Easy Cilantro Lime Dressing | Ready in 2 Minutes!

Choose this easy cilantro lime dressing when you’re looking to add plenty of bright fresh flavor to your meals with just a few ingredients and quick prep. Perfect for tacos, salads, and more!

Have you ever made dinner that just seemed so-so? I mean, dinner itself didn’t taste BAD per se, but it wasn’t a home run?

How about those dinners where everyone at the table grabs seconds or thirds and literally talks about how awesome the meal was days later?

My goal for every dinner is definitely that second option and making that happen can be as simple as adding a yummy sauce or homemade salad dressings to the meal.

Good news! This cilantro lime dressing is one of those recipes that will put dinner over the top and have everyone loading up seconds!

CILANTRO LIME DRESSING

Ever since I made Thai Peanut Sauce, I knew that having an awesome sauce could literally flip the switch on dinner.

This cilantro lime dressing is of the same caliber, and here’s why you need to make it ASAP:

• Quick. The whole thing takes two minutes or less to make. And that’s if you’re moving slowly.
• Easy. A quick buzz in a food processor or blender and you’re good to go. (I have this food processor and this blender and love them both!)
• Make ahead. Add this to your weekly meal prep and you’ll be saucing up EVERYTHING all week.
• Simple ingredients. Nothing weird or fancy. Just a few basics you already have or can easily pick up at your grocery store.
• Affordable. If you use a calculator, we’re coming up with a total cost of PENNIES, not dollars like store-bought dressings.

And it tastes so yummy on so many things, you’ll be ready to make a second batch before you know it!

INGREDIENTS FOR CILANTRO LIME SALAD DRESSING

We all love basic recipes that knock our socks off, right? Well look at this line up for cilantro lime salad dressing:

• Lime juice. A given, since the recipe is a cilantro LIME vinaigrette.
• Garlic powder. You can use fresh garlic if you want, but granulated garlic powder is just SO easy.
• Honey. The smallest amount brings all the ingredients together.
• Salt. A.K.A. flavor! If you’re going to use salt, make sure it’s a good one like Ava Jane’s Kitchen that doesn’t have microplastics! You can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt right now (just pay shipping and handling!).
• Extra virgin olive oil. Substitute any mild oil here…avocado oil, palm oil, or even fractionated coconut oil will work.
• Fresh cilantro leaves. Again, it’s in the recipe name! And since this is the only fresh ingredient necessary here, you’re good to go. You can even keep the stems on since we’re blending this up anyway.

CILANTRO DRESSING TIPS

Cilantro. You don’t need a lot of cilantro for this recipe, and you certainly don’t want to buy a whole bunch of cilantro for just one or two tablespoons.

I suggest making this salad dressing recipe whenever you’re planning something else that uses cilantro, like Cilantro Lime Coleslaw, Fresh Mango Salsa, or a classic Rice and Beans Dinner. That way it’s less likely to get slimy sitting in the fridge, and you’ll save money.

You can also freeze fresh cilantro and other herbs by following this tutorial, but I prefer using frozen herbs in cooked dishes rather than fresh ones like this lime cilantro dressing recipe. I use my frozen cilantro in Cilantro Lime Rice!

Lime Juice. Fresh lime juice always tastes best, but bottled will work too.

I always keep a bottle of lime juice in my kitchen for recipes like this cilantro dressing, Spicy Citrus Black Beans, and Cherry Limeade Popsicles. It’s much cheaper than fresh limes, and it doesn’t go bad!

INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO MAKE CILANTRO LIME DRESSING RECIPE

This cilantro lime dressing recipe comes together in two simple steps.

Step 1. Add all the ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth.

Step 2. Pour over your favorite salads.

That’s it!

Store leftover cilantro lime dressing in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. I love using mason jars for homemade dressing and these lids make it super easy to shake and pour!

CILANTRO LIME SALAD DRESSING VARIATIONS

Avocado cilantro dressing. Add ½ of an avocado to the rest of the ingredients when blending for a thick and creamy cilantro lime salad dressing.

Jalapeño lime cilantro dressing recipe. Pop a jalapeño or two into the blender with the cilantro dressing ingredients. Keep the seeds for extra spice or remove them for a milder sauce.

Creamy cilantro lime dressing. Substitute Greek yogurt, sour cream, or mayo for half of the oil in the recipe.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH CILANTRO LIME DRESSING

• Cilantro lime dressing makes a delicious sauce for fish tacos, taco salad, burritos, or burrito bowls!
• Use it as a marinade for steak, shrimp, or chicken (here are more easy chicken marinades). Cilantro lime chicken is AMAZING.
• Cilantro dressing is perfect for Southwestern Salad.
• Add bright, fresh flavor to this Crunchy Quinoa Salad.
• Use on ANY salad, but it’s especially delicious on grilled chicken salads.
• Drizzle it over pasta or rice or vegetables.
• Use it as a dipping sauce for Crispy Chicken Wings.

SALAD DRESSING LIME CILANTRO FAQS

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