This cilantro lime sauce is a delicious and easy dressing. It pairs well with so many meals! Cilantro lime crema is especially good on tacos and slaw.
Why do I love cilantro lime sauce so much? I can put it on everything. That’s why. Tacos, burrito bowls, chips, eggs, and sandwiches. One of my absolute favorite ways to use it is as a salad dressing.
If you love cilantro, you will love this creamy cilantro lime dressing recipe!
What is Cilantro Lime Dressing and What is In It?
Cilantro lime sauce (also called cilantro lime dressing or cilantro lime crema) is a blended creamy sauce. It uses cilantro, lime juice, and sour cream as the primary flavors.
This recipe is made with olive oil, avocado, green onion (or scallions), cilantro, garlic, lime juice, salt, and sour cream (or Greek yogurt).
How to Make Cilantro Lime Dressing:
Sauce recipes like this one make me happy because they’re super simple. Just add all of the ingredients to a high speed blender or a food processor, and pulse until everything’s combined.
Be sure to leave some small visible bits of cilantro in there. It tastes better if you stop blending before all of the ingredients have completely combined.
I use this sauce as the base for my Creamy Cilantro Turkey Tacos – they are so dang good! If you’re wondering how to try this sauce, I definitely recommend this taco recipe.
Looking for a sauce with a little more kick? Try my Creamy Green Sauce! It’s ridiculously good. It’s similar to this recipe because it’s filled with tons of whole green ingredients and pairs perfectly with just about everything.
Cilantro Lime Sauce
This cilantro lime sauce is a delicious and easy dressing. It pairs well with so many meals! Cilantro lime crema is especially good on tacos and slaw.
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- ½ avocado (peeled and pitted)
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup chopped green onion
- ¾ cup cilantro leaves
- 2 cloves garlic (diced)
- Juice of 1 lime
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup sour cream or greek yogurt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a high speed blender or food processor. Pulse until it’s mostly smooth - you want to leave it just slightly chunky with visible small bits of cilantro.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
2 TablespoonsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 61Total Fat: 6gCarbohydrates: 1.9gFiber: .6gSugar: .6gProtein: .5g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments and on Instagram! @keytomylime #keytomylime
Be sure to pin this recipe for later!
Have you ever wondered how to prepare cilantro? Real Simple has an article with some great tips and tricks to show you how.
36 thoughts on “Cilantro Lime Sauce – Put it on Everything!”
hello! just made it. it tastes great! i’m sure it will be better tomorrow! i’m going to use it on al pastor tacos.
Hi Dray, So happy to hear you liked it! Love the idea of using it on al pastor tacos – enjoy! -Alexa
This looks absolutely fantastic. Thanks so much for a simple recipe that does NOT use Ranch Dressing mix!
Thanks so much, Lizzie! I hope you enjoy it! -Alexa
Yes, I agree! So many recipes still use theses types of additives in recipes laden with preserveties.
This will be the third straight night of using this stuff! One night on grilled chicken, last night on fish tacos, and tonight on a Cobb Salad. It really IS “that good.”
So happy to hear that, Lizzie! Thanks so much for sharing. -Alexa
Have you ever tried it on salmon?
Hi Sue, I haven’t tried this sauce on salmon yet, but I’ve heard great feedback from other people who loved it on fish! -Alexa
I have always wanted to try something different and today it happened this new sauce other than Ranch or Blu cheese is the bomb.
Can’t wait to try it on salmon
What do you recommend as a substitue for the avocado? My husband is highly allergic.
Hi Sarah, I’d recommend replacing it with an additional 1/2 – 3/4 cup of either sour cream or Greek yogurt. You could also try some slightly thinned out cashew butter if you’d prefer to use less dairy. If you like mayonnaise, I think 1/2 cup mayo could also work (I wouldn’t use Miracle Whip though). -Alexa
Tried this for dinner to tonight, and wow, it’s delicious and I really do want to put it on everything. Thank you for the recipe! 🙂 Yum!
