Spicy Ranch Dressing Recipe. If you are the kind of person that likes things a little spicy, this dressing is for you! Jalapeno ranch dressing is so simple and so versatile.
If you are looking for an even spicier ranch dressing, how about my habanero ranch dressing? Have you jumped on the hot honey trend yet? If not, you are missing out. Hot honey is such a great sweet and spicy sauce!
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What Makes This Recipe So Good?
If you are tired of the same old ranch dressing and are ready for something new, this is it! This is a really simple way to spice things up in your life!
It is so easy, and so delicious. Once you try it, you will never go back to plain ranch again.
It is also a healthier dressing. Instead of just mayonnaise, this recipe uses a blend of sour cream and a touch of mayo.
This dressing is versatile. You can use it to top a burger, wrap, or sandwich. Or you can use this as a dipping sauce, which is what I like to do. Roasted potatoes and spicy ranch are a match made in heaven.
Ingredients
- Sour Cream- You can also use Greek Yogurt here as well, which I have done plenty of times.
- Mayo- I don't use mayo often, in fact, a quart will also last me about 4 months. But, this sauce, I really love it.
- Hidden Valley Dry Ranch Mix- You can always make your own, but the beauty of the dressing is how simple it is.
- Minced Garlic- You can use garlic powder here, but I really love fresh.
- Lime Juice- This is best fresh-squeezed.
- Cilantro- Always a must in this dressing.
- Jalapenos- You can either use fresh or canned.
📋 Recipe
I make my dressing in a food processor or blender. This really saves on time as it does all the chopping and mixing for you. First, cut the tops off the jalapenos and scoop out the seeds.
Add them to the food processor or blender and pulse until they are in small pieces. Or if you like chunks of heat, don't break them up so small.
Next, add the remaining ingredients. Pulse until everything is well blended and comes together. Taste the dressing and adjust the salt, pepper, and lime as needed.
That is it! It takes about 10 minutes total and it is ready to serve.
💭 Top tips
- First of all, if you aren't using hot peppers, be careful. If you have gloves, use them. If not, I didn't, work quickly and wash your hands frequently. Make sure and pay special attention to fingernails and under them.
- Use a food processor or blender for mixing. I used a Cuisinart Food Processor, I love it as it has a good powerful motor that will blend all ingredients well. You can also use a blender if you prefer. I like my dressing to be pretty smooth and creamy, and the food processor and blender make it this way.
- Then you just throw everything in the food processor. Blend for about 30 seconds and it is done!! I told you it was simple and I wasn't kidding!
- I love to use fresh jalapenos as the flavor is better. If you don't have those on hand, you can always use canned jalapenos.
- If the sauce is too thick, you can also stir in a little milk to loosen it up a bit. I do this when I am making salad dressing out of it.
- It holds well in the fridge for at least 4-5 days. Just make sure it is in an airtight container.
- One of the really great things about this dip it can be made well in advance of when you are needing it, making it perfect for a get-together or even meal prep.
Do I have to use Hidden Valley Ranch?
You can use any ranch packets you prefer. It is the one I grew up with, so it is always the one I reach for. If you have another favorite, use it!
Can I use other peppers in this recipe?
Yes! Serrano is my second favorite, but you can also use habanero. Both are a little spicier than jalapenos, so adjust accordingly.
What Can You Serve The Dressing With?
As mentioned above, this dressing/dip is so versatile, let me share a few ways I love to eat this.
- Taco Salad
- Any other southwestern or Mexican-style salad
- With tortilla chips
- With roasted potato wedges- keep reading for directions on those
- On your favorite taco
- On your favorite burger or sandwich
- With your favorite wrap
- You can see, I could go on and on. This dressing is that good!
Roasted Potato Wedges
So, let me share my favorite food to eat with the dressing- roasted red potatoes wedges.
Start by washing, and cutting your wedges. Drizzle them with olive oil and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Bake at 450 degrees for about 15-25 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow them to cool slightly before serving. They make the perfect appetizer!!
📖 Variations
- You can use a wide variety of peppers to give this sauce some spice. I featured jalapenos, but serranos are also really good. If you want to go even spicier, you can move up into habaneros and Thai peppers.
- For a smokier spice, how about adding chipotle? Use ¼-1/2 cup chipotle peppers into the food processor and pulse it all together. I would start with ¼ cup, then taste. If you want it with more heat, add another few tablespoons.
- To add another dimension of heat to the dressing, you can also add ½-2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper.
- Lemon juice can be subbed out for the lime juice.
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For more inspiration
Creamy and Spicy jalapeno Ranch Dressing
Equipment
- Food processor or blender
Ingredients
- ¾ cup sour cream You can also use a plain Greek yogurt. I love that as well, but prefer the sour cream
- ¼ cup mayo you can use all sour cream if you prefer, but I really like a little mayo in there as well.
- 1 ½-2 tablespoon dry ranch dressing mix
- 2 teaspoon minced garlic
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼-3/4 cup fresh or pickled jalapenos This will of course depend on your preference for heat. I love fresh jalapenos
- 1 cup cilantro, just cut off the top 4 inches of the bunch you buy
- 2 tablespoon2 fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Cut the tops off the jalapenos, then cut them in half lengthwise. Remove all seeds.
- Add them to a food processor or blender and pulse until they are broken up into small pieces.
- Add in remaining ingredients into the food processor and blend. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and lime juice as needed.
- That is it! Done in under 10 minutes.
Notes
- First of all, if you aren't using hot peppers, be careful. If you have gloves, use them. If not, I didn't, work quickly and wash your hands frequently. Make sure and pay special attention to fingernails and under them.
- Use a food processor or blender for mixing. I used a Cuisinart Food Processor, I love it as it has a good powerful motor that will blend all ingredients well. You can also use a blender if you prefer. I like my dressing to be pretty smooth and creamy, and the food processor and blender make it this way.
- Then you just throw everything in the food processor. Blend for about 30 seconds and it is done!! I told you it was simple and I wasn't kidding!
- I love to use fresh jalapenos as the flavor is better. If you don't have those on hand, you can always use canned jalapenos.
- It holds well in the fridge for at least 4-5 days. Just make sure it is in an airtight container.
- One of the really great things about this dip it can be made well in advance of when you are needing it, making it perfect for a get-together or even meal prep.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!