Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe (2024)

Published: by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Make this cilantro lime sauce recipe easily and with just a few ingredients. It is the perfect complement to shrimp tacos or when used as a delicious dressing on your favorite leafy salad!

Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe (1)

Original post: August 2018 | Updated: December 2021

Why This Recipe Works

Tacos are a go-to recipe favorite in our home and I am always excited to change up the standard ingredients a bit. Making this super easy cilantro lime sauce is a great way to do that!

This creamy sauce comes together very quickly and easily and tastes great on just about any food under the sun. Once it is in your fridge you’ll want to drizzle it over everything!

Recipe Ingredients

Sour cream – For a healthier sauce, replace the sour cream with Greek yogurt or fat-free sour cream. To boost the flavor, replace half of the sour cream with 1/2 cup mayonnaise.

Lime juice – An essential ingredient, so use freshly-squeezed when possible. Fresh lime juice can be replaced with fresh lemon juice in a pinch.

Cilantro – Freshly chopped cilantro leaves are preferable.

Garlic – Fresh garlic can be replaced with 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.

Green onions – Replace with red onions for a zingier sauce.

Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe (2)

Enjoy This Web Story On A Delicious Sauce

You might find yourself licking your plate if you use some cilantro lime dressing on tacos, salad or sandwiches!

How To Make Cilantro Lime Sauce

In a food processor or blender, combine the sour cream, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, green onions, salt and pepper.

Process/puree until creamy. Pour into a container, cover and chill until ready to serve.

Recipe Notes

  • To spice things up, add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, jalapenos, hot sauce or diced green chiles to the mixture before pureeing.
  • Add a few tablespoons of olive oil for added flavor.
  • Add sweetness by adding a touch of maple syrup or honey.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 7 days in the fridge.
  • Don’t discard your bunch of cilantro! Hang onto it so you can make another batch of this dressing.
Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe (3)

FAQ About Cilantro Lime Sauce

What is cilantro lime sauce?

Cilantro lime sauce can also be referred to as a creamy cilantro lime dressing recipe. It is made with cilantro, sour cream, garlic and lime juice. It is most commonly added to tacos, but makes a delicious addition to many Mexican flavors such as burritos, enchiladas or taco salad.

Is cilantro lime sauce spicy?

Cilantro lime sauce is not typically spicy, aside from a bit of zing the garlic in the recipe provides. It can be made spicier when desired, using ingredients such as jalapano peppers or cayenne pepper.

Is cilantro lime sauce keto?

There are 3 grams of carbs in an entire batch of cilantro lime sauce, making it a low-carb, keto-friendly recipe.

Can you freeze cilantro lime sauce?

Cilantro lime sauce can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Keep in mind that sour cream based sauces do lose some quality after being frozen.

Uses For Cilantro Lime Sauce

  • Use as a creamy salad dressing on any leafy salad such as a chopped salad or southwest chicken salad.
  • Pour it over steamed or roasted veggies.
  • Add it to your next batch of cilantro lime rice.
  • Use as a dip for raw vegetables, French fries or chips.
  • Top scrambled or fried eggs with it!
  • Use it as a dipping sauce for a grilled chicken breast, chicken tenders or steak bites.
  • Drizzle it over your next batch of chicken tacos, shrimp tacos, oven-baked beef tacos or any Mexican food such as enchiladas or burrito bowls.
  • Throw your favorite taco salad ingredients together in a bowl and drizzle this creamy cilantro lime sauce over the top.
  • Use it as a creamy dressing spread on your next savory sandwich.
  • Add as a layer to your next taco dip.
  • Drizzle over cilantro lime chicken.

More Homemade Sauces

I’m obsessed with making savory homemade sauces! Down with store bought! Here are a handful of my favorites that you are sure to fall in love with. These all make for great gifts, too!

  • Enchilada Sauce is more delicious than anything you can buy at the store and it is super easy to make. It only requires a handful of ingredients and is done in 15 minutes, with perfect flavor and consistency.
  • Alfredo Sauce is super easy to make, done in under 10 minutes.
  • A copycat recipe of the famous Arby’s Sauce that makes sandwiches sing! This zingy flavorful BBQ style sauce is so delicious
  • This homemade Pizza Sauce takes less than 25 minutes to make!
  • Pasta Sauce is super easy, meaty and hearty when made in an Instant Pot. Using a pressure cooker to cook pasta sauce makes it flavorful and quick to prepare, but tastes like is has simmered on the stove all day.
  • Make your own Taco Sauce to use in a variety of Mexican dishes, such as tacos, burritos and taco salads. Ditch the store-bought version so you know EXACTLY what goes inside!

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Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe (4)

Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe

Make this cilantro lime sauce recipe easily and with just a few ingredients. Goes great with shrimp tacos or on your favorite salad!

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 minute minute

Servings: 8

Calories: 62kcal

Author: Megan Porta

Ingredients

  • 8 oz sour cream
  • 2 limes juiced
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • 2 cloves garlic quartered
  • 1/4 cup green onions sliced
  • salt/pepper

Instructions

  • In a food processor or blender, combine the sour cream, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, green onions, salt and pepper.

  • Process/puree until creamy. Pour into a container, cover and chill until ready to serve.

