Go Back
Creamy jalapeno tomatillo ranch dressing with cilantro (Cafe Rio copycat) in a Mason jar sitting on a blue and white striped dish towel next to a bunch of cilantro and half of a lime on a gray background.

Creamy Jalapeno Ranch Dressing with Cilantro (Cafe Rio Copycat)

Becky
A creamy, tangy, spicy ranch-style dressing with jalapeno and cilantro
Prep Time 10 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 2 cups

Equipment

  • 1 cutting board
  • 1 chef's knife 8 to 10 inches
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 blender or food processor

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1-ounce package Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix
  • ¾ cup buttermilk
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tomatillos halved
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 bunch cilantro roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 jalapeno
  • ¼ cup pickled jalapenos
  • 2 tablespoons pickled jalapeno brine (liquid from can of pickled jalapenos)

Instructions
 

  • Remove the papery covering from the tomatillos and chop in half.
  • Halve the jalapeno and remove the stem. Keep seeds for a spicier dressing, or remove seeds for less spice.
  • Mince the garlic or put through a garlic press.
  • Roughly chop the cilantro.
  • Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and homogeneous consistency.
  • Serve immediately or store in a covered container in the refrigerator.

Notes

Most of the spice from jalapenos is in the seeds.  Remove the seeds for a less spicy dressing, or keep the seeds in for more spice.
The dressing will get more spicy the longer it sits in the refrigerator.
Pickled jalapeno brine is the liquid from the can of pickled jalapenos.
Keyword best salad dressing, cafe rio copycat dressing, cafe rio creamy tomatillo dressing, cilantro ranch dressing, cilantro tomatillo dressing, creamy jalapeno ranch, creamy ranch dressing, creamy spicy dressing, creamy tomatillo dressing, creamy tomatillo ranch, dip for tacos, dressing for burritos, flavorful salad dressing, hidden valley ranch dressing mix, homemade salad dressing, jalapeno cilantro dressing, jalapeno ranch dressing, jalapeno ranch for fries, perfect dip, perfect for mexican food, salad dressing, southwest dip, southwest salad dressing, spicy creamy dressing, spicy ranch dressing, spicy ranch sauce, taco dressing, tangy ranch dressing, tomatillo jalapeno dressing