Spice up your salads and appetizers with our Cowboy Dressing recipe. This homemade dressing delivers big Tex-Mex flavor, made with salsa verde, lime juice, and our smoky spice blend. Plus, it’s so easy to make. Once you try it, you’ll never go back to store-bought!
Try our delicious Cowboy Pasta Salad, featuring this homemade dressing!
Why Our Recipe
- Southwestern flavors make this creamy dressing one of our favorites.
- This dressing makes a delicious dipping sauce for fries and chicken tenders. Yum!
By making your own dressing, you can say goodbye to store-bought versions and customize the taste to your liking. Chili powder, smoked paprika, and cumin give this creamy dressing the perfect balance of smoky flavor with a touch of heat.
Ingredient Notes
- Salsa Verde: The star of the dressing! Use mild or spicy salsa verde depending on your heat preference. If you can’t find salsa verde, tomatillo salsa or even regular red salsa can work in a pinch.
- Mayo: Plain Greek yogurt can be used as a substitute.
- Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice gives the best flavor. Bottled lime juice will work too.
- Smoked Paprika: Adds a smoky depth to the dressing. If you don’t have smoked paprika, regular paprika will do, but you’ll miss out on that smoky flavor.
- Ground Cumin: Gives that Tex-Mex flavor.
- Chili Powder: Adds a mild smokiness and spice without being overwhelmingly spicy.
- Granulated Garlic: Garlic powder can be used as an alternative in the same amount.
Adjust the Heat
This smoky, southwestern-inspired dressing has a mild heat profile from the chili powder and salsa verde. Kick up the heat with these variations.
Salsa Verde: Choose a medium or hot salsa verde instead of mild for a little more heat.
Spices: Add a 1/2–1 teaspoon cayenne pepper or a 1/2–1 teaspoon red pepper flakes.
Blender Method
Rather than just simply mix the ingredients together, we use a blender to get the smoothest, creamiest consistency. Using a blender is especially important to fully incorporate the salsa verde in with the rest of the ingredients for a smooth and creamy dressing.
How to Use It
Dipping Sauce: This smoky, mayo-based sauce is perfect for dipping fries, chicken tenders, or even as a dip for chips. To make the dressing thicker for chips, simply substitute the mayo with plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.
Salads: This creamy, Southwestern-inspired dressing is the star of our Cowboy Pasta Salad, but this dressing is so good, you’ll want to use it on everything. This dressing also pairs well with a taco salad—yum!
Storage Instructions
Store the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 7-10 days. Give it a good stir before serving.
