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This spicy creamy cilantro lime dressing is jam packed with flavor! It’s whipped up with fresh, all natural ingredients made spicy with a jalapeño. Use this dressing on salads, as a dip, and so much more!

A small white bowl is filled with green dressing.
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It seems that the latest trend (at least on TikTok) is to have dip parties. It’s like a potluck, except everyone brings their favorite homemade dips instead! Out of all the silly TikTok trends, this is probably the one I can actually appreciate the most.

When I start planning my dip party, I’m going to absolutely be serving this cilantro lime dressing alongside some shrimp! When you dunk a perfectly cooked shrimp into this creamy, spicy, totally to-die-for dressing, you won’t be able to have just one.

And no, this cilantro lime dressing isn’t just perfect for serving with shrimp! It’s also perfect for tossing a salad in or drizzling inside of a wrap. It adds an element of spicy, fresh flavor that will make just about anything more delicious!

Grilled shrimp are placed next to a bowl of creamy cilantro dressing.

What do I need to get started on cilantro lime dressing?

  • Food processor or blender
  • Sour cream – if you want a tangier version, you can use plain Greek yogurt instead
  • Mayonnaise – you can use the plain Greek yogurt instead of mayo as well
  • Lime juice – freshly squeezed lime juice is always best
  • Cilantro – you can use the stems and all for the best flavor
  • Olive oil – you can sub with any neutral flavored oil you prefer
  • Garlic – you can use pre-minced garlic to save time
  • Salt
  • Sugar – don’t worry – it won’t make the dressing sweet! The sugar helps keep it not too hot and not too sour
  • Jalapeno – you can use a serano if you want it even spicier. Or, you can omit it entirely you don’t want it spicy
  • Lime zest – I like to add a little zest at the end and sprinkled on top, but this can be omitted
Dressing is being drizzled onto a shrimp salad.

How do I serve this?

You can drizzle this cilantro lime dressing on so many different salads!

To serve as a dip, you can add an extra 1/4 cup mayonnaise to thicken it, and serve it with chips, crackers, veggies, or (my favorite) shrimp.

How do I store leftovers?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

The ingredients for creamy cilantro dressing are placed on a white surface.

More homemade dips and dressings I can’t get enough of

Homemade Tzatziki Dip

Avocado Green Goddess Yogurt Dressing

Herbed Tahini Spread

Buttermilk Salad Dressing

5 from 1 vote

Spicy Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing

This creamy, tangy dressing is perfect for salads or as a dip for shrimp, chips, crackers, or veggies.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 cup

Ingredients 

  • ½ cup (115 g) sour cream
  • ¼ cup (56 g) mayonnaise, (or if making for a dip, use 1/2 cup)
  • 1 cup (16 g) tightly packed cilantro
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1 jalapeño, deseeded and destemmed
  • Lime zest from one lime
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Instructions 

  • Place all ingredients except the lime zest into a food processor and process for 30 seconds, if you want it to be creamier, process for 1 minute.
  • Pour into a serving bowl or pitcher and sprinkle zest on top.
  • Serve over salad or as a dip with chips or shrimp.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup, Calories: 998kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 107g, Saturated Fat: 26g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 83mg, Sodium: 1039mg, Potassium: 316mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 7g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.

The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.

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3 Comments

  1. Lindsay says:

    The recipe doesnโ€™t actually list the lime juice or amount. Will you please update?

    1. Julie Chiou says:

      sorry! added

    2. Lindsay says:

      @Julie Chiou, perfect! Thank you!