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We have a favorite recipe for Homemade Ranch Dressing, but when it comes to Mexican dishes, Café Rio dressing is the ONLY way to go!
We’ve been on a QUEST to find the perfect Café Rio Cilantro Ranch Dressing and are happy the quest is over! We tested a dozen recipes comparing it to the real deal and the recipe we are sharing today is the one everyone voted the best.
This Cafe Rio dressing is DELICIOUS!! You’ll want this stuff with everything! We have it on our tacos, chips, quesadillas, salad—you name it!!
SO glad we finally found the recipe that is most like the restaurants – plus, it comes together quick making it a monthly must-make.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Delicious! This dressing is practically drinkable, and is very flavorful.
- Simple. It takes minutes to make and is the perfect addition to any meal.
- The perfect topping. It’s great for so many dishes like salads, tacos, bowls, chips and more.
Cafe Rio Ingredients and Substitutions
- 1 packet ranch dip dressing (or 3 tbsp)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream – plain greek yogurt can be used as well
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic – or 2 garlic cloves – they are even better and add more flavor.
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 2-3 tablespoons diced jalapenos, deseeded – keep the seeds if you want to add more heat.
- 1/2 buttermilk (plus more if needed) – if you don’t have buttermilk, whole milk can be used or our Substitute Buttermilk recipe.
- 2 tablespoons lime juice – fresh or from the bottle works
- 3-4 tomatillos – fresh or canned both work.
How to Make Cafe Rio Dressing
- Blend all ingredients in the blender. Add milk until it’s the consistency you want (I did about ⅓ cup).
It’s that easy to make this cilantro ranch dressing!! But be warned: just try not to drink it all!
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- So many things to add it to! We love to use this Cafe Rio dressing on any salad, but also love it on these recipes: Chicken Tacos, Southwest Salad, Chicken Quesadillas, Loaded Nachos, and Homemade Tortillas.
- Add more heat. For more spice, add more jalapeno or leave the seeds in.
- Fresh is key. If possible, use fresh garlic, fresh lime juice and fresh tomatillos. They always make the dressing even more flavorful.
Cafe Rio Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix, or 3 tablespoons
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 2-3 tablespoons diced jalapenos, deseeded
- 1/2 cup buttermilk, plus more if needed
- 3-4 tomatillos
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients in the blender. Add milk until it’s the consistency you want (I did about ⅓ cup).
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
We like to make this dressing a day or two ahead of when we want to use it, because then it has time to sit in the fridge and let the flavors all combine.
Put it in an airtight container, a glass jar with a lid, or even reuse an empty dressing bottle. If stored properly, it should last for 1-2 weeks in the fridge.
More Recipes Like This:
Serve this With
More Cafe Rio recipes
Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe
6 hrs 5 mins
Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken
3 hrs 5 mins
Flour Tortilla Recipe
45 mins
Nachos Recipe
15 mins
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This recipe was first shared April 2011 and has been updated to be even better.
Am I living in an alternate reality or did this recipe change? I’ve always made it from this page and don’t believe I’ve ever had tomatillos in mine. Is there an older version you’ve posted before? If so, how do I get that one back?!
I believe the older version you’re looking for is as follows:
1/3-1/2 cup milk
1 packet (3 tablespoons) Ranch Dip or Dressing mix
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 bunch cilantro
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1-2 teaspoons diced jalapeños
Delicious! Another great hit, Kristyn! We’ll use this on many, many things! And will help me to eat more salads 😄 We had on tacos last night and it was perfect! Oh just so you know, your link here to making buttermilk substitute goes to your recipe for buttermilk syrup 😊 There’s a link in there for your buttermilk making method so I did get there, I just thought you might want to know. Thanks again for another great recipe!
Definitely does not taste like cafe rio. Tried this recipe 3 different time
How do you store this dressing? and how long can you store it for?
Yeah, you can put it in an airtight container, a glass jar with a lid, or even reuse an empty dressing bottle. If stored properly, it should last for 1-2 weeks in the fridge.
