Pour delicious, creamy Mexican Ranch Dressing over everything and anything! It has such a great flavor and adds a wonderful creamy note to taco salads and burgers! It is the best of both worlds - salsa and ranch dressing!
Don’t stop at only adding this dressing to salads! It is also a great sauce for quesadilla burgers. Pour it over a gluten free chicken burger. It is so versatile and can be used in so many ways.
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Why You’ll Love It
- Comes together in minutes
- Use homemade salsa
- Works as a dip too!
Featured Ingredients
- Sour Cream - A full-fat sour cream will result in a creamy dressing. However, if you want a lower-fat option, use a reduced-fat sour cream. If you need a lactose-free sour cream, that will work too!
- Salsa - Make a batch of restaurant-style salsa or purchase a jar.
- Taco Seasoning - Use homemade taco seasoning or use a premixed option.
- Ranch Seasoning - Use homemade ranch seasoning or use a dry ranch seasoning option.
See the recipe card for the exact measurements and complete instructions.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Using a fine mesh strainer, drain the salsa. This keeps the dressing from becoming too runny.
Step 2: Add the sour cream, salsa, taco seasoning, and ranch seasoning in a mason jar or a wide-mouth container. Mix the dressing with an immersion blender or a food processor until smooth.
Tips and Tricks
For a more rustic style dressing, just stir the dressing.
Save the drained salsa liquid and use it as a chicken marinade.
Ingredient Swaps
- Ranch Dressing - Skip the sour cream and use a homemade ranch dressing or your favorite bottled option for the sour cream. It will be less thick but also delicious.
- Salsa Option - Swap out the tomato-based salsa for a roasted tomatillo salsa verde.
Variations
Spicy Mexican Ranch Dressing: Add a few dashes of hot sauce to make a spicy version.
Smoky Mexican Ranch Dressing: Add ½ teaspoon of chipotle powder to the dressing for a smoky, earthy flavor.
Mexican Ranch Dip: Add ½ cup of sour cream after blending to make a thicker dip. Enjoy with tortilla chips or fresh veggies.
Storing
Store: Keep the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. A mason jar works great! Use within 4-5 days before it becomes watery.
Freeze: Do not freeze this dressing. The freezing and defrosting process is not great for this salad dressing. It is best to make a fresh batch when needed.
How To Use Mexi-Ranch
- Quesadilla Burgers - Use it just like Applebee’s does as a creamy sauce for burgers.
- Taco Pie - A great option to add to the top of a taco pie made with corn tortillas.
- Shredded Pork Carnitas - Drizzle it over pork carnitas.
- Chicken Flautas - Use it as a dipping option for hand-held flautas.
- Baked Chicken Tacos - Pour it over chicken tacos instead of using sour cream.
Special Diet Options
Dairy Free Mexi-Ranch: Use a dairy free sour cream and a dairy free ranch seasoning.
Low FODMAP Mexi-Ranch: Use lactose-free sour cream, low FODMAP salsa, and certified seasonings. Purchase the low FODMAP ranch seasoning and the low FODMAP taco seasoning on Amazon.
For additional information on a low FODMAP diet, please visit Monash University or FODMAP Friendly. Both have websites and apps for additional guidance and testing results.
FAQs
It's called Mexi-Ranch Dressing. This is a great copycat recipe for a homemade version.
Another great option is to use green taco sauce. It creates a beautiful light green color.
Additional Sauce Recipes
- Homemade Buffalo Sauce - A buttery, not-too-spicy sauce that is easily customized.
- Smash Burger Sauce - Another great burger sauce used on smash burgers.
- Homemade BBQ Sauce - Sweet and tangy sauce.
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Recipe
Mexican Ranch Dressing
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup sour cream (Note 1)
- ½ cup homemade salsa (Note 2)
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon ranch seasoning
Instructions
- Using a fine mesh strainer, drain any excess liquid from the salsa.
- In a mason jar or an airtight container, add the sour cream, salsa, taco seasoning, and ranch seasoning.
- With an immersion blender or food processor, combine all ingredients until smooth. Or mix it up for a more rustic version.
- Store dressing in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
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