be described more as a smoky flavor rather than a spicy kick, and that comes from the adobo sauce. If you want to add some heat, you can add a pinch of cayenne pepper. Try a little bit of it first, then add more to taste.
Chipotle Lime Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- Ā¾ cup thick yogurt (see notes)
- Ā½ cup fresh squeezed lime juice
- Ā¼ cup avocado oil (or another neutral-flavored oil)
- 3 tablespoons adobo sauce (the sauce that comes in jars of chipotle peppers)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- Ā½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 garlic clove (finely minced)
Instructions
- Add all the chipotle lime dressing ingredients to a 2-cup mason jar.Ā¾ cup thick yogurt, Ā½ cup fresh squeezed lime juice, Ā¼ cup avocado oil, 3 tablespoons adobo sauce, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon oregano, Ā½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 garlic clove
- Put the lid on and shake well. This dressing will keep well for 5-6 days in your fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our chipotle pepper recipes!
This was a winner! Used it on a coleslaw and it gave it so Ā much flavor!