This 5-minute Healthy Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing is a flavorful way to dress your salads or rice bowls. It's creamy, dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo-friendly, keto, and heart-healthy! Oh, it's also Whole30!
You will be obsessed once you taste this quick & easy Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing!
It's so flavorful, easy, and healthy; it's now a staple at our house! We enjoy it on more than just salads. It's perfect for grilled meat, Mexican food, brown rice, and quinoa bowls. You name it!
This dressing is an easy way to infuse flavor into your favorite dishes. It's a healthy food recipe that adds to dishes like Shrimp Salad and pasta salad.
Jump to:
Why is This Recipe Healthy?
- Cilantro is a pretty healthy green leafy little herb! Its deep-green leaves possess good amounts of antioxidants, essential oils, vitamins, and dietary fiber, which may reduce the dreaded "bad cholesterol." A bonus to its unique flavor.
- And Avocados, sometimes referred to as a superfood, are loaded with heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids and fiber.
So this salad dressing is doubly good for you!
Ingredient Notes
All you need are six simple ingredients for cilantro lime dressing:
- Avocado Oil is the best oil to use in the recipe.
- Fresh and Ripe Avocado - one small avocado washed and peeled will do.
- Fresh Cilantro - the star of the show. Just make sure it's washed!
- Fresh Garlic - it adds a little bite. You can leave the clove whole for blending.
- Lime Juice - gives the recipe a fresh, citrusy flavor and helps it from browning.
- Salt - sea salt brings it all together!
Variations On This Dressing
Depending on your dietary constraints and what you like, here are two delicious variations!
- Creamy Greek Yogurt Lime Dressing - this version has almost a ranch-like texture to it. Add ½ cup of plain Greek yogurt with the other ingredients and blend. It's a wonderful sauce for dipping!
- Spicy Avocado Lime Dressing - kick it up a notch and add some fresh jalapeno before blending.
How to Make Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing without Yogurt
The recipe could not be easier to whip together. Like 5 minutes easy! All you need is six simple ingredients for cilantro lime dressing:
If you have a hand/immersion blender, like this blender, then you're golden (It's a kitchen staple for sure). The dressing comes together in one container if you mix it in something with a lid.
Also, if you make this avocado dressing in your mini food processor, that's great, too; it's just an extra container to wash 🙂
- First, place all ingredients in a container and mix with an immersion blender until smooth, or place in a small food processor and process until smooth.
- Store in an airtight container like a mason jar in the refrigerator for up to one week or so.
PRO TIP: there is no need to remove the leaves from the cilantro; just put it all in and blend!
PRO TIP: The lime keeps the recipe from turning brown.
Ways to Use the Dressing
Use this dressing on this Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad! Other healthy recipes include Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Thai Quinoa Bowls.
Other ways to use it:
- on baked potatoes
- drizzled over kale salad
- grilled chicken
- as a dip for veggies
- top a black bean bowl
- over roasted veggies
- on top of burritos or tostadas
Healthy Avocado Dressing is so tasty; we use it as a sauce on any recipes that need a little something extra or a dipping sauce for fries. Give it a try, and let us know what you think!
Recipe FAQs
Our favorite oil to use in this avocado dressing is Avocado Oil. We tried it with olive oil, and the flavor is good; we like how the avocado oil keeps the dressing a little lighter and doesn't harden when in the refrigerator.
Keep your cilantro lime dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.
Yes! This dressing/sauce is vegan. It is also dairy-free and soy free.
More Healthy Recipes
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Printable Recipe
Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing Recipe
Equipment
- container
Ingredients
- 1 cup avocado oil
- 1 small avocado
- ½ cup cilantro, washed
- 1 clove garlic
- juice of one lime
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a container and mix with an immersion blender until smooth or place in a small food processor and process until smooth.
- Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2017. We updated it with additional instructions and video on April 28, 2020.
isadora
hi,
I made my dressing, but some how become bitter, please can you let me know why?. Thanks.
Erin Henry
We're not sure why it would be bitter. Perhaps use less lime to mellow the flavor.
Steph
how long does it last in the fridge????
Erin Henry
Up to a week in the fridge seems to be a good reference for how long it will last.
Ariel
Such an easy recipe and the dressing is AMAZING!!! Has a nice kick to it! I made a small amount for one salad and I just came back to get the recipe to make a jar!
Erin Henry
It's a favorite around here, Ariel, so glad you liked it! Enjoy the whole recipe!
Mary
What other oil can be used? Can I use dry cilantro?
Erin Henry
Hi Mary, we've used olive oil, but it tends to solidify in the refrigerator, so it just needs to sit at room temperature before using it. The taste is great! Fresh cilantro yields the best flavor.
Michele
How big is a serving?
Erin Henry
Good question, Michelle. A serving is approximately 2 tablespoons.
Kim Parks Wasson
This dressing is delicious! I love avocado, cilantro and lime so I could eat this almost everyday. It’s quick and simple, healthy and loaded with flavor. Thank you so much.
Erin Henry
Yes! you are so right, Kim! Healthy and loaded with flavor!!
Beth Pierce
This dressing was so yummy on my salad. Definitely my favorite! Thank you!
Erin Henry
We're so glad to hear it, Beth! It's just delish!
Valentina
I LOVE using this avocado cilantro lime dressing for salads! Its so light and delicious!
Erin Henry
We do too! It's great on salads, but also wonderful on rice bowls with its light and refreshing flavor.
Julie Blanner
Looks so delicious! I love avocados and cilantro. I plan on using this as a pasta salad dressing this weekend!
Erin Henry
We love the idea of putting it on a pasta salad, Julie! We'll try it!
Adrienne
Do you have a problem with the color turning? I'm excited to give this a try, avocado and cilantro go so well together!
Erin Henry
Good question, Adrienne. Because the recipe contains lime juice, it tends to stay nice and fresh when kept in the fridge.
Sinea
Oh Erin, this looks so yummy! I can hardly wait to try it. I follow the Trim Healthy Mama way of eating - anything Paleo fits beautifully with it - and I have been wanting some new recipes. I can hardly wait to try it.
Erin
Yay! You'll love this dressing Sinea! So flavorful and good on just about anything! Enjoy the recipe.