My Whole30 Cilantro Lime Ranch is the perfect dairy-free dressing for taking any Mexican dish to the next level! It is one of the sauces we have to have in our fridge at all times. It’s a copycat recipe to Chipotle, Costa Vida, or Cafe Rio’s creamy cilantro ranch. It’s time you add this easy sauce to your regular rotation!
Why We Love This Whole30 Cilantro Lime Ranch
It is finger-licking good and comes together in 5 minutes. Stays good in the fridge for 2-3 weeks (depends on the expiration of your mayo). Your Taco Tuesday or Fajita Friday needs this! Plus, it’s Whole30, Paleo, Keto, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, with egg-free options.
You can make it from premade or store-bought mayo you already have. Or, you can make more of a dump ranch where you emulsify the mayo as you blend in all the ingredients. This makes for an even faster prep that is also usually more budget-friendly!
Need an egg-free option? There is an easy way to make that happen. If on a Whole30 or eat Paleo and need an egg-free or vegan mayo, I recommend this Vegan Mayo from Primal Kitchen. If you shop on primal kitchen.com, use code WHOLEFOODFOR7FAVORITES to save 20%!
What We Love It On
This Whole30 Cilantro Lime Ranch pairs well with any Mexican dish! Here are some of my favorite ways:
- Whole30 Cilantro Salsa Slaw – The Whole30 Cilantro Lime Ranch is the sauce that brings together this fast and easy Mexican-inspired side dish.
- Taco Salad – The perfect dressing for any taco salad or tacos! Use my Whole30 Taco Seasoning to make taco ground beef or chicken. Or, make my popular Whole30 Sweet Salsa Pork to top your taco salad.
- Drizzled on top of my Sheet Pan Fajitas
- Delicious paired with my Plantain Taco Hash for an eggless breakfast or hearty dinner.
- Dipped into or drizzled on top of my Paleo Chicken Taquitos
- Bringing together my Tostones Breakfast Sliders
Ingredients
- Mayo or extra light-tasting olive oil + egg + lemon juice – There are two methods to make this recipe. You can start with premade or store-bought mayo or do more of a dump ranch method that makes the mayo base while mixing in all the ingredients. If using premade mayo, I use my 5-ingredient Whole30 Mayo. See note above for an egg-free option.
- Garlic powder – I buy mine from the bulk bins at Winco or in bulk from Sam’s Club
- Onion powder – I buy mine from the bulk bins at Winco or in bulk from Sam’s Club
- Dried dill
- Apple cider vinegar
- Cilantro
- Juice from a lime
- Coconut or almond milk – Whatever dairy-free milk you have on hand will work, this is just used to thin the ranch to the desired consistency.
Whole30 Cilantro Lime Ranch
Equipment
- Immersion blender (dump method) or Blender/Food processor (mayo method)
Ingredients
Mayo Method (use if you already have compatible mayo on hand)
- 1 c. compliant mayo
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 2-3 cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 bunch of cilantro (1 cup packed)
- 1/2-1 lime, juice from, to taste
- 1/2 cup almond or coconut milk adjust to desired thickness
Dump Ranch Method (to make it completely from scratch)
- 1 egg
- 1 cup extra light tasting olive oil has to be "extra light tasting" or your dressing will taste like olives!
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 bunch cilantro (1 cup packed)
- 1/2-1 lime, juice from, to taste
- 1/2 cup coconut or almond milk (or other dairy-free milk), to desired thickness
Instructions
Mayo Method
- Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor (can also use an immersion blender) and blend until well combined.
Immersion Method
- Combine egg, oil, salt, lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder, dill, and apple cider vinegar in a container just bigger than the head of your immersion blender. I use a blender cup for this or a wide-mouthed mason jar.
- Let ingredients settle for a minute or two then put immersion blender head into the jar, directly over the egg yolk. Wait for the count of 10. Turn on the immersion blender to high speed and hold down at the bottom of the cup over the egg yolk, blending for 10 seconds. Don't rush these two steps. Continue blending by moving immersion blender, still running at high speed, up and down through the mixture. Mixture should emulsify and be nice and thick, a creamy white.
- Add in lime juice and cilantro and blend with immersion blender until well combined. Thin down with milk to desired thickness.
- Store sealed in the fridge for up to 2 weeks (depending on the expiration date of the mayo or egg used)
Notes
I made this on Sunday, and I have used it on something every single day. My daughter loves it too. It’s SO GOOD.
So happy it has been a family hit, thank you!
Absolutely delicious! Made this for taco salad tonight! Loved it!
It’s so perfect for taco salad and easy to make. Glad you loved it, thank you!
So yummy! We topped this on tacos, burrito bowls and salad. So easy to make and versatile.
How many eggs do we use? I can’t seem to find that. It may just be me as I’m menu planning late at night 😜. This dressing sounds so yummy!!!
Ooo, thanks for asking – that was missing! 1 egg and I have updated it. I hope you love it like we do!
How much egg is used in the dump method? I don’t see it listed in the ingredients. (Sorry if I missed it!) Is it just the egg yolk or the whole egg?
Thanks for asking – I somehow did not have that listed! 1 egg and the whole egg. I hope you love it!
I just made it and it was fun and scary (in a good way)!! Like magic in a cup. Followed your instructions exactly and it turned out perfect! And the taste is great! I am giving up dairy while I breastfeed my little one and this is going to be game changing. Thank you.
“Like magic in a cup” – that is fantastic, I love it! Thank you!
This is so easy to make and the best topping to take taco bowls to the next level. Thanks for the great recipe!
This is an all-time FAVE in our house – I am so glad you enjoyed it!
I love this recipe so much! I can literally just spoon it into my mouth. I put it on absolutely everything – salads, eggs, chicken, tostones, veggies. Seriously if I can eat it, there is a high likelihood I put some of this deliciousness on top of it. This sauce really gives a burst of freshness and is so welcome on my taste buds. Such a great recipe and a must try!
I’m so happy you love this recipe on all the things, I wholeheartedly agree! Thank you!
So delicious. Will make on repeat because it goes with so many things!
Happy this is worth making on the repeat for you, thank you!
I can totally straight up eat this right off a spoon. It is that delicious! I put this on absolutely everything – meat, eggs, salad, veggies. It brings such a burst of freshness to any meal. My kids have started calling this “mommy’s sauce” since it’s rare I have a meal without it. It has become my go-to.
“Eat off a spoon” good and a must have? I love it! Thank you!
Yummy!
My favorite go to dressing!
Love this recipe
I made this yesterday, and it came out really well. I didn’t have any dill so I can’t call mine a Ranch, but it was still tasty. My hubby and I will be pouring it on everything for the next week 🙂
Yay, I’m so happy you enjoyed it – thank you!
QUESTION:
How much cilantro? Here we get it in huge bunches, Like 10 cups or so. So I have no idea how much is half a bunch. 🙂
Thank you for asking that, that’s a great question. It’s about 1 cup packed. : )
This sauce is aaaamazing and easy to make. We can’t have tacos without it!
Hooray! We looove this stuff – it’s one of two dressings we have to have in the house at all times (this and my date mustard). Thanks for the love!