If you're a fan of a creamy dressing, you have to try this Southwest Salad Dressing with a smoky flavor and ready in 5 minutes! It's a great recipe to take your favorite salad to the next level and the perfect dressing for chicken & rice bowls!
As a dietitian, I make salad dressing at home when I can! I love that I can easily customize homemade dressings and they're made with real ingredients so they don't have the additives that many salad dressings from the grocery store contain.
This one is a great option if you like Southwestern flavors like chili powder and lime. It adds so much flavor to things like rice bowls with romaine lettuce, chicken breast & a salsa made with black beans, fresh corn, red onion, and red bell pepper. Or keep it simple and use it as a dipping sauce for fresh veggies or on top of a Turkey Taco Skillet!
I use this homemade southwest salad dressing to make a Southwest Chicken Salad. If you're looking for more homemade dressing recipes, try my Lemon Dijon Dressing or Lime Ginger Dressing next.
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Key Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
This easy creamy salad dressing is made with simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom for exact ingredient measurements and full recipe.
- Greek Yogurt - using nonfat Greek yogurt as a healthier option to replace a majority of the mayonnaise or sour cream often found in dressings makes this recipe lower in saturated fats and calories than traditional Southwest Salad Dressing while providing the same flavors. You can replace plain yogurt with whipped cottage cheese if you prefer.
- Mayonnaise (optional) - I use olive oil mayo because it has it has less total and saturated fat and is made with olive oil instead of vegetable oil. You can use Avocado Oil Mayo, vegan mayo or regular Mayo instead. If you prefer, you can cut out the mayo altogether and use extra Greek yogurt.
- Fresh Lime Juice - Fresh lime juice adds brightness to this tangy dressing. You could substitute with lemon juice, but I feel lime juice pairs better with the other flavors in this recipe and it's more true to the traditional flavor of Southwestern Mexican recipes.
- Garlic - You’ll be using peeled raw fresh garlic so a little bit adds lots of flavor. Garlic is an antimicrobial and it also contains antioxidants. If you don't like the taste of garlic, feel free to leave it out. You can also substitute using 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Cilantro - Fresh cilantro (also known as Chinese parsley) adds zest and amps up the citrusy vibes. Some people are genetically sensitive to the soapy-flavored aldehydes in cilantro so when I make this recipe for others, I always ask in advance if they like cilantro! If not, replace it with fresh parsley or leave it out.
- Honey - a drizzle of honey balances out the acidity of the lime and Greek yogurt. Feel free to leave it out if you are watching your added sugars.
- Spices - we are using a combination of chili powder & smoked paprika to give it the best flavor!
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper - to tie everything together.
How to Make Southwest Salad Dressing
Below are the instructions for how to make this easy recipe with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe
- Step 1: Add all the ingredients to a food processor or high-speed blender.
- Step 2: Blend until smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Give it a taste and add salt as needed.
Alternative Method #1 -
Shake it up - skip the blender and make this Southwestern salad dressing in a mason jar by mincing the garlic and finely chopping the cilantro. Then add all of the ingredients, secure the lid, and shake it until everything is well combined.
Alternative Method #2 -
Whisk it up - you can also make this dressing in a small bowl. Just mince the garlic and finely chop the cilantro. Then add all of the ingredients to the bowl and whisk it until well combined.
Hint: if you have an extra minute, rough chop the garlic clove before blending everything to evenly distribute the flavor.
Dietitian Tip
Making homemade salad dressing recipes like this Southwestern Salad Dressing can feel intimidating! But it's as easy as blending a few ingredients. Not only does making dressing at home taste amazingly fresh, it also gives you more control over the ingredients and the flavor and there's no need for additives often found in store-bought dressings.
Variations
The best thing about this Southwest Salad Dressing is you can customize the recipe to your liking. Below are some suggestions for variations, but feel free to get creative and put your spin on it.
- Spicy - if you like spicy flavors, add chili pepper flakes, poblano chiles, chipotle chili powder, or cayenne pepper to add a kick!
- Sweeter - if you prefer your dressing on the sweeter side, double up on the honey!
- Deluxe - take this easy Southwest salad dressing up a notch by adding lime zest and a little pepper jack cheese.
