Done in just 5 minutes this avocado lime ranch dressing is delicious served as a salad dressing, sauce or dip. Avocado and lime combine with the classic ranch flavors to create a delicious, lighter, new twist, and it's easy to make with store bought mayonnaise.
Why you will love this recipe
- It's quick - 5 minutes from start to finish, or less!
- It's easy - just mix and serve, we even use store bought mayo!
- Fresh lime flavor lightens up this classic ranch
- Avocado makes it healthier than your classic ranch with an all-dairy base
What you need to make it
Ingredient notes
- Mayonnaise - store bought is fine, and can be swapped for greek yogurt for a healthier version
- Cilantro can be omitted or swapped for parsley
- Avocado should be perfectly ripe but not over-ripe
How to make it
- Place salt and minced or pressed garlic in a bowl
- Mash together with a fork
- Add the avocado, mash it with a fork and mix with the salt and garlic
- Add the mayonnaise, ground black pepper, paprika powder and cayenne pepper and mix well
- Squeeze in the lime
- Mix together
- Mix in the cilantro
- And done! Refrigerate for 15 minutes if you have the time, or serve immediately.
Tips & tricks
- To deepen the flavor, refrigerate for 15 minutes before serving
- Adjust seasoning to suit your taste - maybe you like more or less lime or more or less cayenne pepper?
- Adjust the thickness depending on what you're using it for. To make it thinner, add some milk, 1 tablespoon at a time. To make it thicker, use less sour cream.
- Store in the fridge for up to 5 days - it might change color slightly due to the avocado, but will still have all the taste.
- Make it healthier by using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise
Recipe FAQ
First of all - the color has nothing to do with it. Some avocados are brown, and some are green.
Perfectly ripe avocados are soft, but not too soft. To find these, start by checking the little knob at the top of the avocado, where it came off the branch. Press it lightly and if it gives easily, the avocado is at least ripe - but if it gives too easily it can be over ripe.
So I like to do a second test - I place the avocado in the palm of my hand and squeeze it gently using my whole hand (if you poke it with your fingertips you risk damaging the avocado) and if it gives only slightly, it's good. If it gives a lot or unevenly it's over ripe or damaged.
To make avocado ripen faster, place them in a paper bag together with an apple. Check a few times a day and within a day or two the avocados should be ripe.
Unripe avocados are best stored in room temperature, either as they are or in a brown paper bag with an apple to make them ripen quicker. They should never be stored in the fridge as this will stop the ripening process.
Ripe avocados should be stored in the fridge, as this stops the ripening process and will keep them from going bad for longer.
How to serve it
- Drizzled over salmon tacos
- Instead of a guacamole to dip chips or veggies in
- With chicken quesadillas
- As a side sauce: for example for Lemony Barbecued Chicken
- On top of a salad: for example, swap out the tahini dressing for this roasted sweet potato salad
More 5-minute sauces
Love quick & easy sauces, like this one? Then I think these are just what you need:
- Chipotle Ranch Dressing
- Whipped Feta Cheese (Tyrosalata)
- 5-minute Blue Cheese Sauce [Keto, Vegetarian, Gluten Free]
- 2-minute Gluten Free BBQ Sauce
- Lime Aioli from Scratch
Did you love this recipe? Rate it five stars!
...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.
Recipe
Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing
Print RateIngredients
- 1 garlic clove minced or pressed
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 avocado ripe, pitted and peeled
- ½ dl mayonnaise*
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika powder
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ lime juice of
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Place minced or pressed garlic and salt in a bowl and mash together with a fork.1 garlic clove, ⅛ teaspoon salt
- Add the avocado, mash with a fork and mix with the garlic and salt.1 avocado
- Add mayonnaise, ground black pepper, paprika powder and cayenne pepper and mix well.½ dl mayonnaise*, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon paprika powder, ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Mix in fresh squeezed lime juice followed by chopped cilantro.½ lime, 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro
- (Optional) Refrigerate for 15 minutes before serving, to let the flavors deepen. Then serve as a salad dressing, sauce or dip.
Equipment (may contain affiliate links)
- Measuring cups (metric or US)*
Video
Notes
Ingredient notes
- Mayonnaise - store bought is fine, and can be swapped for greek yogurt for a healthier version
- Cilantro can be omitted or swapped for parsley
- Avocado should be perfectly ripe but not over-ripe
Tips & tricks
- To deepen the flavor, refrigerate for 15 minutes before serving
- Adjust seasoning to suit your taste - maybe you like more or less lime or more or less cayenne pepper?
- Adjust the thickness depending on what you're using it for. To make it thinner, add some milk, 1 tablespoon at a time. To make it thicker, use less sour cream.
- Store in the fridge for up to 5 days - it might change color slightly due to the avocado, but will still have all the taste.
- Make it healthier by using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.
Soniya
Wow! Love homemade dressing and this looks amazing..live the addition of avocado 🥑
Emmeline Kemperyd
Thank you Soniya!
SHANIKA
I'm so loving the creaminess of this sauce! Avocados + Lime is such a great combo!
Emmeline Kemperyd
Thank you, Shanika! Love that combo!
Amy Desrosiers
This looks so good! I love how avocado and lime pair together so perfectly! This is no exception!
Emmeline Kemperyd
Thank you, Amy! Yep avocado & lime makes anything awesome!
Sharon
This avocado lime ranch dressing is my new favorite to top everything from salads to tacos and dipping appetizers in.
Emmeline Kemperyd
Love to hear that, Sharon! Thanks!
Haley D. Williams
I want to put this on everything! It's so creamy and zesty. Delicious!
Emmeline Kemperyd
Me too girl, me too! Thanks for commenting!