THIS SAUCE IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Thank you for this recipe!
Hi Barbara, So happy to hear you enjoyed the cilantro lime sauce so much! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave feedback! -Alexa
Yes, it is now gone! Made it this afternoon for the Baja fish tacos, what a surprise!
This will now be a family favorite, as it changed the way we enjoy fish tacos.
Thanks, A Million!
Hi Sean, So happy to hear you enjoyed the cilantro lime crema on your Baja fish tacos! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave feedback! -Alexa
How long can it stay in the fridge? And be fresh
Hi Hannah, We’ve never had any leftovers past the next day, so I can’t say for sure. Because of the sour cream and avocado, I would assume 2 – 3 days. Hope that helps! -Alexa
COuld you kindly make recommendations to make this sauce spicy? Jalapenos perhaps?
Hi Azadah, I think jalapeno would be a great addition! I’d probably start with 1/2 jalapeno (seeds removed and set aside, ribs removed), blend it, taste it, and add the other half or the seeds based on preference. Hope that helps! -Alexa
Tried this for the first time today on homemade carnitas, insanely delicious😋
So happy to hear you enjoyed the cilantro lime sauce on your homemade carnitas! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave feedback. -Alexa
This recipe was delicious just as written! We used it on grilled cilantro lime chicken. Perfect!
Hi Bonnie, Thanks so much! I bet it was delicious on grilled cilantro lime chicken! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave feedback, I really appreciate it. -Alexa
I love everything about this recipe except the star ingredient, cilantro. (Have gene, taste soap). I’m thinking about trying it using basil instead of cilantro. Parsley seems like it wouldn’t have enough punch. Any other substitutions you’d recommend?
Hi Tom, I haven’t tried any herbs other than cilantro in this recipe, so I don’t have any substitution suggestions for you. Since the main part of the flavor profile is the way the cilantro and lime pair together, I’m not really sure what other herb would work. If you do end up trying basil, please let me know how it goes! -Alexa
Came across this recipe after dining out & had sauce. Went looking today & these reviews look great. I’m excited to try. This question got me wondering. Not a chef but now have time & like to cook. Would tomatillos work in lieu of cilantro. Using only pulp & it would change texture – maybe less water? Anyway, enjoy your site & can’t wait to try my new find! ✌️
Hi Sandi, Thanks so much! I haven’t tried this recipe with tomatillos, but it sounds like it would be delicious. You’re right, it would make the sauce a bit thinner, so you could try it without the water first and add it in if it seems too thick. Hope you enjoy it with the tomatillos, please let me know how it turns out! -Alexa
This was amazing. It’s great on fish tacos but also makes it delicious dip for veggies or chips. Bend down I think it would also make a great salad dressing. New favorite sauce ever! Thanks.
Hi Erica, I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the cilantro lime sauce so much! It definitely is delicious as a salad dressing, too – I’ve used it on our Southwest Chicken Salad and love it there. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave feedback, I really appreciate it! -Alexa
Do you think this sauce would freeze well? I’m looking for a cilantro lime sauce I could make in bulk and freeze in smaller amounts.
Hi Becca, I wouldn’t recommend freezing this sauce. I haven’t tested freezing it, but I don’t think the sour cream would freeze well. -Alexa
This recipe looks awesome, but I’m not sure how you measure a cup of cilantro. Packed in tight, or just however much would be in the cup if you scooped up cut cilantro leaves? Or do you know how much by weight? I checked your photo of ingredients, and was disappointed to not get a visual on how much cilantro. (And yet I seem to be the only reader asking this question…Apologies if you described it and I missed it.
Hi Anna, This recipe calls for measuring the full cilantro leaves with the tender stems lightly packed (many recipes will note it if the measurement needs you to tightly pack the herb leaves or dice the leaves first). Hope that helps! -Alexa