10-Minute Southwest Salad Dressing

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One of the best things I’ve done in recent years is have a homemade salad dressing in my fridge at all times. From gingery White Balsamic Vinaigrette to my All-Star Vegan Salad Dressing, and now this easy Southwest Salad Dressing.

I associate Southwest salads with my teenage and college years, frequenting Applebee’s or Chili’s and usually picking the Southwest Chicken Salad, solely because I loved the smoky, creamy dressing paired with crisp iceberg lettuce and crunchy tortilla chips, black beans, and cheddar cheese. Basic; yes. But so good! And I still crave it.

My homemade version is a breeze to make in less than 10 minutes and is full of smoky, citrusy flavor from smoked paprika, canned chiles in adobo, and lime juice. It’s cool and creamy, using a blend of sour cream and mayonnaise for richness. Besides being my favorite dressing for a southwest inspired salad with avocado, corn, and tomatoes, it is the best addition to Sheetpan Chicken Fajitas!

Ingredients for Homemade Southwest Salad Dressing:

• Sour Cream
• Lime Juice
• Garlic
• Smoked Paprika
• Cumin
• Mayonaise
• Canned chiles in adobo
• Cilantro

How to Make Southwest Dressing:

• Chop cilantro, garlic, and canned chiles. Add all ingredients to a blender. Or you can use a whisk and a bowl.
• Process until smooth, and that’s it! Store in a glass container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

What to Pair with Southwest Salad Dressing

This creamy, smoky dressing is fabulous on a traditional southwest style salad with fresh greens, avocado, black beans, corn, and tomatoes. Add a few tortilla chips for crunch! You could also take the base of this Ultimate Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, and swap the caesar dressing for the southwest!

Other dishes I love to use this dressing on:

• pinto beans
• grilled tofu
• roasted brussels sprouts
• rotisserie chicken tacos

More Salad Dressing Recipes:

• Easy Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
• 5-Minute Vegan Salad Dressing
• Cucumber Greek Yogurt Dressing

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10-Minute Southwest Salad Dressing

This homemade southwest dressing is a breeze to make in less than 10 minutes and is full of smoky, citrusy flavor. It's cool and creamy, using a blend of sour cream and mayonnaise for richness.

5 from 5 votes

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Prep Time :10 minutes minutes

Yield: 1 cup

Author: Amanda Paa

Ingredients

• 1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon chopped chiles in adobo
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/2 cup full fat sour cream
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 1/2 tablespoon coarsely chopped cilantro

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Instructions 

• Add all ingredients to a blender. (I use the small jar for my Blendtec. The personal sized ninja blenders work great too. Or you can use a whisk and bowl, just finely chop all necessary ingredients.) Blend for 30 seconds until smooth.
• Scrape down sides and blend for 15 more seconds. Store in a covered glass jar for up to 1 week in refrigerator.