This Creamy Jalapeño Ranch Dip is the perfect game day appetizer! It gets a double kick of spice and tang from pickled jalapeños and their juice that is balanced by rich sour cream and mayonnaise. Rounded out by herby cilantro and ranch seasoning mix, this easy dip all comes together in a food processor!
Everyone loves dipping chips into ranch like the dip you get at Chuy's restaurant, and this homemade 5-minute dip recipe takes that classic to the next level. Put out this jalapeño ranch dressing dip at your Super Bowl or Cinco de Mayo party, and watch how quickly it disappears!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Nostalgic - this copycat Chuy's dip uses ranch seasoning mix for that classic ranch flavor we all know and love. It's a classic, delicious ranch dip with a zesty kick!
Spicy - pickled jalapeños and their juice give this classic ranch dip an extra kick.
Quick and easy - this jalapeño dip is made in a food processor and only takes 5 minutes from start to finish. It doesn't get much easier than that.
Extra creamy - sour cream and mayonnaise create the creamiest dip you'll want to put on everything.
My Texas cousins first introduced me to this amazing dip, and it's become one of the best quick and easy favorites.
Try adding this jalapeño ranch dip to these Pork Belly Sliders with Asian Slaw for the perfect pairing your guests will love!
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Ingredients
- Cilantro. Adds a fresh herby flavor to brighten up the dried herb flavor from the ranch seasoning.
- Sour cream. This is a classic base for many dips. I recommend using full-fat sour cream for the best texture and flavor.
- Mayonnaise. Helps balance out the acidity and makes the ranch dip extra creamy.
- Ranch seasoning. Hidden Valley Ranch Mix has the best, most recognizable ranch flavor. You can also use your favorite ranch seasoning mix.
- Lime. Brings a bright acidity that makes this dip undeniably homemade.
- Pickled jalapeños. You'll use the jalapeños and their brine so you get that spicy flavor in every bite.
See recipe card for full ingredients list and quantities.
Note that a food processor or blender is recommended for this recipe to create an ultra creamy dip.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use fresh jalapeños in place of the pickled jalapeños, reducing the quantity by half to start. Add equal parts of lime juice and/or water to replace the pickled jalapeño juice.
- For a lighter version, substitute equal parts greek yogurt in place of the sour cream.
- You can substitute 3 oz cream cheese in place of the mayonnaise. Use room temperature cream cheese to ensure it easily blends into the dip. Add additional jalapeño juice or a bit of water if you need to loosen the dip.
How to Make This Recipe
One: Rinse and dry the cilantro, then add it to the food processor with pickled jalapeños.
Two: Pulse until the mixture breaks down until small pieces.
Three: Add remaining ingredients (ranch seasoning, pickled jalapeño juice, mayonnaise, sour cream, and lime juice) and pulse until completely smooth.
Four: Check for consistency and taste, adding salt, water, or jalapeños, if desired. Serve in a bowl with chips or drizzle over your favorite Mexican food!
Expert Tips
- Cilantro can carry a good amount of dirt in the leaves. Wash it well before adding to the food processor to remove any grittiness.
- Blend all of the ingredients together, and then taste for seasoning. Add additional jalapeños if more spice is desired.
- If the mixture seems too thick, add a touch of water or jalapeño juice to loosen it up.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Both of these will come in a packet from the spice section of the grocery store, but are sometimes labeled differently.
Yes. This dip is rather thin, making it versatile for many uses.
Yes, but use only about ½ the amount of fresh jalapeños. The pickled jalapeños add a bit of acidity, which is key to this recipe.
How to Eat Jalapeño Ranch Dip
There are so many ways to eat this jalapeño ranch dip! Try dipping with Lay's potato chips, tortilla chips, or raw vegetables. You can also drizzle it on Mexican food and taco salads, use it as a salad dressing, or as a dip for french fries or sweet potato fries.
Storage
Store the jalapeño ranch dip in a sealed container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
This dip does not freeze well.
More Appetizer Recipes You'll Love
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📖Recipe
Creamy Jalapeño Ranch Dip
Equipment
- Food processor or blender can also be finely chopped by hand
Ingredients
- ¾ cup fresh cilantro leaves and stems
- ½ cup pickled jalapeños
- ¾ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 1 packet dry ranch seasoning
- ¼ cup pickled jalapeño brine
- ¼ cup lime juice freshly squeezed
Instructions
- Wash and dry cilantro. Add the cilantro and pickled jalapeños to the food processor and pulse to break down.¾ cup fresh cilantro, ½ cup pickled jalapeños
- Add the sour cream, mayonnaise, ranch packet, jalapeño brine and lime juice and blend until smooth.¾ cup sour cream, ¾ cup mayonnaise, 1 packet dry ranch seasoning, ¼ cup pickled jalapeño brine, ¼ cup lime juice
- Serve with tortilla chips, vegetables, on Mexican food, or on a salad. Store in a sealed container in the fridge for one week.
AW
This came together in a flash! The zippy lime and jalapeño flavors kept me dipping chips far longer than I should have been. Delicious.
Kb
This was such a delicious dip! We served it with carrots, cucumbers, and chips and it was a hit. It was the perfect amount of spice!
Callan Wenner
So happy to hear this!
Stef
This is going to be a staple in our fridge! Super easy to make and was the perfect dip to have on the table for veggies, nachos/chips, and wings. Great recipe, Callan!