Ideas for Serving Southwest Dressing
Now that you have a batch of this versatile dressing, enjoy it on a variety of different dishes! Here are some ideas:
- On Your Favorite Salads - add this dressing to up-level a simple salad. One of my favorite ways to use this dressing is with Romaine Lettuce and my Black Bean & Corn Salsa. This dressing also pairs great with spring mix or spinach!
- Grain Bowl or Rice Bowl - make a grain bowl with brown rice, bulgar, farro, or quinoa or keep it simple with a rice bowl made with cilantro lime rice as the base. Add leafy greens, Southwest Marinated Chicken, black beans, fresh sweet corn, grape tomatoes, and tortilla strips on top!
- With Roasted Vegetables - this Southwest dressing is a delicious way to add Tex-Mex flavors tp boring vegetables. Just drizzle a couple Tablespoons on top of warm roasted veggies like Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots or Bell Peppers with Red Onions.
- As a Marinade - use this easy salad dressing as a marinade. It works well with chicken!
- Pasta Salad - make a simple pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, red onion, corn, black beans, and chicken. Add this homemade Southwest sauce on top!
For a similar flavor, try my Elote Pasta Salad!
Storage for Southwestern Dressing
Refrigerator: Store leftover dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Equipment
All you need to make this dressing is either a food processor or a high-speed blender. I have both a Beast Blender and Ninja Blender and love them both! You can also use a food processor like my beloved KitchenAid food processor for this recipe.
Expert Tips
- A small amount of mayo added to the Greek yogurt goes a long way in this recipe and cuts the tanginess of the Greek yogurt! It also helps the dressing emulsify a bit better. With that said, you can totally leave the mayo out if you'd like to cut down on calories! It still tastes great.
- The ingredient flavors in this dressing recipe can vary a bit based on brand and variety so taste your dressing once it's mixed and adjust it if needed! If you like your dressings on the sweeter side, add a bit more honey. If you prefer it on the tangier side, add a bit more lime.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this is a nutrient-rich option! The Greek yogurt provides protein, vitamin D, and calcium. And the lime juice, cilantro, and spices add nutrients like vitamin C and antioxidants. Garlic and honey are both helpful in supporting the immune system and also contain antioxidants!
Absolutely! Just add an extra Tablespoon of Greek yogurt or skip it altogether. If you skip the mayo, you can add a teaspoon of olive oil to help the dressing emulsify a bit better.
Plain Greek yogurt is what works best here. It's up to you whether you want to use whole milk, reduced-fat, or nonfat yogurt. My preference it to use nonfat Greek yogurt because I get quite a bit of fat in other places in my diet, but using whole-milk Greek yogurt will make it creamier.
Parsley works here too! Or just leave the fresh herb out. I promise it still tastes delicious.
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Southwest Salad Dressing:
Want to Learn About Nutrition?
Here are some of my educational posts you may enjoy!
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Creamy Southwest Salad Dressing (with Greek Yogurt)
Equipment
- 1 blender or food processor
Ingredients
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil mayonnaise or your favorite mayo (optional)
- 2 tablespoon lime juice about 1 small lime
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoon fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper more to taste
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a food processor or high-speed blender.
- Blend until smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Give it a taste and add salt as needed.
- Hint: if you have an extra minute, rough chop the garlic clove before blending everything to evenly distribute the flavor.
Alternative Method 1
- Shake it up - skip the blender and make this Southwestern salad dressing in a mason jar by mincing the garlic and finely chopping the cilantro. Then add all of the ingredients, secure the lid, and shake it until everything is well combined.
Alternative Method 2
- Whisk it up - you can also make this dressing in a small bowl. Just mince the garlic and finely chop the cilantro. Then add all of the ingredients to the bowl and whisk it until well combined.
Notes
- A small amount of mayo added to the Greek yogurt goes a long way in this recipe and cuts the tanginess of the Greek yogurt! It also helps the dressing emulsify a bit better. With that said, you can totally leave the mayo out if you'd like to cut down on calories! It still tastes delicious!
- The ingredient flavors in this dressing recipe can vary a bit based on brand and variety so taste your dressing once it's mixed and adjust it if needed! If you like your dressings on the sweeter side, add a bit more honey. If you prefer it on the tangier side, add a bit more lime.
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