One thing I know for sure: you can make or break a salad by the dressing you choose to put on it. I used to hate salads! But I can honestly say that it’s because I was using store bought dressings with fake ingredients and not the best taste. Once I started making my own homemade vinaigrettes and dressings, it was life changing!
This Southwest Salad Dressing is INCREDIBLY easy to make. All you have to do is throw everything together in a salad dressing shaker or whisk it together and store it in the fridge for a delicious, healthy salad dressing that everyone love. Simple, wholesome, and so much flavor!
RELATED: 20+ Easy Healthy Salad Recipes
In This Post
Ingredients
The ingredients for this recipe are SO simple and easy to find! Here’s what you’ll need:
Plain Yogurt – Plain greek or whole milk yogurt is the base of this recipe. Add water to adjust the consistency to taste!
Ancho Chili Powder – Made of ground dried poblano chiles, Ancho Chili Powder adds a smoky flavor with the right amount of kick.
Smoked Paprika – And speaking of smoky flavors, smoked paprika takes things to another level! However, you can also substitute with regular paprika if you don’t have this ingredient on hand.
Lime – Fresh lime juice balances the smoky and spicy flavors in the recipe.
Cilantro – Fresh or dried cilantro are both great options to bring cool, earthy flavors to this dressing!
Seasoning – This recipe uses a mix of cumin, garlic, salt, and pepper.
How to Make an Easy Southwest Salad Dressing
Making a Southwest Salad Dressing is incredibly easy. Simply combine yogurt, smoked paprika, ancho chili powder, lime juice, cilantro, and basic seasoning like garlic, salt, and pepper. Shake it or whisk it together and enjoy!
TIP: Slowly add water to adjust the consistency of this dressing to taste (2 Tbsp at a time)!
Storing Yogurt-Based Salad Dressings
Yogurt-based salad dressings can be stored in an airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. This is a great option for keeping a healthy dressing option on hand all week long!
Salad Pairings for This Dressing Recipe
- Sun-Dried Tomato & Arugula Lentil Salad
- Poached Egg & Avocado Breakfast Salad
- Healthy Chicken Cobb Salad Recipe
- Easy Healthy Taco Salad w/ Ground Turkey
This salad dressing isn’t just for salads! You can also use it to add flavor to baked or roasted chicken, sandwiches, or even pizza. The options are limitless!
More Healthy Salad Dressings & Vinaigrettes
- Creamy Avocado Lime Dressing
- Easy Classic Lemon Vinaigrette
- Vegan Turmeric Ginger Dressing
- Creamy Lemon Tahini Dressing
- 10-Minute Healthy Ranch Dressing
Did you make this Southwest Salad Dressing recipe? Be sure to give it a rating below and tag your photos @jar.of.lemons!
The BEST Southwest Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup whole milk greek yogurt (or light sour cream)
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup water
- 1 medium lime (juiced)
- 2 tsp ancho chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne (optional)
- 1 tsp dried cilantro (or 2 Tbsp freshly chopped cilantro)
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients in a salad shaker or bowl.
- Shake or whisk together until smooth.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Slowly add water to adjust the consistency of this dressing to taste (2 Tbsp at a time)!
- This Southwest Salad Dressing can be stored in an airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
Cristina says:
I have made this dressing 3x now, it’s THAT good! I always double the recipe and only add 2 tablespoons of water to get a more creamy consistency. I made the mistake of adding 1/4 cup to my double batch and it’s too runny. I’ll stick to 2 tablespoons. Fabulous dressing for taco salad!
Karen M. says:
Just made this for our dinner. It was delicious!! I did have to change a little because husband has Parkinsons and can’t eat spicy. I used the sour cream, a little mayo and milk. I did double the spices (non spicy ones). The fresh cilantro just makes it. I added chicken on a Santa Fe salad and used this dressing. It was really good!! Thank you for the great recipe!!
Iolite says:
Messed up the ratio and wound up with a spicy sauce. After I ran out of ancho chilli powder , the substitution was :
1/2 tbsp ancho , 1/2 tbsp hot Mexican chili powder , and 1tbsp Chipotle chili powder
And accidently added 2.5 oz of water instead of 2tbsp.
To thicken the dressing and to lessen the spiciness I added 2tbsp of heavy cream a few times until the sauce was creamy and delicious
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Favorite recipe website on the internet 🙂
Connie replied:
Wow! I made this dressing in a quick minute and served it with a chili topped southwestern salad and it was fantastic! The tangy flavorer added an additional depth to the salad that was perfect! I will be making this whenever I want to impress! Nobody would ever guess how fast and simple this dressing is to make. Our little secret…..wink!
Alexis says:
I eat salads frequently and wanted something new for a dressing. This one is amazing!
Julie says:
What a fabulous and zesty dressing to make! I love how flavorful it and how it came together so quickly. WIll make it again soon.
Linda says:
Oh yum! This salad dress is so smooth and delicious, really goes well with summer salad
Stine Mari says:
I love the flavors of the Southwest! This is one killer salad dressing for sure!
Jere Cassidy says:
This recipe is so easy to make and full of all the southwest flavors I love. This will be perfect on our Mexican Salads.
Tara Teaspoon says:
This is just what I was looking for to add to my salads! Delicious with a kick.
Liz says:
Omg I want to put this on EVERYTHING! This is perfect for salads but also so good for tacos!
Sara Welch says:
What a unique and unexpected dressing! Definitely took my boring salad to the next level; hands down delicious!
Denay DeGuzman says:
This salad dressing is so delicious! It has the perfect flavors. We enjoyed it yesterday on a Southwest chicken salad.
Jessica Formicola says:
I love making my own condiments whenever possible, and this southwest dressing takes the cake! I’d love tt use it as a veggie dip too!
Audrey says:
This salad was great and so easy too!
Sondra Barker says:
I normally am not a huge salad person but this dressing was amazing! It added so much flavor and made my normally bland salad delicious. I love how quick and easy it was to make!