Jalapeño Ranch Salad Dressing
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Looking for a new and exciting salad dressing? Try this Jalapeño Ranch Salad Dressing recipe. It’s a refreshing change-up to your traditional ranch dressings. The ranch lover in your house is going to LOVE this zesty version. Worried about it being too hot?? I’ve got tips for you to reduce the heat while you crank up the flavor!
This spicy ranch dressing is a variation of the classic homemade ranch dressing studded with chopped pickled jalapeno peppers and spiked with the juice of the pickled jalepeños, to give your salads a refreshing punch. Plus it’s so easy to make you don’t need a food processor or anything fancy!
Need a Mild Version?
Now if you DON’T like it spicy you can ALWAYS add tame jalapeños, we love the Mezzetta Brand. They’ve got all the flavor of the pepper with NONE of the heat.
I usually use these because we have people in our house who don’t love the heat. I also make those same people mild sriracha again the flavor is there but the heat is non-existent.
BUT you can ALSO make this with regular pickled jalapeños OR even the hottest jalapeños you can find. Just make it to the spice level you like.
Want to use fresh jalapenos? GO FOR IT! Just chop and clean them and dice them up.
You guys know I always say to use my recipes but make them yours! So use what you like and taste test it until you like it.
When to use Jalapeño Ranch Salad Dressing?
ALL THE TIME. Ok, that’s a joke! But you can use it to add a spicy twist to your favorite salad! Or make one of MY favorite salads like my Club Sandwich Salad, or this Cobb Salad, Crispy Buffalo Chicken Salad, or even on my Wendy’s Jalapeño Popper Salad. It’s good on any salad that needs a creamy dressing.
I don’t recommend using it on my Antipasto salad though, which needs an Italian, or vinaigrette, dressing. I think that even this Sesame Ginger Dressing would be so tasty on this salad!
You can ALSO use it as a dipping sauce for everything you love to dip like these honey bbq wings or these chicken tenders. And it’s a delicious chip dip with potato or tortilla chips. All your dipping needs answered in one sauce!
What do I need to Make This Jalapeño Ranch Dressing?
- mayonnaise
- sour cream OR yogurt
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- salt
- pepper
- dry dill weed
- dry parsley
- buttermilk, or milk with vinegar to make sour milk, OR you can just use milk
- pickled jalapeños, mild, regular, or hot
- juice from the pickled jalapeños
- knife
- cutting board
- whisk
- medium bowl
One of the best things about this spicy ranch dressing is that you don’t need ANY fresh herbs. Everything besides the fresh ingredients like mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, are things you can keep right in the pantry for easy salad dressing making.
My problem with fresh herbs is that I never use them all. In fact, typically I buy fresh herbs, use them once and let them rot. Please let me know I’m not the only one!
Got Leftovers??
You probably won’t use all the ranch dressing at once so be sure to store the remaining dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. A mason jar works great, but just feel free to use a clean recycled jar, it doesn’t have to be a mason jar.
Jalapeño Ranch Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1//2 cup sour cream or greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- pinch of black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped pickled jalapeños reserve the juice
- 1-2 teaspoons juice from the canned jalapeños
- 1/4-1/2 cup buttermilk or milk, to taste
Instructions
- mix the mayonnaise and sour cream or yogurt
- add the onion powder, garlic powder, dill weed, parsley, salt, and pepper, stir well
- add the jalapeños and the juice, stir to combine
- whisk in just enough milk or buttermilk to make the dressing as thin or thick as you like
- chill one-two hours or until the flavors have come together
- taste the dressing, add more of anything you like, thin down more if needed