How long can the Cilantro Dressing keep in the fridge?
Sounds delicious! Can’t wait to try!
I’m a little confused. Do you use the ranch dressing mix or ranch dip mix? Those are 2 different products.
You could honestly probably use either, but we use the seasoning/dressing mix.
I think the nutrition facts is off… per serving it’s 2052??? Not a chance.
Not per serving. That would be for the whole batch/recipe. 🙂
This is my all-time favorite dressing, and I’ve made this recipe several times. No reflection on the perfection of the original (I modify most recipes I try), but I like it with about 1/2 the buttermilk (this weekend I used oatmilk with great results!), and more cilantro.
Thanks for sharing what you do. This is one of our favorite dressings too!!
Just tried this recipe and it is simply awesome! This is the second recipe of yours that I’ve tried and both have been hits with my family!
Oh man…..nothing compares to homemade ranch. This one was SO GOOD with the jalapenos. Just the perfect amount of spice. 🙂
mmm..this sounds incredibly delicious! The perfect dressing!
Tried this tonight and it was delicious!
Thanks so much for trying the dressing recipe. I love it and I’m glad you liked it too!
It was good, but it doesn’t satisfy the craving. It is too ranchy for us and doesn’t exactly match the cafe Rio sauce but still good.
Thanks for the feedback and for giving the recipe a try!
This is our go to ranch!!! We never buy store bought anymore! My kiddos and hubs absolutely love this!!
We use this recipe all the time! So easy and delicious
This has been our go to homemade dressing recipe. We absolutely love it! Love it on taco salads and kids love to drizzle it on steak tacos.
Recipe calls for ranch dip mix. Huge difference between that and dressing mix. Use dressing mix. I should have gone with my gut, but I used the dip mix like the recipe called for and my dressing is thick like sour cream. I even used a whole cup of milk.
Delicious 😋
Thanks so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Love love this recipe!! And I actually froze it and it defrosted well!! Definitely recommend
Good to know! Thanks for sharing that!
I love this dressing! And I love that it doesn’t use tomatillos, I usually don’t have those on hand.
We love this dressing! So yummy with chips and salad!! So easy to make—just a blender!
Why doesn’t the recipe include cIlantro? It is clearly shown in the blender photo before blending. It is called Cilantro Ranch Dressing. It is shown to be a greenish color?
It is included. If you scroll to the recipe card, it says 1 bunch cilantro.
My family likes to go to Cafe rio just for this dressing. We are super excited and can’t wait to try it!
Cafe Rio is one of my very favorite restaurants! This dressing taste just like the real deal….but BETTER!
Where had this recipe been all my life?!!!! Finding it made my day. ThAnks fOr sharing.
This is by far the easiest & yummiest dressing ever! I love it with so many recipes. My kids could drink this dressing..it’s that good!
We practically use this dressing on everything. Its just that good! Everything goes into the blender and its ready!
Made this tonight and althoUgh weve never been to a cafe rio this ranch was amaxing! Made it with the Chicken and riCe cafe rio recopes of yours too. Big hit with the fam and so easy!
I am so glad you tried it!! Thank you so much for sharing that 🙂
I LOVE this dressing! It is my favorite dressing to make!
I know this is an older post but I just made this and slapped it on a salad with some pulled pork and it. is. marvelous!!!! Thank you so much for posting this recipe! Of course it doesn’t taste EXACTLY like Cafe Rio but it is still absolutely delicious and goes well with a pulled pork salad.
mmmmm…. I love Cafe Rio! Thanks so much for the yummy tip.
This looks yummy! Thanks so much. I am sharing it on my blog too:4growingboys.blogspot.com
Mmm, wish I had some cilantro in the house!
Yum! this sounds so good! I love ranch and I love cilantro so I'll def be giving this a try!JenScissors & Spatulas
Definitely going to try this. Thanks!
Looks yummy! Thought it was soup!