Homemade Chipotle Ranch Dressing is a game-changer for any meal, offering a burst of fresh, smoky flavor that elevates ordinary dishes to extraordinary. Crafted with a vibrant blend of fresh herbs, aromatic spices, and the distinct, smoky kick of real Adobo Chili Peppers, this dressing isn’t just for salads – you’ll find yourself wanting to drizzle it over everything! Beyond a delightful salad companion, it transforms into an irresistible dip for various snacks and appetizers.
Do you find your family devours ranch dressing at an astonishing rate? It’s time to shake things up and treat their taste buds to something truly special with this incredible Homemade Chipotle Ranch Dressing! This recipe promises to bring a smile to any salad lover’s face and doubles as a fantastic dip for a wide array of accompaniments, from crisp fresh veggies to golden French fries and crunchy onion rings. Its versatile nature makes it an indispensable addition to your culinary repertoire.
Today, we’re not just making a dressing; we’re creating a complete, satisfying meal: a vibrant Southwestern Steak Salad, generously topped with crispy, savory steak strips. This robust salad is brimming with colorful, wholesome vegetables and provides a hearty, protein-packed option that’s perfect for a light summer dinner or a fulfilling meal any time of year. Your entire family is guaranteed to love this flavor-packed creation!
This recipe is proudly sponsored by Great American Comfort Classics. Rest assured, all opinions expressed about their products and statements made here are entirely my own, reflecting genuine appreciation for their quality and convenience.
Elevate Your Meal with GREAT AMERICAN COMFORT CLASSICS Crispy Steak Strips
For those who have been following my culinary adventures over the past few months, you’ve likely heard me enthusiastically discuss a remarkable new line of frozen food products from Great American Brands, known as Comfort Classics. These innovative products have recently become available in our local area, and my family and I have been thoroughly impressed by their exceptional taste and unparalleled simplicity. They’ve truly revolutionized our meal planning, offering delicious options without the fuss.
The Great American Comfort Food Collection boasts an impressive variety of classic comfort meals, designed for modern convenience. This includes their tender Southern Style Chicken Breast Fillets, succulent Meatloaf Slices, perfectly seasoned Country Fried Steaks, delightful Chicken & Waffle Style Bites, and the star of today’s recipe: their irresistible Crispy Steak Strips. These strips are the ideal protein addition to our vibrant Southwestern Steak Salad, promising a hearty and flavorful experience with minimal effort.
Why This Recipe Will Become Your New Favorite
Discover what makes this Southwestern Steak Salad with Homemade Chipotle Ranch Dressing an absolute must-try:
- Unbeatably Quick and Easy: Life gets busy, and meal prep can often feel like another chore. But this creamy, intensely flavorful chipotle ranch dressing comes together in mere minutes, requiring minimal effort. When you’re already crafting a quick and delicious salad, why not take it up a notch with a simple, homemade dressing that’s bursting with fresh flavors? It’s an easy step that makes a huge difference.
- Incredibly Delicious & Powerfully Protein-Packed: Prepare for a taste sensation! This spicy chipotle ranch offers a smooth, smoky profile with just the right amount of heat – enough to excite your palate without overwhelming it, creating a perfect harmony of savory flavors. Paired with the robust Crispy Steak Strips from Great American Comfort Classics, this homemade Southwestern salad transforms into a truly satisfying dinner, loaded with high-quality protein to keep you feeling full and energized.
- A Guaranteed Family-Friendly Favorite: This salad and its accompanying dressing are designed to be crowd-pleasers. The delicious ranch dressing, with its balanced spice and rich flavor, appeals to a wide range of tastes, making it a hit even with picky eaters. You’ll find everyone at the table asking for second helpings after they experience the incredible combination of fresh vegetables, savory steak, and this phenomenal homemade dressing. It’s the perfect way to bring smiles to dinner time.
Unveiling the Key Ingredients for Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Crafting the perfect Homemade Chipotle Ranch Dressing starts with understanding its core components. Each ingredient plays a vital role in achieving that rich, smoky, and creamy texture we all crave.
For precise measurements and detailed instructions, be sure to consult the complete recipe card provided further down!
- Essential Seasoning Blend: This dressing relies on a trio of pantry staples to build its aromatic base. You’ll need fragrant garlic powder for a warm depth, pungent onion powder to enhance savoriness, and earthy smoked paprika for an extra layer of smoky complexity that complements the chipotle perfectly.
- Vibrant Fresh Herbs: Don’t underestimate the power of fresh herbs! They provide a bright, invigorating contrast to the creamy base. Make sure you have fresh cilantro for a zesty, herbaceous note, fresh dill for its distinctive tangy, slightly anisy flavor, and fresh scallions for a mild, crisp onion essence. These fresh elements are crucial for the dressing’s lively taste.
