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

More Homemade Dressings

close up of salad dressings in a glass jar

Homemade Ranch Dressing

5 from 8 votes
You just can't beat homemade salad dressing, and this Homemade Ranch Dressing is one of the best! Simple ingredients and quick to make.
See The Recipe!
bowl of ranch dressing

Healthy Ranch Dressing Recipe

4.73 from 11 votes
No need to worry about the extra calories when enjoying this Healthy Ranch Dressing. Made with Greek yogurt and avocado!
See The Recipe!
creamy salad dressing pouring onto salad

Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing

4.53 from 42 votes
With flavors of lemon and garlic, this Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing is light, creamy and delicious! It is the best Greek salad dressing recipe!
See The Recipe!
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

Jessica Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and food lover behind Savory Experiments. She is obsessed with butter, salt and bacon and spends all her time in the kitchen and behind a camera. Jessica is a contributor to PopKitchen by Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal Food + Travel and more!

Read More About Jessica

Join The Discussion

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




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.

  2. 5 stars
    Excellent! I was going through a lot of the bottled version of this. Thank you for this recipe! I’ll be making it from now on. Do you sub the yogurt for the mayo in the skinny version?

  3. 5 stars
    This is soooo good and will be my go to recipe. I used buttermilk. For wasabi dressing eliminate chipotles and use 1 Tbsp wasabi powder.

  4. 5 stars
    I used the skinny version. It is delicious. I take a can of chipotle peppers and sauce and put it in the blender. I freeze it in ice cube trays. I just took a cube out and added it to the other ingredients. I wish the nutritional
    values were included for the skinny version. thanks for the recipe. It is a winner. I like it for a spread on tortillas when I make chicken wraps.