If you want a top-notch cilantro lime dressing, this creamy avocado version is fresh, tangy, and full of vibrant flavor. Made with ripe avocado, fresh lime juice, cilantro, garlic, and a touch of jalapeño and tomatillo, this dressing blends in minutes and complements salads, tacos, burrito bowls, grilled proteins, or raw vegetables as a dip.
The avocado gives a naturally creamy texture without dairy, while lime and cilantro deliver the bright, zesty notes that lift any dish. Once you make this cilantro lime dressing, you’ll likely keep a jar in the fridge for weeknight meals and weekend gatherings.
Salad Dressing Recipes
Collecting great salad dressings is one of the easiest ways to improve meals—salads, bowls, and wraps all benefit from a delicious sauce. This avocado cilantro lime dressing is especially versatile: use it as a salad dressing, a drizzle for tacos or grain bowls, or a flavorful dip for crudités. It’s bold, fresh, and simple to prepare.
Why You’ll Love This Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Ready in about 5 minutes
- Naturally creamy from avocado—no dairy needed
- Bright, tangy, and herb-forward
- Perfect for salads, tacos, bowls, and wraps
- Gluten-free and dairy-free
Ingredients You’ll Need
This creamy cilantro lime dressing uses fresh, simple ingredients that blend into a bright, flavorful sauce.
- Avocado: Provides natural creaminess and healthy fats.
- Cilantro: The signature herb that gives the dressing its fresh, green flavor.
- Lime juice: Adds bright acidity to balance the richness.
- Jalapeño: A little heat—remove seeds for mild, keep some for more spice.
- Tomatillo: Adds subtle tartness and depth.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic for savory bite.
- Apple cider vinegar: Extra tang to brighten the dressing.
- Honey: Balances the acidity with a touch of sweetness (omit or swap for maple syrup for vegan).
- Ground coriander: A warm, citrusy note that complements lime.
- Olive oil: Adds richness and helps emulsify the dressing.
- Kosher salt: Enhances all the flavors.
- Water: Used to thin the dressing to your preferred consistency.
Exact measurements are included in the recipe card below; adjust seasonings and water to taste for your preferred texture and brightness.
Avocado Recipes I Obsess Over
Avocado lovers know how transformative a ripe avocado can be. Its creamy texture and mild flavor work in breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In this dressing the avocado makes the sauce silky while adding healthy fats and richness without dairy.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Dressing
Homemade cilantro lime dressing comes together in moments with a blender or food processor.
- Add all ingredients except the water to a blender or food processor.
- Blend until completely smooth.
- Add water a little at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust salt or lime juice as needed.
Your creamy cilantro lime dressing is ready in minutes and stores well in the refrigerator.
Cilantro Lime Dressing FAQs
Avocado oxidizes when exposed to air and can turn brown, though the flavor remains fine. To minimize browning, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the dressing before sealing the container, or add a thin layer of olive oil or extra lime juice on top. Stir before serving.
Yes. The flavors meld over time, so making it up to a day in advance is fine. Store it airtight in the refrigerator.
Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, this dressing will keep for up to a week. It also freezes well for up to a month—freeze in portions and thaw in the refrigerator before using, then blend briefly to restore texture.
How to Serve Cilantro Lime Dressing
This dressing shines on salads, but don’t stop there—drizzle it over grilled chicken or fish, spoon it onto tacos and burrito bowls, toss it with roasted vegetables, or use it as a creamy dip for fresh veggies. It pairs particularly well with Mexican- or Southwestern-inspired dishes.
Here are a few serving ideas where this dressing elevates the dish:
- Carne asada tacos topped with a drizzle of cilantro lime dressing
- Sweet pork or carnitas burritos for a bright contrast
- Mexi bowls and chicken burrito bowls
- Baked chicken taquitos or quesadillas as a dipping sauce
- Grain bowls, roasted vegetables, or green salads
A great dressing makes a good salad exceptional. This avocado cilantro lime dressing is bright, tangy, and creamy—an easy, flavorful sauce to keep on hand.
Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing Recipe Card
Ingredients
- ½ large avocado
- ½ bunch cilantro (leaves and some stems)
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- ½–1 jalapeño, seeded if desired
- ½ tomatillo
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey (or maple syrup)
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- ¾ cup water, or more to thin
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except the water in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Whisk in water a little at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust salt or lime juice as needed. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