- Creamy Mayonnaise: The backbone of any good ranch dressing, mayonnaise provides the rich, smooth, and tangy foundation. Choose a good quality mayonnaise for the best flavor and texture.
- Tangy Sour Cream: To balance the richness of the mayonnaise and add a slight tang, sour cream is essential. Feel free to use either regular full-fat sour cream for a decadent texture or reduced-fat sour cream for a lighter option without compromising flavor significantly.
- Chipotle Chili Peppers in Adobo Sauce: This is where the magic happens and the dressing gets its signature smoky heat! Chipotle peppers are smoked jalapeños, and when packed in a rich adobo sauce, they impart an unparalleled depth of flavor. You can typically find canned chipotle chili peppers in the ethnic or international food aisle of your local supermarket, or sometimes alongside other canned peppers. Remember, a little goes a long way to achieve that perfect balance of spice and smokiness.
- Adjustable Milk: Milk serves as the thinning agent for your ranch dressing, allowing you to achieve your desired consistency. Any type of milk – whether dairy or a non-dairy alternative like almond or oat milk – will work beautifully, so use what you have on hand.
Crafting Your Homemade Chipotle Ranch Salad Dressing from Scratch
You’ll be absolutely delighted by how effortlessly this vibrant chipotle ranch dressing comes together. With just a few simple steps, you can have a truly hearty and flavorful salad ready to serve in no time, making weeknight dinners or impromptu gatherings a breeze!
Step 1: Blend the Base
To begin, gather your core dressing ingredients: mayonnaise, sour cream, the star chipotle peppers (along with a touch of their flavorful adobo sauce), the fresh herbs you’ve prepared, and all your aromatic spices. Place these ingredients into a food processor or a high-speed blender. Process until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, ensuring no large chunks of herbs or peppers remain. This step creates a harmonious blend of flavors and a luscious texture. Once blended, take a moment to taste your creation. Now is the perfect time to season it to perfection with a sprinkle of salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to your personal preference.
Step 2: Adjust Consistency
Upon initial blending, your homemade chipotle ranch dressing will likely be quite thick – and it will naturally thicken even further once refrigerated. If you plan to serve and enjoy the dressing immediately, you can begin to thin it out by gradually adding a small amount of milk (start with 1-2 tablespoons) until it reaches your desired pourable consistency for a salad. If your intention is to use it primarily as a dip, you might prefer its thicker consistency straight from the fridge and can omit adding milk altogether. For those who choose to refrigerate the dressing before serving, expect it to firm up significantly. Before drizzling over your fresh salad, you may need to stir in an additional couple of tablespoons of milk to achieve that perfect, flowing texture.
As mentioned, if you opt to use this versatile creation as a dip, you’ll absolutely adore the rich, thick consistency it develops after a stint in the refrigerator. It’s perfectly scoopable!
Step 3: Assemble Your Vibrant Salad
Now it’s time to build the foundation of your incredible Southwestern Steak Salad! Begin by arranging a generous bed of your favorite leafy greens. The beauty of this recipe lies in its flexibility, allowing you to utilize whatever fresh vegetables you have on hand or prefer. I particularly enjoy a mix of crisp romaine lettuce and tender spinach for texture and nutrients. For a burst of color and flavor, I recommend incorporating sweet bell peppers (any color works beautifully), thinly sliced green onions for a mild bite, and even a few delicate radishes for a peppery crunch. During the summer months, don’t miss the opportunity to add juicy, homegrown tomatoes and sweet, fresh corn kernels – they make truly wonderful additions, enhancing the salad’s seasonal appeal. For an extra layer of savory indulgence and a touch of heat, I also love to क्यूब some zesty pepper jack cheese into the mix. Feel free to unleash your creativity; use what’s readily available in your kitchen or explore the market for your favorite produce to truly make this salad your own unique culinary masterpiece!
Step 4: Prepare the Crispy Steak Strips
The next crucial step is to prepare the star protein of our salad: the delicious Great American Comfort Classics Crispy Steak Strips. As these come frozen, simply follow the detailed cooking instructions provided on their packaging. Whether you choose to bake them in the oven, crisp them in an air fryer, or quickly heat them in the microwave, these fully cooked strips are designed for maximum convenience and flavor, ensuring they turn out perfectly golden and savory every time.
Once your Crispy Steak Strips are cooked to perfection, transfer them warm to the top of your beautifully arranged salad. Then, generously drizzle your freshly made homemade chipotle ranch dressing over the entire creation. Serve immediately and prepare to enjoy a satisfying, flavor-packed meal that truly hits the spot!
LOVE THIS RECIPE? PIN IT FOR LATER!
