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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers & Dips

    Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing

    Published: Oct 25, 2021 · Modified: Apr 24, 2023 by Kelsey Smith

    9.5K shares
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    Jump to Recipe

    This avocado lime ranch dressing is made with buttermilk, avocado, fresh cilantro, spices, and lime for a tangy, zesty twist on a classic salad dressing.

    This recipe was inspired by Chick-fil-A's avocado lime ranch dressing, a southwest-style ranch dressing. My copycat recipe has no added sugar and is made with simple ingredients.

    Making this dressing from scratch is worth it! Not only do the fresh flavors POP, but the homemade version is a lower-calorie option. This avocado lime ranch dressing is also low carb.

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Avocado lime ranch dressing in a mason jar.

    Use it as a salad dressing or dip. Try a drizzle on top of these buffalo chicken thighs.

    Recipe Highlights

    • Easy recipe: Just blend and chill!
    • Healthier alternative: It's lower calorie than the original, low carb, and made with fresh ingredients.
    • Award-winning: This recipe was a runner-up in the Taste of Home Copycat Favorites Contest.
    Jump to:
    • Recipe Highlights
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Equipment
    • Pairings
    • FAQ
    • Storage
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Knife safety
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients

    This recipe calls for a few basic ingredients.

    Avocado lime ranch dressing ingredients
    • avocado
    • sour cream
    • buttermilk
    • mayonnaise
    • fresh lime juice
    • fresh cilantro
    • dried dill
    • garlic powder
    • cumin
    • salt
    • ground black pepper

    See the recipe card below for quantities.

    Instructions

    Blend all of the ingredients in a blender at low speed until fully combined.

    Avocado lime ranch dressing ingredients in a blender

    Tip: You can also use a food processor for this step.

    Fully combined ranch dressing in the blender after blending.

    Pour into a storage container and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

    Hint: Allowing the dressing to chill in the refrigerator will thicken the dressing and allow all of the flavors of the fresh herbs to come together.

    Substitutions

    While I love this avocado lime dressing recipe exactly as it is, I also know that sometimes you gotta work with what you have. Here are a few substitution suggestions:

    • Milk - This recipe calls for buttermilk because it gives you that classic tangy flavor of a good ranch. In a pinch, this can be replaced with regular milk and a very small splash of vinegar.
    • Sour cream - Sour cream makes this recipe tangy and gives it a thick texture. Plain Greek yogurt is a good alternative and will still make a creamy dressing.
    • Mayo - Mayo tempers the sour ingredients to balance out the flavor of the dressing. For this reason, I do not recommend swapping out this ingredient.
    • Cilantro - If you want to replace the fresh cilantro with dried cilantro, use 2 teaspoons instead of 2 tablespoons.

    For a vegan option, try this recipe from Debra Klein.

    Close up of Avocado lime ranch dressing in a mason jar

    Equipment

    • Blender or food processor: I have a Ninja blender that I love.
    • Citrus squeezer: A lime juicer is optional. You can juice the lime by hand.
    • Dressing container: This is for storing the dressing. I use a mason jar.
    Carrot stick being dipped into small bowl of avocado lime ranch dressing.

    Pairings

    Serve this dressing on your favorite greens or use it as a dipping sauce for tortilla chips, veggies, or french fries. This is perfect for carrot sticks and celery.

    I've even used it as a dipping sauce for chicken nuggets and my Italian chicken cutlets. If you're like me, you might just want to lick the spoon.

    • Close up of buffalo turkey meatballs garnished with fresh parsley on a small plate with a small dish of ranch.
      Buffalo Turkey Meatballs
    • Close up of buffalo chicken thigh topped with avocado lime ranch and fresh parsley.
      Buffalo Chicken Thighs
    • Close up of lemon pepper fries topped with fresh parsley on a plate with a side of ketchup.
      Lemon Pepper Fries
    • Close up of Italian chicken cutlets.
      Italian Chicken Cutlets

    FAQ

    Does Chick-fil-A sell avocado lime ranch dressing?

    You can buy packets of dressing from Chick-fil-A, but if you want a large quantity, the best option is to make a homemade version.

    Does avocado lime ranch taste like ranch?

    Avocado lime ranch has the creamy dill of a traditional ranch with a bright citrusy flavor and a Southwestern twist.

    Storage

    Dairy-based salad dressings will last in the refrigerator for up to one week. Using freshly opened sour cream and buttermilk will help it last as long as possible.

    Because avocados change color slightly after being exposed to air, it is normal for the color of the avocado ranch dressing to change slightly.

    Store in an airtight container. I use a 16-ounce wide-mouth mason jar.

    📖 Recipe

    Avocado lime ranch dressing in a small mason jar.
    Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved! Email Print

    Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing

    Avocado lime ranch dressing with buttermilk, avocado, fresh cilantro, spices, and lime for a tangy, zesty twist on a classic salad dressing.
    4.84 from 18 votes
    Recipe by: Kelsey Smith
    Prep time: 10 minutes minutes
    Chill time : 1 hour hour
    Total time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 10 servings (3 tablespoon each)

    Equipment

    • Blender

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ripe avocado pitted and peeled
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • ½ cup buttermilk
    • ¼ cup mayonnaise
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice about one small lime
    • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro roughly chopped
    • 1-½ teaspoons dried dill
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon cumin
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Blend all of the ingredients in a blender on low speed until fully combined.
    • Pour into a storage container and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

    Notes

    Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 103kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 170mgPotassium: 142mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 142IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 0.3mg
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: avocado, low-carb
    Tried this recipe?Rate it to let me know how it was!

    Knife safety

    Always be careful when using a knife in the kitchen.

    • Do not hold the avocado in your hand when cutting it. Use a medium-sized knife and keep the avocado on the cutting board rather than in your hand.
    • Gently press the back of the avocado to release the pit. It's tempting to whack your knife into the avocado pit, but it's just as effective (if not more effective) to press the back of the avocado with your thumbs to pop out the pit.

    To learn more about how to cut an avocado, watch this video from California Avocados.

    Tell me what homemade salad dressing you'd like to see next.

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      Velveeta Sausage Cheese Dip
    • Instant Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs
      Instant Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs

    About Kelsey Smith

    I am a freelance content writer by day, mommy by night, and a blogger in between. I live in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband, Xavier. When I'm not working, you might find me here, sharing comfort food recipes.

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    1. Debbie T. says

      July 19, 2023 at 7:49 am

      Hi Kelsey--Love your version! I plan to make half the recipe (for just me). Questions:
      1. can I use buttermilk made from whole milk and vinegar?
      2. can I use dried cilantro instead of fresh?

      Thanks--I pinned it!

      Reply
      • Kelsey Smith says

        July 19, 2023 at 9:54 am

        Hi Debbie! Yes to the homemade butter milk but I highly recommend fresh cilantro. Dried cilantro doesn't have the same flavor. But you definitely can use it. Start with just two teaspoons instead of tablespoons and add more from there.

        Reply
        • Debbie T. says

          July 22, 2023 at 8:26 am

          5 stars
          After re-reading whole post I found my answers in Substitutions. I made this yesterday with dried cilantro, whole milk + a little white vinegar, and some lime powder (and homemade mayo). I also added ½ tsp. dried chipotle pepper for a little heat. My friends devoured it. Will definitely try to use fresh cilantro and fresh lime next time. Thanks for a wonderful recipe!

          Reply

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    Kelsey Smith

    Hi, I'm Kelsey! I am a freelance content writer for college-level textbooks by day, mommy by night, and a blogger in between. I live in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband, Xavier. When I'm not working, you might find me here, sharing easy comfort food recipes.

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