Notes

  • To spice things up, add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, jalapenos, hot sauce or diced green chiles to the mixture before pureeing.
  • Add a few tablespoons of olive oil for added flavor.
  • Add sweetness by adding a touch of maple syrup or honey.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 7 days in the fridge.
  • Don’t discard your bunch of cilantro! Hang onto it so you can make another batch of this dressing.

Nutrition

Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 24mg | Potassium: 74mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 284IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe (5)Art McHugh

    Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe (6)
    I used this as a dressing instead of mayo on my shrimp burgers and it was fantastic. Thank you for quick, easy tasty sauce.

    Reply

    • Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe (7)Megan Porta

      That is an excellent tip, Art. Thank you for sharing that – I’m totally ready for some shrimp burgers now!

      Reply

  2. Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe (8)Andrea Thurman

    Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe (9)
    Thanks for the recipe! I will be making this from now on. Super delicious, fresh, herb citrusy tasting. Loved it on my salad.

    Reply

    • Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe (10)Megan Porta

      It’s so good as a condiment and a dressing. I’m glad you tried it and thank you for letting me know!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Cilantro Lime Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is cilantro lime sauce made of? ›

In a food processor, place the cilantro, garlic, lime juice, maple syrup, coriander, and salt and pulse to combine. With the blade running, pour in the olive oil and process until smooth.

How to thicken cilantro sauce? ›

Mayonnaise: To help thicken the sauce and get it nice and creamy. You can also use sour cream if you can't stand mayo but the taste will be slightly different. Plain Whole Milk Yogurt: This helps lighten the sauce and also get it creamy.

What is cilantro lime vinaigrette made of? ›

In a blender, combine the cilantro, shallot, garlic, lime juice, red wine vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth. Serve as a salad dressing or drizzle over fish, chicken, or veggies!

What is cilantro dressing made of? ›

The best cilantro lime dressing in one simple step

You'll simply add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor: cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, garlic, jalapeño half, and salt and pepper. Blend until smooth and then it's ready to use!

What can I eat Hellmann's cilantro lime sauce with? ›

Our Cilantro Lime Sauce is made with hatch chiles, tomatillos, and creamy avocado oil for a slightly spicy, zesty taste. Try it with tacos, fish, and anything else that could use some big, bright flavor.

Why do Mexicans eat so much cilantro? ›

in Mexican food, it could be attributed to the way it. helps to balance the spice and bold flavors associated. with many popular dishes 🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮

Is cilantro lime healthy? ›

Lime Juice: Lime juice adds a refreshing citrus flavor and provides vitamin C. It's a healthy addition, as long as you don't overdo it with sugar or other unhealthy additives. Cilantro: Cilantro is a nutrient-packed herb. It's a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Why is my cilantro lime sauce too watery? ›

If your sauce is too thin it may just be too warm. Place it in the fridge for a bit so the sauce can chill and thicken up! If it's still too runny, you may have added too much lime juice. Stir in an additional scoop of mayo to thicken, then taste and re-season!

Does lemon juice thicken sauces? ›

It was time for the secret weapon: lemon juice. Turns out, the acidity of the juice acts as a thickening agent, which reacts with the proteins in the dairy to increase the viscosity. It's a similar concept to adding vinegar to milk to make buttermilk, said Clark.

What is cilantro lime seasoning? ›

Fresh, crisp cilantro and bright lime flavors, plus onion and garlic. Perfect for seasoning rice or creating a quick and easy chimichurri sauce to use on meat, seafood, and vegetables.

What is lime dressing made of? ›

Her recipe was actually just equal quantities of lime juice, white (not palm) sugar, and olive oil, garlic and slat and pepper, so it's super easy to make enough for 1 or 12."

What is cilantro sauce made of? ›

Ingredients for Cilantro Sauce

Lime juice– Fresh lime juice is great but I often buy a jar of fresh lime juice to keep in the fridge so I always have some on hand. Mayonnaise– There are plenty of vegan options available, if you want to keep this recipe vegan. Salt– A pinch of salt enhances the flavors.

What do Mexicans use cilantro for? ›

Add it to your rice, salads, stir-fries, stews, soups, and of course, your favorite Mexican dish. Cilantro can provide a zesty citrus flair that pairs well with any dish that has a kick to it.

What do Italians call cilantro? ›

In Italy is called”coriandolo

What ingredient is cilantro? ›

Cilantro refers to the leaves of the coriander plant. It is commonly eaten as a food or used as a spice. Cilantro can also be used as a medicine. Cilantro is used for cancer, measles, toothache, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

What is in cilantro lime seasoning? ›

Fresh, crisp cilantro and bright lime flavors, plus onion and garlic. Perfect for seasoning rice or creating a quick and easy chimichurri sauce to use on meat, seafood, and vegetables.

What is cilantro in at Chipotle? ›

Every morning in each of our restaurants, we make our cilantro-lime brown rice from scratch. We simmer the whole-grain rice with bay leaves to add savory flavors, then season it with lemon and lime juices and toss it with cilantro for a slightly tart, fresh taste.

What is a good substitute for cilantro sauce? ›

Luckily, there are many substitutes for cilantro that are easily added to any recipe. Substitute cilantro with other herbs such as parsley, Thai basil, or dill. Lemon and lime are also good substitutes in a pinch as they mimic the bright flavor of cilantro.

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