Don’t let this fantastic recipe slip away! Make sure to save this Homemade Chipotle Ranch Dressing and Southwestern Steak Salad to your favorite Pinterest recipe board. That way, you’ll always have quick and easy access to this delicious meal whenever inspiration strikes!
Discover the Convenience of GREAT AMERICAN COMFORT CLASSICS
As I previously highlighted, I recently had the wonderful opportunity to explore some exciting new convenience items at my local Hy-Vee supermarket. Among these discoveries was the Great American brand’s new line, Comfort Classics. This collection stands out as a remarkable assortment of fully cooked, premium protein comfort foods, meticulously designed to bring delicious, wholesome meals to your table with minimal fuss. The diverse range includes favorites like Southern Style Chicken Breast Fillets, classic Meatloaf Slices, delightful Crispy Steak Strips (our hero today!), traditional Country Fried Steaks, and the innovative Chicken & Waffle Style Bites. Each product is a testament to quality and convenience.
Every item within the Comfort Classics line has been thoughtfully developed with today’s discerning parents in mind. It specifically addresses the growing need for high-quality, great-tasting, and exceptionally convenient ways to prepare nourishing meals for their families. We understand that parents are constantly juggling work, kids’ schedules, and the myriad demands of daily life, which often leaves little time for elaborate cooking. Yet, there’s a collective desire to avoid frequent drive-thru meals and instead gather around the dinner table, enjoying precious family time after a hectic day. Comfort Classics perfectly bridges this gap, offering a stress-free solution without compromising on flavor or quality.
Comfort Classics offers a fantastic variety of proteins, making meal planning effortless. The best part? These culinary staples can be prepared using multiple methods—whether in the oven, microwave, or air fryer—ensuring a delicious, satisfying meal is ready in mere minutes, perfectly suiting your busy lifestyle.
My Journey with Comfort Classic Proteins: Versatile Meal Ideas
I’ve truly enjoyed integrating these quick and easy protein options into a variety of meals, showcasing their incredible versatility and convenience in my own kitchen.
Back in April, I crafted a delightful meal featuring their Southern Fried Chicken Fillets. I demonstrated how this comforting spread—complete with perfectly breaded chicken fillets, a fresh green vegetable, and my beloved Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes, all enhanced by Comfort Classics gravy—could be on the table in approximately 45 minutes! You read that correctly: a Sunday supper-quality meal prepared and served in under an hour, highlighting the ease and speed these products bring to home cooking.
In May, I shared another comforting meal: a delicious Corn Pie, accompanied by creamy mashed red potatoes and my cherished Grandma’s Pork ‘n Beans recipe. The meal was perfectly rounded out with the addition of Comfort Classics Country Fried Steak and their rich gravy, creating a truly wholesome and satisfying family dinner.
Last month, I ventured in a slightly different direction. Instead of simply showcasing comforting side dishes to accompany their already delicious protein options, I decided to demonstrate how you can transform one of their convenient products into an entirely new meal you might not have considered making at home. Utilizing their versatile Chicken & Waffle Bites, I successfully created a mouthwatering Homemade Sweet & Sour Chicken! This month, I’m excited to show you an excellent strategy for creating a quick, easy, and refreshingly summery salad that is robust enough to satisfy even the most substantial appetites, all by incorporating their fantastic Crispy Steak Strips.
Why You’ll Love Great American Comfort Classics Crispy Steak Strips
Beyond the sheer convenience of preparing them in mere minutes—thanks to their fully cooked nature before freezing—these Crispy Steak Strips are designed for quick and easy meals using your microwave, air fryer, or oven. What truly sets these beef pattie strip fritters apart is their commitment to quality; they are crafted with premium ingredients, ensuring a delicious experience every time. Furthermore, they serve as an excellent source of protein, making them a smart choice for a balanced diet.
The high protein content in these Crispy Steak Strips will help keep you feeling satisfied and full for longer periods. When combined with the abundance of fresh, wholesome vegetables in our Southwestern Steak Salad and topped with a homemade dressing crafted from nutritious dairy, this steak salad recipe truly stands out as a keeper! It’s a perfect fusion of convenience, flavor, and nourishing ingredients.
If you’re craving a classic, old-fashioned comfort meal, consider whipping up the accompanying packet of peppered white gravy and serving these savory steak strips over warm, fluffy biscuits! It’s a truly satisfying combination that harks back to hearty home cooking.
Expert Tips for Crafting the Perfect Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Unlock the full potential of your Homemade Chipotle Ranch Dressing with these insightful expert tips and tricks:
- You’ll likely find that you won’t use the entire can of chipotle chili peppers for this recipe. Don’t let the remaining peppers go to waste! Simply transfer them to an airtight container and freeze them. They’re perfect for adding a smoky depth to other recipes like a hearty chili, flavorful enchiladas, or even a spicy marinade.
