This simple Cilantro Lime Yogurt Sauce is a great way to take meals to the next level! Add it to things like tacos & burrito bowls, or drizzle it over roasted veggies for a serious flavor boost!
As a dietitian, I always get asked how to make healthy, nutrient-rich meals taste better. 😊 And one of my favorite ways to do that is by using delicious sauces and dressings.
I originally created this recipe to serve with my Chicken Taco Skillet dinner. I usually love using my Avocado Lime Crema for it, but I ran out of avocado and needed a backup. It turned out SO good I had to share it with you too! It's a thin sauce so it works as a dressing too.
This creamy cilantro lime sauce is great for next time you're having taco night or making a Mexican-inspired dinner like a Chicken Taco Skillet, Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos, Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, Turkey Taco Black Bean Skillet, or Turkey Sweet Potato dinner. The best part about this homemade sauce is that it's made with fresh ingredients so it adds nutrition too.
If you like this recipe, you may enjoy my Avocado Lime Crema or Southwest Yogurt Dressing.
More Healthy Sauce Recipes
- Simple Avocado Lime Crema
- Creamy Southwest Salad Dressing
- Smoky Street Corn Sauce
- Creamy Yogurt Dill Sauce
- Healthy Big Mac Sauce
- Fan-Favorite Yogurt Tahini Sauce
- Homemade Healthy Ranch
- Creamy Peanut Sauce with Ginger
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Ingredient Notes and Substitution Ideas
This recipe is made with simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes and substitution ideas. Check the recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts.
- Greek Yogurt - using Greek yogurt as a healthier option to replace a majority of the mayonnaise or sour cream often found in dressings and sauces. It makes this recipe lower in saturated fats and calories while providing the same flavors and creamy texture. You can replace plain yogurt with whipped cottage cheese or do a half and half mayo or sour cream + yogurt mixture.
- Limes - fresh lime juice adds a bright flavor. You can substitute with a combo of lime and lemon juice if you prefer.
- Fresh Cilantro - cilantro adds tons of flavor and also provides antioxidants found in fresh herbs.
- Garlic - you’ll be using raw fresh garlic so a little bit adds lots of flavor. Garlic is an antimicrobial and it also contains antioxidants. If you don't have fresh garlic, you can substitute with garlic powder.
- Honey - a small bit of honey adds a touch of sweetness to balance everything out.
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper- a pinch of salt & pepper to tie everything together.
- Optional: Olive Oil, or Avocado Oil - to add more moisture.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Yogurt Sauce
Below are the directions for how to make this recipe with photos that I hope are helpful. The full recipe can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Step 1: Add all the ingredients including Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, honey, salt, and pepper to a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.
- Step 2: Give it a taste and adjust to salt to taste. If you prefer it sweeter, add more honey, if it's too thin, add a little olive oil and if you love lime, add more.
Hint: let it sit a couple minutes to let the flavors mesh before adding more salt or lime juice.
Dietitian Tip
While many creamy dressings and sauces are made with mayonnaise, this recipe uses Greek yogurt to make it creamy while adding nutrients including protein, calcium, and phosphorus. Not only that, but by replacing the mayo, you also cut down on the amount of saturated fat and calories.
Variations
One of the best parts about cilantro lime yogurt sauce is that you can easily customize it with different flavors to your taste! Below are a few ideas.
- Spicy - add half a jalapeno or a teaspoon of chili pepper flakes to give it a kick.
- Sweet - double up on the honey or add fresh orange juice to sweeten it up a bit.
- Smoky - add smokiness with smoked paprika or chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
- Avocado Cilantro Lime Sauce - add avocado to make it creamier like in this avocado lime crema.
Ideas for Serving
Once you have a batch of this cilantro lime dressing, you can serve the creamy sauce in so many ways! Below are some ideas, but feel free to get creative.
- Add it to Tacos - add a drizzle to your favorite Mexican dishes. It goes great with chicken, shrimp, or fish tacos. It also pairs well with shredded tofu tacos for a plant-based option on your next Taco Tuesday.
- As a Topper - add it as finishing touch on top of a Chicken Taco Skillet, Sweet Potato Turkey Skillet, Turkey Taco Skillet, or Turkey Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes. It works great on tostadas or a plate of nachos, too. This tasty sauce is the best way to add tons of flavor and let the avocado shine!
- In Burrito Bowls - amp up the flavor on a burrito bowl like a Southwest Chicken & Rice Bowl with a spoonful of this cilantro lime crema recipe.
- As a Salad Dressing - top your favorite Mexican-style salad with this tangy condiment.
- Make it a Slaw - combine it with shredded cabbage and serve it with fish tacos or Honey Lime Shrimp Tacos.
- On Soups or Chilis - swirl a dollop of it into Mexican-inspired soups and chilis in the fall and winter. It pairs great with a Turkey Veggie Chili.
- Dipping Sauce - you can even use this recipe as a dip for tortilla chips, crispy raw veggies, or jicama.
Equipment
To make this cilantro lime yogurt sauce, you'll need either a food processor or a high-speed blender. I use my Beast Blender or Ninja Food Processor.
Storage for Cilantro Lime Yogurt Sauce
- Refrigerator - store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Expert Tips
- I suggest using fresh limes for this recipe instead of lime juice from a bottle. The freshness goes a long way in terms of flavor.
- Once it's made, put the dressing in a squeeze bottle for easy serving.
- If you want a creamier sauce, add 1-2 tablespoon of olive oil or mayonnaise.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this is a nutrient-rich option. While many creamy dressings are made with mayo, this recipe uses avocado and Greek yogurt to mimic the flavor and creamy consistency while adding nutrients. Greek yogurt contains protein, vitamin B12, and calcium. Fresh lime provides vitamin C and cilantro adds antioxidants.
Absolutely! You can use Skyr (Icelandic yogurt) or do half yogurt and half sour cream or mayonnaise instead.
Some people are genetically sensitive to the soapy-flavored aldehydes in cilantro. If that's you or someone you're serving this recipe to, replace cilantro with parsley or skip it and add an extra dash of lime juice!
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Cilantro Lime Yogurt Sauce:
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
Simple Cilantro Lime Yogurt Sauce with Greek Yogurt
Equipment
- 1 blender (or food processor)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 cup cilantro
- 2 tablespoon fresh lime juice (more to taste)
- 1 clove garlic (or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder)
- ½ tablespoon honey
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (more to taste)
- pinch black pepper
- 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil (optional)
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients including Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, honey, salt, and pepper to a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.
- Give it a taste and adjust to salt to taste. If you prefer it sweeter, add more honey, if it's too thin, add a little olive oil and if you love lime, add more.
- Hint: let it sit a couple minutes to let the flavors mesh before adding more salt or lime juice.
Notes
- I suggest using fresh limes for this recipe instead of lime juice from a bottle. The freshness goes a long way in terms of flavor.
- Once it's made, put the dressing in a squeeze bottle for easy serving.
- If you want a creamier sauce, add an extra 1 tablespoon of olive oil or mayonnaise.
- Refrigerator - store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
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