Creamy Chimichurri Ranch
Posted: 02/14/23
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A deliciously creamy ranch dressing, spiked with all the chimichurri flavor! I combined two of my favorite things for one of the best dressings I’ve ever tasted – herby, bright, and loaded with flavor, this chimichurri ranch dressing is delicious on salads, wings, or as dipping sauce for just about anything.
🫙 What Makes This Recipe So Good
- If you’re like me, then combining chimichurri with ranch dressing is one of those OH-MY-GOD-WHY-IS-THIS-NOT-IN-EVERY-RESTAURANT-EVER kind of pairings. It takes two of your favorite sauces, and it brings them together in a never-saw-this-coming-but-it-makes-total-sense sort of mash-up where each component is delicious all on its own but together they become this Captain Planet of deliciousness that can right all wrongs. Ok, maybe not like… ALL wrongs. Maybe more like one or two wrongs, like overdone wings or bland salads. Either way, it’s a really amazing blend of bright, herby, tangy flavors that you will absolutely LOVE.
- Chimichurri ranch stores really well, so you can make up a batch at the beginning of the week and use it in meal preps or for various lunches or dinners throughout. Just refrigerate it in an airtight jar and it’ll keep for 7 days, give or take.
- What can you use chimichurri ranch for, besides wings and salads? Oh, so many things. It’s super versatile, so it goes well with basically anything you would use traditional ranch for! French fries? Check. Baked potatoes? Check. Alongside fresh baby carrots and celery sticks? Of course. Zucchini chips, asparagus, grilled corn, yuca or rutabaga fries, chicken nuggets, cheese & sausage plates, roasted cauliflower… the possibilities are endless.
👩🏼🍳 Chef’s Tips
- To thicken up your chimichurri ranch so it’s more of a chips-and-dip consistency than a dressing, just swap out the mayonnaise for sour cream. Full-fat is ideal, but any type of sour cream will work. I do this if I’m planning to serve it with tortilla chips or potato chips – the sour cream makes it more scoopable.
- It’s totally optional, but if you’ve got the time, make your chimichurri ranch in advance and chill it until you’re ready to use it. That gives all the flavors time to really deepen and develop, making everything that much more vivid.
- You’re completely in control of the consistency of the chimichurri ranch. If it’s too thick for your liking, stir in a little more buttermilk until you’ve got it as thin as you want it. Be careful not to add too much, though. You can’t take it back out, so you’d have to keep adding more of the other ingredients to balance things again.
- The dressing will set up a little more in the fridge, so don’t be alarmed if you take it out and it’s thickened. If you want a thin, pourable consistency later in the week, just let it set out for 10-15 minutes so it can come to room temperature. You should see it thin back out as it warms. Whisking the mixture fairly well should also help it thin out again. If neither of those tactics help, whisk in a touch more buttermilk to get it where you want it.
Sauces, & Condiments We Put on Everything
- Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce
- 3-Ingredient Keto Caramel Sauce
- Creamy Cajun Sauce
- Best Ever Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Creamy Dill Sauce for Salmon
Creamy Chimichurri Ranch
Creamy ranch dressing combined with all the bold, bright, herby flavors of chimichurri? Say no more. Use it as a dressing or dipping sauce, or thicken it up and make a dip for chips or fresh veggies.
servings
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons roughly chopped fresh garlic
- ½ cup fresh parsley leaves
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves
- ¾ cup mayonnaise see Notes
- ½ cup buttermilk well-shaken, plus more to thin if desired
- 1-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice to taste
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt plus more to taste
Equipment
- Food processor
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- jar with airtight lid
Instructions
- Add chopped garlic, parsley, and cilantro to food processor. Pulse until ingredients are finely chopped and mixture is very, very smooth.
- Transfer herb mixture to mixing bowl. Add mayonnaise, buttermilk, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, dried dill, pepper, oregano, crushed red pepper, and salt to mixing bowl. Whisk ingredients together vigorously until all ingredients are incorporated and mixture is completely smooth.
- Taste mixture and add lemon juice and salt as desired. If ranch is too thick, add buttermilk in 1 teaspoon increments, whisking well between each addition, until desired consistency is achieved.
- When satisfied with taste and consistency, transfer chimichurri ranch to jar with airtight lid. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- For Chimichurri Ranch Dip: Replace the mayo with sour cream. This will give the dressing a much thicker consistency that’s better as a dip with chips, fresh veggies, etc.
- Leftovers: Refrigerate chimichurri ranch in an airtight jar up to 7 days.
- Make it Vegan/Dairy Free: Use a vegan mayonnaise and a vegan buttermilk. To make your own vegan buttermilk, combine 1 cup unsweetened dairy-free milk (almond preferred) with 1 tablespoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. Whisk well, then let mixture sit 5-10 minutes or until slightly thickened.
- Make it Whole30/Paleo: Use a compliant mayo (store-bought or make your own) and a compatible buttermilk. See “Make it Vegan/Dairy Free” note above for homemade dairy-free buttermilk recipe.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 157kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 10mg, Sodium: 301mg, Potassium: 67mg, Fiber: 0.5g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 475IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 36mg, Iron: 1mg, Net Carbs: 2g
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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