- For those who aren’t keen on cilantro’s flavor profile, feel free to substitute fresh parsley. It offers a bright, herbaceous note that works beautifully as an alternative.
- For an extra layer of bright, tangy flavor that beautifully complements the smoky chipotle, the juice of half a fresh lime makes a wonderful addition to this dressing. Stir it in at the end and taste test!
- When adjusting the dressing’s consistency, remember that you can use any type of milk you have on hand. Dairy milk (whole, 2%, or skim) or non-dairy alternatives like almond or oat milk will all work effectively.
- This versatile ranch dressing isn’t just for salads; it doubles as an incredibly yummy ranch dip! Elevate your snack time by dipping everything from crispy hot wings, slices of your favorite pizza, golden mozzarella sticks, to fresh-cut vegetables, and so much more into this homemade goodness.
- To maintain its freshness and flavor, always store homemade chipotle ranch dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When stored properly, it will keep beautifully for up to ten days.
Is Homemade Chipotle Ranch Gluten-Free?
Good news for those with dietary sensitivities! This homemade chipotle ranch dressing recipe is completely free of gluten. Unlike many store-bought ranch dressings that often contain hidden additives, thickeners, or modified food starches that may include gluten, crafting your own ensures you control every ingredient. This homemade version eliminates all that “extra stuff,” providing a pure, delicious, and naturally gluten-free option for your family to enjoy without worry.
WHERE TO FIND GREAT AMERICAN COMFORT CLASSICS Products
Great American Comfort Classics proudly unveiled its new product line in select Hy-Vee stores across Omaha and neighboring Midwestern states in April 2021. You can easily locate the entire Comfort Classics range within the frozen aisle of participating supermarkets. But don’t fret if you don’t reside near these initial launch locations! There’s a good chance your local supermarket may also carry these fantastic brands. To confirm availability in your area and discover more about their products, I highly recommend checking Great American Brand’s official website for detailed information and a store locator.
What if you visit the website and don’t see your local store listed? You still have the power to bring these delicious comfort food classics to your community! Take a moment to fill out a comment card at your preferred supermarket or, even better, speak directly with the store manager. Request that they stock Great American Comfort Classics; consumer demand is a powerful tool. Additionally, be sure to follow Great American Comfort Classics on their Facebook page for ongoing updates, new product announcements, and a wealth of inspiring recipes to keep your meal plans fresh and exciting.
Mark your calendars! Stay tuned next month for another fantastic recipe, perfectly timed for back-to-school season and tailgating events, featuring their versatile meatloaf slices!
Craving More Salads? Explore These Dressings, Sauces, and Salad Recipes!
If you’re a true salad enthusiast or simply looking for more ways to add fresh, vibrant meals to your rotation, you’re in luck! Dive into these other delightful recipes for dressings, sauces, and full-fledged salads:
- Homemade Thousand Island Dressing: A classic, creamy, and tangy favorite perfect for burgers and salads.
- Loaded Spinach Salad with Creamy Roasted Garlic Dressing: A robust salad packed with flavor and texture.
- Bacon Cashew Broccoli Salad: A crunchy, savory, and irresistible side dish or light meal.
- Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad: The ultimate picnic or potluck staple, bursting with familiar flavors.
- Greek-Style Cucumber Salad: A refreshing and light salad, perfect for warm weather.
- Chipotle Paste: For when you want to make your own smoky chili base from scratch.
Let’s get cooking and create a quick, satisfying meal that the entire family will wholeheartedly enjoy! Here is the complete recipe for our delectable Southwestern Steak Salad with Homemade Chipotle Ranch Dressing. Happy cooking!
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Print Recipe
Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Equipment
- 12-Piece Black Sharp Knife Set with Covers, Cutting Board and Sharpener
- Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor 9-Cup Capacity and a Silver Stainless Finish
- KitchenAid Renewed 3.5-Cup Food Chopper
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 Tablespoon scallions chopped
- 1/2 Tablespoon fresh dill minced
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 chipotle Chili Peppers in Adobo Sauce + 1/2 teaspoon of the sauce
- sprinkle of salt & pepper to taste
- 2 Tablespoons to 1/4 cup of milk
Instructions
- Combine the mayo, sour cream, chipotle peppers and sauce, fresh herbs, and spices in a food processor or blender until smooth.
- Give it a taste and sprinkle with salt and pepper to your liking.
- At this stage, the dressing will be thick and will thicken even more when you refrigerate it. So, if you plan to eat it immediately, add about 2 Tablespoons of milk to the dressing to thin it out. Planning to enjoy it as a dip? Simply omit the milk. If you refrigerate the dressing before serving, you may need to add in a couple more Tablespoons of milk before pouring over your salad.
Notes
Parsley makes a good substitute for those who don’t care for cilantro.
The juice of a half lime is also a nice addition to this dressing.